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List of Thai monarchs
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The succession of Thai monarchs began with Si Inthrathit at the establishment of the first Thai kingdom in 1238. With brief interruptions, 55 monarchs have ruled over four successive kingdoms, the current monarch being Vajiralongkorn (Rama X) of the Chakri dynasty.
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Titles and naming conventions
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In the Sukhothai Kingdom, the monarch used the title Pho Khun (Thai: พ่อขุน), and monarchs who reigned over the period of decline after Ram Khamhaeng the Great used the title Phraya (Thai: พญา).
In the Ayutthaya Kingdom and afterward, thanandon, the system of Thai royal titles, determines the style of the monarch's full regnal name (which includes the title), consisting of two interconnected parts:
- The first part is the title Phra Bat Somdet Phra Chao Yu Hua (Thai: พระบาทสมเด็จพระเจ้าอยู่หัว, 'His Majesty the King'). The title is split by the regnal name, written between Phra and Chao. If the monarch was not formally crowned, Phra Bat is omitted. If the monarch ruled as a tributary or was usurped, Somdet may be omitted.
- Sometimes, Chao Yu Hua is fully omitted. Other times, only Yu Hua is omitted, in which case Chao follows the remaining components of the title and precedes the regnal name.
- The second part is the regnal name, of which only a portion may be used to commonly refer to the monarch. It may differ from their birth name, their name as uparaja (viceroy), or their posthumous name and/or historical style. This list refers to monarchs by the names most often used by traditional historians.[1]
Western nations referred to the monarch as the "King of Siam" (Latin: Rex Siamensium), regardless of Thai titles, since the initiation of relations in the 16th century. Mongkut (Rama IV) was the first monarch to adopt the title when the name Siam was first used in an international treaty.[2] When the kingdom's name was changed to Thailand, the monarch's Western title changed accordingly.[3]
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Sukhothai Kingdom (1238–1438)
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Tai peoples migrated into mainland Southeast Asia in the 8th–10th centuries.[4] In the years after, Northern Thai groups established mueang that evolved into larger states, such as Ngoenyang.[5][6] However, it was not until the decline of the Khmer Empire in the 13th century that a Central Thai kingdom politically and culturally related to modern Thailand was first founded.
Phra Ruang dynasty (1238–1438)
The Phra Ruang dynasty was the only royal lineage that ruled over the Sukhothai Kingdom, the first Central Thai state. Established by Si Inthrathit in 1238, who declared independence from the Khmer Empire, the dynasty laid the foundations for Thai society.[7] Under Ram Khamhaeng the Great, the initial Thai script was invented and Therāvada Buddhism was established as the state religion.[8]: 197 [9]: 25
The dynasty is named after the Traiphum Phra Ruang, a Buddhist cosmology book written by Maha Thammaracha I. During his reign, the kingdom was invaded by Ayutthaya, a neighboring Thai state, becoming a tributary during the reign of Maha Thammaracha II.[8]: 222
In the Sukhothai Kingdom, the monarch ruled from the city of Sukhothai, while the heir presumptive would occasionally be named uparaja, or viceroy, and ruled in Si Satchanalai. In 1438, Ayutthaya annexed Sukhothai at the death of Maha Thammaracha IV when Borommarachathirat II of Ayutthaya named his son Prince Ramesuan uparaja. In Ayutthaya, the tradition would evolve into the Front Palace system.[10]
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Ayutthaya Kingdom (1351–1767)
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The Ayutthaya Kingdom was a result of a unification between two states: the Kingdom of Suphannaphum (Suphanburi) and the Kingdom of Lavo. Though the Kingdom of Lavo was originally a Mon kingdom, the migration of the Tai peoples into the Chao Phraya basin replaced the original Mons, consequently becoming the governors of these regions. This resulted in the capital moving from Lavapura (Lopburi) and Suphannaphum (Suphanburi) to Ayodhya (Old Ayutthaya), a new capital.[16] Later on, the Kingdom of Nakhon si Thammarat came under the influence of Ayutthaya after seceding from Sukhothai, and Sukhothai losing influence and coming under Ayutthayan influence.
This conflict would last long into the history of Ayutthaya Kingdom, where families from the four major regional kingdoms vie over the throne of the kingdom. These kingdoms are: Kingdom of Nakhon Si Thammarat, Kingdom of Sukhothai, Kingdom of Lavo, and Kingdom of Suphannaphum. The Kingdom of Sukhothai was integrated into the Kingdom of Ayutthaya along with its noble families.[17]
Pre-Ayutthaya era (Ayodhya period)
1st Uthong dynasty (1351–1370)
1st Suphannaphum dynasty (1370–1388)
As previously mentioned, the kingdom of Ayutthaya was the result of the unification between two federations: Lavo and Suphannaphum. The ruling dynasty of Lavo gave rise to the Uthong Dynasty, in which the Suphannaphum dynasty came from the Suphannaphum federation. This federation held significant influence within the kingdom leading them to take control of the throne in 1310.
2nd Uthong dynasty (1388–1409)
2nd Suphannaphum dynasty (1409–1569)
Sukhothai dynasty (1569–1629)
Prasat Thong dynasty (1629–1688)
Ban Phlu Luang dynasty (1688–1767)
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Thonburi Kingdom (1767–1782)
Thonburi dynasty (1767–1782)
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Rattanakosin Kingdom (1782–present)
Chakri dynasty (1782–present)
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Timeline of monarchs

Longest reigning monarchs
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Shortest reigning monarchs
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Longest and shortest living monarch
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Family tree of the Thai monarchs
- Family tree of the kings of Siam/Thailand
Used regnal names
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See also
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Monarchs of Thailand.
Notes
- Accounts vastly differ to when Taksin stepped down from the throne and entered the monkhood, which has been argued to have occurred as early as three months prior to his execution.[27]
References
Bibliography
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