Great Crown of Victory

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"The Great Crown of Victory", "exhibit" on Ratchadamnoen Avenue in Bangkok showing the Royal Thai Regalia in honour of the 60th anniversary of H.M. King Bhumibol Adulyadej's ascension to the throne in 2006.

The Great Crown of Victory or Phra Maha Phichai Mongkut (Thai: พระมหาพิชัยมงกุฏ) is one of the Royal Regalia of Thailand. Made of gold in the reign of King Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke or Rama I in 1782, it is 66 centimeters high and weighs 7.3 kg., and enameled in red and green. Thanks to King Mongkut or Rama IV, the Great Crown of Victory is also set in diamonds. The king added a large cut diamond from India to decorate the top of the royal crown, called Phra Maha Wichian Mani.

Currently, the Great Crown of Victory is the most important of the five Royal Regalia, and represents kingship. Yet once, the crown possessed the same importance as any other Royal Regalia. Another item that represented kingship was a Nine-Tiered State Umbrella or Nopa Pradol Maha Sawattra Chat (Thai: นพปฎลมหาเศวตฉัตร), which was an influence of western culture in that the king would accede when crowned in the reign of King Rama V.

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