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King Bhumibol

Bhumibol Adulyadej
ภูมิพลอดุลยเดช
King Rama IX
King Bhumibol Adulyadej 2010-9-29.jpg
The King, in September 2010
King of Thailand
Reign 9 June 1946 – 13 October 2016
Coronation 5 May 1950
Predecessor Ananda Mahidol (Rama VIII)
Successor Vajiralongkorn (Rama X)
Prime Ministers
Born (1927-12-05)5 December 1927
Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S.
Died 13 October 2016(2016-10-13) (aged 88)
Bangkok, Thailand
Spouse Sirikit Kitiyakara (m. 1950)
Issue Ubolratana
Vajiralongkorn (Rama X)
Maha Sirindhorn
Chulabhorn
House Mahidol (Chakri Dynasty)
Father Mahidol Adulyadej, Prince of Songkla
Mother Srinagarindra, The Princess Mother
Religion Theravada Buddhism
Signature
Monarchs of
the Chakri dynasty
Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke portrait.jpg Phra Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke
(Rama I)
Buddha Loetla Nabhalai portrait.jpg Phra Buddha Loetla Nabhalai
(Rama II)
Nangklao portrait.jpg Nangklao
(Rama III)
Rama4 portrait (cropped).jpg Mongkut
(Rama IV)
King Chulalongkorn.jpg Chulalongkorn
(Rama V)
King Vajiravudh.jpg Vajiravudh
(Rama VI)
Prajadhipok portrait.jpg Prajadhipok
(Rama VII)
King Ananda Mahidol portrait photograph.jpg Ananda Mahidol
(Rama VIII)
Portrait painting of King Bhumibol Adulyadej.jpg Bhumibol Adulyadej
(Rama IX)
HRH Vajiralongkorn (Cropped).jpg Vajiralongkorn
(Rama X)
Styles of
King Bhumibol Adulyadej
Rama IX of Thailand
King's Standard of Thailand.svg
Reference style His Majesty
Spoken style Your Majesty
Alternative style Sir

Bhumibol Adulyadej (Thai: ภูมิพลอดุลยเดช; rtgsPhumiphon Adunyadet; pronounced [pʰuːmípʰon ʔàdunjádèːt]; see full title below; 5 December 1927 – 13 October 2016), conferred with the title King Bhumibol the Great in 1987, was the ninth monarch of Thailand from the Chakri Dynasty as Rama IX. Having reigned since 9 June 1946, he was, at the time of his death, the world's longest-serving head of state and the longest-reigning monarch in Thai history, serving for 70 years, 126 days. During his reign, he was served by a total of 30 prime ministers beginning with Pridi Banomyong and ending with Prayut Chan-o-cha.

In 1957, a military coup overthrew the government of Field Marshal Plaek Phibunsongkhram with allegations of lèse-majesté, which is an offense against the dignity of the monarch, punishable under Thai law. This began a new and long-lasting relationship between the monarch and military, leading the king to condone the Thammasat University massacre in defense of his throne, and support a series of military dictatorships. Although Bhumibol did invite public criticism in a 2005 speech, the lèse majesté laws have not been revoked by the Thai parliament.

Forbes estimated Bhumibol's fortune—including property and investments managed by the Crown Property Bureau (CPB), a unique body that is neither private nor government-owned—to be US$30 billion in 2010, and he was the head of the magazine's list of the "world's richest royals" from 2008 to 2013. In May 2014, Bhumibol's wealth was once again listed as US$30 billion. Officially the assets managed by the CPB are owned by the crown as an institution, not Bhumibol Adulyadej as an individual.


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