Buddha Loetla Nabhalai
Encyclopedia
Phra Bat Somdet Phra Poramenthramaha Isarasundhorn Phra Buddha Loetla Nabhalai , or Rama II (24 February 1767 – 21 July 1824), was the second monarch of Siam under the House of Chakri, ruling from 1809-1824. In 1809, Isarasundhorn succeeded his father Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke
, the founder of Chakri dynasty, as Buddha Loetla Nabhalai the King of Siam. His reign was largely peaceful, devoid of major conflicts. His reign was known as the "Golden Age of Rattanakosin Literature" as Buddha Loetla Nabhalai was patron to a number of poets in his court and the King himself was a renowned poet and artist. The most notable poet in his employ was the illustrious Sunthorn Phu
, the author of Phra Aphai Mani
.
period) in Amphoe Amphawa
, Samut Songkram. Chim was a son of Luang Yokbat of Ratchaburi
and Nak
of Samut Sakorn, as his father and mother was then known. They would later become King Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke
and Queen Amarindra
, respectively. In 1767, Ayutthaya fell to Burmese invaders. His father, Phraya Ratchaburi, joined Phraya Wachira Prakarn
's (or Taksin's) forces to recapture the city. Under King Taksin, Chim's father rose rapidly to high rank as a military leader and was assigned with the campaigns to subjugate Laos
and Cambodia
. In 1782, his father crowned himself King of Siam (later named Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke) and Chim himself was raised to the title of Prince Isarasundhorn of Siam.
Buddha Loetla Nabhalai, with his concubine Chao Chom Manda Riam, fathered Prince Tub (later King Jetsadabodin or Rama III) in 1787. Prince Isarasundhorn then had a secret affair with his own cousin, Princess Bunrod
. In 1801, Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke then found out that Princess Bunrod had been pregnant for four months and banished her out of the palace to live with her brother. Isarasundhorn, however begged his father to forgive him and the princess was reinstated and became his consort through the negotiation by Concubine Waen
. Unfortunately, the baby died just after its birth.
With Princess Bunrod, Buddha Loetla Nabhalai also fathered Prince Mongkut
(1804) and Prince Chutamani
(1808). Prince Isarasundhorn was appointed to the Front Palace
as Vice King or Uparaja
in 1807 to succeed his uncle Maha Sura Singhanat
who had died in 1803, though he continued to stay at the Thonburi Palace.
.
As soon as Buddha Loetla Nabhalai ascended the throne, Prince Kshatranichit, the surviving son of Taksin, began the rebellion to reclaim his legitimacy. Buddha Loetla Nabhalai had his son Prince Tub crushed the rebellion, in which Prince Tub managed to do so effectively. Prince Tub gained the King's favor as he was proved to be competent and was trusted to handle some of the state affairs. He served as a superintendent in the Ministry of Foreign affairs and Trade
.
King Bodawpaya
of Burma, seeing that Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke was dead, marched an army into Chumporn and conquered Thalang (Phuket
) in the same year. Buddha Loetla Nabhalai sent his brother Maha Senanurak the Front Palace to recapture Thalang, which had been razed to the ground. This "Thalang campaign" was the last invasion by the Burmese into Siamese territory.
the drunken writer (Phra Aphai Mani) and Narin Dhibet (Nirat Narin). His sons, Prince Jessadabodindra and Prince Poramanuchit, were encouraged to excel in poetry. Prince Poramanuchit later became a Sangharaj (Buddhist hierophant) and was well-known for his religious works.
Rama II's reign saw the reconstruction of Siamese culture and royal traditions. In 1811, the Grand Royal Funeral was held for King Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke. In the same year, a cholera epidemic broke out in Bangkok. Buddha Loetla Nabhalai ordered the "Apat Pinat" or sickness-repelling ceremonies to be performed. He also established the education and the examination system of Buddhism, by dividing it into nine levels. In 1817, the Vesak
festival was restored.
of the Qing Dynasty
.
Since the Revolution of 1688
, Western presence in Siam had been reduced to a small scale as the Siamese Kings ceased to encourage foreign influence, this coupled with the Napoleonic Wars
meant there was little contact between Siam and foreigners.
However, the wars caused many subsequent changes, which were observed in Southeast Asia
. The British interest in Malaya
increased as their trade with China
increased. The Sultan of Kedah
, a Siamese vassal, gave Penang
off to the British without consulting Siam in 1786, followed by the British acquisition of Province Wellesley. Soon the British replaced the Dutch as the dominating naval power south of Siam.
The mission of the Portuguese governor of Macau
in 1818 was the first formal Western contact in Siam since the Ayutthaya times. The British founded Singapore
in 1819 and Jaslis, the missionary from Rangoon, introduced the printing press
to Siam in the same year. The Portuguese established the first western consulate in Siam in 1820. The first renewed formal British visit was made by Sir John Crawfurd
in 1822.
who had served Rama II in Krom Tha (Ministry of Trade and Foreign Relations), who eventually became King Rama III.
Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke
Phra Bat Somdet Phra Poramintharamaha Chakri Borommanat Phra Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke , posthumously titled "the Great", or Rama I , was the founder and the first monarch of the reigning House of Chakri of Siam . He ascended the throne in 1782, after defeating a rebellion which had deposed King...
, the founder of Chakri dynasty, as Buddha Loetla Nabhalai the King of Siam. His reign was largely peaceful, devoid of major conflicts. His reign was known as the "Golden Age of Rattanakosin Literature" as Buddha Loetla Nabhalai was patron to a number of poets in his court and the King himself was a renowned poet and artist. The most notable poet in his employ was the illustrious Sunthorn Phu
Sunthorn Phu
Phra Sunthorn Vohara, known as Sunthorn Phu, is Thailand’s best-known royal poet. He was active in the Rattanakosin era....
, the author of Phra Aphai Mani
Phra Aphai Mani
Phra Aphai Mani is a 30,000-line epic written by Thailand's best-known poet, Sunthorn Phu. It has been adapted into the films The Adventure of Sudsakorn and Legend of Sudsakorn, and the comics Apaimanee Saga....
.
Early life
Chim was born in 1767 during the (AyutthayaAyutthaya kingdom
Ayutthaya was a Siamese kingdom that existed from 1350 to 1767. Ayutthaya was friendly towards foreign traders, including the Chinese, Vietnamese , Indians, Japanese and Persians, and later the Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch and French, permitting them to set up villages outside the walls of the...
period) in Amphoe Amphawa
Amphoe Amphawa
Amphawa is a district of Samut Songkhram Province, located slightly inland at the northwestern tip of the Bay of Bangkok.-Geography:...
, Samut Songkram. Chim was a son of Luang Yokbat of Ratchaburi
Ratchaburi
Ratchaburi ) is a town in western Thailand, capital of the Ratchaburi Province. It covers the whole tambon Nai Mueang of Mueang Ratchaburi district. As of 2006 it has a population of 38,208.-External links:*...
and Nak
Amarindra
Queen Amarindra ,was the Queen Consort of King Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke , the founder of the Chakri Dynasty. Her birth name was Nak . She was a daughter of a wealthy Mon from Bang Chang, in Samut Songkhram Province.-Biography:...
of Samut Sakorn, as his father and mother was then known. They would later become King Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke
Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke
Phra Bat Somdet Phra Poramintharamaha Chakri Borommanat Phra Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke , posthumously titled "the Great", or Rama I , was the founder and the first monarch of the reigning House of Chakri of Siam . He ascended the throne in 1782, after defeating a rebellion which had deposed King...
and Queen Amarindra
Amarindra
Queen Amarindra ,was the Queen Consort of King Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke , the founder of the Chakri Dynasty. Her birth name was Nak . She was a daughter of a wealthy Mon from Bang Chang, in Samut Songkhram Province.-Biography:...
, respectively. In 1767, Ayutthaya fell to Burmese invaders. His father, Phraya Ratchaburi, joined Phraya Wachira Prakarn
Taksin
Taksin ; was the only King of the Thonburi Kingdom...
's (or Taksin's) forces to recapture the city. Under King Taksin, Chim's father rose rapidly to high rank as a military leader and was assigned with the campaigns to subjugate Laos
Laos
Laos Lao: ສາທາລະນະລັດ ປະຊາທິປະໄຕ ປະຊາຊົນລາວ Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao, officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic, is a landlocked country in Southeast Asia, bordered by Burma and China to the northwest, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the south and Thailand to the west...
and Cambodia
Cambodia
Cambodia , officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia...
. In 1782, his father crowned himself King of Siam (later named Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke) and Chim himself was raised to the title of Prince Isarasundhorn of Siam.
Buddha Loetla Nabhalai, with his concubine Chao Chom Manda Riam, fathered Prince Tub (later King Jetsadabodin or Rama III) in 1787. Prince Isarasundhorn then had a secret affair with his own cousin, Princess Bunrod
Sri Suriyendra
Queen Sri Suriyendra was the queen of Siam, wife of Buddha Loetla Nabhalai, who was her own cousin, and mother of Mongkut and Pinklao...
. In 1801, Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke then found out that Princess Bunrod had been pregnant for four months and banished her out of the palace to live with her brother. Isarasundhorn, however begged his father to forgive him and the princess was reinstated and became his consort through the negotiation by Concubine Waen
Kamwaen
Princess Kaewkham or Concubine Waen was a daughter of King Bunsan of Vientiane and a concubine to King Rama I of Bangkok. She was known for her prominent role in the Siamese court as a favorite companion of the monarch.-Biography:...
. Unfortunately, the baby died just after its birth.
With Princess Bunrod, Buddha Loetla Nabhalai also fathered Prince Mongkut
Mongkut
Phra Bat Somdet Phra Poramenthramaha Mongkut Phra Chom Klao Chao Yu Hua , or Rama IV, known in foreign countries as King Mongkut , was the fourth monarch of Siam under the House of Chakri, ruling from 1851-1868...
(1804) and Prince Chutamani
Pinklao
Phrabat Somdet Phra Pinklao Chaoyuhua was the younger brother of King Mongkut and the Second King of Siam, who crowned him as a monarch with equal honor to himself.-Early life:...
(1808). Prince Isarasundhorn was appointed to the Front Palace
Front Palace
Krom Phra Rajawang Bovorn Sathan Mongkol ) or the Front Palace was a royal title granted by the Siamese monarchy until the nineteenth century. The holder of the title of Front Palace was considered the heir to the throne and second only to the King. The title originated in the Ayutthaya period and...
as Vice King or Uparaja
Uparaja
Uparaja or Ouparath, also Ouparaja , was a royal title reserved for the vice royal in the Buddhist dynasties in Burma, Cambodia, and Laos and Thailand as well as some of their minor tributary kingdoms.-Burma:...
in 1807 to succeed his uncle Maha Sura Singhanat
Maha Sura Singhanat
Somdet Phra Bawornrajchao Maha Sura Singhanat was the younger brother of Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke, the first monarch of the Chakri dynasty of Siam. As an Ayutthayan general, he fought alongside his brother in various campaigns against Burmese invaders and the local warlords...
who had died in 1803, though he continued to stay at the Thonburi Palace.
Ascension
As the eldest surviving legitimate son of Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke, Prince Isarasundhorn succeeded to throne when Buddha Yotfa Chulaloke died in 1809. No royal naming system was established at the time Rama II was crowned. He was later named by his son Jetsadabodin as Buddha Loetla Nabhalai and, by convention, he was usually called Rama II. His consort, Princess Bunrod, was raised to Queen Sri SuriyendraSri Suriyendra
Queen Sri Suriyendra was the queen of Siam, wife of Buddha Loetla Nabhalai, who was her own cousin, and mother of Mongkut and Pinklao...
.
As soon as Buddha Loetla Nabhalai ascended the throne, Prince Kshatranichit, the surviving son of Taksin, began the rebellion to reclaim his legitimacy. Buddha Loetla Nabhalai had his son Prince Tub crushed the rebellion, in which Prince Tub managed to do so effectively. Prince Tub gained the King's favor as he was proved to be competent and was trusted to handle some of the state affairs. He served as a superintendent in the Ministry of Foreign affairs and Trade
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Thailand)
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand is the principal government department in charge of foreign relations in Thailand. The ministry is headed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs; who is also a member of the Cabinet of Thailand, he is appointed by the Prime Minister...
.
King Bodawpaya
Bodawpaya
Bodawpaya was the sixth king of the Konbaung Dynasty of Burma. Born Maung Shwe Waing and later Badon Min, he was the fourth son of Alaungpaya, founder of the dynasty and the Third Burmese Empire. He was proclaimed king after deposing his nephew Phaungkaza Maung Maung, son of his oldest brother...
of Burma, seeing that Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke was dead, marched an army into Chumporn and conquered Thalang (Phuket
Phuket City
Phuket is a city located in the southeast of Phuket Island, Thailand. It is the capital of the Phuket Province, covering all of the island. As of 2007 the city has a population of 75,573 people...
) in the same year. Buddha Loetla Nabhalai sent his brother Maha Senanurak the Front Palace to recapture Thalang, which had been razed to the ground. This "Thalang campaign" was the last invasion by the Burmese into Siamese territory.
Culture and Literature
It was said that during Rama II's reign, if one could write a refined piece of poetry, then one would be able to become a royal favorite, as Buddha Loetla Nabhalai himself was a poet. The reign was a cultural renaissance after the massive wars that plague the First Reign; particularly in the fields of arts and literature. Poets employed by Rama II included Sunthorn PhuSunthorn Phu
Phra Sunthorn Vohara, known as Sunthorn Phu, is Thailand’s best-known royal poet. He was active in the Rattanakosin era....
the drunken writer (Phra Aphai Mani) and Narin Dhibet (Nirat Narin). His sons, Prince Jessadabodindra and Prince Poramanuchit, were encouraged to excel in poetry. Prince Poramanuchit later became a Sangharaj (Buddhist hierophant) and was well-known for his religious works.
Rama II's reign saw the reconstruction of Siamese culture and royal traditions. In 1811, the Grand Royal Funeral was held for King Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke. In the same year, a cholera epidemic broke out in Bangkok. Buddha Loetla Nabhalai ordered the "Apat Pinat" or sickness-repelling ceremonies to be performed. He also established the education and the examination system of Buddhism, by dividing it into nine levels. In 1817, the Vesak
Vesak
Vesākha is a holiday observed traditionally by Buddhists in Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and the South East Asian countries of Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Burma, and Indonesia...
festival was restored.
Foreign Relations
In 1810, the first Rattanakosin-to-China mission was sent to the Jiaqing EmperorJiaqing Emperor
The Jiaqing Emperor was the seventh emperor of the Manchu-led Qing dynasty, and the fifth Qing emperor to rule over China, from 1796 to 1820....
of the Qing Dynasty
Qing Dynasty
The Qing Dynasty was the last dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912 with a brief, abortive restoration in 1917. It was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China....
.
Since the Revolution of 1688
Siamese revolution (1688)
The Siamese revolution of 1688 was a major popular upheaval in the Siamese Ayutthaya Kingdom which led to the overthrow of the pro-foreign Siamese king Narai...
, Western presence in Siam had been reduced to a small scale as the Siamese Kings ceased to encourage foreign influence, this coupled with the Napoleonic Wars
Napoleonic Wars
The Napoleonic Wars were a series of wars declared against Napoleon's French Empire by opposing coalitions that ran from 1803 to 1815. As a continuation of the wars sparked by the French Revolution of 1789, they revolutionised European armies and played out on an unprecedented scale, mainly due to...
meant there was little contact between Siam and foreigners.
However, the wars caused many subsequent changes, which were observed in Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
. The British interest in Malaya
Malay Peninsula
The Malay Peninsula or Thai-Malay Peninsula is a peninsula in Southeast Asia. The land mass runs approximately north-south and, at its terminus, is the southern-most point of the Asian mainland...
increased as their trade with China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
increased. The Sultan of Kedah
Kedah
Kedah is a state of Malaysia, located in the northwestern part of Peninsular Malaysia. The state covers a total area of over 9,000 km², and it consists of the mainland and Langkawi. The mainland has a relatively flat terrain, which is used to grow rice...
, a Siamese vassal, gave Penang
Penang
Penang is a state in Malaysia and the name of its constituent island, located on the northwest coast of Peninsular Malaysia by the Strait of Malacca. It is bordered by Kedah in the north and east, and Perak in the south. Penang is the second smallest Malaysian state in area after Perlis, and the...
off to the British without consulting Siam in 1786, followed by the British acquisition of Province Wellesley. Soon the British replaced the Dutch as the dominating naval power south of Siam.
The mission of the Portuguese governor of Macau
Macau
Macau , also spelled Macao , is, along with Hong Kong, one of the two special administrative regions of the People's Republic of China...
in 1818 was the first formal Western contact in Siam since the Ayutthaya times. The British founded Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
in 1819 and Jaslis, the missionary from Rangoon, introduced the printing press
Printing press
A printing press is a device for applying pressure to an inked surface resting upon a print medium , thereby transferring the ink...
to Siam in the same year. The Portuguese established the first western consulate in Siam in 1820. The first renewed formal British visit was made by Sir John Crawfurd
John Crawfurd
John Crawfurd , Scottish physician, and colonial administrator and author, was born in the island of Islay, Scotland...
in 1822.
Death and Succession
Buddha Loetla Nabhalai's reign was uneventful and he died in 1824. According to the succession rule, the throne would go to Prince Mongkut. However, the nobility gave the throne to the Prince JessadabodindraJessadabodindra
Phra Bat Somdet Phra Poramintharamaha Jessadabodindra Phra Nangklao Chao Yu Hua , or Rama III , was the third monarch of Siam under the House of Chakri, ruling from 21 July 1824 to 2 April 1851. He succeeded his father, Buddha Loetla Nabhalai, as the King of Siam...
who had served Rama II in Krom Tha (Ministry of Trade and Foreign Relations), who eventually became King Rama III.
Titles and styles
- 1767-1782: Nai Chim
- 1782-1808: Somdet Phra Lukya Ther Chaofa Krom Luang Isarasundhorn
- 1808-1809: Krom Phrarajawang Bovorn Maha Isarasundhorn (Krom Phrarajawang Bovorn Sathan MongkolFront PalaceKrom Phra Rajawang Bovorn Sathan Mongkol ) or the Front Palace was a royal title granted by the Siamese monarchy until the nineteenth century. The holder of the title of Front Palace was considered the heir to the throne and second only to the King. The title originated in the Ayutthaya period and...
) - 1809-1824: Phrabat Somdet Phra Chao Yu Hua
- Posthumously as:Phra Bat Somdet Phra Poramenthramaha Isarasundhorn Phra Buddha Loetla Nabhalai
- Posthumously as: Buddha Loetla Nabhalai or the Second Reign and then later Rama II