v.
or Phramongkutklao or Rama VI
born Jan. 1, 1881, Bangkok, Siam
died Nov. 26, 1925, Bangkok
King of Siam (Thailand; 191025).
Educated at Oxford, Vajiravudh undertook numerous social reforms as king, including making monogamy the only legal form of marriage. In 1921 he made primary education free and compulsory. He alienated both liberals and conservatives at home but was successful in foreign policy, restoring full fiscal autonomy to Siam. A prolific writer and translator, he introduced Western forms to Thai literature, translated William Shakespeare 's works, and composed about 50 original plays.