peninsula and Southeast Asia
. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos
, to the east by Laos and Cambodia
, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand
and Malaysia, and to the west by the Andaman Sea
and the southern extremity of Burma. Its maritime boundaries include Vietnam
in the Gulf of Thailand
to the southeast and Indonesia
and India
in the Andaman Sea
to the southwest.
The country is a kingdom, with most recorded reigns in the world.
1768 King Taksin's coronation achieved through conquest as a king of Thailand and established Thonburi as a capital.
1782 Rama I of Siam (modern day Thailand) founds the Chakri dynasty.
1784 The Emerald Buddha is moved with great ceremony to its current place in Wat Phra Kaew, Thailand.
1851 Rama IV is crowned King of Thailand.
1932 A bloodless Revolution instigated by the People's Party ends the absolute power of King Prajadhipok of Siam (Thailand).
1932 Thailand adopts a Constitution and becomes a constitutional monarchy.
1939 Siam is renamed to Thailand by Plaek Pibulsonggram, the country's third prime minister.
1941 Japanese forces invade Thailand's southern peninsula. They face a heavy resistance, however, Plaek Phibunsongkhram ordered a ceasefire.
1941 World War II: Japan signs treaty of alliance with Thailand.
1941 World War II: A formal treaty of alliance between Thailand and Japan is signed in the presence of the Emerald Buddha in Wat Phra Kaew.