Editing Vajiravudh (section)

==Attempted coup==
{{main|Palace Revolt of 1912}}

{{Chakri Kings}}
[[File:Siamese 1912 plotters130 02.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Photograph of Palace Revolt of 1912 key plotters]]
Radicals expected a new constitution upon the coronation of Vajiravudh. However, no constitution was forthcoming. In 1911, the [[Wuchang Uprising]] that led to the fall of [[Qing dynasty]] prompted Siamese radicals to act. So, for the first time in Siam, an attempt was made to overthrow the monarchy and establish democracy.

The immediate cause, however, occurred even before Vajiravudh's coronation. In 1909, Crown Prince Vajiravudh ordered a [[Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy|Thai Royal Military Academy]] student who had had an argument with one of Vajiravudh's pages to be caned. Academy alumni were further provoked by Vajiravudh's creation of the [[Wild Tiger Corps]], seen by the army as a threat to their prerogatives.

The plotters were relatively young army and naval officers, students during the 1909 incident. The coup was planned for 1 April—the traditional Siamese [[Songkran|New Year's Day]]. They planned to elevate one of Vajiravudh's half brothers, Prince [[Raphi Phatthanasak]], to be the first [[presidential system|president]] of Siam. They believed that, if the absolute monarchy were removed, Siam would achieve modernization as in Japan under [[Emperor Taishō]]. The coup leaders accused the king of devoting his time to writing and acting in theatrical plays with his companions. They also accused him of living a luxurious Western-style life, building [[Sanam Chan Palace]] and [[Lumphini Park]], and owning expensive horses from Australia, while preaching austerity and nationalism to his subjects. The counter-argument is that the assertions were political and his developments were for the good of the state, in terms of impressing visiting dignitaries, or developing assets for the nation. Rama VI donated Lumphini Park, originally an exhibition ground on royal land, to the public in 1925 at his expense.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Klomsuan|first=Kantika|title=The Siamese Kingdom Exhibition|year=2013|location=Bangkok|language=Thai}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=7 May 2021|title=The First Siamese Kingdom International Expo in the Reign of King Rama VI|url=https://www.silpa-mag.com/history/article_67044|website=silpa-mag.com}}</ref>

The coup plan was leaked. Captain Yut Kongyu, who was selected as the assassin by [[lottery]], told ''Mom Chao'' Prawatpan, and then Prince [[Chakrabongse]], of the intended coup. Prince Chakrabongse arrested all the conspirators. Their sentences were severe, ranging from execution to long-term imprisonment. However, Vajiravudh rescinded the punishments and released the plotters, saying that what they did was for the sake of the kingdom.