Chulalongkorn, King Rama V

(1853 – 1910), also known as King Rama V reigning from 1868 till his death, is one of the great kings of Thailand. He is known for resisting the imperial ambitions of both Britain and France, modernizing his country, and reforming the governmental administration.

As with most statues in Thailand this is also a shrine. Locals come by to pay their respects to the king. The idea to build this statue came from the King himself, who in 1907 visited France and appreciated the statue of Louis XIV in front of Versailles Palace. He then ordered the casting of his equestrian statue modeled after the one at Versailles. In August 1907, a French sculptor was granted royal permission to design the statue, with the King himself sitting as the model in France. The King unveiled his equestrian statue in 1908, the first monument dedicated to a Thai king.