Thai Royal Burial Sites

Transcription

1 Thai Royal Burial Sites by Scott Mehl House of Chakri (1782-present) The funeral and cremation rituals of the Thai royals are perhaps some of the most spectacular displays. Steeped in tradition and driven by their Buddhist beliefs, the ceremonies take place over six days, usually months after the actual death. The primary reason for the delay is the amount of work involved in building and creating the ceremonial funeral pyre, on which the remains are cremated. These ceremonies take place on the Sanam Luang, a large open field and park, just north of the Grand Palace complex. Once the cremation ceremonies are finished, the ashes are taken to the Grand Palace briefly, before being enshrined within a Buddhist temple. The Kings are traditionally enshrined in the base of a Buddha statue within one of the temples. The ashes of other members of the royal family are typical housed in smaller memorials or monuments at the Royal Cemetery at Wat Ratchabophit. The most recent burial was that of Princess Bejaratana, held in April For detailed information about the traditions and details about the royal cremation, I suggest the following links: Ancient Traditions for Royal Cremations Royal Cremation Ceremony of HRH Princess Galyani Vadhana

2 Royal Cemetery Royal Cemetery

3 Rama I King Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke reigned April September King Rama I was born March , in the Kingdom of Ayutthaya. He was a prominent military leader under King Taksin, and this enabled him to crown himself the first King of Siam (now Thailand) in 1782, establishing the Chakri Dynasty which remains on the throne today. He married the future Queen Amarindra in 1760 and the couple had ten children. In addition, he had another 42 children with various consorts and concubines. King Rama I died on September in Bangkok. His ashes are enshrined in the base of the Buddha statue at Wat Pho, in Bangkok.

4 Wat Pho

5 Tomb of King Rama I

6 Amarindra, Princess Consort Amarindra was born March , with the birthname Nak. She was married to the future Rama I in 1760 and bore 10 children. After an incident in which she attacked her husband s favorite concubine, Nak was banished to another palace to live with one of her daughters. She was not raised to the rank of Queen until after her husband s death, when her son, Rama II extended the honor to her. Queen Amarindra died May in Bangkok. **********

7 Rama II King Buddha Loetla Nabhalai reigned September July King Rama II was born on February , the son of Rama I and Queen Amarindra. In 1801 he married his cousin, Princess Bunerod (later Queen Sri Suriyendra), and they had three children. He also had a concubine, Chao Chom Manda Riam, whose son became the next King of Thailand. King Rama II died on July His ashes are enshrined in the base of the main Buddha statue in the temple at Wat Arun, in Bangkok.

8 Wat Arun Tomb of King Rama II

9 Sri Suriyendra, Queen Consort She was born in 1767 as Princess Bunreod, the daughter of Princess Sri Sudarak (sister of Rama I) and her husband Chao Kru Ngern. She married Rama II in 1801 and had three children. She died in 1836 in Bangkok. Sri Sulalai, Royal Consort Born in 1770 as Riam, Sri Sulalai was a consort of Rama II, and mother of the future Rama III. Upon her son s accession, she was raised to the title of Princess Mother. Sri Sulalai died in 1837 in Bangkok. **********

10 Rama III King Jessadabodindra reigned July April King Rama III was born on March , the son of King Rama II and his concubine, Sri Sulalai. He succeeded his father as King in King Rama III had numerous wives, bearing him 51 children, but none was ever made Queen. He died on April His ashes are enshrined in the base of the Buddha statue at Wat Ratcha Orasaram, in Bangkok.

11 Wat Ratch Orasaram Tomb of King Rama III

12 Rama IV King Mongkut reigned April October King Rama IV was born October , son of King Rama II and Queen Sri Suriyendra. He became a Buddhist monk in 1824, and later succeeded his half brother, Rama III, as King of Thailand. He had over 80 children, with 30 different wives and concubines. He died October in Bangkok. His ashes are enshrined in the base of the Buddha statue at Wat Ratchapradit, in Bangkok. Wat Ratchapradit

13 Tomb of King Rama IV Soamanas Vadhanavadi, Princess Consort Soamanas was born December , a granddaughter of King Rama III. She married Rama IV in 1851 and gave birth to a son who died. And then Soamanas died just months later, on October , at the age of just 17.

14 Debsirindra, Queen Consort Debsirindra was born July , a granddaughter of King Rama III. She married Rama IV in 1853 and had four children, including the Chulalongkorn, the future Rama V. She was titled Princess Ramboei, Princess Consort and then later raised to Queen Consort. Postumously, her name was changed to Queen Debsirindra. She died September

15 Pannarai, Princess Consort Princess Consort Pannarai was born May , a younger sister of Queen Debsirindra. She was also a wife of King Rama IV, and took over as senior consort when her sister died. However, she was not elevated to the rank of Queen. She and the King had two children. She died on June in Bangkok.

16 Rama V King Chulalongkorn reigned October October Chulalongkorn was born September , the eldest son of King Mongkut (Rama IV) and Queen Debsirindra. He had four primary wives, all of whom were his half-sisters. In addition, he had over 90 other consorts and concubines, and a total of 77 children. Rama V died on October His ashes are enshrined in the base of the Buddha statue at Wat Benchamabophit, in Bangkok. Wikipedia: Wat Benchamabophit

17 Wat Benchamabophit

18 Tomb of Rama V

19 Sunandha Kumariratana, Princess Consort Sunandha was born November , a daughter of King Rama IV and one of his lesser consorts, Piam. She married the future Rama V (her half-brother) in 1877 and they had one daughter. Sunandha and her daughter both died in a boating accident on May , when the boat they were on capsized on the way to the summer palace. Despite the presence of many witnesses, none were permitted to touch the Queen on penalty of death, and so she, her daughter, and an unborn son were all lost in the accident. Her ashes are enshrined at the Sunandha Nusavarya Memorial in the Royal Cemetery at Wat Ratchabophit. t

20 Sunandha Nusavarya Memorial

21 Sukhumala Marasri, Princess Consort Sukhumala Marasri was born May , a daughter of King Rama IV and one of his concubines, Samli. She married her half-brother, the future Rama V in 1888 and they had two children. After her husband s death, her nephew, Rama VI, raised her to the tile of Queen Consort. She died on July in Bangkok. Her ashes are enshrined in the Sukhumala Narimitra Memorial in the Royal Cemetery at Wat Ratchabophit.

22 Sukhumala Narimitra Memorial

23 Savang Vadhana, Princess Consort Savang Vadhana was born September , a daughter of King Rama IV and one of his lesser consorts, Piam. She married her half-brother, the future Rama V, in 1877 and they had 8 children. She was later raised to Queen Grandmother, as Sri Savarindira. She died in Bangkok of December Her ashes are enshrined in the Rangsi Vadhana Memorial in the Royal Cemetery at Wat Ratchabophit.

24 Rangsi Vadhana Memorial

25 Saovabha Phongsri, Queen Consort Saovabha Phongsri was born January , a daughter of King Rama IV and one of his lesser consorts, Piam. She married her half-brother, the future Rama V, in 1878 and the couple had 9 children. She was the only wife of Rama V to be given the title Queen, and was named Queen Regent in 1897 when her husband left Thailand on an extensive tour of Europe. She was later renamed Queen Mother, as Sri Bajarindra. She died on October at the Grand Palace. Her ashes are enshrined in the Saovabha Pratisthana Memorial in the Royal Cemetery at Wat Ratchabophit. Saovabha Pratisthana Memorial

26 Rama VI King Vajiravudh reigned October November Vajiravudh was born January , the son of King Rama V and Soavabha Phongsri. He married several times, but had no male heirs. King Rama VI died on November His ashes are housed in the base of the main Buddha statue in the Phra Pathom Chedi, in Nakhon Pathom. Wikipedia: Phra Pathom Chedi

27 Phra Pathom Chedi

28 Tomb of King Rama VI

29 Laksamilawan, Princess Consort Laksamilawan was born July , as Princess Vanbimol Voravan, a granddaughter of King Rama IV. She married Rama VI in 1922, after he d ended his engagement with her elder sister, and she was raised to Princess Consort. Unable to bear any children, she left the royal court. Princess Laksamilawan was killed August by a gardener intending to steal her wealth.

30 Indrasakdi Sachi, Princess Consort Indrasakdi Sachi was born June She married Rama VI in 1921 and was titled Princess Consort. The following year, she was raised to Queen Consort when the king found that she was expecting a child. Unfortunately, the Queen had several miscarriages and never delivered any children. She was demoted back to Princess Consort in She died on November in Bangkok.

31 Suvadhana, Princess Consort Suvadhana was born Krueakaew Abhaiwongse, a commoner, on April She married King Rama VI in 1924 and the couple had one daughter, Princes Bejaratana Rajasuda. She spent many years living in England, during and after the war, and returned to Thailand in She died October in Bangkok.

32 Rama VII King Prajadhipok reigned November March (abdicated) Prajadhipok was born November , the youngest son of King Rama V and Soavabha Phongsri. In August 1918, he married his cousin Princess Rambhai Barni Svastivatana. The couple had no children. He inherited the throne upon the death of his elder brother in He would see the establishment of a constitutional monarchy, replacing the centuries-old absolute monarchy of Thailand. King Rama VII abdicated the throne on March , while in England for some medical treatment. He spend the rest of his life living in England, and died there on May He was cremated in London, where his wife remained for another 8 years before returning to Thailand. At that point, his ashes were enshrined in the base of the Buddha statue at Wat Ratchabophit, in Bangkok.

33 Wat Ratchabophit

34 Tomb of King Rama VII

35 Rambhai Barni, Queen Consort Rambhai Barni was born December , a granddaughter of King Rama IV. She married her cousin, the future Rama VII, in August They had no children. After her husband s death, she remained in England, where she was very involved with the Thai resistance during the War. She finally returned to Thailand in Queen Rambhai died May in Bangkok.

36 Rama VIII King Ananda Mahidol reigned March June Ananda Mahidol was born September , the elder son of Mahidol Adulyadej and Srinagarindra. He became King at the age of 9, on the abdication of King Rama VII. On June , the King died from a gunshot to the head. It was initially reported as an accidental death, but later 3 men were charged with conspiracy to murder the king and were executed. Most historians do not believe them to have been guilty, and the theories range from suicide to accidental shooting by his brother, the current King, who was the last to see him alive just minutes before the gunshot was heard. Rama VIII s ashes are enshrined in the base of the Buddha statue at Wat Suthat, in Bangkok. Wikipedia: Wat Suthat

37 Wat Suthat

38 Tomb of King Rama VIII **********

39 Mahidol Adulyadej, the Prince Father Mahidol Adulyadej was born January , the son of Rama V and Savang Vadhana. He married, on September , Sangwan Chukramol (later Princess Mother Srinagarindra) and they had three children, including the current King. He suffered from chronic health problems which led to his death on September in Bangkok. His ashes are enshrined in the Rangsi Vadhana Memorial at the Royal Cemetery at Wat Ratchabophit.

40 Srinagarindra, the Princess Mother Srinagarindra was born Sangwan Talapat on October She married Prince Mahidol on September and the couple had three children, including the current King. When her eldest son became King Rama VIII, she was raised to Princess Mother Sri Sangwan, and in 1970, became Princess Srinagarindra, the Princess Mother. Srinagarindra died on July in Bangkok. Her ashes are enshrined in the Rangsi Vadhana Memorial at the Royal Cemetery at Wat Ratchabophit.

41 Galyani Vadhana, Princess of Haradhiwas Princess Galyani was May in London, the eldest child of Prince Mahidol Adulyadej and Sangwan Chukramol. She was the elder sister of the current King. She married twice, and had one daughter from her first marriage. Princess Galyani died January after battling abdominal cancer. She lay in State in the Grand Palace until her cremation, which took place November Her ashes are enshrined in the Rangsi Vadhana Memorial at the Royal Cemetery at Wat Ratchabophit.

42 Bejaratana Rajasuda, the Princess Cousin Princess Bejaratana was born November at the Grand Palace, the only child of King Rama VI and Princess Subadhana. The King died the following day. Bejaratana never married, and spent much of her life representing the Thai royal family. She died July in Bangkok. Her cremation took place April and her ashes are enshrined in the Saovabha Pratisthana Memorial at the Royal Cemetery at Wat Ratchabophit