The
Chakri Dynasty (also known as the
House of Chakri) ( 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), 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. 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.
Royal Family of Thailand
thumb|250px|Photograph of Prince Mahidol Adulyadej and Mom Sangwal (later the Princess Mother).thumb|250px|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 (1898 - 1929) and
Srinagarindra (later Princess Mother) (1900-1995) 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
This is a list of current members of the Royal Family:
Other Members
- HRH Princess Soamsavali (the Crown Prince's former consort and mother of Princess Bajrakitiyabha)
Recently deceased members
List of Chakri Kings
Vice-Kings
The
Vice-King of Siam or the
Krom Phrarajawang Baworn 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 aite of the
National Museum). Usually the brother of the monarch, the Vice-King was designated heir to the throne, however only Prince Isarasudhorn 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
Deputy Vice King
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.
Crown Princes
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
Regents
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 both a commoner or a member of the Royal Family depending on the circumstances.
List of Regents
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:
- *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 (1944-1946): 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:
- Princess Mother Srinagarindra (1960): while King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Queen Sirikit traveled on a world tour.
See also
