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's reign, when the capital of Siam shifted to Bangkok. The royal house was founded by Rama I, an Ayutthaya military leader.
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 and the trident, the celestial weapons of the gods Vishnu and Shiva, of whom the Thai sovereign is seen as an incarnation.
In terms of lineage, King Rama IV stated in his royal correspondence that the ancestry of the Chakri dynasty was not purely Thai but of mixed Mon and Chinese descent. According to historian Edward van Roy, Kosa Pan was the son of Phraya Kiat, a Mon noble who supported Naresuan during the fourth Burmese–Siamese War, and, said to be a daughter of King Ekathotsarot and the wet nurse of Phetracha and Prince Narai, both future kings of Siam. Through his son Khunthong, Kosa Pan was a great-great-grandfather of King Rama I, the founder of the Chakri dynasty. His elder brother, Lek, held the post of foreign minister before him. Somdet Phra Pathom Boromma Mahachanok, meanwhile, was the father of King Phutthayotfa Chulalok. Some theories further propose that the dynasty may descend from King Naresuan the Great of Ayutthaya, which—if correct—would link it by blood to the Phra Ruang dynasty of the Sukhothai.
The current head of the house is 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 and Princess Srinagarindra. 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, King Bhumibol Adulyadej ascended the throne in 1946. In 1949 the King married his first cousin once removed, Mom Rajawongse Sirikit Kitiyakara. Bhumibol was succeeded by his son 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 Princess Rajasarini Siribajra
- * Princess Sirivannavari
- * Prince Dipangkorn Rasmijoti
- Princess Ubol Ratana
- The Princess Royal
- The Princess Srisavangavadhana
- * Princess Siribha Chudhabhorn
- * Princess Aditayadorn Kitikhun
- The Princess Suddhanarinatha
- Prince Chalermsuk Yugala
Other members
- Prince and Princess Nawaphansa Yugala
- Princess Srisavangvongse Yugala
- Prince and Princess Dighambara Yugala
- Prince and Princess Chatrichalerm Yugala
- Princess Nobhadol Chalermsri Yugala
- Princess Uthaikanya Bhanubandhu
- Prince and Princess Charuridhidej Jayankura
Other noble relatives
- Royal Noble Consort Sineenatha Bilaskalayani
- Sujarinee Vivacharawongse
- * Juthavachara Vivacharawongse and Riya Gough
- * Vacharaesorn Vivacharawongse
- * Chakriwat Vivacharawongse
- * Vatchrawee Vivacharawongse
- Dame Srirasmi Suwadee
- Peter Ladd Jensen
- * Dame Ploypailin Jensen and David Wheeler
- ** Maximus Wheeler
- ** Leonardo Wheeler
- ** Alexandra Wheeler
- * Dame Sirikitiya Jensen
- Virayudh Tishyasarin
- Dame Dhasanawalaya and Sinthu Sornsongkram
- * Jitat and Jessica Sornsongkram
- ** Jerrica Sornsongkram
- ** Jaylanie Sornsongkram
- ** Jaylina Sornsongkram
- The 2nd Prince of Chanthaburi's family:
- * The Hon. Sirina and Piya Jittalan
- * The Hon. Nathapha Kitiyakara and Wuttisak Ratanasuwan
- * Dame Busba and Captain Surayudh Sathanapong
- ** Dame Suthawan and Surakiart Sathirathai
- Dame Vudhichalerm Vudhijaya
- Bhanuma Phiphitphokha
- Bhumribiromya Schell and Jean-Marie Schell
- Padmonrangsi Senanarong
- Bandhuvarobas Svetarundra
Line of succession
- King Mongkut
- * King Chulalongkorn
- ** King Vajiravudh
- ** King Prajadhipok
- **Mahidol Adulyadej, Prince Father
- *** King Ananda Mahidol
- *** King Bhumibol Adulyadej
- ****15px King Vajiralongkorn
- ***** ' Prince Dipangkorn Rasmijoti
- ***** ' Juthavachara Vivacharawongse
- ***** ' Vacharaesorn Vivacharawongse
- ***** ' Chakriwat Vivacharawongse
- ***** ' Vatchrawee Vivacharawongse
- ***** ' Bajrakitiyabha, Princess Rajasarini Siribajra
- ***** ' Princess Sirivannavari
- **** ' Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya
- **** ' Sirindhorn, Princess Royal
- **** ' Chulabhorn, Princess Srisavangavadhana
- **Yugala Dighambara, Prince of Lopburi
- ***Prince Bhanubandhu Yugala
- **** ' Prince Nawaphansa Yugala
- ***Prince Chalermbol Dighambara
- ****
- ****' Prince Chalermsuk Yugala
- ****' Prince Dighambara Yugala
- *** Prince Anusorn Mongkolkarn
- ****' Prince Chatrichalerm Yugala
- *Chaiyanuchit, the Prince Phongsadisonmahip
- ** Prince Charuridhidej Jayankura
| Mark | Source for listing or note on exclusion from succession |
| P | 1924 Palace Law of Succession |
| C | 1. In the case where the Throne becomes vacant and the King has already appointed an Heir to the Throne under the 1924 Palace Law on Succession, and may be submitted the name of a Princess in Chapter II: The King, Section 21. 2.The proposal of the name of a Princess to the throne, there has been an amendment to the constitution since 1974. Therefore, the lineage of the King Bhumibol Adulyadej is counted in accordance with the constitution amended in his reign. |
| M | Disqualified - married a foreigner |
| X | Was degraded from succession |
History
Monarchs
Timeline
Front Palaces
The Maha Uparat or the Krom Phrarajawang Boworn Sathan Mongkol 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 . 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, who was elevated to Vice King Pinklao in 1851. 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.| Portrait | Name | Birth | Relationship to Monarch | Reign | Coronation | Death | Monarch |
| His Royal Highness Prince Maha Sura Singhanat | 1 November 1744 Ayutthaya | Younger brother | 1782 3 November 1803 | 1782 | 3 November 1803 Burapha Phimuk Hall, Front Palace | Rama I | |
| His Royal Highness Prince Krommaluang Itsarasunthon | 24 February 1767 Amphawa | Second son | 15 March 1807 7 September 1809 | 15 March 1807 | 21 July 1824 Phaisan Thaksin Hall, Grand Palace | Rama I | |
| His Majesty Royal Highness Prince Maha Senanurak | 29 March 1773 Thonburi | Younger brother | 22 September 1809 16 July 1817 | 22 September 1809 | 16 July 1817 Wayusathan Amaret Hall, Front Palace | Rama II | |
| His Majesty Royal Prince Sakdiphonlasep | 21 October 1785 Grand Palace | Uncle | 1824 1 May 1832 | 13 September 1824 | 1 May 1832 Front Palace | Rama III | |
| His Majesty King Pinklao | 4 September 1808 Thonburi Palace | Younger brother | 2 April 1851 7 January 1866 | 25 May 1851 | 7 January 1866 Wongchan Hall, Front Palace | Rama IV | |
| Krom Phrarajawang Bowon Wichaichan | 6 September 1838 Thonburi Palace | First cousin | 2 October 1868 28 August 1885 | 25 November 1868 | 28 August 1885 Bowon Boriwat Hall, Front Palace | Rama V |
Rear Palace
Krom Phrarajawang Boworn Sathan Phimuk, 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 and was appointed to the office in 1785.| Portrait | Name | Birth | Relationship to Monarch | Tenure | Death | Monarch |
| Prince Krom Phra Anurak Devesh Krom Phrarajawang Boworn Sathan Phimuk | 28 March 1746 Ayutthaya | Nephew | circa 1785 20 December 1806 | 20 December 1806 Rear Palace | Rama I |