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Archdiocese of Bangkok

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Archdiocese of Bangkok
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In a land area of 18,831 square kilometers, the archdiocesan territory includes Bangkok, Samut Prakan, Nonthaburi, Samut Sakhon, Pathum Thani, Ayutthaya, Ang Thong, Nakhon Pathom, Suphan Buri, 3/5 of Chachoengsao and Amphoe (district) Ban Na of Nakhon Nayok.

The Eccleciastical Province of Bangkok comprises the Metropolitan Bangkok archdiocese with suffragan Dioceses of Ratchaburi, Chanthaburi, Chiang Mai, Nakhon Sawan and Surat Thani. 

The Eccleciastical Province capital city of Thailand. However, it is not known by the name Bangkok to Thai people, the actual name in Thai is Krungthepmahanakorn Amornrattanakosin Mahintrayuthaya Mahadilokpob Noparat Rajataniburirom Udomrajanivej Mahasatharn Amornpimarn Awatarnsatis Sakatadtiya Wisanukamprasit. The name is abbreviated for daily use to Krungthep, or Krungthep Mahanakorn, meaning City of Angels.

Population

In Bangkok metropolis, the population is 13,513,698 as of 2015. Most residents are ethnic Thais, with an estimated 25 percent of ethnic Chinese. 

Language

The standard Thai language is in use. English, a mandatory subject in public schools, is widely spoken and understood in business and tourist areas.

History

Bangkok was founded in 1782 by King Rama I, or Phra Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke. Located in the centre of the country, straddling the banks of Chao Phraya River and close to the Gulf of Thailand, the greater Bangkok Metropolis (including Thon Buri on the other side of Chao Phraya River) covers an area of about 1,600 square kilometers. Bangkok is adjacent to Pathum Thani in the north, Nonthaburi in the northwest, Chachoengsao in the east, Samut Sakhon southwest, and Samut Prakan in southeast. 

The birth of Bangkok as a capital was due to the fall of its former Krung Sri Ayutthaya in the middle of 18th century. Ayutthaya, an ancient capital of 417 years old, was fallen and destroyed by Burmese troops. Thai people were being held captives under the Burmese rule for over a decade. A nobleman named Taksin led Thai people to fight against the Burmese troop. His army defeated the Burmese, driving them back to their country. After surveying the destruction of Ayutthaya, he decided to establish the new capital called Krung Thonburi because Ayutthaya was too large for his small army to protect as a stronghold and the damage seems irreparable. He was later named King Taksin the Great and ruled over Krung Thonburi for 14 years. 

King Taksin was overthrown by a group of his own noblemen who betrayed him and seized power while his army was waging war with the Khmer. This army was led by King Taksin's most beloved commander Yodfa Chulaloke, who quickly returned to put down the rebels. Although he won, it was too late as King Taksin and members of the royal family were all assassinated. Yodfa Chulaloke saw that Krung Thonburi would be too small to be a capital, he then moved the capital to another side of Chao Phraya River in 1782, which is today Bangkok. He succeeded the throne as Rama I, the first monarch of the present Chakri Dynasty. The present king is King Bhumipol Adulyadej, or Rama IX. 

In 1932, a revolution was staged and the political system was changed into constitutional monarchy. Bangkok on the east bank known as Krung Thep or Phra Nakhon became a province and Thon Buri on the west bank became another province. In 1971, the two provinces were merged under the name of Nakhon Luang Krung Thon Buri or Bangkok-Thon Buri Metropolis. One year later, the form of local government in the metropolis was reorganized and the province obtained a new name as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or popularly called Krung Thep for short. Bangkok is now a bustling city with a population with nearly 6 millions as it is the center of administration, transportation, business, communications, education and entertainment. 

Climate

Rainy season begins in June to October; hot from March to May; and cool from November to February. The average temperature is about 29 degree Celsius with the monthly averages ranging from 35 degree Celsius in April to 26 degree Celsius in December.

Topography

Bangkok is located in the basin of Chao Phraya River and has no mountains. The land is crisscrossed with canals and rivers.

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