Monthon

The monthon were created as a part of the Thesaphiban (เทศาภิบาล, literally "local government") bureaucratic administrative system, introduced by Prince Damrong Rajanubhab which, together with the monthon, established step-by-step today's present provinces (changwat), districts (amphoe), and communes (tambon) throughout Thailand.

The arrangement resulted in governors being appointed and paid by the central government, and mueang developed into provinces.

An essential step in the ending of tax farming was the creation on 3 September 1885 of the Royal Survey Department.

The main reason for the slow implementation was the lack of suitably educated officials,[1] but also the resistance of the traditional local leaders, which recalled the 1768–1770 resistance of the monk Chao Phra Faang to Thonburi reestablishment of Siamese authority.

The most serious of these was led by east-bank rebel Ong Keo against French authority in the former Thai tributary kingdom of Champasak.

On the west bank in the area of Ubon Ratchathani, a less-well known former monk and phi bun headed a millenarian sect inspired by his apocalyptic prophecies, which spread fear, uncertainty and doubt among almost all the peoples along both banks of the river.