1896 - An Anglo-French agreement is signed promising to maintain the sovereignty of Siam despite their policies of colonial expansion.
1897/1907 - In his desire for international recognition of Siam as a state, King Chulalongkorn renews and strengthens his ties to kings and emperors of the world by two journeys to Europe and personal contacts with leaders in Europe.
1902 - Paper money is introduced replacing the flat silver coin exclusively used before.
1905 - Slavery is completely abolished. The first foreign loan is obtained from London. It is intended to meet urgent expenses in railway construction.
1907 - Siam cedes the provinces of Battambang and Seemap (today Cambodian provinces along the Cambodian/Thai border) to France.
1908 - Courts of law are established in Siam.
1909 - Siam cedes to Britain its southernmost provinces Perlis, Kedah, Kelantan and Trengganu which are basically Malay inhabited (and today are part of Malaysia).
1910, Oct 23 - After King Chulalongkorn’s death, Prince Vajiravudh (Jan 1, 1881 - Nov 25, 1925) succeeds him as ruler of Siam under the title Rama VI. A gifted writer himself, he substantially sponsors the arts. Among the most important political achievements of his tenure are the reviews of many one-sided treaties with western powers.
1911, Nov - Coronation of Prince Vajiravudh as King Rama VI. It is the first coronation in Siam attended by representatives of world powers.
1913 - Surnames are created for every Siamese family. Traditional gambling houses and lotteries are abolished.
1914, Aug - World War I breaks out and Siam’s declaration of neutrality is good only as far as state policy is concerned. Being an alumnus of a British school and the holder of an honorary rank of General in the British army, King Rama VI is conclusively an anglophile. His personal alliance to the British is manifested by his large donations to the British war chest and his repeated vocal resentment of German atrocities.
1917, Mar 17 - Chulalongkorn University, the first university in Siam, is established.
1917, Apr 6 - The US declares war on the Central Powers. Simultaneously, an appeal is issued to all neutral countries to join the struggle to uphold the rights of freedom for small powers.
1917, Jul 22 - Siam joins the allies and participates in Word War I. All Germans and Belgians in Siam are arrested and jailed in Bangkok. An expeditionary force of some 1,200 men is sent to Europe, but as the training and acclimatizing period takes long, the war ends (Nov 12, 1918) before they experience combat. The Siamese willingness to participate in the war nevertheless strengthens the bonds of friendship between Siam, France and Great Britain.
