Royal Thai Army

The Royal Thai Army is the army of Thailand and the oldest and largest branch of the Royal Thai Armed Forces. It was formed in 1874, partly as a response to the new security pressures that followed the 1855 Bowring Treaty with the United Kingdom, which opened the kingdom to international trade. The army is responsible for protecting the sovereignty of the kingdom, and its commander-in-chief is considered the most powerful position in the Thai armed forces. In the modern era the army has a long record of coups d'etat and coup attempts, and its leadership continues to regard coup-making as one of its roles; the army deposed the government on 22 May 2014. Its history of political intervention is as much a part of its identity as its military function.