Thailand is a unitary state, which means the territories are separated into central co-dependencies, with the central government deciding everything for the provinces. The kingdom is separated into multiple levels including regions, provinces, and many more. Though, formally, Thailand is separated into three levels: provinces, districts, and sub-districts, there are also informal divisions such as parimonthon, and phak. Furthermore, there are administrative divisions of the same level with different names such as the first-level divisions of the province and the special administrative region.
The governance is separated into two branches, regular and municipal administration. The regular administration is governed by the central government directly, with the municipal administration being given more autonomy by the central government, though still heavily restricted due to the over centralization of the Thai administrative system. This system arose during Rama V's reign where the governing system of the Kingdom of Siam was changing rapidly due to westernization.
Provincial administrative divisions Provinces
Changwat () or provinces is the first level of administration, the highest level, of Thailand. Thailand is separated into 76 provinces, though commonly mistaken as 77 provinces due to Bangkok's former status as a province itself. This is the highest level of administrative division within the kingdom. Each of the provinces are led by governor. The changwat is responsible for implementing state policy and enforcing laws.
Governance The provinces are governed by a governor appointed by the central government. Specifically, the Ministry of the Interior is a part of the Bangkok Government. The norm for naming the provinces is using the provincial capital as the name, which is why they are called namesake cities. A notable difference from history was during the post-Franco-Siamese crisis period when there was a DMZ around the border which falls on the Mekong river. During this time, there was a province called Nong Khai but the capital was in Ban Makkhaeng. A province is administered by a governor (ผู้ว่าราชการจังหวัด) who is appointed by the Minister of Interior. The provinces are named after their namesake cities, a cities which were the "capital" at the time of its founding. Also, in several provinces the administration has been moved into a new building outside the city.
History
Ayutthaya Kingdom
Most provinces date back to the time of subservient city-states, chiefdoms, and even vassal kingdoms. The polity was called muangs, not to be confused with modern muangs which means cities, which had their own satellite muangs. Traditionally ruled by a local ruling family, these muangs had a high level of autonomy. The highest king of these muangs, phaya or khun luang, though the titles changes over history, ruled these muangs through a system of tributes. The king did not have much control over these muangs which lead to uprisings and rebellions. During the war, these muangs often switched sides which leads to the downfall of the Ayutthaya Kingdom.
The provinces were separated into two classes and four different levels. +Ayutthaya's Administration DivisionLevelsFirstSecondThirdForthCentralWiang (เวียง)Wang (วัง)Khlang (คลัง)Na (นา)VassalMuang Luk Luang (เมืองลูกหลวง)Inner Hua Muang (หัวเมืองชั้นใน)Outer Hua Muang (หัวเมืองชั้นนอก)Muang Prathetsarat (เมืองประเทศราช)
Rattanakosin Kingdom
During this era, nothing changed much at the beginning. But when the western colonial powers started to eye the region, The Siamese government took to reform their administrative division into a form that much resembles the modern structure. In 1882, much of the current political geography of Siam had changed drastically. Rama V, who had been ramping up the reformation of Siam, had devised a plan to divide Siam into several levels of administration. During this era, the province wasn't the highest level of division. This falls to the monthon and the vassal kingdoms. At the time, Siam was a minor power, controlling several minor kingdoms on their frontiers with the major colonial powers. By, 1892, much of the divisions had already been formed, though this is far from modern Thailand's divisional structure, and by 1900 most of the territory gained during the rule of Rama III were lost to France and Britain.
In 1908, a new division called boriwen was introduced, though later abolished due to its overlapping duties with other local governments, and the bureaucratic costs to maintain the divisions.
In 1932, there were major reforms all over the kingdom, monthon was abolished, provinces merged, and several other divisions dissolved into higher divisions to cut costs. The former provinces that were lost are merged into other provinces or ceded to western powers.
During the 20th century, a massive reform occurred gradually over the century, which saw the formation of several provinces through partitions. The newest province is Bueng Kan which split from Nong Khai on 23 March 2011.
Current and Former Capital of Thailand CITY-STATES ERAMany dozen Tai-ethic city-states existed from 0 AD to 1000 AD. Tais migrated into southeast Asia, then occupied and replace the native inhabitants.Dvaravati CivilizationsAsadvarapura KingdomLavo KingdomKamlanka KingdomSyamapura KingdomSinghanavati KingdomAse (Phraek Si Racha) 800s. - 950s.Lavo (Lopburi) 468-1082Ayojjhapura 400s. - 700s.Yonok Nakhon Chaiburi Ratchathani Si Chang Saen (BC) 673-467 (AD)
Capital DestroyedPhitsanulok 950s. - 1000s..Manohana unknown - 590s.Sambuka (Nakhon Pathom) 700s. - 800s.
DisintegrationPhetchaburi 1000s. - 1050s.Sambuka (Nakhon Pathom) 590s. - 1100s.Vieng Preuksa 545-638
Kingdom Reestablished, Capital MovedAse (Phraek Si Racha) 1050s. - 1080s.Chai Nat 1080s. - 1100s.Sambukapatthana 1100s.-1200s.
DisintegrationWendan StatesSing Buri 1100s. - 1180s.Kantharawichai 580-800s.
Annexed by Khmer EmpireSiam Confederation 1080-1351 (as a confederation) 1351-1438 (seat in Ayutthaya)Haripunchai KingdomSuvarnapura KingdomAyothaya (Ayutthaya) 1082–1351
Ayutthaya was partitioned and
became a capital territory (semi-independent)Suphannaphum ConfederationPhrip Phri KingdomHiran-Ngoenyang KingdomHaripunchai (Lamphun) 629-1281
Annexed by Hiran-NgoenyangPhraek Si Racha 1180-1125
Annexed by Phrip Phri and SuphannaphumSuphanburi 913-1351
Joined AyutthayaPhetchaburi 1188-1351
Joined AyutthayaHiran 638 - 850Ngoenyang 850-1262Phayao KingdomChiang Rai 1262-1275Phayao 1094–1338
Lanna AnnexedChaliang KingdomFang 1275–1281Chaliang (Si Satchanalai) 1238-1347
Came under Sukhothai
and became co-capitalsWiang Kum Kam 1281–1292
Kingdom Reestablished as LannaLavo (Lopburi) 1351-1388
Joined AyutthayaFEUDAL ERASukhothai KingdomAyutthaya KingdomNakhon Si Thammarat KingdomLanna KingdomState of SoiSukhothai 1238-1347Nakhon Si Thammarat 1200s-1438
Joined AyutthayaNoppaburi Si Nakhon Ping Chiang Mai 1292–1775
Direct Governance then Kingdom Partitioned into
Rattanatingsa, Nan, Lampang, Lamphun, Phrae, ThoenSongkhwae (Phitsanulok) 1347–1438
Ayutthaya AnnexedKrung Thep Dvaravati Si Ayutthaya 1351–1463The Siam Confederation is consolidated and centralized as the Ayutthaya kingdom with Sukhothai and Nakhon si Thammarat being subjugated and downgraded into a principality and subsequently a duchy. end of the confederacy and transition into a kingdomMuang Soi 1126-1600s
DestroyedPhitsanulok 1463-1488Nakhon Si Thammarat 1438-1782
Rattanakosin AnnexedKrung Thep Dvaravati Si Ayutthaya 1488-1680Phitsanulok 1488-1590 (co-capital)Lopburi 1680-1688Krung Thep Dvaravati Si Ayutthaya 1688-1767
Kingdom Partitioned into
Phimai, Thonburi, Phitsanulok, SawangkhaburiPhimai KingdomThonburi KingdomPhitsanulok KingdomSawangkhaburiPhimai 1767
Thonburi AnnexedKrung Thonburi Si Mahasamut 1767–1782
Coup & RefoundedPhitsanulok 1767
Thonburi AnnexedSawangkhaburi 1767
Thonburi AnnexedMODERN ERARattanakosin KingdomRattanatingsa KingdomNan KingdomLampang PrincipalityLamphun PrincipalityPhrae PrincipalityPra Nakhon (Bangkok) 1782–1932
Kingdom RestructuredNoppaburi Si Nakhon Ping Chiang Mai 1802–1899Nanthaburi Si Nakhon Nan 1802–1899Nakhon Lampang 1802–1899Nakhon Lamphun 1802–1899Nakhon Phrae 1802–1899Rattanakosin AnnexedThailandKrung Thep Maha Nakhon etc. etc. (Bangkok) 1932-Now
Former Provinces of Thailand
The former of provinces are administrative divisions which were either ceded, partitioned, or merged with the neighbouring territories. Over the course of history, the definition of provinces may change, thus the provinces listed under here are definitive provinces, or provinces which are created according to decrees. Furthermore, the list also includes provinces which were created during the mandala system era. These mandala provinces are defined as cities which controlled the surrounding cities, which in itself has subservient townships and villages. Examples of definite province include the province of Minburi, which was created through a decree passed by Rama V. Examples of mandala provinces include the province of Nakhon Ratchasima. Though Nakhon Ratchasima may be classified as a definite province these days, back in the days of King Rama I, Nakhon Ratchasima was the very definition of a mandala province. For example, the city of Nakhon Ratchasima oversaw the city of Si Phum, which inturn oversaw the city of Kalasin, which inturn oversaw the neighbouring townships and villages' affairs. What is not listed here are muang prathetsarat. These polities are not provinces by any definition, but are vassal states. Though, some may be in the grey area, by which treads the line between full provincialship and vassalage. For example, the Principality of Thoen.
Core Provinces Provinces (Thai Name)Original Names or Native NamesMade Province / Founded inCeased to be Province inFateToday Part ofBang Lamung บางละมุงบ้านนาเกลือ Ban Na Kleua17821910smerged with Bang Pla SoiChonburi Bang Pla Soiบางปลาสร้อย13761910smerged with Bang Lamung and Phanat Nikhom to form ChonburiChonburi Chaibadanชัยบาดาล700s1902merged into WichianburiPhetchabun Chiaya ไชยาครหิ Khri1820s1890smerged into KanchanaditSurat Thani Inburiอินทร์บุรี13691897merged into SingburiSingburi Kabinburi กะบิ่นบุรี
(กระบินทร์บุรี)ด่านหนุมาน Dan Nu Man19011926merged with PrachinburiPrachinburi and Sa Kaeo Khirirat Nikhom คีรีรัฐนิคมท่าขนอน Tha Khanon1820s1890smerged into KanchanaditSurat Thani Kraburi กระบุรีตระ Tra1870s1896merged into RanongRanong Lang Suan หลังสวนคลังสวน Klang Suan1870s1932merged into ChumphonChumphon Lom Sak หล่มสักวัดป่า Wat Pa17671916partitioned between Phetchabun and LoeiPhetchabun and Loei Manoromมโนรมย์before 1770s1897merged into Chai NatChai Nat Min Buri มีนบุรีท้องนากว้างใหญ่ Thongna Kwangyai19011931merged into Phra NakhonBangkok Nakhon Chai Siนครชัยศรี1570s1910scapital moved to Nakhon PathomNakhon Pathom Nakhon Khuan Khanนครเขื่อนขันธ์18191915renamed Phra PradaengBangkok and Samut Prakan Phanat Nikhom พนัสนิคมพระรถ Phra Rotbefore 1770s1910smerged with Bang Pla SoiChonburi Phanom Sarakham พนมสารคามดงยาง Dong Yangbefore 1770s1910smerged into ChachoengsaoChachoengsao Phayu Ha Khiri พยุหะคีรีบ้านพยุแดน Ban Phayu Daenbefore 1770s1890smerged into Nakhon SawanNakhon Sawan Phichaiพิชัย1500s1887capital moved to UttaraditUttaradit, Phitsanulok, and Loei , Sainyaburi and Vientiane Phra Nakhon พระนครชนะสงคราม Chana Songkhram17821972merged with Thonburi to form BangkokBangkok บางกอก Bang KokPhromburi พรหมบุรีพรหมนคร Phrom Nakhon1350s1890smerged into SingburiSingburi Pra Pradaeng พระประแดงนครเขื่อนขันธ์ Nakhon Kheuan Khan19151932merged with Samut Prakan, partitioned from Pra Nakhon and Samut Prakan, merged between Samut Prakan and ThonburiSamut Prakan and Bangkok Sangkhaburi สรรคบุรีแพรกศรีราชา Phraek Siracha1300s1897merged into Chai NatChai Nat ไตรตรึงส์