Thai nobility title

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Thai titles of nobility show a person's position within Thai society.

In the presence of the king, any title has no meaning, but in the course of time a finely graduated social organization has developed, so that the deeply rooted habit of fear and obedience has developed into a reverence for all forms of authority . This is still reflected today in the Thai language , in which there are five different levels depending on the social group with which one communicates.

Since the royal family is extremely extensive - there are said to be over 130 side branches - there are many even among the Thais who do not understand the complex gradations. Not only can a particular title of nobility be positioned in front of or behind the name, it can also be split so that the name is somewhere in the middle. The king has the right to bestow any title on any subject without having to take any rules into account.

The system of the Thai nobility titles can accurately represent the fine gradations of the ranks within the royal family. As it is much more complex than the systems in European countries, it is often difficult to find an adequate translation into European languages. Efforts have been made to find correct English words for Thai titles since the reign of King Mongkut (Rama IV) . However, these cannot reflect the subtle nuances of the individual's relationship with the king.

In addition to the (usually inherited) titles of nobility for members of the royal family, from the reorganization of the administration by King Borommatrailokanat in the 15th century until the end of the absolute monarchy in 1932, there were also non-hereditary feudal titles for high-ranking officials and military ( ขุนนาง - Khun-Nang ), which were associated with the award of an honorary name by the king and usually associated with a certain position in the civil or military hierarchy.

The king

The names of the Thai kings are usually very long and can take various forms. Basically, the name of the king must be longer than the name of any subject in the empire. Two titles can be used for a king:

  • Phrabat Somdet Phra Chao Yu Hua ( พระบาท สมเด็จ พระเจ้าอยู่หัว - spoken [ Prabat sǒmdèt pʰráʔ ʨâːw Ju hǔːa ]) is the normal title, as used by Thai kings after her coronation. There are two options:
    • It can be in front of the king's name: " Phrabat Somdet Phra Chao Yu Hua Bhumibol Adulyadej". This option is less formal than the second:
    • The title can be divided over the entire name, whereby the "Phra Chao Yu Hua" can be changed or omitted: " Phrabat Somdet Phra Paraminthara Maha Bhumibol Adulyadej", or " Phrabat Somdet Phra Paraminthara Maha Prajadhipok Phra Pokklao Chaoyuhua ".
  • Somdet Phra Chao Yu Hua ( สมเด็จ พระเจ้าอยู่หัว ) is restricted to a king whose official coronation ceremony has not yet taken place. This title usually precedes the name of the king, as he has not yet been given a ceremonial name.

The Queen

The concept of a queen was first introduced by King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) . All titles of a queen contain the word rachini . The title used depends on the status of each queen.

  • Somdet Phra Borommarachinat ( สมเด็จ พระบรม ราชินีนาถ - Queen-Regent, [ sǒmdèt pʰráʔ bɔːrommáʔraːʨʰíʔniːnâːt ]) is the highest rank among the wives of the king. The title shows that the queen was already active as the ruler's regent . So the title of the current queen is " Somdet Phra Nangchao Sirikit Phra Borommarachininat ".
  • Somdet Phra Borommarachini ( สมเด็จ พระบรม ราชินี ) is the title of a queen who never served as regent. The king bestowed this title on Queen Sirikit at his coronation. At that time she was called Somdet Phra Nangchao Sirikit Phra Borommarachini .
  • Somdet Phra Rachini ( สมเด็จ พระ ราชินี ) is the title of the most respected of the royal wives who has not yet been crowned. Queen Sirikit carried the title “ Somdet Phra Rachini Sirikit” for seven days, from her wedding with (the as yet uncrowned) King Bhumibol to his coronation.

Queens in the Ayutthaya period contributed Somdet Phra addition to its name as the title, for example, Somdet Phra Si Suriyothai ( สมเด็จ พระ ศรี สุริโย ทั ย ).

More wives of a king

Wives of a king who cannot show any royal descent are given the title Chao Chom ( เจ้าจอม ). If they have given birth to the king, their title is expanded to Chao Chom Manda ( เจ้าจอมมารดา ).

Princes and princesses

The ruler's descendants are collectively called Luk Luang ( König - royal children), the following generation Lan Luang ( หลานหลวง - royal grandchildren). Communication with this group requires a special language, which is not as artful as talking to a king.

There are - somewhat simplified - three different levels, which are further subdivided:

  • The title Chao Fa ( เจ้าฟ้า , [ ʨâːw fáː ], "heavenly prince / princess") is reserved for the children of a king with his queen. Princes of the Chao Fa rank receive substantial monetary maintenance payments and enjoy elevated privileges. Only three Chao Fa are currently alive:
    • Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn (* 1955), second daughter of King Bhumibol Adulyadej
    • Princess Chulabhorn Walailak (* 1957), youngest daughter of King Bhumibol Adulyadej
    • Princess Bajrakitiyabha (* 1978), daughter of King Maha Vajiralongkorn with Princess Soamsavali,
    • Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana (* 1987), daughter of King Maha Vajiralongkorn with Mom Yuvadhida (as the illegitimate daughter of the Crown Prince she was initially a Mom Chao , but on the orders of her grandfather became Phra Ong Chao in 2005 and with her father's coronation in 2019 Chao Fa collected),
    • Prince Dipangkorn Rasmijoti (* 2005), son of King Maha Vajiralongkorn with Princess Srirasmi
Remarks:
Princess Ubol Ratana (* 1951), the eldest daughter of King Bhumibol Adulyadej, lost her Chao Fa title when she married Peter Ladd Jensen.
The English translation is His / Her Royal Highness Prince / Princess ... (i.e. Royal Highness )
  • Phra Ong Chao ( พระองค์เจ้า , [ pʰráʔ ʔoŋ ʨâːw ]) also have considerable privileges and receive considerable maintenance payments. The Phra-Ong-Chao title comes in different degrees depending on the status of your parents:
    • Phra Chao Borommawong Thoe Phra Ong Chao ( พระเจ้า บรมวงศ์ เธอ พระองค์เจ้า ) are children of a king with a wife who is not of royal descent and was not crowned queen ( Chao Chom or "concubine"),
    • Phra Chao Worawong Thoe Phra Ong Chao ( พระเจ้า วรวงศ์ เธอ พระองค์เจ้า , [ pʰráʔ ʨâːw wɔːráwoŋ tʰɤː pʰráʔ ʔoŋ ʨâːw ]) are children of a Chao Fa from social ties (i.e. the highest-ranking grandchildren of the king).
      The English translation in both cases is His / Her Royal Highness Prince / Princess ...
    • Phra Worawong Thoe Phra Ong Chao ( พระ วร วงศ์ เธอ พระองค์เจ้า ). They can be:
      • Mom Chao (see below), whom the king grants a higher level out of appreciation. As an example: Phra Worawong Thoe Phra Ong Chao Nakkhatra Mangala Kromma Muen Chanthaburi Suranat, the father of Queen Sirikit, who was born as Mom Chao Nakkhatra Mangala Kitiyakara. This title cannot be transferred to one's own children.
      • Children of Chao Fa , whose grandmothers were queens of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) , but whose mothers were commoners, received permission from King Prajadhipok (Rama VII) to use this title. As an example, Phra Worawong Thoe Phra Ong Chao Bhumibol Adulyadej , the current king, whose father Chao Fa Mahidol Adulyadej , Prince of Songkhla, was a first- rate prince, but his mother Mom Sangwan was a commoner and therefore only the title at his birth Mom Chao wore.
The English translation in this case is His / Her Highness Prince / Princess ... (i.e. Highness )
There are currently at least three Phra Ong Chao :
  • Princess Siribhachudhabhorn (* 1982), daughter of Princess Chulabhorn Walailak and Virayudh Tishyasarin,
  • Princess Adityadhornkitikhun (* 1984), daughter of Princess Chulabhorn Walailak and Virayudh Tishyasarin,
  • Princess Soamsavali (* 1957), previous wife of King Maha Vajiralongkorn
  • Mom Chao are divided into male ( Mom Chao - หม่อมเจ้า ) and female ( Mom Chao Ying - หม่อมเจ้า หญิง ) owners (abbreviated in Thai as ม.จ. ). It is the designation of the lowest level that is still considered royal. They are only granted a relatively small pension; they usually begin their civil servant career as royal pages. You are either
    • Children of a Chao Fa and a commoner, or
    • Children of a Phra Ong Chao .
They are informally addressed as Than Chai… (male - ท่านชาย …) or Than Ying… (female - ท่าน หญิง …).
Towards the end of the 20th century there were around 150 mom chao : grandsons and great-grandchildren of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) , grandsons and great-grandsons of King Mongkut (Rama IV) and grandsons of the last Maha Uparat . Only a few dozen are still alive today, including four sons of King Maha Vajiralongkorn who were born out of wedlock. Another prominent title holder is the film director Mom Chao Chatrichalerm Yukol .
The English translation is in here His / Her Serene Highness Prince / Princess ... (ie Highness )

The great-grandchildren of a king no longer have a royal rank, but they may bear the title of Mom Rajawongse , which has no equivalent in European languages. Great-great-grandchildren are called Mom Luang . The following generations of royal descendants no longer have a title, but are allowed to add a na Ayutthaya to their family name.

Not royal titles

Distant descendants of a king are no longer considered members of the royal family, but are still not ordinary "commoners". They are allowed to add certain additions to their names that show that they trace their descent to a king. This concept has no equivalent in European monarchies, so the associated titles can hardly be translated into European languages.

  • Mom Rajawongse ( หม่อมราชวงศ์ , RTGS : Mom Ratchawong spoken: [ MOM râːtt͡ɕʰawoŋ ], in Thai as ม.ร.ว. abbreviated in Latin View as MR) is a title of children of male Mom Chao . Informally, they are addressed as Khun Chai… (for male owners - คุณชาย …) or Khun Ying… (for female owners - คุณหญิง …). They were sometimes called "prince" or "princess" in European languages, but now the correct title "Mom Rajawongse" is used. This rank was held by the two prime ministers Seni and Kukrit Pramoj (great-grandson of Rama II ), until her wedding with the king also the current queen Sirikit (great-granddaughter of Rama V) and, to this day, the former finance minister and deputy prime minister Pridiyathorn Devakula (Great-grandson of Rama IV.) And the Governor of Bangkok Sukhumbhand Paribatra .
  • Mom Luang ( หม่อมหลวง , abbreviated in Thai as abge.ล. , in Latin as ML) are the last descendants of a king who are allowed to hold a title. Children of male mom Rajawongse are allowed to carry. Informally, they are often incorrectly addressed as "Mom", the correct salutation would be "Khun" ( ขุน , with a rising tone: ( [kʰǔn] )).

The children and other descendants of male mom Luang no longer have a title. You may, however, add “na Ayutthaya” ( ณ อยุธยา ) to your name .

Feudal titles

Feudal titles for men

The following titles were set by King Borommatrailokanat (Trailok) in the "Law of Civil and Military Hierarchy" and "Law of Provincial Hierarchy" in 1454. The entire population was recorded here, subdivided according to rank, duties and privileges, with civil servants and military posts being differentiated. The title Somdet Chao Phraya was only introduced after the time of King Trailok.

These titles (Thai บรรดาศักดิ์ , bandasak ) were only given to men and could not be inherited. The title indicating the respective rank was always accompanied by an honorary name (Thai ราชทินนาม , ratchathinnanam ), which was then worn instead of the real name, for example “Phraya [rank] Kosathibodi [honorary name]”. The honorary names were not always unique, but often associated with the respective office. After the death or the promotion of the previous name-bearer, the same honorary name could be given again. In order to distinguish it, the real name is often put in brackets after the title and honorary name in history books, for example “Phraya Kosathibodi (Lek)” and “Phraya Kosathibodi (Pan)”. With the end of the absolute monarchy in 1932 , the titles were no longer awarded and the previous bearers de jure lost all privileges. In May 1942 the titles were completely abolished by decree of the government of Plaek Phibunsongkhram (previously Luang Phibunsongkhram). Some bearers (such as Phibunsongkhram itself) kept their honorary names as civil family names.

  • Somdet Chao Phraya ( สมเด็จเจ้าพระยา , [ sǒmdèt ʨâːw pʰráʔjaː ]) was the supreme feudal title. It was only given to those of outstanding achievement in exceptional circumstances. Honors with this title were equated with a prince.
There have only been four people in Siam's history who have been awarded this title. The first was bestowed by King Taksin of Thonburi to the Chao Phraya Chakri (Thong Duang), who later crowned himself King Rama I. (Phra Phutthayotfa Chulalok). Two titles were given to members of the Bunnag family by King Mongkut (Rama IV) and the last by King Chulanlongkorn (Rama V) : Dit Bunnag became Somdet Chaophraya Borommaha Prayurawong , That Bunnag Somdet Chaophraya Borommaha Phichaiyat and Chuang Bunnag Somdet Chaophraya Borommaha Suriyawong ).
  • Chao Phraya ( เจ้าพระยา , [ ʨâːw Praja ]) is the highest title that was normally awarded (not to be confused with the Chao Phraya River - Chao Phraya River ). It was usually given to officials who were working as the head of an important ministry or governor of an important province. Holders of this title were addressed as "Chao Khun" ( เจ้าคุณ ), in the third person as Chao Khun + honorary name.
Chao Phraya titles have been given many times in the past. Even some foreigners have had the privilege of being able to carry a Thai title of nobility. For example:
  • The title Chao Phraya Bowonratchanayok ( เจ้าพระยา บวรราช นายก ) was given to the Persian merchant Sheikh Ahmad, who settled in Ayutthaya at the end of the 16th century and rose to become Chief Minister of the Northern Provinces ( Mahatthai ) under King Prasat Thong . His son, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and other descendants also achieved the rank of Chao Phraya.
  • Chao Phraya Wichayen ( เจ้าพระยา วิ ชาเยนทร์ ) was bestowed in the 17th century by King Narai to the Greek adventurer Constantine Phaulkon , who was Chancellor of the Exchequer (Phra Khlang) under King Narai .
  • Chao Phraya Aphairacha Sayamanukunkit ( เจ้าพระยา อภัย ราชา ส ยา มา นุ กูล กิจ ) was awarded to the Belgian lawyer Gustave Rolin-Jaequemyns , who advised King Rama V (Chulalongkorn) on reforming Thai law and justice.
  • Phraya ( พระยา ) was the second highest title. This title was probably adopted from Indian during the time of King Borommatrailokanat. Like the “Chao Phraya”, titleholders were addressed as “Chao Khun” ( เจ้าคุณ ). They were mostly heads of subordinate ministries or governors of smaller provinces.
  • Phra ( พระ ) was the next lower title, which probably also comes from India. Owners were informally addressed as "Khun Phra" ( คุณ พระ ), in the third person referred to as "Khun Phra + honorary name". Cha-muen ( จ มื่น หรือ พระ นาย ) is a high title on the same level as "Phra", which is only bestowed on servants of the king ( มหาดเล็ก ).
  • Luang ( หลวง ) probably comes from Khmer times. Owners were addressed with "Khun Luang" ( คุณ หลวง ), in the third person as Khun Luang + honorary name.

The following titles likely existed before King Trailok's reign. In earlier times they marked people of high rank, before the aforementioned titles (Luang, Phra, Phraya, ...) were introduced.

  • Khun ( ขุน ) - Correct pronunciation is important here: in contrast to Khun ( คุณ - general form of address: Du, Sie, Herr, Frau), which is spoken in the middle tone ( IPA : [kʰūn] ), this title must be in increasing Ton ( [kʰǔn] ) can be pronounced. Khun were informally addressed as "Than Khun" ( ท่าน ขุน ).
The last title holder was probably Police Major General Khun Phantharak Ratchadet (But Phantharak), who died in 2006 at the age of 103.
  • Muen ( หมื่น , the same as the Thai word for ten thousand) was one of the lower ranks, usually given to officials of a relatively low level.
  • Phan ( พัน , the same as the Thai word for a thousand) was still considered to be noble, lower level officials who mostly worked in the countryside got him.
  • Nai ( นาย - roughly: landlord ) used to refer to the lord who employed the majority of the population, the Phrai ( ไพร่ - roughly: serfs ), and who in return offered them protection. The title "Nai" is only of historical importance, today it is placed before the name of every man (if he does not have a special military, academic or nobility title).

Feudal titles for women

In earlier times, Thao ( ท้าว ) was the only title that could be bestowed on a non-noble woman. The title is obsolete today.

Famous heroines of Thai history are Thao Suranari and Thao Thep Kasattri and Thao Sri Sunthon. The latter two heroines used a trick to protect Phuket from a Burmese invasion in 1785. A monument is dedicated to them, which was erected halfway between Phuket International Airport and the provincial capital Phuket.

The current titles were introduced by King Chulalongkorn (Rama V). King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX) usually bestowed one of the following titles to women on May 5th, the anniversary of his coronation. They are the only historical titles for non-aristocrats who survived the transition to modernity, as the titles mentioned are no longer used for men.

  • Than Phu Ying ( ท่านผู้หญิง ) is the highest title bestowed on a woman today. It used to be given to the wives of Somdet Chao Phraya and Chao Phraya . Today goes hand in hand with the award of the Grand Cross or Grand Commander (first class or second class, upper half) of the Order of Chula Chom Klao to a married woman. This also applies if she already had the title Mom Rajawongse or Mom Luang by her birth .
  • Khun Ying ( คุณหญิง ) is a title for married women on a slightly lower level than "Than Phu Ying". An unmarried woman would be made a khun ( คุณ ). It used to be given to wives of Phraya . Today goes hand in hand with the awarding of the commander , officer or member (second class, lower half, to fourth class) of the Order of Chula Chom Klao to a married woman. This does not apply if she already has the title Mom Rajawongse or Mom Luang by her birth .

literature

  • Prince Chula Chakrabongse of Thailand: Lords Of Life, The Paternal Monarchy Of Bangkok . Alvin Redman Ltd., London 1960 (without ISBN)
  • Robert B. Jones: Thai titles and ranks, including a translation of Traditions of Royal Lineage in Siam by King Chulalongkorn. Cornell University Department of Asian Studies, Ithaca NY 1971
  • HG Quaritch Wales : Siamese State Ceremonies . London 1931, Reprint by Curzon Press, Richmond 1992, ISBN 0-7007-0269-5
  • HG Quaritch Wales: Ancient Siamese Government and Administration . London 1934, Reprint by Paragon Book, New York 1965 (without ISBN)
  • David K. Wyatt : Thailand. A short history . 2nd edition, Silkworm Books, Chiang Mai 2004, ISBN 978-974-9575-44-4

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Nicholas Grossman, Dominic Faulder (ed.): King Bhumibol Adulyadej - A Life's Work. Thailand's Monarchy in Perspective. Editions Didier Millet, Singapore 2012, pp. 353–354.
  2. ↑ Grossman, Faulder: King Bhumibol Adulyadej - A Life's Work. 2012, pp. 353-354.
  3. ^ Judith A. Stowe: Siam Becomes Thailand. A story of intrigue. C. Hurst & Co., London 1991, ISBN 0-82481-393-6 , p. 235.
  4. ^ A b The Most Illustrious Order of Chula Chom Klao , Cabinet Secretariat. Retrieved November 4, 2015