Thai national flag

The traditional Thai flag of old, which was red, must have been flown in Thailand since the kingdom of Ayudhya (1680 A.D. or 2223 B.E.) It was common for the Thai ships at that time to display the red flag to be seen on the high seas and in the ports of neighbouring countries. In the Bangkok period, in order to differentiate the private merchant ships from state vessels, King Rama I had the picture of the royal insignia, the Chakra. A disc- like weapon of Lord Vishnu, placed at the centre of the red flag to be hoisted over the state ships.

When the three white elephants, highly coveted prizes to the Thai royalty, were acquired in the reign of King Rama III, the picture of white elephant was inserted in the Chakra on the red flag. King Rama IV, considering that the Chakra had been reserved only for the monarchy, ordered the removal of the Chakra out of the flag.

Therefore, the elephant flag was raised over both state and private ships. In 1914, at the royal command of King Rama VI, the official flag was the red elephant flag portraying the decorated white elephant positioned on the stand while the merchant flag was the striped red and white flag.

In 1917, taking note that the striped red and white flag was not so majestic, King Rama VI himself redesigned the flag by inserting the ark blue in the middle of the flag and named it “Trirong” or tricolour. The “Trirong” flag was proclaimed the Thai national flag on October 1, 1917, and was to be used in the public and private sectors alike. It consists of five horizontal bands of, from the top, red, white, a wider dark blue white and red. In the modern Thai flag the monarchy is represented by blue; Buddhism, by white and the Thai nation by red.

During the First World War, the “Trirong” flag was flown among the flags of the allied countries. On March 16, 1918, King Rama VI graciously bestowed the Thai Victory flag. The Brass Band played” La Croix” to decorate the Thai victory flag. The Brass Band played “La Marseillaise,” while the French and the Thai soldiers were shouting “Hurrah” harmoniously in their own mother tongues.