Bit like the Japanese. It was Rama 5 who staved off the British and the French. Cleverly playing one off against another. He had to give up some provinces in the South to the UK, but kept country independent. Also sent his sons to Eton. There is a great picture, in the Authors' lounge in the Oriental, of him, in full morning dress, looking over a serried rank of his sons, at least 10, all in morning dress, in descending order of height! He was ahead of his time.