Pinklao

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Statue of Phra Pinklao next to the National Theater

King Pinklao ( Thai : พระบาท สมเด็จพระปิ่นเกล้า เจ้า อยู่ หัว , other names: Chaofa Krommakhun Itsaret, Prince Chudamani ; * September 4, 1808 - January 7, 1866 ) was the younger brother of King Mongkut (Rama IV.) Of Siam . He was the son of King Phra Phutthaloetla Naphalai (Rama II) and his Queen Sri Suriyendra .

Life

When King Mongkut ascended the royal throne of Siam on May 15, 1851 at 7:30 am, he appointed his brother Prince Chudamani to be his Uparat ("Second King"). This then took the name Phra Pinklao. David K. Wyatt suspects that Mongkut named his brother Second King because he feared that the latter would dispute his office. Because even before his coronation, Prince Chudamani had his own army. It was also known that the prince hoped to be crowned king himself.

After his coronation, Phra Pinklao was escorted to his own palace on a richly decorated elephant in royal war uniform. The artillery fired a salute from twenty-one cannons and a bodyguard of 5,000 soldiers accompanied him. His palace ( พระราชวัง บวร สถาน มงคล , short: วังหน้า - Wang Na ) was opposite the Grand Palace on Sanam Luang , today the Thammasat University , the Bangkok National Museum and the National Theater are located on his premises .

Phra Pinklao was an avid singer of traditional Mo-Lam music , to the rhythms of which he often danced. He was particularly interested in European culture, he was fluent in English and he drilled his troops on the European model. As early as the 1840s, he bought a steam engine in Europe , which he had built into a ship with which he then drove up and down the Mae Nam Chao Phraya ( Chao Phraya River ). Later he made it very important to complete his collection of European goods. In 1855 it was referred to by Sir John Bowring as "a museum of models, nautical and philosophical instruments and various scientific and other curiosities". He used his position as Second King to impress his European friends, but became increasingly isolated at court.

In the last five years of his life, a serious illness forced him to stay away from all public appearances. He was cared for by his brother King Mongkut until he died on January 7, 1866 at the age of 58.

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Individual evidence

  1. ^ Wyatt in Thailand: A Short History . P. 182
  2. Griswold: King Mongkut Of Siam . P. 29
  3. ^ Terwiel: Thailand's Political History . P. 137
  4. ^ Prince Chula Chakrabongse of Thailand: Lords Of Life, The Paternal Monarchy Of Bangkok . Alvin Redman Ltd., London 1960, p. 201

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