Chulalongkorn's first visit to Europe

In 1897, Chulalongkorn, King of Siam embarked on a multination tour across Europe as the first Siamese king to the continent. Called his first grand tour, Chulalongkorn visited in total 14 nations, meeting their respective leaders and monarchs.

Prior to the tour, Siam had faced territorial losses to British and French colonial ambitions in the region. In particular, relations with France had deteriorated as they pushed west, most notably in the 1893 Franco-Siamese crisis. To ensure Siam's continued independence and modernisation, Chulalongkorn decided to embark on the tour, which lasted from April to December. Using the royal yacht Maha Chakri, Chulalongkorn visited the monarchs and royal families of several nations. Out of these nations, Russia, Germany, Britain and France were of particular interest. Chulalongkorn ability to speak English proved a great advantage. He embarked on a second tour of the continent in 1907, albeit on a smaller and more private scale.