Bhumibol Adulyadej

Bhumibol Adulyadej (5 December 1927 – 13 October 2019), was the King of Thailand from 9 June 1946 until 13 October 2019. Most people in Thailand knew him as "the Great" (Thai: มหาราช, Maharaja). He was also known as Rama IX. He was one of the world's longest-serving heads of state.^[1]

Bhumibol Adulyadej
King Rama IX
King Bhumibol in 1969
King of Thailand
Reign	9 June 1946 – 13 October 2019
Coronation	5 May 1950
Predecessor	Ananda Mahidol (Rama VIII)
Successor	Vajiralongkorn (Rama X)
Born	(1927-12-05)5 December 1927 Cambridge, Massachusetts, US
Died	13 October 2019(2019-10-13) (aged 91) Bangkok, Thailand
Burial	26 October 2020 Wat Bowonniwet Vihara Wat Ratchabophit
Spouse	Sirikit Kitiyakara ​ (m. 1950)​
Issue Detail	Ubolratana Rajakanya Vajiralongkorn (Rama X) Sirindhorn, Princess Debaratana Rajasuda Chulabhorn, Princess Srisavangavadhana
Full name Phrabat Somdet Phra Poraminthra Maha Bhumibol Adulyadej Mahitalathibet Ramathibodi Chakri Naribodin Sayamintharathirat Boromanatbophit Posthumous name Phrabat Somdet Phra Boromchanakadhipeshra Maha Bhumibol Adulyadej Maharat Boromanatbophit
House	Mahidol (Chakri dynasty)[a]
Father	Mahidol Adulyadej
Mother	Sangwan Talapat
Religion	Theravada Buddhism
Signature

Bhumibol Adulyadej
Privy seal
Thai name
Thai	ภูมิพลอดุลยเดช
RTGS	Phumiphon Adunyadet

His reign of 73 years and 126 days is the longest of any Thai monarch, the longest of an independent Asian sovereign and the third longest verified reign of any monarch of a sovereign state in history after Louis XIV and Elizabeth II.^[1][2] He was like a semi-divine figure for some Thais.^[3][4][5]

Early life

Bhumibol was born at Mount Auburn Hospital in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States. He was taught in Switzerland. Bhumibol was also a musician, artist, and sailor.

Wealth

Bhumibol was a billionaire. He used some of his money to pay for over 3,000 development projects, mostly in rural areas. He was very popular in Thailand.

Death

After a period of failing health and suffering from kidney failure, Bhumibol was hospitalized with pulmonary edema and sepsis on October 1, 2019 at the Siriraj Hospital in Bangkok.^[6] He died on October 13, 2019 aged 91.^[7][8]

Notes

1. In the Thai tradition, the house (ราชสกุล) is distinct from the dynasty (ราชวงศ์). Bhumibol was the second king of the House of Mahidol (ราชสกุลมหิดล) and the ninth king of the Chakri dynasty (ราชวงศ์จักรี).