The site of the building, just east of the Grand Palace and south of the City Pillar Shrine, used to be the location of three former princely palaces built in the reign of King Rama I (1782–1809).
By the time of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V, 1868–1910), the palaces had become disused, and parts of the site were occupied by granaries, stables and silkworm-rearing houses.

Chulalongkorn worked extensively to modernize the country, including replacing the system of corvée labour with a professional standing military.
A regiment known as Thahan Na ("front soldiers"), consisting of about 4,400 men, was created in late 1870s to guard the capital.
The need for a permanent residence for the force soon became apparent in the aftermath of a cholera outbreak, during which many soldiers died.
The regiment commander Chaomuen Waiworanat (later known as Chaophraya Surasakmontri) accordingly requested that a barracks be built, and construction took place on the site from 1882 to 1884.
The building was designed by Italian architect Joachim Grassi, while Surasakmontri oversaw the construction.
The building was inaugurated by Chulalongkorn on 18 July 1884.
With the formal establishment of the Ministry of Defence in 1887, the building became the ministry's headquarters, a role which it holds to the present.
The site of the building, just east of the Grand Palace and south of the City Pillar Shrine, used to be the location of three former princely palaces built in the reign of King Rama I (1782–1809). By the time of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V, 1868–1910), the palaces had become disused, and parts of the site were occupied by granaries, stables and silkworm-rearing houses.
Chulalongkorn worked extensively to modernize the country, including replacing the system of corvée labour with a professional standing military. A regiment known as Thahan Na ("front soldiers"), consisting of about 4,400 men, was created in late 1870s to guard the capital. The need for a permanent residence for the force soon became apparent in the aftermath of a cholera outbreak, during which many soldiers died. The regiment commander Chaomuen Waiworanat (later known as Chaophraya Surasakmontri) accordingly requested that a barracks be built, and construction took place on the site from 1882 to 1884. The building was designed by Italian architect Joachim Grassi, while Surasakmontri oversaw the construction. The building was inaugurated by Chulalongkorn on 18 July 1884. With the formal establishment of the Ministry of Defence in 1887, the building became the ministry's headquarters, a role which it holds to the present.
Ministry of Defence headquarters (Thailand)