King Chulalongkorn
One of things I'm trying to get a sense of is why non European monarchs might come to Europe, In the case of Zaifeng it's reasonably straight forward (although the effects of the visit are not). A treaty obliges him to go. But the case of Siam's King Chulalongkorn is more complex. Part of it is about visiting fellow monarchs and showing the flag, but of course this isn't just a courtesy call. With France having just annexed the left bank of the Mekong, Chulalongkorn needs Siam to be accepted as an independent power. From my early understanding, the Siamese were treated very shabbily by the British - all advantage no responsibility. The 1896 agreement shows this in spades.
The rapacious French at least were far more obvious in their desire - to dismantle the kingdom and add it to their colonial holdings. And the Germans, well they have mercantile interests there, but Chulalongkorn can't get them interested in declaring for their territorial integrity. Still, my hunch is that the Kaiser's reception is significant, as the pageantry and fuss made levels the field for the Siamese. They are offered the courtesies of an independent state. I have to flesh it out more from the archival material, but there is something else going on here, and railways are a part of it, but so too is something to do with relations with the French.
It looks like it's best to concentrate on the 1897 visit, because the 1907 visit is mostly an incognito visit for the sake of his health. And the king's diary while away (Klai Baan) is not as interesting as you might imagine it to be. Lots of complaining about the rain and being tired. But I'll keep reading.
The rapacious French at least were far more obvious in their desire - to dismantle the kingdom and add it to their colonial holdings. And the Germans, well they have mercantile interests there, but Chulalongkorn can't get them interested in declaring for their territorial integrity. Still, my hunch is that the Kaiser's reception is significant, as the pageantry and fuss made levels the field for the Siamese. They are offered the courtesies of an independent state. I have to flesh it out more from the archival material, but there is something else going on here, and railways are a part of it, but so too is something to do with relations with the French.
It looks like it's best to concentrate on the 1897 visit, because the 1907 visit is mostly an incognito visit for the sake of his health. And the king's diary while away (Klai Baan) is not as interesting as you might imagine it to be. Lots of complaining about the rain and being tired. But I'll keep reading.
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