NationStates Jolt Archive


The Most Heavenly Kingdom of Siam {Imperial 1872}

Waldenburg 2
23-05-2006, 23:38
Long Form: The Most Heavenly Kingdom of Siam
Short Form: Siam

Government Type: Complete Monarchy
Capital Bangkok
Population: 8,780,000
Head of State: His Majesty King Rama V

Current Holdings:
Modern Day Thailand
Modern Day Laos


It is amazing that the Kingdom of Siam has not been colonized by foreign powers and remains the only Asian Kingdom to so far untouched by barbarian foreigners. This is perhaps it is one of the richest kingdoms in Asia and there, and France and the UK would tare each other apart in an effort to stick it’s flag in it’s soil. In essence Siam is only deemed to exist as a buffer state between England and France’s colonies. Through this position Siam has only grown stronger with little foreign interest however Vietnamese jungle fighter have left their colonized country and taken up residence in the Northern jungles, which vexes the King.

Army:

Siam has always had a very strong military tradition and the King is free to Conscript at his will although no national conscription has been passed. The standing army of Siam is about 350,000 organized to a European style. The army has not been full modernized, not even close. Most of the army carries old muskets bought from the English in about 1830. Even through the actions of a line of modern kings have raised standards there are even battalions fighting with spears and the long Warhani swords that should have left armies 400 years ago. However perhaps in the thick jungles having a sword behind the back might be better then a million bullets.

The Army make up by weapons is:
100,000 Traditional weapons\Muskets before 1800
200,000 with Brown Bess/Other Cheap old muskets
20,000 In artillery and ordnance
25,000 Armed with Modern repeating Rifles (Colts mostly)
5,000 Serving amongst the Islands as a mercenary force (Weapons unknown)


The future is near as the first modern armoury was built in 1874 in Bangkok, but so far this has only produced a handful of weapons. Rama V is desperately getting his army up to date as his neighbors seem to be wielding repeating weapons and machine guns instead of fruit which is customary.

Navy:

2 Gunboats given to the King in 1870 by the English.

Other then that the navy mostly consist of old junks and a very limited number of SOTL’s.


Economy:

Natural Resources:

Siam ruled most of South East Asia for the last 300 years and tribute builds up. Also for the longest time Siam has produced rubber and, and other cash crops, which usually stayed to itself but…. Gold, Gems, and Iron from Laos is the modern top earners especially gems. The gem production from Laos so far beats out all Gem production of the rest of Southeast Asia, Australia, and Oceania put together. If used properly Siam could become a very wealthy country.

Trade:

Like most other countries Siam was, up till very recently an isolationist country. The fact that it opened up perhaps saved it. Siam has signed agreements with most of the major European nations. (England, France, Spain Portugal, Dutch, and The United States) Most of those countries except England and the US have been politely ignored and trade with them has been slow.


Agriculture:

Siam is one of the most fertile countries in the world and even now exports .5 million tons of rice a year. Even this is considered slow by Siam’s standards, since the abolition of slavery Agriculture has suffered.

Economy:


Agriculture: Excellent
Industry: Poor
Natural resources: Excellent
Infrastructure: Poor\Moderate
Trade: Poor (With Great Britain & US)
Labour Relations: (A bit hard to tell, my guess would be about poor, since Siam did away with slavery.)




Religion:

The state Religion is Buddhist and the population is happy with it. The Clergy though are extremely displeased about Christian Missionaries coming a promising their flock a life of shame and difficulty. For the most part Christians have made little headway, but that does not stop the Buddhist monks from the occasional stoning of a Christian, who is quite surprising as Buddhists are supposed to be peaceful monks, but on the other hand Catholic Bishops are supposed to be poor.
Waldenburg 2
27-05-2006, 20:40
In a relization that Siam is engulfed by enemies it has quietly begin building it's army and navy into a stronger force. 28 Junks and 4 Frigates are being Iron clad in an experimental dockyard in Bangkok. Only recently has Siam began to extract the Iron ore and smelt it, before it had a very limited use. The new Iron clad fleet will be armoured only very lightly and used in Siam's rivers and for costal defence. In comparison to Colonial fleets in the area it is still just a pathetic display of enthusiasim, as Siam's ships will be without engines and will in consequence of armour and sail power will move rather slowly. Armament is also a problem as most of Siam's cannons are only marginally better then those used by China in the Opium Wars.

The other half of the bill the King set into effect states the Amry shall be reorganizied on a newer standard then the tactics of Napolean. Right now the King offers to Open up Siam's ports, and pay in gold a large fee to whichever nation promises officers to train his men and weapon contracts to arm them. Letters will be sent to the US and Great Britain first requesting armament.



OOC I know mandate of Heaven was a pre-Quin Dynasty term used to choose the emperor but I like the sound of it...
Waldenburg 2
27-05-2006, 23:57
On the abolishment of slavery agriculture fell in most of Siam as the newly freed slaves left the country. Now only 1/4 of the extremely fertile and large Mekong valley is properly used. The King issued a statement proclaiming that any family immigrating to Siam will be given 50 acres of the valley to cultivate as their own land. This statement is mostly pointed at the poor Chinesse in the Spheres of influence holding over most of China. Each family immigrating to Siam will be granted full citizenship and protection under His Majesty King Rama V. If agriculture is not their particular wish then more government sponsered jobs are offered in the mines of Laos. If all else fails then of course they will be allowed to join the Army.
Waldenburg 2
30-05-2006, 22:18
With a council of senior generals today, His Majesty King Rama V annexed the island of Kepulauan Natuna in the South China Sea. The Dutch have had their eye on it for some while and in an attempt to stop the fluxation of Southeastren Asian powers The king ordered it's 15,000 population brought under the control of Siam.

4,000 Troops under Lt. General Tashor Ungrot recievied a blessing from one of Siam's Lama's before departing the country. There is a slight foriegn presence on the island but no nation has claimed it yet except Siam. A squadron of 1 SOTL, 2 frigates (One Armoured) and 21 Junks set out from Bangkok with the troops. There is expected to be little to no resistance as the islanders have no suitable arms. The few European people there shall be allowed to stay on their lands provided they pay the correct taxes to Siam's government for being there. Once arrived and in control of the island the troops shall begin to build a minature port and wait for ships to arrive from Siam. The soldiers shall be replaced by sailors who will begin to build Siam's first foriegn naval base.

Also the island shall be used as one of the very few places foriegners can land and conduct business. Even though it is quite far away from Siam, it is a large island and hopefully will attract some foriegn attention.
Waldenburg 2
03-06-2006, 17:07
Siam has never had a land holding nobility answerable to the crown. Even with the Kingdom becoming more complex the King has held complete power. All that has changed suddenly as the king sat down for an hour instead of frantically modernizing his country or continuing the royal line even more... 8 of Siam's Lama's have been given Feudal titles and and territories to govern for the "betterment of the people." This in it's self would not be entirely clever unless the observer weighed in the incrediable wealth of the Buhhdist Church. Government came second to ornamenting buildings with golden domes and spires. In excepting these titles the Monestaries have been nationalizied and the wealth technically belongs to the country.

The king would not loot the temples directly but taxes do exsist on property and the amount of wealth. However the Lamas did not completely lose out on this deal the peasentry of the given conties now pay taxes to the Lamas. In the end the Church, get's slightly less, the Crown get's slightly more, and the people get eternal salvation, but less money.

Chiang Mai Province was the main grab by the Church as it is part of the Golden Triangle, an opium growing cartel that was mainly responsible for supplying drugs to the English. It looks as though the Church will destroy this to as it is a obstruction on the path to salvation. The King has always looked the other way on it as it was the main income of the province, now they shall have to farm or become labourers in the Laos mines. With the small coronation ceremony one Lama has been voted Temporal leader of the armed forces of the provinces. 30,000 Of the army now hold their homes only through the goodness of the Church, and have a new more passionate leader. These soldiers are being called the Divine Legion, but not very loudly so the King or the Lamas don't hear. They are being armed and made ready it is expected that there shall be more expansion of Siam before the decade is over.
Of the council of clan
05-06-2006, 17:29
OOC: you do remember that Siam only exists because the french and british wanted a buffer between their colonies. You've got the British to the west, the french to the east and the English again to the south. Unless your thinking of china, I'd rethink your expansion strategy. Oh and let me know if your trying to start another Opium war. That could be fun.
Waldenburg 2
05-06-2006, 21:41
OOC Yes, I just wanted a island with some foriegn trade without Frenchmen moving in on Siam itself. Anyway I resolved not to be quite as Imperialistic but I'll still have to push matters a bit.
Waldenburg 2
13-06-2006, 03:15
OOC Shove.

SIC

The Golden Triangle was not destroyed unlike popular belief but hundreds of Chests of Opium have been siezed by a combined force of Royal troops and the Divine Legion. All of the chests were sent to Bangkok under Royal order to be "destroyed." The King, after spending hours pacing back and forth has decided to make a bit of cash. Royal agents under random national flags are to sell the opium secretly at ports such as Calcutta, Singapore, and most of the Southeast asian countires. This plan has been thought out well. Only a small amount will be released right away, only enough to addict the population not supply them.

China lost most of it's section of the golden triangle after the Opium Wars and the spheres of Influence. Burma, lost most of it's when the British invaded. Only Siam has kept it's drug producing market up to date and is the only major supplier left in SE Asia. These leaves Siam with a monopoly on the Drug, but still with believable deniabillity. Several Companies that certainly do not exsist, have been formed and are planning drug trafficing and production of Opium. It is hoped by certain members of those companies that drug production will overcome even mining in income. At any rate it will turn most of Siam's enemies into dribbling addicts.