Chakri Dynasty

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Chakri Dynasty
Emblem of the House of Chakri
Country Kingdom of Thailand
Titles King of Siam (1782–1949)
King of Thailand (1949–present)
Founder Rama I
Current head Rama IX
Founding 1782

The Chakri Dynasty (Thai: ราชวงศ์จักรี; RTGS: Ratchawong Chakkri Pronunciation) is the current ruling royal house of the Kingdom of Thailand, the Head of the house is the King of Thailand. The dynasty has ruled Thailand since the founding of the Ratthanakosin era and the city of Bangkok in 1782 following the end of King Taksin of Thonburi's reign, when the capital of Siam shifted to Bangkok. The Royal house was founded by King Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke, an Ayutthayan military leader.

Prior to the founding of the dynasty, King Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke (Rama I), held the title of Chao Pharaya Chakri for over ten years. This title was held by the greatest warlords of Ayuthaya and was meant to reflect the prowess of the holder on the battlefield. In the founding of the dynasty King Rama I himself chose both name and emblem for the dynasty. The Chakri which provides both name and emblem to the house of Chakri, is composed of the discus (Chakra) and the trident (Trisula, sometimes shortened to "Tri" in Thai language), the celestial weapon of the God Narayana (an Avatar of Vishnu) of whom the Siamese king is seen as a personification. The coined name Chakri thus denotes the transcending force of divine strength and stability upon the physical realm. (Cf. Chakravartin.) The current Head of the Dynasty is King Bhumibol Adulyadej since 1946, the Heir Apparent to the headship is Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn. The House's dynastic seat is the Grand Palace in Bangkok.

Contents

Royal Family of Thailand [edit]

Photograph of Prince Mahidol Adulyadej and Mom Sangwal (later the Princess Mother).
The Chakri Mahaprasat, inside the Grand Palace in Bangkok, the Dynastic seat and official residence of the Chakri Monarchs.

The present royal family of Thailand is descended from HRH Prince Mahidol Adulyadej of Songkla (1891–1929) and Srinagarindra (later Princess Mother) (1900–95) forming the House of Mahidol (ราชสกุลมหิดล) ( a cadet branch of the Dynasty). The Prince was a son of King Chulalongkorn the Great and his wife Queen Consort Savang Vadhana. The Prince was also the half-brother of both King Vajiravudh and King Prajadhipok. After the death of King Ananda Mahidol (Prince Mahidol's elder son), the present monarch, King Bhumibol Adulyadej (the Prince's younger son) ascended the throne in 1946. In 1949 the King married his first cousin once removed, Mom Rajawongse Sirikit Kitiyakara (a daughter of Mom Chao Nakkhatra Mangkala Kitiyakara, a grandson of King Chulalongkorn).

Members [edit]

This is a list of current members of the royal family:

Other Members [edit]

Recently deceased members [edit]

List of Chakri Kings [edit]

King Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke, founder of the Chakri Dynasty.
Reign Monarch Reign Starts Reign ends
First Reign
 Buddha Yodfa Chulalok the Great (Rama I)
พระบาทสมเด็จพระพุทธยอดฟ้าจุฬาโลกมหาราช
6 April 1782
7 September 1809
Second Reign
 Buddha Loetla Nabhalai (Rama II)
พระบาทสมเด็จพระพุทธเลิศหล้านภาลัย
7 September 1809
21 July 1824
Third Reign
 Jessadabodindra (Rama III)
พระบาทสมเด็จพระนั่งเกล้าเจ้าอยู่หัว
21 July 1824
2 April 1851
Fourth Reign
 Mongkut (Rama IV)
พระบาทสมเด็จพระจอมเกล้าเจ้าอยู่หัว
3 April 1851
1 October 1868
Fifth Reign
 Chulalongkorn the Great (Rama V)
พระบาทสมเด็จพระจุลจอมเกล้าเจ้าอยู่หัว "พระปิยมหาราช"
2 October 1868
23 October 1910
Sixth Reign
 Vajiravudh (Rama VI)
พระบาทสมเด็จพระมงกุฎเกล้าเจ้าอยู่หัว
23 October 1910
26 November 1925
Seventh Reign
 Prajadhipok (Rama VII)
พระบาทสมเด็จพระปกเกล้าเจ้าอยู่หัว
26 November 1925
2 March 1935
Eighth Reign
 Ananda Mahidol (Rama VIII)
พระบาทสมเด็จพระปรเมนทรมหาอานันทมหิดล พระอัฐมรามาธิบดินทร
2 March 1935
9 June 1946
Ninth Reign
 Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great (Rama IX)
พระบาทสมเด็จพระปรมินทรมหาภูมิพลอดุลยเดช "พระภัทรมหาราช"
9 June 1946
Present

Vice-Kings [edit]

History of Thailand
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Prehistory
Early history
History
Sukhothai Kingdom
Ayutthaya Kingdom
Thonburi Kingdom
Rattanakosin Kingdom
Military period
Democratic period
Main article: Front Palace

The Vice-King of Siam or the Krom Phrarajawang Bavorn Sathan Mongkol (กรมพระราชวังบวรสถานมงคล) was an office created during the Ayutthaya period. Until 1885 every Chakri king had a vice-king or (Maha Uparaja (มหาอุปราช), also often translated as Second King) who lived in the Front Palace (วังหน้า) (a palace complex to the north of the Grand Palace, now the site of the National Museum). Usually the younger brother of the monarch, the vice-king was designated heir to the throne, however only Prince Isarasundhorn was able to ascend the throne as King Buddha Loetla Nabhalai. The office was extremely prestigious and carried with it almost equal status to the king, this can be seen in Prince Chutamani (younger brother of King Mongkut), who was elevated to King Pinklao in 1851 (he carried with him the styles and titles of a King). The system was abolished by King Chulalongkorn when his vice-king and cousin Prince Bovorn Vichaicharn died. He then declared his oldest son the Crown Prince of Siam, but not vice-king.

List of Chakri Vice-Kings [edit]

Monarch Vice King Reign Starts Reign ends
First Reign
 Prince Maha Sura Singhanat
สมเด็จพระบวรราชเจ้ามหาสุรสิงหนาท
1782
1802
First Reign
 Prince Isarasundhorn (Rama II)
1806
1809
Second Reign
 Prince Maha Senanurak
สมเด็จพระบวรราชเจ้ามหาเสนานุรักษ์
1809
1817
Third Reign
 Prince Maha Sakdi Polsep
สมเด็จพระบวรราชเจ้ามหาศักดิ์พลเสพ
1824
1832
Fourth Reign
 King Pinklao
พระบาทสมเด็จพระปิ่นเกล้าเจ้าอยู่หัว
1851
1866
Fifth Reign
 Prince Bovorn Vichaichan
กรมพระราชวังบวรวิไชยชาญ
1868
1885

Deputy vice king [edit]

Krom Phrarajawang Boworn Sathan Phimuk (กรมพระราชวังบวรสถานพิมุข) or the Rear Palace, was another office inherited from the Kingdom of Ayutthaya. However since the founding of the dynasty there has only been one rear palace. Prince Anurak Devesh was the nephew of King Buddha Yodfa Chualoke (his mother Princess Thepsuthavadi was the king's elder sister) was appointed to the office in 1785.

Monarch Deputy Vice King Reign Starts Reign ends
First Reign
 Prince Anurak Devesh
สมเด็จเจ้าฟ้ากรมพระอนุรักษ์เทเวศร์ กรมพระราชวังบวรสถานพิมุข
1785
1806

Crown Princes [edit]

Main article: Crown Prince of Thailand

The Crown Prince of Thailand or Sayam Makutrajakuman (สยามมกุฎราชกุมาร) is the designated and heir apparent to the throne and headship of the dynasty. The title was created in 1886 when King Chulalongkorn appointed his eldest son by Princess Consort Savang Vadhana, Prince Vajirunhis as Sayam Makutrajakuman. The title was copied directly from the Western tradition. Since then, there has only been three crown princes. The present crown prince is HRH Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn who was invested with the title in 1972. The succession is governed by the 1924 Palace Law of Succession passed by King Vajiravudh.

List of Crown Princes [edit]

Monarch Crown Prince Tenure Starts Tenure ends
Fifth Reign
 Crown Prince Maha Vajirunhis
สมเด็จพระบรมโอรสาธิราช เจ้าฟ้ามหาวชิรุณหิศ สยามมกุฎราชกุมาร
1886
1895
(died before he could succeed)
Fifth Reign
 Crown Prince Maha Vajiravudh (later King Rama VI)
สมเด็จพระบรมโอรสาธิราช เจ้าฟ้ามหาวชิราวุธ สยามมกุฎราชกุมาร (รัชกาลที่ 6)
1895
1910
Ninth Reign
 Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn
สมเด็จพระบรมโอรสาธิราช เจ้าฟ้ามหาวชิราลงกรณ สยามมกุฎราชกุมาร
1972
Present

Regents [edit]

The Regent of Thailand (ผู้สำเร็จราชการแทนพระองค์) as stated in the Constitution of Thailand is appointed either by the monarch himself or by the Privy Council of Thailand, the appointment must be countersigned by the President of the National Assembly of Thailand. The circumstances for appointment of a regent in the constitution is unclear it states that a regent can be appointed : "Whenever the king is absent from the kingdom or unable to perform His functions for any reason whatsoever" (Chapter 2, Section 18). So far a regent has only been appointed when the monarch has been in minority, when the monarch takes a foreign trip and when the monarch enters the Sangha as a monk. A regent can be either a commoner or a member of the royal family depending on the circumstances.

List of regents [edit]

During the Fifith Reign (Chulalongkorn)

  • Somdet Chao Phraya Si Suriyawongse (1868–1873): until King Chulalongkorn reached his majority (20 years old)
  • Queen Regent Saovabha (1897): while King Chulalongkorn traveled to Europe in his First Grand Tour in 1897
  • Crown Prince Maha Vajiravudh (1907): while King Chulalongkorn traveled to Europe in his Second Grand Tour in 1907

During the Seventh Reign (Prajadhipok)

During the Eighth Reign (Ananda Mahidol): While the king was a minor and in Switzerland, a Regency Council of three was established, it was composed of:

  • Prince Oscar Anuvatana (1935)
  • Prince Athitaya Dibhabha (1935–1944)
  • Chao Phraya Yomarath (Pan Sukhum) (1935–1938)
    • General Chao Phraya Phit Yenthornyothin (Um Inthornyothin) (August 1935– 1942): appointed to replace Prince Oscar after his death, he himself later died in office (was then not replaced).
    • Dr. Pridi Banomyong (1941–1946): appointed to replace Chao Phraya Yomarath, after the resignation of Prince Athitaya became the sole regent, until the return of the king in 1946.

During the Ninth Reign (present):Before the King's coronation, a regency council composed entirely of the privy council was appointed as regent:

See also [edit]

External links [edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Chakri dynasty
— Royal house —
Chakri Dynasty
Founding year: 1782
Preceded by
Thonburi Kingdom		 Ruling Dynasty of the
Kingdom of Thailand (Siam)
6 April 1782 – present		 Succeeded by
Incumbent
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