Paribatra Sukhumbandhu

This article is about the prince. For the aircraft named after him, see Boripatra.

Paribatra Sukhumbandhu บริพัตรสุขุมพันธุ์
Prince of Siam Prince of Nakorn Sawan
Minister of Defence
In office	24 August 1926 – 31 March 1928
Predecessor	Yaem na Nakorn
Successor	Boworadet
Minister of the Royal Siamese Navy
In office	11 December 1910 – 18 June 1920
Predecessor	himself as the commander
Successor	Bhanurangsi Savangwongse as the director-general
Commander of the Navy Department
In office	24 February 1903 – 10 December 1910
Predecessor	Bhanurangsi Savangwongse
Successor	himself as the minister
Born	29 June 1881 Bangkok, Siam
Died	January 18, 1944(1944-01-18) (aged 62) Bandung, Dutch East Indies
Spouse	Princess Prasongsom Jayanta Sombandh Palakawong na Ayudhaya
Issue	10 sons and daughters
House	Paribatra family (Chakri Dynasty)
Father	Chulalongkorn (Rama V)
Mother	Sukhumala Marasri
Military career
Allegiance	Royal Siamese Army Royal Siamese Navy
Rank	Field Marshal Admiral of the Fleet

Marshal-Admiral Paribatra Sukhumbandhu, Prince of Nakhon Sawan (RTGS: Boriphat Sukhumphan; Thai: สมเด็จพระเจ้าบรมวงศ์เธอ เจ้าฟ้าบริพัตรสุขุมพันธุ์ กรมพระนครสวรรค์วรพินิต) (1881–1944), was a highly influential Thai military officer and government minister in the early 20th century during the last years of the absolute monarchy. He served as Chief of Staff of the Royal Thai Army, Commander of the Royal Thai Navy, Naval Minister, Army Minister, Defense Minister, Interior Minister, and as a Privy Counsellor to both King Vajiravudh and King Prajadhipok.

Biography

Prince Paribatra was the 33rd child (and 13th son) of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) by Queen Sukhumala Marasri. He joined his father for a journey to Europe in 1897, following which he entered the Prussian Cadet Corps to study at the Prussian Military academy at Groß-Lichterfelde.

Following his return to Siam, his half brother King Vajiravudh (Rama VI) appointed him Commander of the Royal Thai Navy, Minister of Marine and Minister of the Army.

After the 1932 coup that ended the absolute monarchy in Siam, he was exiled from the kingdom to Bandung, Indonesia, which was then under the Dutch administration. He died in 1944 while in exile, in Japanese-controlled Indonesia. His remains were repatriated by a Royal commission (a member of which was Prince Arjuna Suasti) in 1948.

A half-brother to two Thai kings, Prince Paribatra fathered eight children by his royal wife, Mom Chao (HSH Princess) Prasongsom Paribatra (Chaiyan). Two were sons, but only one, Chumbhotbongs Paribatra, lived to adulthood. Prince Paribatra also had a son with a commoner wife, Mom Somphan Paribatra na Ayudhaya (Palakawong), Prince Sukhumabhinanda - father of Mom Ratchawong Sukhumbhand Paribatra, the former governor of Bangkok.

See also

• History of Thailand (1768-1932)
• Siamese coup d'état of 1932
• Supreme Council of State of Siam

References

• Paul M. Handley, "The King Never Smiles" Yale University Press: 2006, ISBN 0-300-10682-3
• http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~royalty/thailand/i535.htm