View source for Monthon

{{Short description|Former country subdivision of Thailand}}
[[File:Administrative Division of Siam in 1900.png|thumb|349x349px|Administrative Division of Siam in 1900]]
'''''Monthon''''' ({{langx|th|มณฑล}}), also known as '''''Monthon Thesaphiban''''' ({{IAST|Maṇḍala Dēśābhipāla}}; Mṇṯhl Theṣ̄āp̣hibāl; {{Langx|th|มณฑลเทศาภิบาล}}, {{lit|circle of local government}}), were [[Administrative divisions of Thailand|administrative subdivisions of Thailand]] at the beginning of the 20th century. The Thai word ''monthon'' is a translation of the word ''[[mandala]]'' (''{{IAST|maṇḍala}}'', literally "[[Circle (administrative division)|circle]]"), in its sense of a [[Mandala (Southeast Asian political model)|type of political formation]]. The monthon were created as a part of the ''Thesaphiban'' ({{lang|th|เทศาภิบาล}}, literally "local government") [[bureaucracy|bureaucratic]] administrative system, introduced by Prince [[Damrong Rajanubhab]] which, together with the monthon, established step-by-step today's present [[Provinces of Thailand|provinces]] (''changwat''), districts (''[[amphoe]]''), and communes (''[[tambon]]'') throughout [[Thailand]]. Each monthon was led by a royal commissioner called ''Thesaphiban'' (เทศาภิบาล), later renamed to ''Samuhathesaphiban'' (สมุหเทศาภิบาล). The system was officially adopted by the 1897 Local Administration Act, after some monthon had been established and administrative details were sorted out.

== History ==
{{further|Mueang|Southeast Asian political model|Tusi}}
[[File:Siam in 1893, During Rama V's Reign.jpg|left|thumb|The Establishment of Monthons in 1893]]
Before the ''Thesaphiban'' reforms, the country consisted of partially independent cities called ''[[mueang]]'', some directly subordinate to the capital, some subordinate to larger ''mueang'', or to one or more of the [[tributary state|tributary kingdom]]s. Before the reforms, [[governor]]s inherited their posts from their family lineage, and lived on taxes they collected in their area, a practice formally called [[Farm (revenue leasing)|tax farming]]. These were converted from hereditary governors to appointed governmental posts, as had been done by Chinese [[Yuan dynasty|Yuan]], [[Ming dynasty|Ming]], and [[Qing dynasty|Qing]]-era rulers in first recognizing [[Tusi]] (tribal leaders) as imperial officials, then replacing them with imperial appointees. The arrangement resulted in governors being appointed and paid by the central government, and ''mueang'' developed into [[provinces of Thailand|provinces]]. An essential step in the ending of tax farming was the creation on 3 September 1885 of the [[Royal Thai Survey Department|Royal Survey Department]]. Though its first fruits were not obtained until 1901, the department's [[cadastral survey]]s,  i.e., surveys of specific land parcels, made possible the defining of ownership for [[land registration]] and equitable [[taxation]]. The term ''changwat'' (จังหวัด) for the provinces was first used in 1907 for the provinces in Monthon Pattani, and by 1916 had come into general use.

== Resistance to reform ==
It took till around 1910 to implement the system throughout the country. The main reason for the slow implementation was the lack of suitably educated officials,<ref>{{cite book |title=Twentieth century impressions of Siam |author= W. G. Johnson|editor1-last= Wright|editor1-first= Arnold |editor2-last= Breakspear|editor2-first= Oliver T. |year= 2008 |orig-year= 1908 |publisher= Lloyds Greater Britain Publishing Co |location=London|page=276|chapter= Education |quote= Siam has progressed so rapidly of late years, and the machinery of Government has been reorganised and perfected so quickly, that it requires all the efforts of the Education Department to produce from its schools the supply of men capable of taking up the posts in the Government service|url=https://archive.org/download/twentiethcentury00wrigrich/twentiethcentury00wrigrich.pdf |access-date= January 28, 2012}}</ref> but also the resistance of the traditional local leaders, which recalled the 1768–1770 resistance of the monk Chao Phra Faang to [[Thonburi Kingdom#Reestablishment of Siamese authority|Thonburi reestablishment of Siamese authority]]. In 1902 along both banks of the [[Mekong]], local revolts ({{lang|th-Latn|Prakottakan Phi Bun}} {{lang|th|ปรากฏการณ์ผีบุญ}}) led by charismatic religious leaders called ''holy man'' or {{lang|th-Latn|phi bun}} ({{lang|th|ผีบุญ}}) broke out. The most serious of these was led by east-bank rebel [[Ong Keo]] against French authority in the former Thai tributary [[kingdom of Champasak]]. On the west bank in the area of [[Ubon Ratchathani]], a less-well known former monk and ''phi bun'' headed a [[millenarian]] sect inspired by his [[Apocalypse|apocalyptic prophecies]], which spread [[fear, uncertainty and doubt]] among almost all the peoples along both banks of the river. The Bangkok government put down west bank resistance with little use of force, and cooperated with [[French Indochina]] officials insofar as limiting Thai authority to the west bank, later called [[Isan]]. East bank resistance however had no definitive end and became subsumed into the [[Second Indochina War]].<ref>{{cite web
 |url          = http://atcloud.com/stories/38562
 |script-title = th:บทความ ปรากฏการณ์ผีบุญ
 |access-date   = September 21, 2011
 |work         = blog
 |publisher    = @cloud
 |language     = th
 |quote        = เป็นกระทงร้อน มากกว่า 2 ปีพจนานุกรมฉบับราชบัณฑิตยสถาน ให้ความหมายของ ผีบุญ ไว้ว่า ผู้อวดคุณวิเศษว่ามีฤทธิ์ทําได้ต่าง ๆ อย่างผีสางเทวดาให้คนหลงเชื่อ
 |url-status      = dead
 |archive-url   = https://web.archive.org/web/20100122010745/http://atcloud.com/stories/38562
 |archive-date  = January 22, 2010
}}</ref><ref name="JSS_062_1e_Murdoch">{{cite journal | last = Murdoch | first =John B|year= 1974|title=The 1901-1902 Holy Man's Rebellion 
|journal= [[Journal of the Siam Society]]|volume= 62 |issue= 1|publisher= Siam Heritage Trust |url= http://www.siamese-heritage.org/jsspdf/1971/JSS_062_1e_Murdoch_1901to1902HolyMansRebellion.pdf|access-date= 2 April 2013}}</ref> Far from the Mekong, resistance to reform continued into the 21st century in the [[Southern Thailand insurgency]].

== Further development ==
In 1915 there were 19 monthons containing 72 provinces. Due to economic problems, several monthon were merged in 1925. Monthon Phetchabun had been dissolved in 1915. Only 14 monthon remained: Ayutthaya, Bangkok (Krung Thep), Chanthaburi, Nakhon Chaisi, Nakhon Ratchasima, Nakhon Sawan, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Pattani, Phayap, Phitsanulok, Phuket, Prachinburi, Ratchaburi, and Udon Thani. In 1932 another four were abolished: Chanthaburi, Nakhon Chaisi, Nakhon Sawan, and Pattani.<ref name="ABOLITION">{{cite journal |date=21 February 1931 |title=ประกาศ เรื่องยุบรวมท้องที่บางมณฑลและบางจังหวัด |trans-title=Notice: Abolition of some monthons and provinces |url=http://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2474/A/576.PDF |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080409015327/http://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2474/A/576.PDF |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 9, 2008 |access-date=15 April 2020 |journal=Royal Thai Government Gazette |volume=48 |pages=576–578}}</ref> Finally in 1933 the whole monthon system was abolished by the ''Provincial Administration Act 2476 B.E./A.D. 1933'', part of the changes made after the [[Siamese coup d'état of 1932|coup d'état]], which changed from an absolute to a constitutional monarchy, and the 70 provinces to second-level administrative divisions.

==List of monthons==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!'''Monthon'''
!'''มณฑล'''
!Established
!Fate
!Constituent Provinces and Polities
|-
|'''Lao  Klang'''
|'''ลาวกลาง'''
|1890
|'''1893 -''' renamed Monthon Nakhon Ratchasima 
|
# Buriram (joined 1891)
# Chonnabot
# Nakhon Ratchasima
# Nang Rong (joined 1891)
# Phetchabun
# Phu Khiao
# Phu Wiang (until 1891)
#* abolished
# Pra Khon Chai (joined 1891)
# Wichianburi
|-
|'''Lao  Tawan Ok'''
|'''ลาวตะวันออก'''
|1890
|'''1891 -''' merged with Monthon Lao Tawan Ok Chiang Nua becoming Monthon Lao Kao
|
# Ubon
# Khemmarat
# Yasothon
# Suwannaphum
# Roi Et
# Kalasin
# Phu Len Chang
# Sisaket
# Wang
# Phin
# Chepon
|-
|'''Lao Tawan Ok Chiang Nua'''
|'''ลาวตะวันออกเฉียงเหนือ'''
|1890
|'''1891 -''' merged with Monthon Lao Tawan Ok becoming Monthon Lao Kao
|
# Kingdom of Champassak
# Chiang Taeng
# Saen Pang
# Sitandon
# Khamtong Luang
# Salawan
# Attapeu
# Det Udom
# Khukhan
# Surin
# Sangkha
|-
|'''Lao  Phuan'''
|'''ลาวพวน'''
|1890
|'''1893 -''' renamed Monthon Udon after ceding the west bank of the Mekong.
|
# Nong Khai
# Chiang Khouang
# Kamuttasai
# Lom Sak
# Khon Kaen
# Khon San
# Phon Phisai
# Chaiburi
# Nong Han
# Sakon Nakhon
# Tha Uthen
# Borikhan Nikhom
# Kham Kert
# Kham Muen
# Nakhon Panom
# Mukdahan
# Buriram (until 1891)
# Nang Rong (until 1891)
|-
|'''Lao  Kao'''
|'''ลาวกาว'''
|1891
|'''1893 -''' renamed Monthon Isan
|
# Kingdom of Champassak (until 1893)
#* downgraded into a province
# Kalasin
# Maha Sarakham
# Kamalasai
# Phu Len Chang
# Roi Et
# Suwannaphum
# Yasothon
# Khemmarat
# Ubon Ratchathani
# Sisaket
# Khukhan
# Sangkha
# Surin
# Det Udom
# Salawan (until 1893)
# Attapeu (until 1893)
# Saen Pang (until 1893)
# Sitandon (until 1893)
# Chiang Taeng (until 1893)
|-
|'''Lao  Phung Khao'''
|'''ลาวพุงขาว'''
|1893
|'''1893 - abolished''', due to the annexation of territory to [[French Third Republic]]
|
# [[Kingdom of Luang Phrabang]] 
# Principality of Phongsali
|-
|'''Lao  Chiang'''
|'''ลาวเฉียง'''
|1893
|'''1900 -''' renamed into Monthon Tawan Ok Chiang Neua
|
# [[Kingdom of Chiang Mai]]
# [[Principality of Lamphun]]
# [[Principality of Lampang]]
# [[Principality of Nan]]
# [[Principality of Phrae]]
# [[Principality of Thoen]]
|-
|'''Krung  Kao'''
|'''กรุงเก่า'''
|1893
|'''1933 -''' '''abolished''', abolishment of the monthon system
|<u>Establishing Provinces</u>

# Inburi
# Singburi
# Phromburi
# Lopburi
# Krung Kao

<u>Nakhon Sawan Merger</u>

# Nakhon Sawan
# Chai Nat
# Kamphaeng Phet
# Manorom
# Phayuha Khiri
# Sankhaburi
# Tak
# Uthai Thani

<u>Krung Thep Merger</u>

# Phra Nakhon
# Thon Buri
# Nonthaburi
# Pathum Thani
# Nakhon Khuean Khan (until 1932)
# Samut Prakan 
# Thanyaburi (until 1932)
# Min Buri (until 1932)
# Pathum Thani
|-
|'''Prachinburi'''
|'''ปราจิณบุรี'''
|1893
|'''1933 - abolished''', abolishment of the monthon system
|<u>Establishing Provinces</u>

# Prachinburi
# Nakhon Nayok
# Chachoengsao
# Phanat Nikhom (until 1898)
#* merged into ''Bang Pla Soi''
# Bang Pla Soi (renamed in 1938)
#* renamed ''Chonburi''
# Bang Lamung (until 1901)
#* merged into ''Bang Pla Soi''
# Rayong (until 1906)
# Chanthaburi (until 1906)
# Khlung (until 1906)
# Trat (until 1906)
# Prachan Khiri Khet (until 1906)
# Kabunburi (until 1926)
#* merged into ''Prachinburi''

<u>Chanthaburi Merger</u>

# Chanthaburi
# Rayong
# Khlung (until 1906)
#* abolished
# Trat (joined 1906)
|-
|'''Khamen'''
|'''เขมร'''
|1893
|'''1899 -''' renamed Monthon Burapha
|
# Sisophon
# Phanom Sok
# Siemmarat
# Phra Tabong
|-
|'''Nakhon Ratchasima'''
|'''นครราชสีมา'''
|1893
|'''1933 - abolished''', abolishment of the monthon system
|<u>Establishing Provinces</u>

# Nakhon Ratchasima
# Buriram 
# Chonnabot
# Phetchabun (until 1900)
# Phu Khiao (until 1899)
#* merged into ''Chonnabot''
# Wichianburi (until 1907)

<u>Roi Et Merger</u>

# Roi Et
# Kalasin

<u>Ubon Merger</u>

# Ubon Ratchathani
# Khukhan
# Surin
|-
|'''Isan'''
|'''อีสาน'''
|1893
|'''1912 -''' partitioned into Monthon Roi Et and Monthon Ubon
|
# Nakhon Champassak
# Kalasin
# Maha Sarakham
# Kamalasai
# Phu Len Chang (until 1902)
#* merged into ''Kalasin''
# Roi Et
# Suwannaphum (until 1908)
#* merged into ''Roi Et''
# Yasothon
# Khemmarat
# Ubon Ratchathani
# Sisaket
# Khukhan
# Sangkha
# Surin
# Det Udom
|-
|'''Phitsanulok'''
|'''พิษณุโลก'''
|1894
|'''1933 -''' '''abolished''', abolishment of the monthon system
|<u>Establishing Provinces</u>

# Phitsanulok
# Phichai
# Phichit
# Sukhothai
# Sawankhalok
<u>Phetchabun Merger</u>
# Phetchabun
# Lom Sak (until 1931)
#* merged into ''Phetchabun''
|-
|'''Nakhon  Sawan'''
|'''นครสวรรค์'''
|1895
|'''1932 -''' merged into Monthon Krung Kao - Ayutthaya
|
# Nakhon Sawan
# Chai Nat
# Kamphaeng Phet
# Manorom
# Phayuha Khiri
# Sankhaburi
# Tak
# Uthai Thani
|-
|'''Ratchaburi'''
|'''ราชบุรี'''
|1895
|'''1933 -''' '''abolished''', abolishment of the monthon system
|<u>Establishing Provinces</u>

# Ratchaburi
# Kanchanaburi
# Samut Songkhram
# Phetchaburi
# Prachuap Khiri Khan
<u>Nakhon Chai Si Merger</u>
# Nakhon Chai Si
# Samut Sakhon
# Suphan Buri
|-
|'''Nakhon  Chai Si'''
|'''นครไชยศรี'''
|1895
|'''1932 -''' merged into Monthon Ratchaburi
|
# Nakhon Chai Si
# Samut Sakhon
# Suphan Buri
|-
|'''[[Monthon Chumphon|Chumphon]]'''
|'''ชุมพร'''
|1896
|'''1925 -''' merged into Monthon Nakhon Si Thammarat
|
# Chumphon
# Chaiya (until 1915)
#* merged into ''Kanchanadit''
# Kanchanadit
# Lang Suan
|-
|'''[[Monthon Nakhon Si Thammarat|Nakhon Si Thammarat]]'''
|'''นครศรีธรรมราช'''
|1896
|'''1933 -''' '''abolished''', abolishment of the monthon system
|
# Nakhon Si Thammarat
# Phatthalung
# Songkhla
# Nong Chik (until 1906)
# Pattani (until 1906)
# Yaring (until 1906)
# Yala (until 1906)
# Raman (until 1906)
# Ra'Ngae (until 1906)
# Saiburi (until 1906)
# Kalantan (until 1906)
# Trangkanu (until 1906)
# Bersut (until 1899)
#* merged into ''Trangkanu'' 
<u>Pattani Merger</u>
# Pattani
# Yala
# Narathiwat
<u>Chumphon Merger</u>

# Chumphon
# Kanchanadit
# Lang Suan (until 1932)
#* merged into ''Chumphon''
|-
|'''Syburi'''
|'''ไทรบุรี'''
|1897
|'''1909 -''' '''abolished''', due to the annexation of territory to [[French Third Republic|British Empire]]
|
# Kedah
# Perlis
# Satun
|-
|'''Krung  Thep'''
|'''กรุงเทพ'''
|1897
|'''1922 -''' merged into Monthon Krung Kao - Ayutthaya
|
# Phra Nakhon
# Thon Buri
# Nonthaburi
# Pathum Thani
# Nakhon Khuean Khan
# Samut Prakan
# Thanyaburi (joined 1902)
# Min Buri (joined 1901)
# Pathum Thani
|-
|'''Phuket'''
|'''ภูเก็จ'''
|1898
|'''1933 -''' '''abolished''', abolishment of the monthon system
|
# Phuket
# Satun (joined 1909)
# Ranong
# Phang Nga
# Takua Pa
# Krabi
|-
|'''Phetchabun'''
|'''เพชรบูรณ์'''
|1899
1907
|'''1903 -''' merged into Monthon Phitsanulok
'''1916 -''' merged into Monthon Phitsanulok
|
# Lom Sak
# Phetchabun
|-
|'''Burapha'''
|'''บูรพา'''
|1899
|'''1906 - abolished''', due to the annexation of territory to [[French Third Republic]]
|
# Sisophon
# Phanom Sok
# Siemmarat
# Phra Tabong
|-
|'''Tawan Ok Chiang Neua'''
|'''ตะวันตกเฉียงเหนือ'''
|1900
|'''1901 -''' renamed into Monthon Phayap
|
# Chiang Mai
# Lamphun
# Lampang
# Phrae
# Thoen
# Nan
|-
|'''Phayap'''
|'''พายัพ'''
|1901
|'''1933 - abolished''', abolishment of the monthon system
|
# Chiang Mai
# Chiang Rai (joined 1910)
# Lamphun
# Lampang
# Phrae
# Thoen
# Nan
|-
|'''Udon'''
|'''อุดร'''
|1901
|'''1933 - abolished''', abolishment of the monthon system
|
# Nong Khai
# Kamuttasai
# Lom Sak (until 1899)
# Loei (joined 1899)
#* partitioned from ''Lom Sak''
# Khon Kaen
# Phon Phisai (until 1906)
# Chaiburi (until 1916)
# Nong Han (until 1908)
#* merged into Udon Thani
# Udon Thani (joined 1908)
# Sakon Nakhon
# Tha Uthen (until 1907)
# Nakhon Panom
# Mukdahan
|-
|'''Pattani'''
|'''ปัตตานี'''
|1906
|'''1932 -''' merged into Monthon Nakhon Si Thammarat
|
# Pattani 
# Nong Chik (until 1906)
#* merged into ''Pattani'' 
# Yaring (until 1906)
#* merged into ''Pattani'' 
# Yala
# Raman (until 1906)
#* merged into ''Yala''
# Ra'Ngae (until 1909) 
#* merged into ''Narathiwat'' 
# Saiburi (until 1932)
#* abolished
# Kalantan (until 1906) 
#* ceded
# Trangkanu (until 1906)
#* ceded
# Narathiwat (joined 1909)
|-
|'''Chanthaburi'''
|'''จันทบุรี'''
|1906
|'''1933 -''' merged into Prachinburi
|
# Chanthaburi
# Rayong
# Khlung (until 1906)
#* abolished
# Trat (joined 1906)
|-
|'''Roi  Et'''
|'''ร้อยเอ็จ'''
|1912
|'''1932 -''' merged into Nakhon Ratchasima
|
# Kalasin
# Maha Sarakham (until 1925)
#* merged into ''Kalasin''
# Kamalasai (until 1913)
#* merged into ''Kalasin''
# Roi Et
|-
|'''Ubon'''
|'''อุบล'''
|1912
|'''1932 -''' merged into Nakhon Ratchasima
|
# Yasothon (until 1912)
#* merged into ''Ubon Ratchathani''
# Khemmarat (until 1912)
#* merged into ''Ubon Ratchathani''
# Ubon Ratchathani
# Sisaket (until 1907)
#* merged into ''Khukhan''
# Khukhan
# Sangkha (until 1912)
#* merged into ''Surin''
# Surin
# Det Udom (until 1912)
#* merged into ''Khukhan''
|-
|'''Maharat'''
|'''มหาราษฎร์'''
|1915
|'''1926 -''' merged into Monthon Phayap
|
# Chiang Rai
# Lampang
# Phrae
# Nan
|}
[[File:Map of Siam's subdivision.png|thumb|422x422px|Boriwen Map]]

* Monthon Lao Chiang is the same as Monthon Phayap, to ease understanding in this table but in all cases, they are the same.
* Monthon Lao Kao which became Monthon Isan, and Monthon Lao Phuan which became Monthon Udon.
* The use of the name is up to interpretation and use on case by case basis, but name changes occurs due to Rama V integration policy of minorities and achieving assimilation.
* Province merger not shown, only monthon partition and merger are

==Boriwen==
The larger monthon Phayap, Udon Thani, and Isan had an additional administrative level between monthon and provincial administration. Three to five ''[[boriwen]]'' (บริเวณ), each administered by a commissioner (''khaluang boriwen'', ข้าหลวงบริเวณ).

==See also==
* [[Administrative divisions of Thailand]]
* [[Mandala (Southeast Asian political model)]]
* [[Mueang]]
* [[Native Chieftain System]]
* [[Seals of the provinces of Thailand#Past provinces|Past provinces of Thailand]]
* [[Royal Thai Survey Department]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== Further reading ==
* {{cite book | author = Damrong Rajanubhab | author-link = Damrong Rajanubhab | location = Bangkok | publisher = Matichon | script-title=th:เทศาภิบาล |trans-title=Thesaphiban | date = 2002 | isbn = 9743227814 | url = http://dl.parliament.go.th/bitstream/handle/lirt/337870/2545_%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%97%E0%B8%A8%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A0%E0%B8%B4%E0%B8%9A%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A5_%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%A1%E0%B8%9E%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B0%E0%B8%A2%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%94%E0%B8%B3%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%87%E0%B8%AF_%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%A0.pdf | language = th }}
*{{cite book|author=Tej Bunnag|title=The Provincial Administration of Siam, 1892-1915: the Ministry of the Interior under Prince Damrong Rajanubhab|isbn=0-19-580343-4|location=Kuala Lumpur|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=1977}}
* {{cite book | author = Tej Bunnag | location = Bangkok | publisher = Thammasat University Press | script-title=th:การปกครองระบบเทศาภิบาลของประเทศสยาม พ.ศ. 2435–2458 |trans-title=The Provincial Administration of Siam, 1892–1915: the Ministry of the Interior under Prince Damrong Rajanubhab | date = 2005 | isbn = 9745719374 | edition = 2nd | url = http://dl.parliament.go.th/bitstream/handle/lirt/336748/2548_%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%9B%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%84%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%87_%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%95%E0%B8%8A_%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%A0.pdf | language = th }}

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20040810020207/http://bangkokcouncil.bma.go.th/PHP-Nuke-5.3.1/article.php?sid=29 History of the Bangkok Metropolitan Council]

{{Terms for types of administrative territorial entities}}

[[Category:Monthon| ]]
[[Category:Subdivisions of Thailand]]
[[Category:Types of administrative division]]
[[Category:History of Thailand]]