Rajadhiraj

Rajadhiraj (Thai: ราชาธิราช) is mentioned in the Pali chronicle Jinakalamali as a monarch of the early Siamese polity.^{[1]: 125–6} He is recorded as ruling over Ayojjhapura, which is referred to as a metropolitan polity in the Rāmaññadesa, located north of Lavapura of Lavo.^{[1]: 97, 125–6} Based on this geographical description, Thai historians have proposed an identification of Ayojjhapura with Si Thep,^[2] which is recorded in Chinese sources as Qiān Zhī Fú.^[3]: 30

Rajadhiraj
King of Ayojjhapura
King of Qiān Zhī Fú
Reign	Mid 7th century
Predecessor	Ramaraj
Successor	Manohanaraj
Spouse	Manohanaraj

Based on the identification of Ayojjhapura with Si Thep—corresponding to Qiān Zhī Fú in Chinese sources—the reign of Rajadhiraj may be situated before the city’s decline^[a] in 946 and, more specifically, according to the Jinakalamali, his son Manohanaraj's reign was contemporaneous with Anuruddha of Kamalanka and Camadevi of Haripuñjaya, which dated around the late 7th century;^{[1]: 127–8} thus, the reign of Rajadhiraj was potentially situated in the mid 7th century.

Rajadhiraj is described in the sources as the most eminent of the Rāmaññadesa monarchs. His reign is associated with several Buddhist-related undertakings, including the construction of five Buddha images: one reportedly installed at Ayojjhapura, another at Lavapura in Lavo, one sent to Thaton, and two others dispatched to distant regions of Rāmaññadesa. He is also said to have launched a northern campaign, invading Lampang of Haripuñjaya, from which he acquired the black stone Buddha image of Sikhī. Rajadhiraj is further recorded as having had a son, Manohanaraj (มโนหารราช), who later succeeded him on the throne.^[1]: 126 Owing to the chronological inconsistencies preserved in the chronicle, Manohanaraj is sometimes identified with Manuha, the last ruler of the Mon's Thaton Kingdom.^{[5]: 124–6}

Nevertheless, Ayojjhapura mentioned in both Jinakalamali and Ratanabimbavamsa [th] may be identified with Mueang Chaliang or Si Satchanalai, as historical records attest to the presence of a monarch bearing the same name, Rajadhiraj. According to the Northern Chronicle [th], Rajadhiraj was a younger son of King Dhammatriloka (ธรรมไตรโลก) of Si Satchanalai. His two elder brothers, Dhammaraja and Baramaraja, reigned as kings of Ayodhya during the periods 1301–1310 and 1310–1344, respectively.^{[6]: 69–71}

Notes

1. Referred to as Rāmaññadesa in the Rajendravarman II Inscription.^[4]