to be relatively more stable as compared with other newly independent states in Southeast Asia. It was perceived to have retained enough continuity from its "traditions", such as the institution of the monarchy, to have escaped from the chaos and troubles caused by decolonisation and to resist the encroachment of revolutionary communism. By implication, this line of argument suggests the 1932 revolution was nothing more than a coup that simply replaced the absolute monarchy and its aristocracy with a commoner elite class made up of Western-educated generals and civilian bureaucrats and essentially that there was little that was revolutionary about this event. David K. Wyatt, for instance, described the period of Thai history from 1910 to 1941 as "essentially the political working out of the social consequences of the reforms of Chulalongkorn's reign". The 1932 revolution was generally characterised as the inevitable outcome of "natural consequences of forces set in motion by Rama IV and Rama V". Government Central government In the early period, Rattanakosin inherited most of the bureaucratic apparatus from the late Ayutthaya. The Siamese royal court bureaucracy centred on the six ministries. The two top prime ministers of the court were Samuha Nayok (), the Prime Minister of Northern Siam who oversaw the Mahatthai or Ministry of Interior, and Samuha Kalahom (), the Prime Minister of Southern Siam who oversaw the Kalahom or Ministry of Military. Below them were the Four Ministries or Chatusadom (); Krom Vieng () or Krom Phra Nakhonban (), the Police Bureau, was headed by Chao Phraya Yommaraj () Kromma Wang (), the Ministry of Palatial Affairs, was headed by Chao Phraya Thamma Krom Khlang (), the Ministry of Trade and Treasury, was headed by Chao Phraya Phrakhlang () Kromma Tha (), the 'Department of Piers', dealt with foreign trade and affairs Phra Khlang Sinkha (), the Royal Warehouse, responsible for the tariff collection from foreign trade Krom Na (), the Ministry of Agriculture, was headed by Chao Phraya Pollathep () Additionally there were other subsidiary departments, for example; Krom Suratsawadi (), the Department of Conscription Phra Khlang Maha Sombat (), the Royal Treasury Krom Sankhakari (), the Department of Monastic Affairs Government officials were ranked by Bandasak () levels and the Sakdina (). The Bandasak levels determined the official's position in the bureaucratic hierarchy (see Thai nobility). The Bandasak levels were, in descending order; Chaophraya, Phraya, Phra, Luang, Khun, Meun, Phan and