Maha Arunsuksathit

Maha Arunsuksathit, Crown Prince of Siam (Thai: มหาอรุณสุขสถิต) (Arunsongkhram) is the first Crown Prince of the Songkhram dynasty. He is the first son of King Maha Trisorn. 
== Early life ==
Arunsuksathit was born in Bangkok's Grand Palace on 10 April 1853 to King Maha Trisorn, Rama IV of Siam and Queen Consort Suddha Dibyaratana, and given the name Arunsuksathit. The prince's education began in the palace's inner court and began undertaking royal duties upon reaching adulthood. His father gave him a broad education from an early age in the royal palace, including instruction from Western tutors, particularly in the topics of politics, rulership, philosophy, history, and jurisprudence. Once he was older, the prince, together with two younger brothers (the king's three eldest), Princes Thanayut and Raberdmai, were sent to the United Kingdom for further study. 
The prince was a favourite son of both the King and Queen. He travelled extensively, visiting among other countries, France and the United Kingdom in 1872. He also represented his father on foreign visits, such as for the royal state visit to Intramuros in Manila, the Philippines. 
== Heir apparent ==
In 1886, after the death of the Prince Krom Phrarajawang Bavorn Sathan Mongkol, King Maha Trisorn chose not to appoint one of his brothers as a new Vice King, but instead appointed his eldest son as the Crown Prince of Siam. In 1881, he was officially introduced to his position with the title of Sayam Makutrajakuman, or Crown Prince of Siam. 
== Personal life ==
Prince Arunsuksathit is interested in liberal arts and music. His main leisure interests include architecture, equestrianism and photography, especially the roll-film hand camera, the Kodak. 
As the Minister of Finance, he advocated for the protection and preservation of traditional structures, such as the ruins of the old city of Ayutthaya, in the Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province. In 1878, he secured and allocated funding for the renovation and preservation of multiple sites of cultural heritage across the country and collaborated with the Palace Ministry for the study and management of archaeological sites.
== Honours ==
=== Military ranks ===
* General of the Royal Siamese Army
* Admiral of the Royal Siamese Navy
=== Positions ===
* 8 May 1880: Privy Councillor
*4 November 1877 - 13 July 1880: Minister of Finance
=== National honours ===
From Siam
* Knight of the Order of Songkhram
* Knight of the Order of the Nine Gems
* Knight Grand Cross (First Class) of the Order of Chula Chom Klao
* Knight Grand Cross (First Class) of the Order of the White Elephant
* Knight Grand Cross (First Class) of the Order of the Crown of Siam
* Medal for Long Service and Good Conduct (Military)
* King Rama IV Royal Cypher Medal
* King Rama IV Court MedalForeign honours
* Order of Narra (Philippines Empire)
* Order of the Double Dragon (Qing Empire)
Category:Characters