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| King Rama III | |
 Portrait at the Grand Palace, Bangkok | |
| King of Siam | |
| Reign | 21 July 1824 – 2 April 1851 |
| Coronation | 1 August 1824 |
| Predecessor | Phutthaloetlanaphalai (Rama II) |
| Successor | Mongkut (Rama IV) |
| Viceroy | Sakdiphonlasep (1824–1832) |
| Born | Thap (Chetsadabodin) 31 March 1788 Bangkok, Siam |
| Died | 2 April 1851 (aged 63) Bangkok, Siam |
| Spouse | Various consorts |
| Issue | 51 sons and daughters |
| House | Chakri dynasty |
| Father | Phutthaloetlanaphalai (Rama II) |
| Mother | Sri Sulalai |
| Religion | Theravada Buddhism |
| Seal | .svg) |
Phra Bat Somdet Phra Nangklao Chaoyuhua (Thai: พระบาทสมเด็จพระนั่งเกล้าเจ้าอยู่หัว, RTGS: Phra Bat Somdet Phra Nangklao Chao Yu Hua; 31 March 1788 – 2 April 1851), personal name Thap (Thai: ทับ), also styled Rama III, was the third king of Siam from the Chakri dynasty, ruling from 21 July 1824 to 2 April 1851.
Nangklao was the eldest surviving son of King Rama II. His mother Sri Sulalai was one of Rama II's secondary wives. Nangklao was likely designated as heir by his father. His accession was uncontested and smoothly confirmed by the grand council. Foreign observers, however, falsely perceived him as having usurped the prior claim of his younger half-brother Prince Mongkut, who was born to Queen Sri Suriyendra and thus "legitimate" according to Western customs.[1] Under the old concept of Thai monarchy, however, a proper king must emulate Maha Sammata in that he must be "elected by the people."[2] Ironically, Mongkut may have later contributed to this misconception, when he feared that his own accession might be perceived by foreign observers as a usurpation.[3]
During Nangklao's reign, the military hegemony of Siam was established by putting down the Laotian Rebellion (1826–1828, in what would come to be called Isan), the Siamese–Vietnamese War (1831–34), and the Siamese-Vietnamese War fought in Cambodia (1841–45).
- ^ J. B. Terwiel (2005). Thailand's Political History: From the Fall of Ayutthaya in 1767 to Recent Times. River Books. pp. 107–108.
- ^ Dhani Nivat, Kromamun Bidyalabh Bluitiyakara [in Thai] (1947). "The Old Siamese conception of the Monarchy" (PDF). Journal of the Siam Society. JSS Vol.36.2b (digital). Siamese Heritage Trust: 94. Retrieved March 7, 2013.
The Thammasat describes its ideal of a monarch as a King of Righteousness, elected by the people (the Maha Sammata).
- ^ Bradley, William Lee (1969). "The Accession of King Mongkut (Notes)" (PDF free). Journal of the Siam Society. JSS Vol. 57.1f (digital). Siam Heritage Trust: 160. Retrieved March 17, 2013.
[Vella] holds this to be 'the view of many western writers' and it dates from the reign of King Mongkut, owing largely to their mistaken belief that because he was the son of a minor wife, Prince Chesda was illegitimate. The indication is that the western writers adopted this view from Mongkut himself, as the subsequent story will show.