The King Rama I Monument was erected in 1996 to honor King Rama I, the first monarch of the Chakri Dynasty, who founded the city of Buriram while he was still known as Somdet Phra Ya Maha Kaset Sri. The monument is half the size of the actual king and is cast in bronze, adorned in a warrior's attire, following ancient royal traditions. He is depicted mounted on an elephant. According to the historical records in Volume 7, in 1778, King Taksin of Thonburi ordered Somdet Phra Ya Maha Kaset Sri to lead an army to subdue Phaya Nangrong, who had conspired with local rulers Chao O and Chao In of Champasak. During this campaign, they discovered an abandoned city located along the Huai Jorakhe river, an area with a favorable position but plagued by malaria. The Khmer inhabitants of the dense forest were too afraid to settle there, so they established their homes in the surrounding areas. Consequently, they gathered the people and founded the city of Pae, named for the abundance of the "pae" trees in the region. Somdet Phra Ya Maha Kaset Sri appointed the son of the ruler of Phutthaisawan, who accompanied him, as the governor and granted him the title of Phaya Nakorn Phakdi. Eventually, the city was renamed Buriram.