“If Siam’s freedom had ended my life would have ended by then.” That is a quote from King Chulalongkorn. We are standing at \u0e1b\u0e49\u0e2d\u0e21\u0e1e\u0e23\u0e30\u0e08\u0e38\u0e25. It is also known as Phra Chulachomklao Fort.
\u0e1b\u0e49\u0e2d\u0e21\u0e1e\u0e23\u0e30\u0e08\u0e38\u0e25 is a water fortress. It is in Samut Prakan Province. King Chulalongkorn built this fort around March 1884. He wanted to protect Siam from England and France.
The fort has a western artillery turret style. It has seven 153/32 mm Armstrong cannons. People nicknamed them crouching tiger cannons. They were the major weapons. This made \u0e1b\u0e49\u0e2d\u0e21\u0e1e\u0e23\u0e30\u0e08\u0e38\u0e25 the most modern fort at the time.
King Rama V test-fired a crouching tiger cannon himself. It happened on May 28 in 1893. This fort fought against French warships in the Paknam Incident. Rear Admiral Phraya Chonlayutyothin guarded the Chao Phraya River mouth.
Today \u0e1b\u0e49\u0e2d\u0e21\u0e1e\u0e23\u0e30\u0e08\u0e38\u0e25 is under the Bangkok Naval Base. In 1993 a statue of King Rama V was built. It honors his virtues. The Royal Thai Navy has a museum open to the public. \u0e1b\u0e49\u0e2d\u0e21\u0e1e\u0e23\u0e30\u0e08\u0e38\u0e25 is an important tourist attraction.
Samut Prakan Province sits at the Chao Phraya River’s mouth. This location is important for the country’s security. There are many forts here. Witthayakom Fort and Chao Saming Phrai Fort are also here. Electric Prank Fortress and Enemy Fort Perish are other forts. But \u0e1b\u0e49\u0e2d\u0e21\u0e1e\u0e23\u0e30\u0e08\u0e38\u0e25 is the most well-known.
King Rama V built \u0e1b\u0e49\u0e2d\u0e21\u0e1e\u0e23\u0e30\u0e08\u0e38\u0e25 because people wanted to defend him. He used his own funds and property.
The previous fortress built during King Rama I’s reign was damaged. It was obsolete. It lacked advanced technology. It was not suitable for national defense. In 1878 King Rama V ordered Luang Cholayut Yothin to design a modern western-style fort. Construction began in 1884. The King used royal treasury money. He gave 10000 weighs to the project.
Construction finished in mid-1893. King Rama V ordered seven 6-inch Armstrong cannons. He got them from Sir W. G Armstrong Company Limited. They were installed in gun holes. These were the first stern cannons for the Thai Navy. Each bullet weighed almost 50 kilograms. They had a maximum firing range of 8042 meters. Vice-Admiral Phraya Wichitnawi was the fort’s artillery installation supervisor. Von Holt was appointed as the first fort commander. The guns used compressed oil to lift to the surface.
King Rama V test-fired the Crouching Tiger gun on April 10 1893. He named it Phra Chulachomklao Fort.
\u0e1b\u0e49\u0e2d\u0e21\u0e1e\u0e23\u0e30\u0e08\u0e38\u0e25 played a big role in the 1893 Franco-Siamese crisis. On July 13 1893 the Ye Be Say pilot-boat sailed into the Gulf of Thailand. It belonged to two French Warships. Soldiers at \u0e1b\u0e49\u0e2d\u0e21\u0e1e\u0e23\u0e30\u0e08\u0e38\u0e25 shot at the French boats. The pilot boat ran aground. The French Ships then hoisted battle flags. They bombarded the fort. Thai soldiers fired back. But the two warships anchored near the French Embassy in Bangkok. Experts thought Thailand was inferior. The Thai military lacked weapon training. Only one Thai soldier was on duty. Two Danish soldiers had recently arrived.
The structure is hexagonal. It extends to the north near the Chao Phraya River mouth. It has seven artillery holes. There are personnel transport channels. An armor room and a freshwater tank are present. The crosshair for observing the enemy is above the gun hole.
Inside \u0e1b\u0e49\u0e2d\u0e21\u0e1e\u0e23\u0e30\u0e08\u0e38\u0e25 there are many things to see. There is the royal monument of King Chulalongkorn. The Chulachomklao Fort Exhibition Hall is here. The Phra Nares and Phra Narai Shrines are on site. You can see the Armstrong cannons. There is the HTMS Mae Klong Museum. You can stroll through the Naval Historical Park. Finally you can enjoy the Mangrove Nature Trail.
\u0e1b\u0e49\u0e2d\u0e21\u0e1e\u0e23\u0e30\u0e08\u0e38\u0e25 is more than just a fort. It is a symbol of Thailand’s fight for sovereignty. It showcases King Chulalongkorn’s vision. I urge each of you to explore this historic site. Reflect on the bravery of those who defended Siam.