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The military history of Thailand has been central to the country's development since Siam gained independence from the Khmer empire, with frequent wars against neighbouring powers. Compulsory military service and cannon were introduced in the sixteenth century. A professional class of officers was created as part of the internal reforms of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, as Siam became threatened by the western powers' imperial expansions. Military dictators dominated Thai politics from the end of the absolute monarchy in 1932.
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