The Chakri dynasty (Thai: ราชวงศ์จักรี, RTGS: Ratchawong Chakkri, pronounced[râːt.tɕʰā.wōŋtɕàk.krīː]ⓘ) is the current reigning dynasty of the Kingdom of Thailand. The head of the house is the king, who is head of state. The family has ruled Thailand since the founding of the Rattanakosin Era and the city of Bangkok in 1782; following the end of TaksinThonburi's reign, when the capital of Siam shifted to Bangkok. The royal house was founded by Rama I, an Ayutthaya military leader of Sino-Mon descent.[1]
Prior to his accession to the throne, Rama I held for years the title Chakri, the civil chancellor. In founding the dynasty, the king himself chose "Chakri" as the name for it. The emblem of the house is composed of the discus (Chakra) and the trident (Trishula), the celestial weapons of the gods Vishnu and Shiva, of whom the Thai sovereign is seen as an incarnation.
The current head of the house is Maha Vajiralongkorn who was proclaimed king on 1 December 2016, but has reigned with retroactive effect since 13 October 2016 after the death of his father Bhumibol Adulyadej. The house's current seat is the Grand Palace. On Saturday, 4 May 2019, the coronation of Vajiralongkorn, with the traditional ceremony, occurred in Bangkok.[2]
The present royal family of Thailand belongs to the House of Mahidol (Thai: ราชสกุลมหิดล; RTGS: Ratchasakun Mahidon), a cadet branch of the Chakri dynasty. The House was founded by Prince Mahidol Adulyadej (1891–1929) and Princess Srinagarindra (1900–1995). The Prince was a son of King Chulalongkorn and his wife Queen 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), 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 Mangala Kitiyakara, a grandson of King Chulalongkorn). Bhumibol was succeeded by his son Maha Vajiralongkorn officially on 13 October 2016, but was proclaimed King on 1 December 2016.
Members
This is a list of current members of the royal family:
Chaiyanuchit, Prince Phongsadisonmahip (1861–1936)
(11) Prince Charunritthidet Jayankura (born 1933)P C
Notes
Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya (born 1951), eldest daughter of King Rama IX, renounced her right of succession for herself and her heirs upon her marriage in 1972.
Juthavachara Vivacharawongse (born 1979), Vacharaesorn Vivacharawongse (born 1981), Chakriwat Vivacharawongse (born 1983), and Vatchrawee Vivacharawongse (born 1985), the sons of King Rama X and Sujarinee Vivacharawongse, are not in the line of succession to the throne.
History
Monarchs
Timeline
Front Palaces
The Maha Uparat (มหาอุปราช) or the Krom Phrarajawang Boworn Sathan Mongkol (Vice or Second King of Siam/Viceroy of Siam) (กรมพระราชวังบวรสถานมงคล) was an office that was bestowed on the highest ranking prince, frequently the monarch's younger brother or son. Until 1885 every Chakri monarch had appointed a prince to this office. The Uprarat and his miniature court would reside at the Front Palace (วังหน้า) (a palace complex to the north of the Grand Palace, now the site of the Bangkok National Museum). By tradition the Uparat was designated the heir to the throne, however only Prince Itsarasunthon was able to ascend the throne as King Phutthaloetla Naphalai. 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 Vice King Pinklao in 1851 (he carried with him the styles and titles of a King). The office was abolished by King Chulalongkorn when his Uparat and cousin Prince Wichaichan died. He then declared his oldest son the crown prince of Siam, but not Uparat.[3]
Rear Palace
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 Phutthayotfa Chualok (his mother Princess Thepsuthavadi was the king's elder sister) and 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 have only been three crown princes. The most recent crown prince, Maha Vajiralongkorn, was invested with the title in 1972 and became King in 2016. The succession is governed by the 1924 Palace Law of Succession passed by King Vajiravudh.
^Reid, Anthony (2015). A History of Southeast Asia: Critical Crossroads. John Wiley & Sons. p. 215. ISBN 9780631179610. Archived from the original on 6 February 2023. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
^"King Vajiralongkorn of Thailand is crowned in elaborate ceremony". theguardian.com. 4 May 2019. Archived from the original on 12 August 2020. Retrieved 10 May 2019.
^Terwiel, B.J. (2011). Thailand's Political History: From the 13th Century to Recent Times. Thailand: River Books. p. 39. ISBN 978-9749863961. Archived from the original on 6 February 2023. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
^Royal Gazette, Announcement of the appointment of Prince Vajirunhis to the Crown Prince of Siam (Thai) Archived 3 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine, Volume 3, Chapter 44, 1 March 1886, page 368
^Royal Gazette, The Investiture of Crown Prince Maha Vajiravudh (Thai) Archived 3 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine, Volume 11, Chapter 63, 20 January 1895, page 346
^Royal Gazette, Royal Decree announcing the Investiture of Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn (Thai) Archived 5 November 2016 at the Wayback Machine, Volume 89, Chapter 200 (ก), Special Edition, 28 December 1972, Page 1
^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o"ราชกิจจานุเบกษา, พระบรมราชโองการ ประกาศ พระราชทานนามสกุลสำหรับเชื้อพระวงศ์พระบรมราชวงศ์ชั้น 5, เล่ม 46, ตอน 0ก, 9 มิถุนายน พ.ศ. 2472, หน้า 21" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 October 2020. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Chakri dynasty.
King Mongkut (1804–1868)
King Vajiralongkorn (born 1952)
.svg/1280px-Asia_(orthographic_projection).svg.png){kind=small}
