Bangkok was founded as the capital of the Kingdom of Siam by King Rama I, the first monarch of the Chakri dynasty, which still reigns in Thailand. After the fall of Ayutthaya to Burmese forces in 1767 and the brief reign of King Taksin at Thonburi, Rama I moved the capital across the Chao Phraya River to its eastern bank, a site that offered better defense with the river and canals serving as a moat. He built the Grand Palace and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, which houses the revered Emerald Buddha image. The city's formal ceremonial name is one of the longest place names in the world and begins with the words Krung Thep, and Thais commonly use that short form. Bangkok grew into the political, commercial and cultural center of the country and one of the largest cities of Southeast Asia.
Before and after
- from 19 August 1781 to 5 February 1782Invasion of Minorca
- 4 September 1781Founding of Los Angeles
- from 28 September 1781 to 19 October 1781Siege of Yorktown
- 6 April 1782Rise of Chakri dynasty
- 21 April 1782Founding of Bangkok
- 2 June 1782Founding of Bank of Spain
- 27 October 1782Birth of Niccolò Paganini
- 5 December 1782Birth of Martin Van Buren
- 1783Discovery of tellurium
More in Civilizations & archaeology
- from 18 May 1804 to 7 July 1815First French Empire
- 16 March 1815Founding of Kingdom of the Netherlands
- 27 September 1822Champollion deciphers the hieroglyphs
- from 1 March 1867 to 28 October 1918Austria–Hungary
- 7 August 1908Discovery of Venus of Willendorf
- 24 July 1911Hiram Bingham reaches Machu Picchu
The era
This moment belongs to the Industrial era (1760 CE to 1914 CE), steam, factories and revolutions. You can also browse everything in the 18th century.