Reign of Thai king saw great change, dozens of governments
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The 70-year reign of Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej spanned coups, insurgencies and dozens of national governments. Some key moments from his life and times:
Dec. 5, 1927: Born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, while his father was studying medicine at Harvard University.
1932: Bloodless revolution ends centuries of absolute monarchy and ushers in constitutional rule.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}1946: The then-monarch, Bhumibol's older brother Ananda, is found dead from a gunshot under still-mysterious circumstances, and Bhumibol is named successor.
1950: Bhumibol marries Queen Sirikit and is coronated. A Broadway musical features his musical composition, "Blue Day."
1952: King initiates the first of what will become thousands of royal projects to fight poverty, disease, environmental destruction and drug trafficking. The first of the couple's four children is born.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}1957: Field Marshal Sarit Thanarat seizes and holds power for six years as king gains political maturity and prestige.
1967: King and queen visit the United States and Canada, the last of his many foreign trips. He voices support for U.S. in the Vietnam War.
1973: King intervenes to halt bloodshed as students rise up against a military dictatorship.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}1989: Bhumibol becomes world's longest reigning living monarch.
1992: King ends bloody clashes between troops and pro-democracy demonstrators.
1993: One of the king's many inventions, a waste water aerator, receives patent No. 3127.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}2004: King advocates "gentle approach" as Muslim militants begin bloody insurgency in southern Thailand.
June 2006: Celebrations of his 60th year on the throne include visits by royals from 25 countries.
September 2006: Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is overthrown in a military coup, which the king endorses afterward.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}October 2007: King is hospitalized and treated for a blood clot.
February 2008: Civilian rule restored following general elections.
November 2008: Anti-government, pro-monarchy protesters seize Bangkok's international airport, stranding thousands of tourists.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}April 2009: Demonstrators storm an Asian summit in Pattaya, and Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva calls in troops to stop street violence in Bangkok.
September 2009: Bhumibol is hospitalized, initially for a lung infection.
2010: Weeks of street protests against Abhisit's government end with violence and a military crackdown. At least 90 people are killed.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}July 2011: Abhisit's political party loses elections, and Thaksin's sister, Yingluck, forms a new government.
November 2011: Princess says the king suffered a bleeding episode, possibly due to stress from a flooding crisis affecting his country.
May 2014: Army leads a coup against Yingluck's elected government, and Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha takes charge. He still governs as prime minister.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}May 2015: Bhumibol makes a public appearance to mark the 65th anniversary of his coronation, emerging from the hospital by wheelchair and being driven to the Grand Palace.
June 2016: Bhumibol mark his 70th year on the throne — from his hospital bed due to ill health.
August 2016: Thai voters approve a junta-backed constitution that lays the foundation for a civilian government influenced by the military and controlled by appointed, rather than elected, officials.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Oct. 10, 2016: Royal Palace announces the health of the king has deteriorated and his condition is unstable.
Oct. 13, 2016: Bhumibol dies at age 88.