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Bhumibol Adulyadej

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Monarch

The Resume

    (December 5, 1927-October 13, 2016)
    Born in Cambridge, Massachusetts
    King of Thailand for over 70 years (June 9, 1946-October 13, 2016)
    Was the world’s longest-ruling monarch at the time of his death
    Was the longest-ruling monarch in Thai history
    Also known as Rama IX
    Topped Forbes’ ‘World’s Richest Royals’ list six consecutive years (2008-13)
    Wealth estimated at $30 billion

Why he might be annoying:

    He may have accidentally killed his brother, King Ananda Mahidol, when the siblings, both firearm enthusiasts, were playing with guns. (The government first claimed Ananda had accidentally shot himself. After an investigating committee concluded that was virtually impossible, the government executed two palace aides for regicide.)
    His coronation ceremony was delayed until four years after he became king (May 5, 1950).
    He had no qualms about supporting military dictatorships as long as they promised to retain the monarchy.
    Under lese majeste laws, criticism of him could be punished with a jail sentence of three to fifteen years.
    Because of the resulting extreme deference, no one was willing to tell him that a royal-backed project to extract petroleum from seawater was a waste of time and money. (At least until Britain’s famously undiplomatic Prince Philip heard about the scheme during a state visit and offered the king his frank opinion.)
    He was exempt from Thai income taxes.

Why he might not be annoying:

    He was married to Queen Sirikit for 66 years.
    He lost the sight in his right eye in a car crash in Switzerland (October 4, 1948).
    He was a talented jazz saxophonist and played with Benny Goodman, Stan Getz and the Preservation Jazz Band.
    He received four patents, one for a waste water aerator, three for rainmaking methods.
    When an impasse between the Thai military and pro-democracy activists triggered rioting and threatened civil war, he summoned the leaders of the two sides to a televised audience and told them to find a peaceful solution (May 20, 1992).
    During his 2005 birthday speech, he attacked the lese majeste laws and invited criticism of himself. (Apparently, the government did not agree with the king, as the number of lese majeste prosecutions jumped sharply along with the criticisms.)

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2022, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 6 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 30 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 32 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 12 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 54 Votes: 59.26% Annoying