Sri Suriyendra
Encyclopedia
Queen Sri Suriyendra (1767–1836) was the queen of Siam, wife of Buddha Loetla Nabhalai
, who was her own cousin, and mother of Mongkut
and Pinklao
. She was later named upon the coronation of her son Mongkut as Krom Somdet Phra Sri Suriyendramataya.
Princess Bunreod was a daughter of Princess Sri Sudarak (เจ้าฟ้ากรมพระศรีสุดารักษ์) (sister of Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke
) and her Chinese husband Chao Krua Ngern (เจ้าขรัวเงิน). Princess Bunreod lived with her mother in the Grand Palace and grew up with her maternal female cousins, the daughters of Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke.
Princess Bunreod had an affair with her cousin, Prince Isarasundhorn
, a son and heir apparent to King Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke. In 1801, the King discovered the princess' four-month pregnancy and banished her from the Grand Palace to live with her brother Prince Thepharirak. Prince Isarasundhorn begged his father to no avail to return the princess to the palace. The couple eventually settled at the Old Palace (Thonburi Palace) and Princess Bunreod became the prince's consort. The baby died, however, shortly after birth. With Prince Isarasundhorn (the future Buddha Loetla Nabhalai), she bore three sons:
Following Prince Isarasundhorn's coronation as Buddha Loetla Nabhalai, Princess Bunreod was raised to Queen Sri Suriyendra. She was not the only wife as the Siamese monarchs was allowed have many consorts in accordance with tradition. Sri Suriyendra shared her husband with Princess Consort Kunthon and Princess Riam
(Mother of King Jessadabodindra
(or King Rama III))and a number of the king's concubines.
Her son, Prince Mongkut became a monk in 1824, the same year that Buddha Loetla Nabhalai died. It was her son Mongkut who was to be crowned according to tradition. However, the nobility decided to offer the crown to Prince Tub, who became King Jessadabodindra
(Rama III) (the Prince was a son of concubine, but had been extremely experienced in government). Mongkut then remained a monk to avoid court intrigues.
Sri Suriyendra then left the Grand Palace for the Old Palace (Wang Derm) to live with her son Prince Isaret (previously Prince Chutamani). She stayed there until her death in 1836, she did not live to see her son Mongkut crowned.
Buddha 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...
, who was her own cousin, and mother of 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...
and Pinklao
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:...
. She was later named upon the coronation of her son Mongkut as Krom Somdet Phra Sri Suriyendramataya.
Princess Bunreod was a daughter of Princess Sri Sudarak (เจ้าฟ้ากรมพระศรีสุดารักษ์) (sister of 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 her Chinese husband Chao Krua Ngern (เจ้าขรัวเงิน). Princess Bunreod lived with her mother in the Grand Palace and grew up with her maternal female cousins, the daughters of Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke.
Princess Bunreod had an affair with her cousin, Prince Isarasundhorn
Buddha 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...
, a son and heir apparent to King Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke. In 1801, the King discovered the princess' four-month pregnancy and banished her from the Grand Palace to live with her brother Prince Thepharirak. Prince Isarasundhorn begged his father to no avail to return the princess to the palace. The couple eventually settled at the Old Palace (Thonburi Palace) and Princess Bunreod became the prince's consort. The baby died, however, shortly after birth. With Prince Isarasundhorn (the future Buddha Loetla Nabhalai), she bore three sons:
- The first, born in 1801, died shortly after birth;
- Prince MongkutMongkutPhra 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...
, or later King Mongkut (or King Rama IV), born in 1804; - Prince ChutamaniPinklaoPhrabat 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:...
, or later King Pinklao, born in 1808.
Following Prince Isarasundhorn's coronation as Buddha Loetla Nabhalai, Princess Bunreod was raised to Queen Sri Suriyendra. She was not the only wife as the Siamese monarchs was allowed have many consorts in accordance with tradition. Sri Suriyendra shared her husband with Princess Consort Kunthon and Princess 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...
(Mother of King 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...
(or King Rama III))and a number of the king's concubines.
Her son, Prince Mongkut became a monk in 1824, the same year that Buddha Loetla Nabhalai died. It was her son Mongkut who was to be crowned according to tradition. However, the nobility decided to offer the crown to Prince Tub, who became King 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...
(Rama III) (the Prince was a son of concubine, but had been extremely experienced in government). Mongkut then remained a monk to avoid court intrigues.
Sri Suriyendra then left the Grand Palace for the Old Palace (Wang Derm) to live with her son Prince Isaret (previously Prince Chutamani). She stayed there until her death in 1836, she did not live to see her son Mongkut crowned.