# Bhanurangsi Savangwongse

Prince Bhanurangsi Savangwongse, The Prince Bhanubandhu Vongsevoradej or His Royal Highness Prince Bhanurangsi Savangwongse, Prince Uncle (11 January 1859 – 13 June 1928) (Thai: สมเด็จพระราชปิตุลาบรมพงศาภิมุข เจ้าฟ้าภาณุรังษีสว่างวงศ์ กรมพระยาภาณุพันธุวงศ์วรเดช) was a son of King Mongkut of Siam and Queen Debsirindra.
Although the Prince held a number of posts in the government of his elder brother, King Chulalongkorn, including the post of Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Siamese Army, he is best remembered as the founder of the Thai postal service and the first Field marshal in Royal Siamese Army during King Vajiravudh.
His most famous son is the Formula One racer, Prince Birabongse Bhanudej Bhanubandh, better known as Prince Bira.

## Early life and education

His Royal Highness Prince Bhanurangsi Savangwongse born on 11 January 1860 at the Grand Palace, Bangkok. He has 3 brothers and sisters, including King Chulalongkorn, Princess Chandrmondol and Prince Chaturonrasmi. After 2 years, his mother died. Later, his father died when he was 10 years old. He was the scatterer of rice in the procession of the royal funeral of King Mongkut. When he was 12 years old King Chulalongkorn appointed him as Prince Brother, with a royal ceremony at the Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall. When he was 13 years old he was ordained as a novice at Wat Phra Kaew with Supreme Patriarch Pavares Variyalongkorn as a preceptor then went out to Wat Bowonniwet Vihara.
He began his studies in the school of female teachers and began to study by himself. After that, he studied the books of Khmer and Pali at the Bureau of Phraya Priyatthi Dhammada when he is ordained. After that, he studied military education at the Bureau of the King's Guard since 1872 and learning the Thai language from Phraya Srisoonthorn Waham (Noi Ajarayangkul) including studying civil service traditions and royal traditions from Prince Mahamala, the Prince Bamrapporapak.

## Careers

He carried out military service in a special officer rank, with a first lieutenant's uniform in Bureau of the King's Guard when King Chulalongkorn travelled to Singapore (2nd time) and Burma, parts of England throughout India including the rising districts of Siam along the western coast of Malaya. He held positions including Minister of the Council and Privy Council of King Chulalongkorn, Chancellor of the Ministry of Defense, The Privy Council of King Rama VI and the President and Privy Councilor in King Rama VII, Inspector General, Commander of the Navy Department and Director-General of the Post and Telegraph Department.

## Death

Prince Bhanurangsi Savangwongse died on 13 June 1928 aged 68 at Buraphaphirom Palace.

## Issue

He had 16 children, 9 sons and 7 daughters:
| Name | Birth | Death | Marriage | Marriage | Their children |
| Name | Birth | Death | Date | Spouse | Their children |
| By Man Bunnag ||||||
| Nibanna Bhanubongse, Prince Bhanubongse Biriyadej | (1885-09-07)7 September 1885 | 22 August 1934(1934-08-22) (aged 48) | 26 October 1917 | Princess Vilayakulya Devakula | Prince Bhanudevan Bhanubandhu |
| Nibanna Bhanubongse, Prince Bhanubongse Biriyadej | (1885-09-07)7 September 1885 | 22 August 1934(1934-08-22) (aged 48) | Concubine | Paew | Savanna Vichairat |
| Nibanna Bhanubongse, Prince Bhanubongse Biriyadej | (1885-09-07)7 September 1885 | 22 August 1934(1934-08-22) (aged 48) | Concubine | Arun Pheng-iam | Prince Bhanbhanu Bhanubandhu |
| Nibanna Bhanubongse, Prince Bhanubongse Biriyadej | (1885-09-07)7 September 1885 | 22 August 1934(1934-08-22) (aged 48) | Concubine | Arun Pheng-iam | Princess Arunkhaiseang Bhanubandhu |
| Nibanna Bhanubongse, Prince Bhanubongse Biriyadej | (1885-09-07)7 September 1885 | 22 August 1934(1934-08-22) (aged 48) | Concubine | Mali Sukcharoen | Prabhabhadhu Konkosiyakaj |
| Nibanna Bhanubongse, Prince Bhanubongse Biriyadej | (1885-09-07)7 September 1885 | 22 August 1934(1934-08-22) (aged 48) | Concubine | Mali Sukcharoen | Prince Suriyabhandhu Bhanubandhu |
| Nibanna Bhanubongse, Prince Bhanubongse Biriyadej | (1885-09-07)7 September 1885 | 22 August 1934(1934-08-22) (aged 48) | Concubine | Mali Sukcharoen | Phanwarophat Svetarundra |
| Nibanna Bhanubongse, Prince Bhanubongse Biriyadej | (1885-09-07)7 September 1885 | 22 August 1934(1934-08-22) (aged 48) | Concubine | Phayao Nayaphan | Prince Niphathabhandhubongse Bhanubandhu |
| Nibanna Bhanubongse, Prince Bhanubongse Biriyadej | (1885-09-07)7 September 1885 | 22 August 1934(1934-08-22) (aged 48) | Concubine | Phayao Nayaphan | Princess Uthaikanya Bhanubandhu |
| Prince Siriwongse Vadhanadej | (1889-03-07)7 March 1889 | 5 May 1909(1909-05-05) (aged 20) | None | None | None | None |
| Princess Chaloemkhetmongkhon | (1892-03-10)10 March 1892 | 23 January 1957(1957-01-23) (aged 64) | 22 November 1907 | Yugala Dighambara, Prince of Lopburi | Prince Bhanubandhu Yugala |
| Princess Chaloemkhetmongkhon | (1892-03-10)10 March 1892 | 23 January 1957(1957-01-23) (aged 64) | 22 November 1907 | Yugala Dighambara, Prince of Lopburi | Prince Chalermbol Dighambara |
| Princess Chaloemkhetmongkhon | (1892-03-10)10 March 1892 | 23 January 1957(1957-01-23) (aged 64) | 22 November 1907 | Yugala Dighambara, Prince of Lopburi | Prince Anusorn Mongkolkarn |
| By Liam Suphasut ||||||
| Princess Dibyasambandh | (1885-05-17)17 May 1885 | 26 July 1908(1908-07-26) (aged 23) | 28 February 1901 | Abhakara Kiartivongse, Prince of Chumphon | Prince Kiart Abhakara |
| Princess Dibyasambandh | (1885-05-17)17 May 1885 | 26 July 1908(1908-07-26) (aged 23) | 28 February 1901 | Abhakara Kiartivongse, Prince of Chumphon | Prince Aditya Dibabha |
| Princess Dibyasambandh | (1885-05-17)17 May 1885 | 26 July 1908(1908-07-26) (aged 23) | 28 February 1901 | Abhakara Kiartivongse, Prince of Chumphon | Prince Rangsiyakorn Abhakara |
| By Sun Paksiwongsa ||||||
| Prince Suriyon Yiembayab | (1894-09-14)14 September 1894 | 19 September 1912(1912-09-19) (aged 18) | None | None | None | None |
| By Lap Chatikarat ||||||
| Prince Ballap Danaya | (1899-09-16)16 September 1899 | 2 July 1901(1901-07-02) (aged 1) | None | None | None | None |
| By Lek Yongchaiyudh ||||||
| Princess Khaimuk Bhanubandhu | (1904-04-23)23 April 1904 | 29 December 1904(1904-12-29) (aged 0) | None | None | None | None |
| Princess Rambhai Prabha | (1907-07-25)25 July 1907 | 14 June 1979(1979-06-14) (aged 71) | Unknown | Prince Thaniseksangat Jumbala | Mom Rajawongse Rueng-amphai Isarankura |
| Princess Rambhai Prabha | (1907-07-25)25 July 1907 | 14 June 1979(1979-06-14) (aged 71) | Unknown | Prince Thaniseksangat Jumbala | Mom Rajawongse Hathaithani Jumbala |
| Prince Aphassorawongse | (1909-06-20)20 June 1909 | 24 June 1982(1982-06-24) (aged 73) | 1943 Divorced 1950 | Mani Bunnag | Mom Rajawongse Ornmani Niwetmarin |
| Prince Aphassorawongse | (1909-06-20)20 June 1909 | 24 June 1982(1982-06-24) (aged 73) | Unknown | Amphai Seangsuk | Mom Rajawongse Bhandhurangsri Bhanubandhu |
| Prince Aphassorawongse | (1909-06-20)20 June 1909 | 24 June 1982(1982-06-24) (aged 73) | Unknown | Amphai Seangsuk | Mom Rajawongse Sudaratana na Nagara |
| Prince Birabongse Bhanudej | (1914-07-15)15 July 1914 | 23 December 1985(1985-12-23) (aged 71) | 12 January 1938 Divorced 1949 | Ceril Heycock | None |
| Prince Birabongse Bhanudej | (1914-07-15)15 July 1914 | 23 December 1985(1985-12-23) (aged 71) | 18 December 1951 Divorced 1956 | Celia Howard | Mom Rajawongse Biradej Bhanubandh |
| Prince Birabongse Bhanudej | (1914-07-15)15 July 1914 | 23 December 1985(1985-12-23) (aged 71) | 1959 Divorced 1964 | Arunee Chuladakoson | None | None |
| Prince Birabongse Bhanudej | (1914-07-15)15 July 1914 | 23 December 1985(1985-12-23) (aged 71) | 1967 Divorced 1980 | Chuanchom Chaiyananda | Mom Rajawongse Rabibara Bhanubandh |
| Prince Birabongse Bhanudej | (1914-07-15)15 July 1914 | 23 December 1985(1985-12-23) (aged 71) | 1967 Divorced 1980 | Chuanchom Chaiyananda | Mom Rajawongse Biranubongse Bhanubandh |
| Prince Norasetdha Suriyalaksana | (1915-12-09)9 December 1915 | 22 March 1954(1954-03-22) (aged 38) | None | None | None | None |
| Prince Chirasakdi Suprabhas | (1918-09-04)4 September 1918 | 12 September 1942(1942-09-12) (aged 24) | 22 September 1938 | Mani Bunnag | Mom Rajawongse Dejanasakdi Sakdidejna Bhanubandhu |
| Prince Chirasakdi Suprabhas | (1918-09-04)4 September 1918 | 12 September 1942(1942-09-12) (aged 24) | 22 September 1938 | Mani Bunnag | Mom Rajawongse Thim Sakdidejna Bhanubandhu |
| Princess Lek Bhanubandhu | (1919-09-05)5 September 1919 | 11 September 1919(1919-09-11) (aged 0) | None | None | None | None |
| Unknown mother ||||||
| Unnamed Princess | (1891-11-17)17 November 1891 | 1 December 1891(1891-12-01) (aged 0) | None | None | None | None |
| Prince Daeng Bhanubandhu | (1904-04-23)23 April 1904 | 23 April 1904(1904-04-23) (aged 0) | None | None | None | None |

## Honours
### National honours

* Knight of the Most Illustrious Order of the Royal House of Chakri (1882)
* Knight of the Ancient and Auspicious Order of the Nine Gems (1869)
* Knight Grand Cordon (Special Class) of the Most Illustrious Order of Chula Chom Klao (1900)
* Knight of the Ratana Varabhorn Order of Merit (1912)
* Knight Grand Commander (Senangapati) of the Honourable Order of Rama (1918)
* Knight Grand Cordon (Special Class) of the Most Exalted Order of the White Elephant (1913)
* Knight Grand Cordon (Special Class) of the Most Noble Order of the Crown of Thailand (1920)
* Dushdi Mala Medal (1893)
* Chakra Mala Medal (1893)
* Chakrabarti Mala Medal (1898)
* Saradul Mala Medal (1926)
* Pushpa Mala Medal (1901)
* King Rama IV Royal Cypher Medal, 2nd Class (1904)
* King Rama V Royal Cypher Medal, 1st Class (1901)
* King Rama VI Royal Cypher Medal, 1st Class (1910)
* King Rama VII Royal Cypher Medal, 1st Class (1926)
* Rachada Bhisek Medal (1893)
* Prabas Mala Medal (1898)
* Rajini Medal (1898)
* Dvidha Bhisek Medal (1903)
* Rajamangala Medal (1907)
* Rajamangala Bhisek Medal (1908)
* King Rama VI Coronation Medal (1911)
* King Rama VII Coronation Medal (1925)

### Foreign honours

* Austria-Hungary:
** Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Iron Crown (1873)
* Brunswick:
** Grand Cross of the Order of Henry the Lion (1909)
* France:
** Grand Cross of the National Order of the Legion of Honour (1921)
* Hawaii:
** Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Order of Kalākaua (1881)
* Italy:
** Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus (1895)
** Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Crown of Italy (1881)
* Japan:
** Grand Cordon with Paulownia Flowers of the Order of the Rising Sun (1890)
* Portugal:
** Grand Cross of the Order of Christ (1878)
* Prussia:
** Grand Cross of the Order of the Red Eagle (1896)
* Russia:
** Knight of the Order of the White Eagle (1891)
* Spain:
** Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic (1879)

## Ancestry

Ancestors of Bhanurangsi Savangwongse :