King Rama IV Period

King Chomklao (B.E. 2394-2411, 1851-1868 CE)
When young, King Rama IV loved to dress himself up as a boxer. He also
loved sword and pole fighting. Often, he would box and compete in sword and
pole fighting during festivals in the grounds of the Temple of the Emerald
Buddha. During this time, Thailand saw the growth of western sports and culture.
However, MuayThai remained a popular activity and a strong symbol of Thai
culture.