Pinklao
Encyclopedia
Phrabat Somdet Phra Pinklao Chaoyuhua (September 4, 1808 – January 7, 1866) was the younger brother of King Mongkut
(Rama IV) and the Second King
of Siam, who crowned him as a monarch with equal honor to himself.
and his mother became Queen Sri Suriyendra
. They all moved to the Grand Palace.
The government of Buddha Loetla Nabhalai, however, was dominated by Krom Meun Jessadabodindra
- Buddha Loetla Nabhalai's son with Concubine Riam
. In 1824, Prince Mongkut became a monk according to Siamese traditions. However, Buddha Loetla Nabhalai fell ill and died in the same year. The nobility, led by Chao Phraya Abhay Pudhorn the Samuha Nayok
and Dis Bunnak the minister of Krom Tha
supported Prince Jessadabodindra for the throne as he was proved to be very competent to rule. Therefore, Jessadabodindra was crowned.
Prince Mongkut then stayed in his monkhood to avoid political intrigues. Prince Chutamani, however, entered the government under Jessadabodindra and was awarded the title Krom Khun Isaret Rangsan. Krom Khun Isaret moved to the Old Palace in Thonburi
, where he lived with his mother Queen Sri Suriyendra until her death in 1836.
to the throne, but the return and claim of his brother Prince Mongkut was stronger. Mongkut was then crowned on May 25, 1851 with the support of the nobility. Concurrently Prince Isaret was crowned as the Vice King
Pinklao with equal honor to Mongkut. In practice, Pinklao held the title of Front Palace
. The popular legend holds that Mongkut's own astrological calculations stated that his brother Prince Isaret also holds the fate to become a king. As a result he gave Pinklao the same styles and title normally reserved for a King such as Phrabat Somdet and Chao Yu Hua: Phrabat Somdet Phra Pinklao Chao Yu Hua. David Wyatt considers his appointment a way of Mongkut's to prevent Pinklao from challenging his own position. Nevertheless, the relationship between the brothers remained peaceful and good throughout Mongkut's reign.
The government under Mongkut was however, in the strong hands of Somdet Chao Phraya Borom Maha Prayurawongse
and Somdet Chao Phraya Borom Maha Pichaiyat, the former as Chief Minister of Siam. Interference from both King and Vice King was therefore minimal. Expanding his interests to foreign affairs Pinklao, who was known for his fluency in the English language was able to respond to the letters of John Bowring
. In the letters, he referred himself as the Second king and his brother as the First king. As a result Pinklao was able to play a great role in the negotiation of the Bowring Treaty
.
As the second monarch and Front Palace, Pinklao maintained his own private army and a navy of several modern ships. It was during this time that the power of the Front Palace greatly expanded. Apart from state affairs, Pinklao was interested in both western and Lao culture, speaking English, drilling his troops in European fashion, singing, dancing, and playing the khene
to mor lam
music.
Pinklao died on January 7, 1866, predeceasing his brother by two years. His nephew the 15 year old Chulalongkorn
(son of Mongkut), succeeded to the throne in 1868 and Somdet Chao Phraya Borom Maha Sri Suriyawongse (the Regent) arranged the title of Front Palace to be succeeded by Pinklao's son with Princess Aim, Prince Yingyot later Vichaichan
.
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...
(Rama IV) and the Second King
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...
of Siam, who crowned him as a monarch with equal honor to himself.
Early life
Prince Chutamani was born on September 4, 1808 as a son of Prince Isarasundhorn and Princess Bunrod at the Old Thonburi Palace. Prince Chutamani also had an elder brother - Prince Mongkut - who was seven years older. In 1809, Prince Isarasundhorn was crowned as Buddha Loetla NabhalaiBuddha Loetla Nabhalai
Phra Bat Somdet Phra Poramenthramaha Isarasundhorn Phra Buddha Loetla Nabhalai , or Rama II , 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...
and his mother became Queen Sri Suriyendra
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...
. They all moved to the Grand Palace.
The government of Buddha Loetla Nabhalai, however, was dominated by Krom Meun Jessadabodindra
Jessadabodindra
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...
- Buddha Loetla Nabhalai's son with Concubine Riam
Riam
Chao Chom Manda Riam , later Krom Somdet Phra Sri Sulalai , was a royal concubine of King Buddha Loetla Nabhalai, the king of Siam. Her family was Muslim from the Southern part of the Kingdom, and her very name is the shortened version of "Maryam" an Arabic name...
. In 1824, Prince Mongkut became a monk according to Siamese traditions. However, Buddha Loetla Nabhalai fell ill and died in the same year. The nobility, led by Chao Phraya Abhay Pudhorn the Samuha Nayok
Prime Minister of Thailand
The Prime Minister of Thailand is the head of government of Thailand. The Prime Minister is also the chairman of the Cabinet of Thailand. The post has existed since the Revolution of 1932, when the country became a constitutional monarchy....
and Dis Bunnak the minister of Krom Tha
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...
supported Prince Jessadabodindra for the throne as he was proved to be very competent to rule. Therefore, Jessadabodindra was crowned.
Prince Mongkut then stayed in his monkhood to avoid political intrigues. Prince Chutamani, however, entered the government under Jessadabodindra and was awarded the title Krom Khun Isaret Rangsan. Krom Khun Isaret moved to the Old Palace in Thonburi
Thonburi
Thon Buri is an area of modern Bangkok. It was capital of Thailand from 1767 to 1782, during the reign of King Taksin, after the previous capital Ayutthaya was sacked by the Burmese. It is located on the opposite bank of Chao Phraya River to Bangkok...
, where he lived with his mother Queen Sri Suriyendra until her death in 1836.
Reign with Mongkut
Jessadabodindra died in 1851. Krom Khun Isaret was at the time the heir presumptiveHeir Presumptive
An heir presumptive or heiress presumptive is the person provisionally scheduled to inherit a throne, peerage, or other hereditary honour, but whose position can be displaced by the birth of an heir or heiress apparent or of a new heir presumptive with a better claim to the position in question...
to the throne, but the return and claim of his brother Prince Mongkut was stronger. Mongkut was then crowned on May 25, 1851 with the support of the nobility. Concurrently Prince Isaret was crowned as the Vice King
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:...
Pinklao with equal honor to Mongkut. In practice, Pinklao held the title of 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...
. The popular legend holds that Mongkut's own astrological calculations stated that his brother Prince Isaret also holds the fate to become a king. As a result he gave Pinklao the same styles and title normally reserved for a King such as Phrabat Somdet and Chao Yu Hua: Phrabat Somdet Phra Pinklao Chao Yu Hua. David Wyatt considers his appointment a way of Mongkut's to prevent Pinklao from challenging his own position. Nevertheless, the relationship between the brothers remained peaceful and good throughout Mongkut's reign.
The government under Mongkut was however, in the strong hands of Somdet Chao Phraya Borom Maha Prayurawongse
Prayurawongse
Somdet Chao Phraya Borom Maha Prayurawongse or Dis Bunnag was a prominent political figure of Siam during the mid-19th century as a regent for Mongkut kingdom-wide...
and Somdet Chao Phraya Borom Maha Pichaiyat, the former as Chief Minister of Siam. Interference from both King and Vice King was therefore minimal. Expanding his interests to foreign affairs Pinklao, who was known for his fluency in the English language was able to respond to the letters of John Bowring
John Bowring
Sir John Bowring, KCB was an English political economist, traveller, miscellaneous writer, polyglot, and the 4th Governor of Hong Kong.- Early life :...
. In the letters, he referred himself as the Second king and his brother as the First king. As a result Pinklao was able to play a great role in the negotiation of the Bowring Treaty
Bowring Treaty
The Bowring Treaty is the name given to an agreement signed on April 18, 1855 between the United Kingdom and the Kingdom of Siam that liberalized foreign trade in Siam....
.
As the second monarch and Front Palace, Pinklao maintained his own private army and a navy of several modern ships. It was during this time that the power of the Front Palace greatly expanded. Apart from state affairs, Pinklao was interested in both western and Lao culture, speaking English, drilling his troops in European fashion, singing, dancing, and playing the khene
Khene
The khene is a mouth organ of Lao origin whose pipes, which are usually made of bamboo, are connected with a small, hollowed-out hardwood reservoir into which air is blown, creating a sound similar to that of the violin...
to mor lam
Mor lam
Mor lam is a traditional Lao form of song in Laos and Isan.Mor lam means expert song, or expert singer, referring to the music or artist respectively. Other romanisations used include mo lam, maw lam, maw lum, moh lam and mhor lum...
music.
Pinklao died on January 7, 1866, predeceasing his brother by two years. His nephew the 15 year old Chulalongkorn
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...
(son of Mongkut), succeeded to the throne in 1868 and Somdet Chao Phraya Borom Maha Sri Suriyawongse (the Regent) arranged the title of Front Palace to be succeeded by Pinklao's son with Princess Aim, Prince Yingyot later Vichaichan
Vichaichan
Krom Phra Rajawang Bovorn Vichaichan or Phra Ong Chao Yodyingyot was a Siamese Prince and member of the Chakri Dynasty. He was the eldest son of King Pinklao and Princess Aim, and thus nephew to King Mongkut...
.