Alexander II of Russia vs Mongkut

Alexander II signed the Emancipation Reform, freeing over 23 million serfs from personal bondage. The reform granted peasants legal rights and the ability to own land, though they had to pay redemption payments. This was the most significant social reform in 19th-century Russia.

Alexander II introduced a new judicial system based on Western principles, including trial by jury, independent judges, and public proceedings. This reform established equality before the law and reduced the power of the nobility in legal matters.

Alexander II approved the sale of Russian America to the United States for $7.2 million. The decision was motivated by financial difficulties and the difficulty of defending the remote territory. The acquisition was criticized by some Russians as a loss of imperial territory.

Alexander II was killed by a bomb thrown by Ignacy Hryniewiecki of the revolutionary group Narodnaya Volya in St. Petersburg. The assassination occurred hours after he approved a plan for a representative assembly, ending hopes for constitutional reform.

Mongkut engaged in extensive correspondence with Western leaders, including President James Buchanan and Pope Pius IX, and with missionaries and scholars. He sought to learn about Western science, technology, and governance.

As a former monk, Mongkut reformed Buddhist monastic education by emphasizing Pali studies and scriptural accuracy. He founded the Dhammayuttika Nikaya order, which focused on strict adherence to Buddhist teachings.

Mongkut employed Western advisors, including Anna Leonowens, to teach his children and assist in modernizing the court. He also hired European experts to help with military, legal, and administrative reforms.

King Mongkut signed the Bowring Treaty with Britain, opening Siam to free trade and granting extraterritorial rights to British subjects. This treaty ended Siam's isolation and set a precedent for relations with other Western powers.