Saovabha Phongsri


Sri Bajarindra – also known as Saovabha Phongsri – was an agnatic half-sister and consort of King Chulalongkorn of Thailand, and mother of both King Vajiravudh and King Prajadhipok. As in accordance with Thai royal tradition, King Vajiravudh later bestowed on his mother the title of "Queen Mother Sri Bajrindra".

Life

Saovabha was born as a Princess of Siam to Mongkut and Piyamavadi. She was the youngest sister of the future Queen Sunandha Kumariratana and Queen Savang Vadhana. Saovabha became the consort of her half brother King Chulalongkorn sometime in 1878. She gave him 9 children, 5 would survive to adulthood, two would eventually become King of Siam.
In 1897, Queen Saovabha became the first female Regent of Siam, when her husband went on a tour of Europe. When he returned he bestowed upon her the title of "Somdet Phra Nang Chao Saowapha Phongsi Praborommarachininat" . During her time as queen she took many interests especially in the issues concerning women. In 1904 she established one of the first schools for girls in Siam; the Rajini School or Queen's School in Bangkok.
When she died in 1919 at the age of 57, she was given a grand royal funeral, attended by all members of the Siamese Royal Family, and the ceremony was presided over by her son King Vajiravudh. She played a prominent posthumous role in the 1924 Palace Law of Succession, in which her son King Vajiravudh stipulated that her children would take precedence among all others over the line of succession. This guaranteed the accession of her youngest son Prince Prajadhipok to the throne in 1925, despite there being more senior and learned sons of Chulalongkorn.
The Queen Saovabha Memorial Institute was named after her.

Children

She had 9 children with King Chulalongkorn:
NameBirthDeathSpouseChildren
Bahurada Manimaya, Princess Debanariratana19 December 187827 August 1887
Vajiravudh, King Rama VI1 January 188025 November 1925Prueng Sucharitakul-
Vajiravudh, King Rama VI1 January 188025 November 1925Princess Vannabimol Varavan-
Vajiravudh, King Rama VI1 January 188025 November 1925Prabai Sucharitakul-
Vajiravudh, King Rama VI1 January 188025 November 1925Khrueakaeo AbhayavongsaPrincess Bejaratana Rajasuda
Tribejrutama Dhamrong8 February 188122 November 1887
Chakrabongse Bhuvanath, Prince of Phitsanulok3 March 188313 June 1920Ekaterina Ivanovna DesnitskayaPrince Chula Chakrabongse
Chakrabongse Bhuvanath, Prince of Phitsanulok3 March 188313 June 1920Princess Javalit Obhas Rabibadhana-
Siriraj Kakudhabhand27 November 18853 May 1887
unnamed princess13 December 188413 December 1884
Asdang Dejavudh, Prince of Nakhon Rajasima12 May 18899 February 1924Paew Suddhiburana-
Chudadhuj Dharadilok, Prince of Bejraburana5 July 18928 July 1923La-o SirisambandhPrincess Sudasiri Sobha
Chudadhuj Dharadilok, Prince of Bejraburana5 July 18928 July 1923Ravi KayanandaPrince Varananda Dhavaj
Chudadhuj Dharadilok, Prince of Bejraburana5 July 18928 July 1923Princess Bunchiradhorn Jumbala-
Prajadhipok, King Rama VII8 November 189330 May 1941Princess Rambhai Barni Svastivatana-

In addition, the queen also adopted one of Savang Vadhana's daughters, Princess Valaya Alongkorn and raised as her own daughter.

Ancestors

Honors

;National
;Foreign