State policy and cross-cultural marriage in Siamese social history (1605-1932)

This article aims to explore the origin of laws controlling cross-cultural marriage issued by the State of Siam (the early name for Thailand) and the dynamics of these laws. The study uses primarily the historical research method and analyzes the documents and evidence, including old laws, announcements, petitions, lawsuits, reports of ministerial meetings, royal commands, correspondences, notes, etc. that occurred during the period prior to the administrative change to a democratic system (1605-1932). The study finds that the state, after its first contact with Western nations in the Ayutthaya period, issued a law that controlled an individual's sexual relationships. Initially, the law that was issued during the Phra Ekathotsarot period (1605-1620) controlled the families of women who were married to Westerners or to men of religions other than Buddhism. In case of violation, the most severe penalty was death. Later, during the time of Somdet Phra Narai (1656-1688), an announcement was made that controlled sexual relationships of both women and men. In case of violation, again, death was the most severe form of punishment. In addition, families who allowed their children to have sexual relationships with Westerners or people of other religions were also punished. However, the cross-cultural marriage restrictions among people of lower classes were eased during the time of King Rama V, when the Thai state promulgated an act on marriage for foreigners. The exception concerned male royalty and government officials, who needed state permission to marry a foreigner. And, importantly, the royal law that was revised in 1924 added cross-cultural marriage as an additional condition disallowing enthronement. This shows that, since the time of Ayutthaya, there was a consistent change in the Siamese State policy on foreigners and people of other religions, as well as a linkage between sexual relationships and state security.