Phrachao Suea

Phrachao Suea , literally the "Tiger King"; born as Luang Sorasak , throne name Sanphet VIII. พระบาท สมเด็จ พระ สรรเพชญ ที่ ๘ or Suriyentharathibodi สมเด็จ พระเจ้า สุ ริ เยน ทราบ ด , († 1709 ) was king of the Kingdom of Ayutthaya between 1703 and 1709 .

Live and act

Luang Sorasak was the eldest son of the usurper Phetracha , who had the terminally ill King Narai the Great executed in 1688 to put himself on the throne. Immediately after his accession to the throne, Sorasak became Uparat (viceroy) and thus, according to the usual line of succession, also crown prince. At the same time, his father placed two of his sons with royal rank at the head of the administration. Sorasak was dissatisfied with this and had the royal rivals killed within a year, as well as the brother of the former king, Prince Apaithot.

The governors of Nakhon Ratchasima and Nakhon Si Thammarat refused to recognize the usurper Phetracha. Therefore, Sorasak was sent to subdue the provinces. Military leaders who failed were executed. After many attempts the provinces could be taken, but already in 1698 a new rebellion broke out in Nakhon Ratchasima when a monk named Bun Khwang held out for about a year and claimed to be Narai's brother.

After his accession to the throne, Phetracha had two other sons who were born to Narai's sister and daughter: Prince Phra Khwan (* 1691) and Trat Noi (* 1694). With their increasing age, Sorasak feared more and more for his succession to the throne. When his father fell ill in 1703, Sorasak had Phra Khwan killed without further ado. After Phetracha heard about it, he declared Prince Phichai Surin as his successor while still on his deathbed. But this did not want to suffer the same fate as many of Sorasak's brothers and did not meet his claims.

Sorasak was crowned King Suriyenthrathibodi in 1703, but died in 1709. His popular name “Tiger King” indicates his bloodthirstiness, which he showed in the pursuit of his goals over many years. The Chronicle of Ayutthaya portrays him as a vulgar, brutal and cruel ruler who regularly drank alcohol, abused female children before the menarche and killed women who did not endure him.

literature

• David K. Wyatt : Thailand: a short history .