Phraya Phichai
Phraya Phichai, or popularly known as Phraya Phichai Dap Hak was a historic Siamese nobleman of Mon descent who served as a military leader under King Taksin of the Thonburi Kingdom. He legendarily became known for fighting with a sword in each hand until one was broken.
Background
Phraya Phichai was a Siamese general serving under King Taksin. After the fall of Ayutthaya in 1767, Phraya Phichai and Chao Phraya Chakri followed Phraya Taksin in repelling the Burmese and reuniting Siam. They were considered Phraya Taksin's left and right hands.In 1782, King Taksin showed signs of mental illness. At that time, the nation still lacked stability and was in need of a strong ruler. King Taksin was deposed and later executed following a coup, after which Chao Phraya Chakri took the throne. Phraya Phichai, a devout follower of King Taksin, was not spared and, by most accounts, requested his own execution to follow King Taksin to his death. He was executed soon after.
Early life
Birth
Phraya Phichai was born in 1741 at Ban Huai Kha, Phichai District, Uttaradit Province. He had four brothers and sisters, but three of them died before his birth. His parents are unknown. His birth name was Choi.Childhood
As a young boy, Choi loved to practice Thai boxing and would frequently run away to train in the art without his parents' knowledge. He trained with many teachers of that era.One day, Choi traveled northward and met a boxing instructor named Thiang at Wat Ban Kaeng. Choi became a beloved student of Instructor Thiang and was renamed Thong Di. His instructor called him Thong Di Fan Khao as he did not chew betel nut. Historically, Thai people chewed betel nut, which blackened their teeth, until the government under Field Marshal Plaek Phibunsongkhram issued a ban on the practice in 1942.
Career
Serving the Crown
When Phraya Tak held a boxing contest in the city of Tak during a traditional festival, Thong Di, then twenty years old, requested a match. Despite being an unknown, he insisted on fighting the most skillful boxer in town.He faced Nai Hao, a famous boxing master whom no one dared to challenge. Thong Di displayed brilliant style and achieved a resounding victory. Witnessing this, Phraya Tak immediately asked Thong Di to join his army and appointed him as his personal bodyguard.
Military Leadership
Between 1765 and 1769, during the Sino-Burmese War (1765–1769), the Burmese were forced to withdraw the bulk of their garrison from Siam to face Chinese invasions. Phraya Tak took advantage of this situation, organizing an army to drive back the remaining Burmese forces.During this war of independence, Thong Di served as a Commander-in-Chief. In 1773, a Burmese army under Ne Myo Thihapate attempted to capture Phichai. Thong Di led the Siamese forces, supported by Chao Phraya Surasi, and successfully repelled the Burmese at Wat Aka, inflicting heavy casualties.
The "Broken Sword" Legend
During a fierce battle, Thong Di fought with daab song mue. After many engagements, he slipped and used one of his swords to steady himself by pointing it into the ground; as he leaned on it, the blade broke in half. Undeterred, he continued to lead his army to victory using one whole sword and one broken one. This feat earned him the name Phraya Phichai Dap Hak.Death and legacy
Following the transition from the Thonburi Kingdom to the Rattanakosin Kingdom in 1782, King Rama I ascended the throne. Recognizing Phraya Phichai's exceptional military merit and integrity, the new King offered to grant him a royal pardon and invited him to continue his service as a high-ranking officer in the new administration.However, Phraya Phichai, a staunchly loyal subject of the late King Taksin, declined the offer. Adhering to the ancient code of loyalty known as Kha Kao Chao Liang, which dictated that a loyal servant should not serve two masters, he requested his own execution to follow King Taksin in death. Before his death, he entrusted his son, Nai Ket, to the care of King Rama I. Phraya Phichai was executed on 7 April 1782 at the age of 41.