Monument to Maha Sura Singhanat

Just next to you stands the Monument to Maha Sura Singhanat. This courageous general was the younger brother of King Rama I, founder of the Chakri dynasty. Appointed as vice-king, he led the army of the Kingdom of Siam — the former name of Thailand — during the War of the Nine Armies in 1785. That year, Burma launched a massive offensive on nine different fronts, hoping to crush the new capital. Thanks to Maha Sura Singhanat’s decisive leadership, the invasion was repelled and Bangkok survived. Of course, it is his brother Rama I who is remembered as the great founder of the city. But it would be unfair to forget this loyal companion-in-arms, without whom the history of Thailand might have turned out very differently. Take a minute here to meet him, in spirit at least, before you move on.