Phraya Songsuradet

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Phraya Songsuradet

Phraya Songsuradet ( Thai : พระยา ทรง สุร เดช , short: Phraya Song ; * 1891 or 1892 as Thep Phanthumsen ; † 1944 in Saigon , French Indochina ) was a Thai (then: Siamese) army officer. He was one of the four military leaders of the 1932 coup in Siam that marked the transition from absolute to constitutional monarchy. Due to internal military wing battles, he was ousted a year later. In 1939, the newly appointed Prime Minister Phibunsongkhram claimed that Phraya Songsuradet was the leader of a royalist conspiracy, using this pretext to eliminate political opponents. He went into exile in French Indochina, where he also died.

Life

Phraya Songsuradet's real name was Thep Phanthumsen . He came from a wealthy family. Half of him was of Vietnamese descent. After graduating from the Siamese cadet school, he received further military training in Germany and became a lieutenant in the German army. After his return he was employed in the pioneer group. Later the ambitious officer became a colonel and head of the education department of the military academy . His character has been described as dazzling and dignified at the same time. He enjoyed a great reputation in military circles.

"Four Musketeers". Phraya Song, 1st from left

Phraya Song sought the end of absolute monarchy and used his position as head of military training to spread his ideas. So he was able to get many of his subordinates and cadets to participate in the 1932 coup. With three other senior officers, he headed the constitutionalist “People's Party” ( khana ratsadon ) founded by young officers and intellectuals and became known as one of the “Four Musketeers”. His intelligence and tactical talent were crucial to the success of the "Siamese Revolution". After the successful overthrow, Phraya Song became Deputy Commander in Chief of the Army and a member of the government.

When Pridi Phanomyong , the mastermind of the civil wing of the “People's Party”, presented his economic plan, Song rejected it as “communist” in agreement with King Prajadhipok and Prime Minister Phraya Manopakorn Nititada . Phraya Song tried to oust the liberal intellectuals and young officers of the “People's Party” from power. In return, they accused him of wanting a return to absolutism. In the coup carried out by the junior officers in July 1933, Phraya Song lost his influence. He did not take part in the royalist rebellion of Prince Boworadet in October of the same year, but he hoped for their success. He went on a study tour of several months through Europe, in 1934 through Burma and in 1936 through China. Upon his return, he directed the military school in Chiang Mai .

In January 1939, the newly elected Prime Minister Phibunsongkhram claimed to have uncovered a conspiracy to overthrow the royalists. Phraya Songsuradet was supposed to be the head of this rebellion. He went into exile in French Indochina (now Vietnam). Phibunsongkhram then tried his political opponents on the pretext that they were part of the Songsuradet rebellion. However, Phraya Song himself was not charged. He died in Saigon in 1944. His ashes were transferred to Thailand and buried with honors.

annotation

  1. ↑ The name is also transcribed as Song Suradet, Song-suradet, Songsuradej, Song Suradej, or Song-suradej.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c d Judith A. Stowe: Siam Becomes Thailand. A story of intrigue. Hurst & Co., London 1991, p. 376.
  2. ↑ a b c Thawatt Mokarapong: History of the Thai revolution. A Study in Political Behavior. 1972, p. 18.
  3. ↑ Patit Paban Mishra: The History of Thailand. Greenwood, 2010, p. 105.
  4. ↑ Vichitvong Na Pombhejara: Pridi Banomyong and the Making of Thailand's Modern History. P. 7.
  5. ^ Francis Pike: Empires at War. A Short History of Modern Asia Since World War II. IB Tauris, 2011, p. 159.
  6. ↑ Thanet Aphronsuvan: Constitutional (Bloodless) Revolution (1932) (Thailand). In: Southeast Asia. A Historical Encyclopedia, From Angkor Wat to East Timor . ABC-CLIO, 2004, p. 381.
  7. ^ Barend Jan Terwiel : Thailand's Political History. From the Fall of Ayutthaya in 1767 to Recent Times. River Books, 2005, p. 263.
  8. ↑ Thanet Aphronsuvan: Constitutional Revolution. 2004, p. 382.
  9. ^ David K. Wyatt : Thailand. A short history. 2nd edition, Yale University Press, 2003, p. 240.
  10. ^ Terwiel: Thailand's Political History. 2005, p. 265.
  11. ^ Stowe: Siam Becomes Thailand. 1991, p. 134.
  12. ^ Stowe: Siam Becomes Thailand. 1991, p. 319.
personal data
SURNAME Songsuradet, Phraya
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Thai Army Officer
DATE OF BIRTH 1891 or 1892
DATE OF DEATH 1944
Place of death Saigon , French Indochina