Devawongse Varoprakar
Devan Udayawongse, the Prince Devawongse Varoprakar was a Siamese prince and diplomat during the reigns of Rama V and Rama VI.
Born as son of King Mongkut and Princess Consort Piam with the given name Prince Devan Udayawongse, he had the same parents as the three queens of King Chulalongkorn, Queen Sunandha Kumariratana, Queen Savang Vadhana and Queen Saovabha Bhongsi. Prince Devawongse Varoprakar was the 42nd child of King Mongkut's 82 children.
He is the founder of the House of Devakula and was also known for naming the solar calendar months after the zodiac signs.
Life
Prince Devavongse Varoprakar was born in Bangkok's Grand Palace on 27 November 1858 to King Mongkut, Rama IV of Siam and Princess Consort Piyamavadi. He was their second child and their second son of the total 6 children which were- Prince Unakan Ananta Norajaya
- Prince Devan Udayawongse
- Princess Sunandha Kumariratana
- Princess Savang Vadhana
- Princess Saovabha Bongsi
- Prince Svasti Sobhana.
At the age of 27, when Chao Phraya Phanuwongse Mahakosa Thobodi had resigned, he was promoted to be the Minister of Foreign Affairs in which role he started to establish modern diplomatic methods and policies. He was known by foreign diplomats and officials as "Prince Dewan of Siam".
As the Siamese King's delegate to the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria, he had visited many countries and observed the administrative patterns and methods of each country. As a result, the Siamese royal court was evolved since then as the modern royal administrative system was set with 12 formal ministries in 1892. In the international relation and politics, he had played the major role in several incidents during that time including all the treaties with many countries and the French Indochina-Siamese conflict; as well the domestic issues and issues involving the royal court.
He had asked the King's permission to settle the permanent office of the ministry outside his residence, and the permanent embassies abroad, first in London then Paris and more. Later, he was bestowed the royal title of Krom Luang Devawongse Varoprakar in 1886. King Rama V informally called Prince Devan as his "right hand".
During the reign of King Vajiravudh, Rama VI of Siam, who was the child of his maternal younger sister, Queen Sri Bajarindra, the Queen Mother, he was delegated to work as the Head of the King's administration and was awarded the title of Krom Phra Devawongse Varoprakar, in 1911. He was also delegated many positions of the royal court of King Rama VI such as the chairman of the minister council.
Later in 1916 he was one of few princes of Siam who was not born to the Queen but bestowed the royal title of Somdet Krom Phraya Devawongse Varoprakar, of which the rank of Somdet Krom Phraya is the highest rank for the prince who works in the Siamese royal court and normally preserved for Chao Fa or Prince Supreme Patriarch only.
At the age of 64 Prince Devawongse died due to sepsis from a carbuncle, complicated by his diabetes, at Devavesma palace, his residence, on 28 June 1923. His funeral was held in his residence, and the royal cremation ceremony, presided over by King Rama VI, who mourned him with traditional all-white dress, was held at Sanam Luang.