Monthon

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Monthon ( Thai มณฑล , from Sanskrit मण्डल maṇḍala "circle") was the highest administrative unit of Siam (now Thailand ) at the beginning of the 20th century . The first monthons were set up on a trial basis in 1893 on the initiative of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) together with the thesaphiban system ( เทศาภิบาล , “control of the land”) and officially came into force with the Local Administration Act 1897. In addition, the provinces (first used for provinces in Monthon Pattani ), Amphoe and Tambon were established as lower administrative units. In 1915 the entire country was divided into 19 months and 72 provinces. One reason for the relatively slow implementation of the Local Government Act was the lack of suitable civil servants to implement the law. In 1925, under King Rama VII (r. 1925-1935), some monthons were merged for economic reasons and 14 remained before they were completely abolished after the fall of the absolute monarchy of Siam in 1933, so that the provinces have since formed the highest administrative unit of Thailand.

General

Before the construction of the thesaphiban system until the end of the 19th century Thailand consisted of a core empire in central Thailand , a number of semi-independent tributary kingdoms and the Müang (forerunner of today's provinces) in the North , Northeast , South Thailand and the eastern region of central Thailand , which also had a certain autonomy from the central government ( mandala system ). Since the country came under increasing pressure from the colonial powers France from the east ( Indochina ) and Great Britain from the north ( Burma ) and south ( Malaysia ), the government under King Chulalongkorn had to strengthen its control, especially over the more distant parts of the country. This began as early as 1870 in the Kingdom of Lan Na with the dispatch of a high commissioner from Bangkok. After the establishment of the Ministry of the Interior in 1892 under the first Minister of the Interior, Prince Damrong Rajanubhab , Lan Na became the Monthon Phayap in 1899.

In the south of the country, the two Malay sultanates Kedah and Pattani were also administered by a monthon each, but Kedah went to the British colonial empire in 1907 (with the exception of the province of Satun ). The areas in present-day Cambodia could also not be held , the Monthon Burapa went to French Indochina after military pressure in 1906 .

While provincial governors were previously de facto inherited posts for life, who, apart from annual payments to the central government, had complete freedom over the taxes and duties levied in their sphere of influence, these became paid posts in the course of the administrative reforms begun in Bangkok in 1892. Not all governors accepted the loss of power without resistance, the strongest rebellion was the "uprising of the holy men" ( ปรากฏการณ์ ผีบุญ Prakottakan Phi Bun ) in 1902 in northeast Thailand ( Isan ).

In 1925 there was the following monthon:

  1. Chanthaburi
  2. Nakhon Chaisi (today's Nakhon Pathom)
  3. Nakhon Sawan
  4. Pattani
  5. Nakhon Si Thammarat
  6. Nakhon Ratchasima
  7. Prachin Buri
  8. Phayap ("Northwest"), based in Chiang Mai
  9. Phitsanulok
  10. Phuket
  11. Ratchaburi
  12. Ayutthaya
  13. Udon Thani
  14. Bangkok

In 1932 the new military government abolished the four Monthon Pattani, Nakhon Sawan, Nakhon Chaisi and Chanthaburi. With the provincial administration law of 1933, the remaining 10 monthons were also abolished and the provinces became the highest administrative unit in Thailand.

History of the Monthon

north

Monthon of Siam (as of 1900)
  • Phitsanulok ( มณฑล พิษณุโลก ): The Monthon Phitsanulok was built in 1894 and was one of the first Monthons. It extended over the provinces of Phitsanulok , Phichai, Phichit , Sukhothai and Sawankhalok.
  • Nakhon Sawan ( มณฑล นครสวรรค์ ): The Monthon Nakhon Sawan was established in 1895. It extended over the provinces of Nakhon Sawan , Chai Nat , Kamphaeng Phet , Manorom , Phayuhakhiri , Sankhaburi , Tak , Uthai Thani .
  • Phetchabun ( มณฑล เพชรบูรณ์ ): The Monthon Phetchabun was separated from the Monthon Nakhon Ratchasima in 1899 and consisted of the two provinces of Lom Sak and Phetchabun , which were later merged. It was the only monthon that consisted of only one province. Between 1903 and 1907 it belonged to the Monthon Phitsanulok, then rebuilt and finally incorporated into the Monthon Phitsanulok in 1915.
  • Phayap ( มณฑล พายัพ ): The Monthon was established in 1899 on the territory of the former Kingdom of Lan Na , which lost its autonomy and was integrated into the Siamese central state. It was initially called Northwest Monthon ( มณฑล ฝ่าย ตะวันตก เฉียง เหนือ , Monthon fai tawan-tok chiang nuea ), but a year later it was renamed Phayap (educational language for “Northwest”, from Sanskrit vāyavya ). The administrative reform was carried out gradually between 1907 and 1915, whereby the office of high commissioner was abolished. The monthon initially covered the provinces of Mae Hong Son , Chiang Mai , Lamphun , Lampang , Chiang Rai , Nan and Phrae . The latter four were split off as Monthon Maharat in 1915.
  • Maharat ( มณฑล มหา ราษฎร์ ): The Monthon Maharat (" Maharashtra ") was split off in 1915 from the Monthon Phayap. It extended over its eastern part, i.e. the provinces of Lampang, Chiang Rai, Nan and Phrae.

Northeast

  • Nakhon Ratchasima ( มณฑล นครราชสีมา ): The Monthon Nakhon Ratchasima was the first Monthon in 1893 and initially extended over the provinces of Nakhon Ratchasima (Khorat), Buri Ram , Chaiyaphum , Phetchabun and Lom Sak . The latter two were split off as Monthon Phetchabun in 1899. The Monthon was initially called Lao Klang, but the reference to the ethnicity of its inhabitants ( Lao ) was to disappear, instead it was named after its capital.
  • Udon ( มณฑล อุดร ): The Monthon Udon was established in 1899 and extended over the provinces of Udon Thani , Khon Kaen , Loei , Nakhon Phanom , Nong Khai and Sakon Nakhon . The monthon was initially called Lao Phuan, but the reference to the ethnic affiliation of its inhabitants (Lao and Phuan ) should disappear, instead the more neutral name Udon (educational language for "North", from Sanskrit / Pali uttara ) was chosen.
  • Isan ( มณฑล อีสาน ): The Monthon Isan was built in 1900. It was previously called Lao Kao, but the reference to the ethnicity of its inhabitants (Lao and Kuy ) should disappear, instead the more neutral name Isan (educational language for "northeast", from Pali īsāna ) was chosen. Its administrative seat was Ubon Ratchathani . In June 1912 it was split into the two monthons, Roi-Et and Ubon.
  • Roi-Et ( มณฑล ร้อยเอ็ด ): The Monthon Roi-Et emerged in 1912 from part of the Monthon Isan and consisted of the provinces of Roi Et , Kalasin and Maha Sarakham .
  • Ubon ( มณฑล อุบล ): The Monthon Ubon emerged in 1912 from part of the Monthon Isan and consisted of the provinces of Ubon Ratchathani , Khukhan, Si Sa Ket and Surin .

east

  • Prachin Buri ( มณฑล ปราจีนบุรี ): The Monthon Prachin Buri was established in 1893 and extended over the provinces of Prachin Buri , Chachoengsao , Nakhon Nayok and Phanom Sarakham.
  • Burapha ( มณฑล บูรพา ): The Monthon Burapha (educational language for "East", from Sanskrit pūrva ) was created in 1903 and consisted of the provinces of Sisophon , Phra Tabong (Battambang), Phanomsok and Siam Rat (Siem Reap), all of which are today Cambodia lie. In 1906 the area had to be given over to French Indochina .
  • Chanthaburi ( มณฑล จันทบุรี ): The Monthon Chanthaburi was established in 1906 and consisted of the provinces of Chanthaburi , Rayong and Trat . The Monthon was created after the Monthon Burapa was dissolved, after the French withdrew from Chanthaburi.

Central Thailand

  • Ayutthaya ( มณฑล อยุธยา ): The Monthon Ayutthaya was established in 1893 as Monthon Krung Kao ( มณฑล กรุง เก่า ) and consisted of the provinces Ayutthaya (at that time Krung Kao, "old city"), Ang Thong , Lop Buri , Phrom Buri and Saraburi .
  • Nakhon Chai Si ( มณฑล นครชัยศรี ): The Monthon Nakhon Chai Si was established in 1895 and consisted of the provinces of Nakhon Chai Si , Samut Sakhon and Suphan Buri .
  • Ratchaburi ( มณฑล ราชบุรี ): The Monthon Ratchaburi was established in 1895 and extended over the provinces of Ratchaburi , Kanchanaburi , Samut Songkhram , Phetchaburi and Prachuap Khiri Khan .
  • Krung Thep ( มณฑล กรุงเทพ ; Bangkok): The capital was traditionally under the supervision of the Ministry of Urban Affairs, but in 1897 a monthon-like body was created, the Monthon Krung Thep. The monthon consisted of the provinces of Phra Nakhon , Thonburi , Nonthaburi , Pathum Thani , Phra Pradaeng (Nakhon Khueankhan), Samut Prakan , Thanyaburi and Min Buri . Pathum Thani and Thanyaburi later came to the Monthon Ayutthaya. In 1915 it was renamed Krung Thep Phra Maha Nakhon (metropolis Bangkok). In 1922 the Ministry of Urban Affairs was dissolved and moved to the Ministry of the Interior, just as all monthons were administered from there.

south

  • Surat ( มณฑล สุ ราษฎร์ ): The Monthon Surat was established in 1896 as Monthon Chumphon ( มณฑล ชุมพร ) and consisted of the provinces of Chumphon , Lang Suan , Chaiya and Kanchanadit . Kanchanadit was incorporated into Chaiya Province in 1899. In 1905 the Monthon administration moved to Ban Don , the center of Chaiya. Chaiya was renamed Surat Thani and the Monthon Surat in 1915 . In 1925 Surat was incorporated into the Monthon Nakhon Si Thammarat.
  • Nakhon Si Thammarat ( มณฑล นครศรีธรรมราช ): The Monthon Nakhon Si Thammarat was built in 1896, it consisted of the provinces of Nakhon Si Thammarat , Phattalung and Songkhla .
  • Sai Buri ( มณฑล ไทรบุรี ): The Monthon Sai Buri was established in 1897 and consisted of the provinces of Satun , Palit and Sai Buri ( Kedah ). In 1909 Siam had to cede Monthon Sai Buri to Great Britain, with Satun remaining with Siam and being incorporated into Monthon Phuket.
  • Phuket ( มณฑล ภูเก็ต ): The Monthon Phuket replaced the previous commissariat in 1898. It consisted of the provinces of Ranong , Takua Pa , Phang Nga , Thalang , Phuket and Krabi . In 1909 the province of Satun was incorporated after a large part of the Monthon Sai Buri had to be given up to Great Britain.
  • Pattani ( มณฑล ปัตตานี ): The Monthon Pattani was established in 1906 and extended over the provinces of Nong Chik , Pattani , Yaring , Sai Buri , Yala , Raman and Ra-ngae (originated from the former Sultanate of Patani ).

literature

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c Paitoon Mikusol: Administrative Reforms and National Integration. The Case of the Northeast. In Volker Grabowsky: Regions and National Integration in Thailand, 1892-1992. Harrassowitz Verlag, Wiesbaden 1995, p. 149. Charles F. Keyes: Hegemony and Resistance in Northeastern Thailand. in the same work, 1995, p. 155.