Chakri dynasty


The Chakri dynasty is the current ruling royal house of the Kingdom of Thailand, the head of the house being the monarch, and hence the head of state. The dynasty has ruled Thailand since the founding of the Rattanakosin Era and the city of Bangkok in 1782 following the end of Taksin Thonburi's reign, when the capital of Siam shifted to Bangkok. The royal house was founded by Rama I, an Ayutthaya military leader of Sino-Mon descent.
Prior to the founding of the dynasty, Rama I held for years the title Chakri, the title of the civil chancellor. In founding the dynasty, the king himself chose "Chakri" as the name for the dynasty. The emblem of the dynasty is composed of the discus and the trident, the celestial weapons of god Vishnu and Shiva, of whom the Thai sovereign is seen as an incarnation.
The current head of the house is Maha Vajiralongkorn who was proclaimed king on 1 December 2016, but has reigned with retroactive effect since 13 October 2016 after the death of Bhumibol Adulyadej. The house's current dynastic seat is the Grand Palace. On Saturday, 4th May 2019, a grand traditional ceremony occurred for the coronation of Vajiralongkorn in Bangkok.

Royal family

The present royal family of Thailand is descended from Prince Mahidol Adulyadej of Songkla and Srinagarindra forming the House of Mahidol . The Prince was a son of King Chulalongkorn and his wife Queen Savang Vadhana. The Prince was also the half-brother of both King Vajiravudh and King Prajadhipok. After the death of King Ananda Mahidol, King Bhumibol Adulyadej ascended the throne in 1946. In 1949 the King married his first cousin once removed, Mom Rajawongse Sirikit Kitiyakara. Bhumibol was succeeded by his son Maha Vajiralongkorn officially on 13 October 2016, but was proclaimed King on 1 December 2016.

Members

This is a list of current members of the royal family:

Monarchs

Timeline


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PlotArea = top:20 bottom:20 right:20 left:10
AlignBars = late
DateFormat = yyyy
Period = from:1780 till:2055
TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal
ScaleMajor = unit:year increment:10 start:1782
Colors =
id:king value:rgb legend: King
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barset:PM
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align:left fontsize:S shift: anchor:from width:15
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from: start till: 1809 color:king text:"Phra Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke" fontsize:9
from: 1809 till: 1824 color:king text:"Phra Buddha Loetla Nabhalai" fontsize:9
from: 1824 till: 1851 color:king text:"Nangklao" fontsize:9
from: 1851 till: 1868 color:king text:"Mongkut" fontsize:9
from: 1868 till: 1910 color:king text:"Chulalongkorn" fontsize:9
from: 1910 till: 1925 color:king text:"Vajiravudh" fontsize:9
from: 1925 till: 1935 color:king text:"Prajadhipok" fontsize:9
from: 1935 till: 1946 color:king text:"Ananda Mahidol" fontsize:9
from: 1946 till: 2016 color:king text:"Bhumibol Adulyadej" fontsize:9
from: 2016 till: 2020 color:king text:"Vajiralongkorn" fontsize:9

Front Palaces

The Maha Uparat or the Krom Phrarajawang Bavorn Sathan Mongkol was an office that was bestowed on the highest ranking prince, frequently the monarch's younger brother or son. Until 1885 every Chakri monarch had appointed a prince to this office. The Uprarat and his miniature court would reside at the Front Palace . By tradition the Uparat was designated the heir to the throne, however only Prince Isarasundhorn was able to ascend the throne as King Buddha Loetla Nabhalai. The office was extremely prestigious and carried with it almost equal status to the king, this can be seen in Prince Chutamani, who was elevated to Vice King Pinklao in 1851. The office was abolished by King Chulalongkorn when his Uparat and cousin Prince Bovorn Vichaicharn died. He then declared his oldest son the Crown Prince of Siam, but not Uparat.
PortraitNameBirthStart of reign
End of reignIssueMonarch
Somdet Phra Bawonratchao
Maha Sura Singhanat		1 November 1744
Ayutthaya, Ayutthaya,
Ayutthaya, Ayutthaya		17823 November 1803
Bangkok, Siam
aged 59		43 sons and daughters with various consortsKing Rama I
Somdet Phra Chao Lookya Ther
Chaofa Krommaluang Isarasundhorn		24 February 1767
Amphawa, Samut Songkhram, Ayutthaya		18067 September 1809
73 sons and daughters with various consortsKing Rama I
Somdet Phra-Bawonratchao
Maha Senanurak		29 March 1773
Kingdom of Ayutthaya		7 September 180916 July 1817
Bangkok, Siam
aged 45		40 sons and daughters with various consortsKing Rama II
Somdet Phra-Bawonratchao
Sakdiphonlasep		21 October 1785
Kingdom of Ayutthaya		21 July 18241 May 1832
Bangkok, Siam
aged 46		20 sons and daughters with various consortsKing Rama III
Phrabat Somdet Phra
Pinklao Chaoyuhua		4 September 1808
Thonburi Palace, Bangkok Yai, Thonburi, Siam		25 May 1851
7 January 1866
Thonburi Palace, Bangkok Yai, Bangkok, Siam
aged 57		58 sons and daughters with various consortsKing Rama IV
Krom Phra Ratchawang
Bowon Wichaichan		6 April 1838
Thonburi Palace, Bangkok Yai, Bangkok, Siam		2 October 1868
28 August 1885
Front Palace,
Bangkok, Siam
aged 47
28 sons and daughters with various consortsKing Rama V

Rear Palace

Krom Phrarajawang Boworn Sathan Phimuk, or the Rear Palace, was another office inherited from the Kingdom of Ayutthaya. However, since the founding of the dynasty there has only been one rear palace. Prince Anurak Devesh was the nephew of King Buddha Yodfa Chualoke and was appointed to the office in 1785.
PortraitNameBirthAppointmentDeathIssueMonarch
Chaofa Krom Phra
Anurak Devesh
Krom Phra Rajawang Boworn Sathan Phimuk		28 March 1746178520 December 1806
Bangkok, Siam
aged 60
35 sons and daughters with various consortsKing Rama I

Crown Princes

The Crown Prince of Thailand or Sayam Makutrajakuman is the designated and heir apparent to the throne and headship of the dynasty. The title was created in 1886 when King Chulalongkorn appointed his eldest son by Princess Consort Savang Vadhana, Prince Vajirunhis as Sayam Makutrajakuman. The title was copied directly from the Western tradition. Since then, there has only been three crown princes. The most recent crown prince, Maha Vajiralongkorn, was invested with the title in 1972 and became King in 2016. The succession is governed by the 1924 Palace Law of Succession passed by King Vajiravudh.
PortraitNameBirthAppointmentCeased to be Crown PrinceNoteParents
Maha Vajirunhis27 June 1878
Inner Court, Grand Palace, Phra Nakhon,
Bangkok, Siam		14 January 18864 January 1895Died of typhoid fever at age 16King Rama V and Queen Consort Savang Vadhana
Maha Vajiravudh1 January 1881
Inner Court, Grand Palace, Phra Nakhon,
Bangkok, Siam		4 January 189523 October 1910Ascended to the throne as King Rama VI at death of fatherKing Rama V and Queen Saovabha Phongsri
Maha Vajiralongkorn28 July 1952
Amphorn Sathan Residential Hall, Dusit Palace, Dusit,
Bangkok, Thailand		28 December 197213 October 2016Ascended to the throne as King Rama X at death of fatherKing Rama IX and Queen Sirikit

Queens

Family tree

Cadet houses

Royal houses

Viceregal houses