Conversation so far:
whats the historical background of the king?
Mongkut, King of Siam, was about 57 years old in 1861.
He had lived half his life as a Buddhist monk.
when did he become king?
When Nangklao died in 1850, Mongkut became king.
how did nangklao die?
CANNOTANSWER.
what did the king do?
He ultimately succeeded in keeping Siam an independent nation, partly by familiarizing his heirs and harem with Western ways.
what is his major accompolishment?
CANNOTANSWER.

Question: what is so historical about his kife?
Self-contained rewrite: What is so historical about Mongkut, the Kinf of Siam's life?