Thailand — known as Siam until 1939 — is the only Southeast Asian nation never colonized by a European power. Its history spans more than 800 years of unbroken sovereignty. The Sukhothai Kingdom (1238-1438) is regarded as the cradle of Thai civilization. King Ramkhamhaeng created the Thai alphabet in 1283 and his reign is considered Thailand's golden age. The Ayutthaya Kingdom (1351-1767) followed, becoming one of the wealthiest cities in Asia with a population of 1 million at its peak — until Burmese armies sacked it in 1767. The Chakri dynasty, founded by King Rama I in 1782, moved the capital to Bangkok and rules to this day. King Rama IV (Mongkut, 1851-1868) and Rama V (Chulalongkorn, 1868-1910) modernized Siam and skillfully balanced French and British colonial pressures, preserving independence. In 1932 a bloodless revolution established a constitutional monarchy. Thailand today is a constitutional monarchy with a population of 70 million. The current king is Rama X (Maha Vajiralongkorn, since 2016). The country is one of Southeast Asia's largest economies and the world's #1 tourism destination by GDP contribution.