The Most Illustrious Order of Chula Chom Klao (เครื่องราชอิสริยาภรณ์ จุลจอมเกล้า) was established in 16 November 1873 by King Rama V

Chulalongkorn

Phra Bat Somdet Phra Poramintharamaha Chulalongkorn Phra Chunla Chom Klao Chao Yu Hua , or Rama V was the fifth monarch of Siam under the House of Chakri. He was known to the Siamese of his time as Phra Phuttha Chao Luang . He is considered one of the greatest kings of Siam...

 of The Kingdom of Siam

Thailand

Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...

 (now Thailand

Thailand

Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...

) to commemorate the 90th Jubilee of the Chakri Dynasty, and bears his Name (จุฬา Chula). The pink colour reflects the Tuesday birthday colour

Color of the day

In Thai tradition, there is an astrological rule that assigns color for each day of the week. The color is assigned based on the color of the God who protects the day or Navagraha. For example, the God of Sunday is Surya which has red color. These colors of the day are the traditional Thai...

 for King Rama V.

Insignia

The full insignia for the Order consists of:

• Pendant - The pendant design varies between classes.
• Sash - Female: The pendant is suspended from a pink sash 7.5 cm wide, worn over the left shoulder to the right hip. It can also be attached onto the silk ribbon of 5 cm wide, to wear on the front left shoulder.
• Star - The star design varies between classes.
• Collar: The collar consists of sixteen Royal Ciphers of King Rama V in pink enamel and seventeen gold rosettes fastened to each other by chain links. The centre of the collar has an oval medallion with Airavata elephants, enamelled in white, and a gold crown with a starburst at the top. Flanking the medallion on either side are two gold lion supporters, carrying Royal Parasols. The whole piece is topped with white bows.
• Medal: The medal, also known as the 'Junior Companion', is a silver disc. The central piece bears a portrait of King Rama V and is surrounded by a raised band, engraved with the motto "I Shall Maintain My Royal Family". The whole piece is edged with a wreath and topped with a crown with a starburst. The reverse of the medal is engraved with Airavata elephants bearing the Trident and Thai script. The whole piece is surrounded by a Chakra and gold wreaths. The medal is suspended from a pink silk band of 4 cm wide, to wear on the left chest.

Classes

The Order consists of 7 classes, with a distinction made between male and female members. Some of the classes are further broken down into several divisions. The number of members in each division is also limited. During the 50th anniversary of his accession to the throne, King Bhumibol

Bhumibol Adulyadej

Bhumibol Adulyadej is the current King of Thailand. He is known as Rama IX...

 promoted all recipients of the Order during the reign of his predecessor, King Rama VIII

Ananda Mahidol

Ananda Mahidol was the eighth monarch of Thailand under the House of Chakri. At the time he was recognized as king by the National Assembly, in March 1935, he was a nine-year-old boy living in Switzerland. He returned to Thailand in December 1945. Six months later, in June 1946, he was found shot...

, by one class higher.

First Class

The First Class of the order is broken into two divisions for men, and one division for women.

• Knight Grand Cordon (Special Class)

Thai ปฐมจุลจอมเกล้าวิเศษ (bpà-tŏm jòo-laa jom glâo wí-sèt), postnominal ป.จ.ว.

Insignia consists of the pendant, star, collar, sash and medal.

The pendant design for men is of a gold circular disc, with the enamelled portrait of King Rama V placed at the centre. The central piece is surrounded by a blue enamelled circlet, engraved with the motto "I Shall Maintain My Royal Family" gilted in Thai. Eight rays of a star, enamelled in pink, backed by a cogwheel of gold, lie at the edge. The points of the star are linked to a separate wreath of gold leaves, enamelled in green. The whole piece is topped with a gold crown of enamelled work and a golden starburst. The back of the pendant has the Airavata

Airavata

Airavata is a mythological white elephant who carries the Hindu god Indra. It is also called 'Ardha-Matanga', meaning "elephant of the clouds"; 'Naga-malla', meaning "the fighting elephant"; and 'Arkasodara', meaning "brother of the sun". 'Abharamu' is the elephant wife of Airavata. Airavata has...

 elephants bearing the Trident

Trishula

A trishula is a type of Indian trident but also found in Southeast Asia. It is commonly used as a Hindu-Buddhist religious symbol. The word means "three spear" in Sanskrit and Pali....

 enamelled in white at the centre. The central disc is surrounded by a blue enamelled circlet with Thai script. At the edge, it is surrounded by the Chakra

Sudarshana Chakra

The Sudarshana Chakra is a spinning, disk-like super weapon with 108 serrated edges used by Lord Vishnu. The Sudarshana Chakra is portrayed on the right rear hand of the four hands of Vishnu, who also holds a Shankha in his left rear hand, a Gada in his right fore hand, and a Padma in his left...

, enamelled in white upon the red field.

The pendant design for women is similar to the pendant for men, but of smaller size and with brilliants at the crown and wreaths. The back is engraved with "1894" gilted with Thai numerals.

The star for men has sixteen rays of pierced silver and straight gold. The central piece consists of a pink disc with the Royal Cipher

Royal Cypher

In modern heraldry, a royal cypher is a monogram-like device of a country's reigning sovereign, typically consisting of the initials of the monarch's name and title, sometimes interwoven and often surmounted by a crown. In the case where such a cypher is used by an emperor or empress, it is called...

 of King Rama V in brilliants and a blue enamelled circlet, engraved with the motto "I Shall Maintain My Royal Family" gilted in Thai. The circlet is edged with a silver band set in brilliants. The star is worn on the left chest.

The star for women is similar to the Star for males, but of smaller size, to wear on the left chest.

No limit to the number of members

• Knight (or Dame) Grand Cross (First Class)

Thai ปฐมจุลจอมเกล้า(bpà-tŏm jòo-laa jom glâo), postnominal ป.จ.

Insignia consists of the pendant, star, collar and sash. The pendant and star design is the same as for the Knight Grand Cordon.

Limited to 30 male and 20 female members.

Second Class

The Second Class of the order is broken into two divisions for men, and two divisions for women.

• Knight (or Dame) Grand Commander (Second Class, Upper Grade)

Thai ทุติยจุลจอมเกล้าวิเศษ (tóo dtiy-jòo-laa jom glâo wí-sèt), postnominal ท.จ.ว.

Insignia consists of the pendant, silk band and star (men only).

The pendant design for men is similar to that of the Knight Grand Cordon, suspended from a pink silk band 5 cm wide, to wear as collar.

The pendant design for women is similar to that of Dame Grand Cross but without brilliants, suspended from a pink sash 7.5 cm wide to wear over the left shoulder to the right hip or attached onto the pink silk ribbon 5 cm wide to wear on the front left shoulder.

The star is of uncut silver with eight points of straight rays. The central piece is a circular disc, enamelled in pink, with the Royal Cipher of King Rama V in gold. The disc is surrounded by a blue enamelled circlet, engraved with the motto "I Shall Maintain My Royal Family" gilted in Thai.

Limited to 200 male and 100 female members.

• Knight (or Dame) Commander (Second Class, Lower Grade)

Thai ทุติยจุลจอมเกล้า (tóo dtiy-jòo-laa jom glâo), postnominal ท.จ.

Insignia consists of the pendant and silk band.

The pendant design for men is the same as for the Knight Grand Commander(Second Class, higher grade).

The pendant design for women is similar Dame Grand Commander, attached onto the 5 cm silk ribbon to wear on the front left shoulder.

Limited to 250 male and 100 female members.

Third Class

The Third Class of the order is broken into three divisions for men, and one division for women.

• Grand Companion (Third Class, Upper Grade)

Thai ตติยจุลจอมเกล้าวิเศษ (dtà-dtiy-jòo-laa jom glâo wí-sèt), postnominal ต.จ.ว.

Insignia consists of a pendant only. The pendant design is similar to that for a Knight Commander, but of smaller size. It is suspended from a pink silk band 4 cm wide, with an additional rosette, to wear on the left chest.

Limited to 250 male members.

• Companion (Third Class, Lower Grade)

Thai ตติยจุลจอมเกล้า (dtà-dtiy-jòo-laa jom glâo), postnominal ต.จ.

Insignia consists of a pendant only. The pendant design is similar to that for a Grand Companion, without the additional rosette. For women, the pendant design is similar to that of Dame Commander but of smaller size, attached on a silk ribbon 4 cm wide, to wear on the front left shoulder.

Limited to 200 male members and 250 female members.

• Junior Companion

Thai ตติยานุจุลจอมเกล้า (dtà-dtì yaa-nóo jòo-laa jom glâo), postnominal ต.อ.จ.

Insignia consists of the medal only.

Limited to 100 male members.

Fourth Class

The Fourth Class of the order has a single division for women.

• Member (Fourth Class)

Thai จตุตถจุลจอมเกล้า (jà-dtòo dtòt jòo-laa jom glâo), postnominal จ.จ.

Insignia consists of the medal only. The medal is similar to that for the Companion, but of gilt and blue enamelled circlet. The reverse of the medal is similar to that of Companion, but with "1894" gilted in the outer band.

Limited to 150 female members.

Titles

• Male and single female members of the Order are titled "Khun" (คุณ - koon)
• Female married members of the Dame Grand Cross and the Dame Grand Commander class are titled "Than Phuying" (ท่านผู้หญิง - tâan pôo yĭng)
• Female married members of the Dame Commander class and below are titled "Khun Ying" (คุณหญิง - koon yĭng)

Inheritance

• Should a person be conferred the Knight Grand Cordon, his son should inherit the insignia on his death. It should then be passed on in the family until no male heir is to be found.
• Should a person be conferred the Knight Grand Cross, his son should inherit the insignia on his death.
• Should a person be conferred the Knight Grand Commander or Knight Commander, his son should inherit the insignia on his death.

• The person inheriting the insignia must be the eldest son of the family. Should he be inappropriate, the insignia should pass onto the younger sons.
• Should the person inheriting the insignia be insane or dead, it should be passed onto the son of that person.

• Should the person inherit the insignia from his father, he should be conferred as a Companion.
• Should the person inherit the insignia from his grandfather he should be conferred as a Junior Companion.

Foreign recipients of the Order

• King Frederick IX of Denmark
  Frederick IX of Denmark
  Frederick IX was King of Denmark from 20 April 1947 until his death on 14 January 1972....
  
   - Knight Grand Cordon (Special Class)
• King Olav V of Norway
  Olav V of Norway
  Olav V was the king of Norway from 1957 until his death. A member of the House of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg, Olav was born in the United Kingdom as the son of King Haakon VII of Norway and Queen Maud of Norway...
  
   - Knight Grand Cordon (Special Class)
• King Baudouin of Belgium - Knight Grand Cordon (Special Class)
• King Harald V of Norway
  Harald V of Norway
  Harald V is the king of Norway. He succeeded to the throne of Norway upon the death of his father Olav V on 17 January 1991...
  
   - Knight Grand Cordon (Special Class)

External links

• The Most Illustrious Order of Chula Chom Klao, Secretariat to the Cabinet of Thailand