Chulalongkorn, also known as Phrachunlachomklao and Rama V, was the fifth king of Siam under the House of Chakri from 1868 to 1910. He was the son of King Mongkut and Queen Debsirindra. As the king, he endorsed a series of reforms, starting with the abolition of slavery, establishment of a modern army, and improvement of judicial and financial institutions. Chulalongkorn laid the foundation of contemporary Thai citizenship via obligatory primary education. He also managed to save his kingdom from western colonialism. All his enthusiastic reforms garnered him great respect and earned him the title of ‘Phra Piya Maharat’ aka the great beloved king. As a young prince, Chulalongkorn visited several countries, including Singapore, Burma, and British India and his traveling experiences eventually formed the base for his ideas related to modernization and centralization reforms. On a personal note, he had several wives and concubines, and fathered 77 children. He became the first Siamese king to send royal princes to be educated in Europe and the first monarch to visit Europe to manage foreign affairs. The great king died of kidney disease in 1910, at the age of 57. He was succeeded by his son Vajiravudh or Rama VI.