The King and I? First came Narai

The 1956 Hollywood version of the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical The King and I, popularized King Mongkut of Siam, who from a Western perspective was a hitherto obscure figure. In the musical, an English teacher played by Deborah Kerr, drags the monarch of a seemingly insulated and somewhat backward country into the modern world. As is so often the case. The Hollywood version of history was far from the truth. Though Mongkut did embrace science and technology he wasn’t the first Siamese ruler to do so. Some 200 years earlier, King Narai of Ayutthaya, sought out cutting-edge technology and formed alliances with powerful figures such as King Louis XIV of France. In this episode I speak with Australian historian Dr Ian Hodges about Narai, his reign, his legacy and his eventual successor the better-known King Mongkut.

Music: Pixabay

Guest: Dr Ian Hodges Historian at the Department of Veterans Affairs in Australia

This episode is sponsored by World History Encyclopedia, one of top history websites on the internet. I love the fact that they’re not a Wiki: Every article they publish is reviewed by their editorial team, not only for being accurate, but also for being interesting to read. The website is run as a non-profit organization, so you won’t be bombarded by annoying ads and it’s completely free. It’s a great site; and don’t just take my word for it; they’ve been recommended by many academic institutions including Oxford University. Go check them out at WorldHistory.org or follow this link: World History Encyclopedia

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