Chakri dynasty

Chakri dynasty
The Chakri dynasty 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 Taksin Thonburi'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.
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.
Royal family
The present royal family of Thailand belongs to the House of Mahidol, 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:
The King and Queen (the sovereign and his wife)
The Princess Rajasarini Siribajra (the King's eldest daughter)
Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana (the King's youngest daughter)
Prince Dipangkorn Rasmijoti (the King's youngest son and heir presumptive)
Descendants of Rama IX
The Queen Mother (the King's mother)
Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya (the King's elder sister)
The Princess Royal (the King's younger sister)
The Princess Srisavangavadhana (the King's younger sister)
Princess Siribha Chudabhorn (the King's niece)
Princess Aditayadorn Kitikhun (the King's niece)
Descendants of Rama V
The Princess Suddhanarinatha (the King's ex-wife and maternal first cousin)
Other members
Descendants of Rama V
Prince Nawaphan Yugala and Mom Anwida Yugala na Ayudhya (the King’s paternal half-second cousin and his wife)
Prince Chaloemsuek Yugala (the King’s paternal half-second cousin)
Prince Thikhamphon Yugala and Mom Malini Yugala na Ayudhya (the King’s paternal half-second cousin & his wife)
Prince Chatrichalerm Yugala and Mom Kamala Yugala na Ayudhya (the King’s paternal half-second cousin & his wife)
Prince Chulcherm Yugala and Mom Anchali Yugala na Ayudhya (the King’s paternal half-second cousin & his wife)
Princess Nopphadonchaloemsi Yugala (the King’s paternal half-second cousin)
Descendants of Rama IV
Princess Uthaithiang Jayankura (the King’s paternal half-first cousin twice removed)
Prince Charunritdet Jayankura (the King’s paternal half-first cousin twice removed)
Prince Pusan Svastivatana and Mom Naunsri Svastivatana na Ayudhya (the King’s paternal half-first cousin twice removed & his wife)
Princess Uthaikanya Bhanubandhu (the King’s paternal half-first cousin twice removed)
Other noble relatives
Chao Khun Phra Sineenat Bilaskalayani (the King's concubine)
Sujarinee Vivacharawongse (the King's ex-wife and Princess Sirivannavari’s mother)
Juthavachara Vivacharawongse and Riya Gough (the King's eldest son & daughter-in-law)
Vacharaesorn Vivacharawongse (the King's second son)
Chakriwat Vivacharawongse (the King's third son)
Vatchrawee Vivacharawongse (the King's fourth son)
Than Phu Ying Srirasmi Suwadee (the King's ex-wife and Prince Dipangkorn’s mother)
Than Phu Ying Jangheang Tidjai (the King’s mother-in-law and the Queen’s mother)
Descendants of Rama IX
Peter Ladd Jensen (Princess Ubolratana’s ex-husband)
Than Phu Ying Ploypailin Jensen and David Wheeler (the King’s niece & nephew-in-law)
Maximus Wheeler (the King’s grandnephew)
Leonardo Wheeler (the King’s grandnephew)
Alexandra Wheeler (the King’s grandniece)
Than Phu Ying Sirikitiya Jensen (the King’s niece)
Virayudh Tishyasarin (the Princess Srisavangavadhana‘s ex-husband)
Descendants of Mahidol Adulyadej
Than Phu Ying Dhasanawalaya and Sinthu Sornsongkram (the King's paternal first cousin & her husband)
Jitat and Jessica Sornsongkram (the King’s paternal first cousin once removed & his wife)
Descendants of Rama V
Induratana Paribatra (the King’s paternal half-first cousin once removed)
Khun Ying Wutchaloem Vudhijaya (the King’s paternal half-first cousin once removed)
Than Phu Ying Phansawali Kitiyakara (the King’s paternal half-second cousin, maternal aunt by marriage, and the Princess Suddhanarinatha’s mother)
Mom Luang Sarali Kitiyakara (the King's maternal first cousin and the Princess Suddhanarinatha’s younger sister)
Phanuma Yugala (the King’s paternal half-second cousin)
Sisawangwong Bunyachittradun (the King’s paternal half-second cousin)
Phumaripihrom Schell and Jean-Marie Schell (the King’s paternal half-second cousin and her husband)
Patthamanarangsi Senanarong (the King’s paternal half-second cousin)
Than Phu Ying Busba Sathanapong (the King’s maternal aunt)
Descendants of Rama IV
Phanwarophat Svetarundra (the King’s paternal second cousin once removed)
Line of succession
King Mongkut (1804–1868)
King Chulalongkorn (1853–1910)
King Vajiravudh (1881–1925)
King Prajadhipok (1893–1941)
Mahidol Adulyadej, Prince Father (1892–1929)
King Ananda Mahidol (1925–1946)
King Bhumibol Adulyadej (1927–2016)
King Vajiralongkorn (born 1952)
(1) Prince Dipangkorn Rasmijoti (b. 2005)
(–) Juthavachara Vivacharawongse (b. 1979)
(–) Vacharaesorn Vivacharawongse (b. 1981)
(–) Chakriwat Vivacharawongse (b. 1983)
(–) Vatchrawee Vivacharawongse (b. 1985)
(2) Bajrakitiyabha, Princess Rajasarinisiribajra (b. 1978)
(3) Princess Sirivannavari (b. 1987)
(–) Princess Ubolratana (b. 1951)
(4) Sirindhorn, Princess Debaratanarajasuda, Princess Royal (b. 1955)
(5) Chulabhorn, Princess Srisavangavadhana (b. 1957)
Yugala Dighambara, Prince of Lopburi (1882–1932)
Prince Bhanubandhu Yugala (1910–1995)
(6) Prince Nawaphan Yugala (b. 1978)
Prince Chaloemphonthikhamphon (1913–1991)
(7) Prince Chaloemsuek Yugala (b. 1950)
(8) Prince Thikhamphon Yugala (b. 1951)
Prince Anusorn Mongkolkarn (1915–1998)
(9) Prince Chatrichalerm Yugala (b. 1942)
(10) Prince Chulcherm Yugala (b. 1947)
Chaiyanuchit, Prince Phongsadisonmahip (1861–1936)
(11) Prince Charunritthidet Jayankura (b. 1933)
Svasti Sobhana, Prince Svastivatana Visishtha (1865–1935)
(12) Prince Pusan Svastivatana (b. 1929)
Notes
Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya (b. 1951), eldest daughter of King Rama IX, renounced her right of succession for herself and her heirs upon her marriage in 1972.
Juthavachara Vivacharawongse (b. 1979), Vacharaesorn Vivacharawongse (b. 1981), Chakriwat Vivacharawongse (b. 1983), and Vatchrawee Vivacharawongse (b. 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 Bavorn 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 Isarasundhorn was able to ascend the throne as King Buddha Loetla Nabhalai. 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 Bovorn Vichaicharn died. He then declared his oldest son the crown prince of Siam, but not Uparat.
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 Buddha Yodfa Chualoke (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.
Queens
Family tree
Cadet houses
Royal houses
Viceregal houses
See also
Monarchy of Thailand
List of monarchs of Thailand
List of Thai royal consorts
Rattanakosin era
1924 Palace Law on Succession
Rama (King of Thailand)
Order of the Royal House of Chakri
Privy Council of Thailand
Regent of Thailand
References
External links
Chakri Dynasty and the City of Angels
The Chakri Dynasty 1782
The Siamese Royalty
The Royal Houses of the Chakri Dynasty
History of the Front Palaces
Royal family
Thai monarchy
Thai royalty
1780s in Siam
1790s in Siam
19th century in Siam
20th century in Thailand
21st century in Thailand
1782 establishments in Siam