Kings & Kingdoms

[ttaaee]

For some reason I think the king in the picture featured on the 2B mainpage (06/24/05) is King Rama VI.

On a somewhat realted note, here is a link to an interesting website featuring "The Siamese Royalty, a personal fascination" (http://www.soravij.com/royaltyindex.html)

[ttaaee]

Also, an interesting page, The Royal Title Simplified (http://www.soravij.com/titles.html), on the same website.

[The Enforcer!]

For some reason I think the king in the picture featured on the 2B mainpage (06/24/05) is King Rama VI.
Funny, I had the same feeling about it.

However he was 29 when he came to the Throne and this looks like a picture of a much younger person. Could this be a procession when he was appointed Crown Prince in 1897 when he was 16?

The Enforcer!

[ttaaee]

However he was 29 when he came to the Throne and this looks like a picture of a much younger person. Could this be a procession when he was appointed Crown Prince in 1897 when he was 16?


A picture of King Rama VI at the Coronation Ceremony in 1911 can be seen here (http://www.soravij.com/coronation6.html).

[Wisarut]

DEFINITELY King Vajiravut Procession ... in November 1911

[The Enforcer!]

DEFINITELY King Vajiravut Procession ... in November 1911
Would beg to differ - the picture listed by ttaaee shows someone much fuller in the face and a lot older than the one shown here.

Certianly it is Vajiravut but I would suggest much earlier in his life.

The flag is certainly the clue I missed ... The White Elephant being the National Flag until 1916.

The Enforcer!

[ttaaee]

On a somewhat related note, here is a photo of H.M. King Chulalongkorn on his second coronation, 16 Oct 1873 (http://www.mnh.si.edu/treasures/frame_home_ramav_photo1873_main.htm).

Also a photo of H.M. King Mongkut and Queen Debsirindra, 1856 (http://www.mnh.si.edu/treasures/frame_exhibit_gallery1c_photo_main.htm), a photo of H.M. King Chulalongkorn in 1881 Dressed in Western-Style Uniform (http://www.mnh.si.edu/treasures/frame_exhibit_gallery3c_ramav_photo1881_main.htm) and a photo of a bust of H.M. King Mongkut (http://www.mnh.si.edu/treasures/frame_exhibit_gallery1b_bust_main.htm).

[Zoowatch]

i wonder if you guys have heard of a very famous Thai novel called "Si Phaen Din" (Four Reigns) by Kukrit Pramoj (a.k.a. Kukrit Pramoj), a former Thai Prime Minister

if you are into the modern Thai history / the Thai way of life / the age-old wisdom / the relationship between the Thai people and their Kings, then you must really read or watch Si Phaen Din

this novel has been made into TV serials many times...
In (2004, it was shown on MCOT modernine TV (quite popular among viewers)

if you get the DVDs (12-DVD set) there is good English subtitle provided

i would strongly recommend this to anyone

[Zoowatch]

this is the novel (in English)
http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/9747100665.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

in Thai (there have been many reprints, so this novel comes with many different covers)
http://www.numtan.com/nineboard/picupreply/483-36-1058174565.jpg

DVD set (with English Subtitle) - all region
https://www.channel.ais.co.th/NR/rdonlyres/5F8E4CBD-7987-44A2-A78C-18AC989914A8/0/4pandinDvd.gif

VCD set (no English subtitle)
https://www.channel.ais.co.th/NR/rdonlyres/CB29DB4D-8B4B-4576-922A-68C120957B09/0/4pandinVcd.gif

[Zoowatch]

"An intriguing revelation of the evolution of Thai social mores spanning five decades. This Thai novel begins by interweaving scenes from the lives of minor courtiers under the absolute monarchy of the day and their relationships through their extended families with the wider society beyond the palace walls."

"This English version of the Thai novel Si Phaendin tells the rich and entertaining story of one woman's life both inside and outside the royal palace in Bangkok. Spanning a period of four reigns, from King Chulalongkorn to his grandson King Ananda, this popular modern classic gives insight into the social and political issues facing Thailand from the 1890s through the turbulent years of World War II."

[jpatokal]

Nils is kind enough to point out the cable car at Bang Pa-In (http://wikitravel.org/en/Bang_Pa-In), which I've also had the pleasure of riding, but neglects to mention why you'd want to cross the river in the first place. The answer is the wonderfully bizarre Wat Niwet Thamprawat, which is a Gothic-style Christian church on the outside, complete with spiky eaves, gargoyles and stained glass windows, but a Buddhist temple on the inside! It was built on King Chulalongkorn's orders in 1878 and is still active as a temple today, but gets a lot less visitors than Bang Pa-In itself. Well worth the detour.

Some pics:
http://jpatokal.iki.fi/photo/travel/Thailand/BangPaIn/WatNiwet_Church.JPG
http://jpatokal.iki.fi/photo/travel/Thailand/BangPaIn/WatNiwet_Detail.JPG
http://jpatokal.iki.fi/photo/travel/Thailand/BangPaIn/WatNiwet_Inside.JPG
http://jpatokal.iki.fi/photo/travel/Thailand/BangPaIn/WatNiwet_MonkAndChildren.JPG
http://jpatokal.iki.fi/photo/travel/Thailand/BangPaIn/WatNiwet_CableCar.JPG

[ncr]

Nils is kind enough to point out the cable car at Bang Pa-In (http://wikitravel.org/en/Bang_Pa-In), which I've also had the pleasure of riding, but neglects to mention why you'd want to cross the river in the first place.No, jpatokal, I must strongly reject that allegation and point a finger at the admin of this site. :) For I did send him pictures and a description of the "church temple" as well, but he decided not to include that part. Never mind, we all know good Ron is a busy man..... And we cannot expect him to post every nonsense that is sent in, anyway. ;)

Thanks for the links to your photos, they are great as usual; especially the interior shots.

And a link to some more info (http://www.palaces.thai.net/index_bp.htm) about Bang Pa-In, mentioning (as does Wikitravel) that the temple dates back to the reign of King Chulalongkorn.

P.S. this (http://wikitravel.org/en/Image:AisawanThiphyaAt_Statue.JPG) has to be the best photo I have ever seen of the famous pavilion - perfect composition, and the Sage's Lookout cheekily rearing its head at the back is just the proverbial icing on the cake.

[ncr]

By the way, you might consider including a reference to the Royal Pavilion (http://www.2bangkok.com/2bangkok/buildings/bangpain.shtml) at Bang Pa-In train station in the Wikitravel article. It is of significance as it seems to be older (?) than the one at Chitralada (http://www.2bangkok.com/2bangkok/buildings/station/station.shtml) and in fact the first "special station" to be built in the kingdom. With an opening date of March 1896, one of the oldest still existing railway structures in Thailand. (Feel free to use one of my pics if need be.)

[jpatokal]

By the way, you might consider including a reference to the Royal Pavilion (http://www.2bangkok.com/2bangkok/buildings/bangpain.shtml) at Bang Pa-In train station in the Wikitravel article. It is of significance as it seems to be older (?) than the one at Chitralada (http://www.2bangkok.com/2bangkok/buildings/station/station.shtml) and in fact the first "special station" to be built in the kingdom. With an opening date of March 1896, one of the oldest still existing railway structures in Thailand. (Feel free to use one of my pics if need be.)
It's not really possible to visit the pavilion, is it? I kept half an eye open for it when I arrived in Bang Pa-In, sitting on the floor of an overpacked 3rd class train with a couple of friendly hillbillies from Buriram who did their best to ply me with Mae Khong, but I think the pavilion is to the north of the main station and I didn't even see it...

And regarding the picture, thanks for the praise, but I'll credit the inspiration to the booklet they hand out on entry, which has pretty much the same shot (if cropped a little more).

[ncr]

It's not really possible to visit the pavilion, is it?No, there's a fence around it, with all gates locked. So you can only look at it from the outside. I guess it may only be entered by royals and their entourage. And yes, it is located some 200m to the north of the station building.

By the way, now I remember there's also a Royal Pavilion at Hua Hin Station, so that's three already. Anyone know if there are more? (I think with "anyone" I mean Khun Wisarut. ;))

That leads me to another question. Does the royal family still use trains occasionally? If yes, how often? Are there special royal carriages? Where are they kept?

[dick]

Cable car, almost forgotten. I was there in november 1973. Thanks for this memory.
Cable car, old or....?

[GWR]

Looking out for some information on Queen Laksamilawan of Laksamee Wilas Place (Also Frontpage):-

http://www.2bangkok.com/2bangkok/buildings/sriayutthaya/sriayutthaya.shtml

I found this instead:-

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thai_royal_and_noble_titles#Mom_Chao

[The Enforcer!]

I found this instead:-

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thai_royal_and_noble_titles#Mom_Chao
Gosh! And I thought it was so uncomplicated until I read this!

The Enforcer!

[onslaught]

I do not know why, but why is it that Thais favor their King more than their ruling government?

[onslaught]

Although this movie is a little too old, I would like to bring it up for discussion. I heard that this movie was not allowed to be filmed in Thailand, and was thus brought to malaysia to constuct. The workmen then started to rebuild the worn out buildings in Malaysia and the filming began.

What tickled my mind during the show was whether the show portrayed an accurate picture of how the Thais feel towards their King, whether the customs and traditions are actually real ones, not those that are exaggerated. Most importantly, why wasn't it allowed to be filmed in Thailand? Was it some disrespect? or that the authorities weren't too happy with the storyline or what Siam had become.

A suggested path for comments would revolve around the perceptions Anna had on Siam, such as greeting the king, about slavery, how women were treated, and about Siam's development. Also, how has it changed the lifestyle in the aspects mentioned above, whether it was caused by western influence or some other factor

[The Enforcer!]

To my knowledge there are three movies relating to the books that Anna Leonowns (if that was her name) wrote.

>Anna & the King of Siam was a 1946 Drama with Rex Harrison as Rama IV.

>The King & I was the 1956 Musical with Yul Brynner as Rama IV.

>Anna & the King was the 1999 Drama with Yun-Fat Chow as Rama IV.

None put Thais is a particularly good light and the musical almost implies that Anna was 'above' the King.

I believe that they are all still banned in Thailand, and the Thai authorities refused to allow the third to be made here despite lots of script reviews.

The key problem is, however, not Hollywoods interpretation but the stories themselves, which seem to be very far fetched from someone who was almost certainly only a teacher in the outer court, and would probably have not even met the King himself.

The Enforcer!

[onslaught]

ah, it certainly appeals to me too, i found it quite ridiculous to think that all of a sudden, an english women, whom the king sent for can actually change his whole mindset in just a short stay.

Also, the movie mentioned that Anna had to teach the king's children, so he was in contact with her, as in, they met before. is that a tale or some sort of actual fact, don't forget, Rama IV was actually encouraging westernization.

[The Enforcer!]

the movie mentioned that Anna had to teach the king's children, so he was in contact with her, as in, they met before. is that a tale or some sort of actual fact, don't forget, Rama IV was actually encouraging westernization.
If you read the history of the Louis T. Leonowens company (one of Thailand's oldest companies) written by Dr. William Syer Bristowe, it is quite obvious that she was employed by an officer of the Court to teach the English language to some of King Rama IV's 82 children. This may or may not have meant she actually met His Majesty.

It is recorded that she was not popular with the British Community; it is noted that she had falsified somewhat her credentials as, in fact, her husband was a hotel clerk not a major in the British Army, and her marriage certificate shows his name to be T.L.Owens. Also in question is her 'remembrance' of the death of Rama IV, when in fact she had left Thailand three years earlier and had never returned.

Had her books be written about a different country they may not have been deemed offensive, I mean books which state that King Edward VII was Jack The Ripper do not cause any offence to Brits, merely amusement.

The sad thing about Victorian melodramas is that they make good movies even if they are not true, not maybe especially if ...

The Enforcer!

[PaulinBkk]

The Company "Louis T. Leonowens" was founded by Louis, the son of Anna - the small boy in the film, and started out in business logging Teak Concessions granted by King Chulalongkorn, also portrayed in the film as a young boy. The Company later became a general trading company and is still in existence here in Thailand, though no longer in the same category as Companies founded around the same time such as B. Grimm etc..

As a Company they were always somewhat wary about acknowledging any connection with Anna - mainly because of the films of course - although most educated Thais simply dismiss the film as total fiction and too silly to be offended about.

Bristowes' book is quite worth a read by the way and debunks a lot of the films' implications about Anna herself and her duties and relationships at Court

Paul

[The Enforcer!]

Bristowes' book is quite worth a read by the way and debunks a lot of the films' implications about Anna herself and her duties and relationships at Court
I know, I read it!

The Enforcer!

[numpty]

her husband thomas was buried in the protestant cemetary in penang...

[BangkokPundit]

and would probably have not even met the King himself.

I think you all find she certainly did meet the King himself.

I do suggest you all read Tom's post about Anna (http://sanpaworn.vissaventure.com/?id=188) where he translates part of an article from Arts & Culture weekly. There are letters from the National Archives which certainly suggest that Anna played a much greater role than the Thai government would have you believe.

[tram1]

her husband thomas was buried in the protestant cemetary in penang...
The Lady is also buried in the Protestant Cemetary, I view her grave during the UNESCO Conference in Penang in 2003.
Ric

[GWR]

As feaured Frontpage Today:-

http://www.thaifolk.com/doc/wangnan_e.htm

[Ahoerstemeier]

Here's a good website on King Pinklao, Uparat of King Mongkut (Rama IV).

http://www.wangdermpalace.com/kingpinklao/eng_pinklao.html

To bad that palace also described in that website seems to be inaccessible for visitors.

[Bernie]

I recall reading a report a number of years ago that HM the King had issued some sort of statement in which he indicated that the USA, after the bad experience in Vietnam, may prove to be an unreliable ally for Thailand in the future. Does anyone remember this and have an idea where it might be found? Inquiries within Thailand have produced no clues.

I am doing some pre-publication research. Many thanks in advance.

[ttaaee]

Translated and summarized from Matichon June 12, 2006

On June 13, 2006, a new throne hall in the Grand Palace will be used for the first time for a banquet for foreign monarchs and the royal guests. The new throne hall is called Borommaratchasathit Maholan Throne Hall (http://img120.imageshack.us/img120/4369/hall5zl.jpg). It is an extension to the existing Chakri Mahaprasat Throne Hall.

The construction of the new throne hall had begun several years ago, but it was halted becuase of the economic crisis. The construction had resumed in March 2004 and completed in 2006.

Source: http://www.matichon.co.th/matichon/matichon_detail.php?s_tag=01pra01120649&day=2006/06/12

[admin]

Great find! This is the source of the construction at the Grand Palace I have been asking about: http://www.2bangkok.com/news05u.shtml#palace

[Khun004]

.
I can nevertheless never forget the generous impulse of the honest seamen, who said: "Madam, be advised even by strangers, who have proved what sufferings await you, and shake your hands of this mad undertaking."

By the next steamer I sailed for the Court of Siam.
Thus opens the book about Siam -- made even more famous for the derivative movies being banned in Thailand: The English Governess at the Siamese Court: Being Recollections of Six Years in the Royal Palace at Bangkok,
By Anna Harriette Leonowens.
Boston: Fields, Osgood & Co. 1870.
The is the original book which eventually inspired "The King And I" movies.
On one of the forums devoted to Thailand I had come across a post to the effect, The Thais hate this book, because it describes them perfectly.
Of course, I immediately wanted to read that book.

But I was unwilling to risk an Amazon order being posted to my name, at my address, here in Bangkok.
After some searching I was able to find the full text on the web.
Others with an interest in Thailand may be curious, too.
Free downloads are available here: http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/etext05/8egrl10.txt

In addition, some fascinating web pages about this controversial topic have been prepared by Thai students at Sriwittayapaknam School in Samut Pakan.
Surprisingly frank coming from Thais, especially young Thais:
http://www.thaistudents.com/kingandi/
http://www.thaistudents.com/kingandi/books/eg_1.html

However, I'm not quite convinced that actual students wrote that site.
The English seems far more correct and colloquial than what could be expected of any Thai student I've ever met.

Of course, Wikipedia has comments, too: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anna_Leonowens

There are many claims that this book is mostly imagination, mostly fiction.
Well, of course.
This is Thailand.
Imagination and fiction are no strangers here.
What's odd is this fiction comes from a foreigner -- opposite the usual direction.

I've just finished chapter one.
Already a fascinating peek behind the silk curtain.

Finally, an offer:
Anyone who reads this book, and finds themselves in Bangkok, and is interested in joining a book discussion dinner, is invited to send me a private message.
With sufficient interest, I'll set a time and place.
.

[Naphat]

Of course, I immediately wanted to read that book.

But I was unwilling to risk an Amazon order being posted to my name, at my address, here in Bangkok.


Actually the book is not banned in Thailand, you can find it at leading English bookstores. I know Kinokunya (http://bookweb.kinokuniya.co.jp/guest/cgi-bin/bookseaohb.cgi?ISBN=0812570626&AREA=07) has a copy. I don't think there's a need to worry.

I've read the book a long time ago as well, to see what the fuss was all about. I remembered that I was bothered by the relentingly condesending tone throughout the book, with passages like:

In common with most of the Asiatic races, they are apt to be indolent, improvident, greedy, intemperate, servile, cruel, vain, inquisitive, superstitious, and cowardly; but individual variations from the more repulsive types are happily not rare.

But I guess we have to understand that in the time of Anna, cultural sensitivity wasn't much in vogue yet. As a Thai, I don't 'hate' the book -- I'm just not sure what, other than being an interesting historical curiosity, what the book can offer to modern readers. If you want to learn more about Thai history, there are plenty of other books and if you want to get an insiders view of the Thai court, try reading Four Reigns (http://bookweb.kinokuniya.co.jp/guest/cgi-bin/bookseaohb.cgi?W-AUTHOR=%50%52%41%4D%4F%4A%2C+%4B%55%4B%52%49%54&AREA=07), a famous historical novel.

[Khun004]

If you want to learn more about Thai history, there are plenty of other books and if you want to get an insiders view of the Thai court, try reading Four Reigns (http://bookweb.kinokuniya.co.jp/guest/cgi-bin/bookseaohb.cgi?W-AUTHOR=%50%52%41%4D%4F%4A%2C+%4B%55%4B%52%49%54&AREA=07), a famous historical novel.

Thank you, Naphat, and, yes, I certainly am interested in reading about the recent history of Thailand, even a fictional perspective.
If you have more suggestions, would you please post them?

I've just finished Thailand's Political History, by B.J. Terwiel (ISBN 974 986 308-9).
In that book were many pages of who was raised to what noble ranks, but not enough of the reasons why.
So I am looking for more.
The mid-19th century -- the era surrounding Chulalongkorn -- seems crucial to the formation of many social values we observe in Thailand today.
I want to understand more about that era.

Thanks for your helpful suggestion.
I'll be going to the bookstore on Thursday.
.

[Naphat]

I'd recommend David Wyatt's Thailand: A Short History, which is probably the most comprehensive and readable book on Thai history in English. Siam Mapped by Thai historian Thongchai Winichakul is also worth reading, though it's more of a theoretical work than a narrative history, although it does touch on some of the periods you are interested in.

[Ahoerstemeier]

Another history book worth reading is "A History of Thailand" by Chris Baker and Pasuk Phongpaichit, which more focuses on the more recent history of the Rattanakosin era, while Wyatt's book covers Sukhothai and Ayutthaya in details as well. Thus as you are interested on the Chulalongkorn reign this book might be more informative. But of course it never hurts to read more than one book, as every author has his own focus and his own interpretation of historical events.

Also interesting are the essay collection "Siam in Mind" and "Studies in Thai History" by David Wyatt. There are several essays on around that time in those books as well, e.g. one on the first schools in Bangkok. However before reading these books you'd better first read a general history to get the overview.

Another book I bought on Thai history was "Popular history of Thailand" by Manich Jumsai - but I wouldn't recommend that one, Wyatt's book is much superior. Also it has only few pages on the Rattanakosin era, seems like his paper ran out when the author came to that part :-)

[von Hirschhorn]

Talking about steamers, just for the fun here’s a small account of a pioneer (French) arriving in the land of smiles during the end of the 19th century. In Dutch and unfortunate no translation.

Het schip is gestopt. Bijna zonder het te merken zijn we aangekomen na vijfendertig volle dagen op zee. Het noordelijke deel der stad ligt nog verborgen achter een bocht in de rivier. Zodra er echter voet aan wal wordt gezet, proeft men de sfeer zoals beschreven door enkele passanten die in hun enthousiasme niet aarzelden de plaats Venetië van het verre Oosten te noemen. In deze stad zijn weinig geluiden, laat staan van gemotoriseerd verkeer want bijna alle vervoer vindt plaats op de talloze klongs die monden in de Maenam, de nautische boulevard van Bangkok. Dit systeem van kanalen is de enige overeenkomst met het Italiaanse. Een klein ongemak baart het feit dat veel water maandenlang diepzwart is en welriekend, een open riool dat zich gaandeweg voor het oog ontvouwt.

[Wisarut]

Khun Bob,

Please make English transation of what you posted here : :rolleyes: :) :cool:

[von Hirschhorn]

OK, I shall give you the original text, the rest you can read by yourself in the book: Bangkok in 1892 by Lucien Fournerau / White Lotus / ISBN 974-8434-42-7

The ships stops: we have arrived almost without noticing. The northern part of the city is still hidden in the winding folds of the Menam. One must suddenly set foot on the royal landing in order to experience from the beginning the pleasant impression felt and described by a few travellers who, carried away a little too far in their flight of enthusiasm, have not hesitated to baptize Bangkok with the prestigious name: “Venice of the Far East.”
In this strange city there are few noises and no noises of vehicles because almost all the communications lines consist of khlongs which end in the Menam, the great nautical boulevard of Bangkok. This multitude of canals is the only common feature of the two Venices. The slight inconvenience of this type of highway maintenance is that, during five months each year, the waters are brackish and stagnant and that a nice ‘main sewer’ shows before the naked eye.

[Wisarut]

Well, I can get the book Bangkok in 1892 any time :p

[ttaaee]

A picture (http://th.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%B8%A0%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%9E:BoromRajaSatitjaMahola rn_Hall.jpg) of the throne hall on wikipedia comparing to the old one (http://th.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%B8%A0%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%9E:%E0%B8%9E%E0%B8%A3%E0% B8%B0%E0%B8%97%E0%B8%B5%E0%B9%88%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%B1 %E0%B9%88%E0%B8%87%E0%B8%AF%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B2%E0%B 8%8A%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%96%E0%B8%B4%E0%B8%95%E0%B8%AF_ %E0%B9%80%E0%B8%81%E0%B9%88%E0%B8%B2.jpg) before being torn down.

[GWR]

This week's Chang Noi article takes a look at how King Naresuan has a habit of resurfacing whenever an external threat to the nation occurs: -

The story of the story of King Naresuan

In the popular history of Siam, King Naresuan is the big hero. Than Mui's new series of films takes this to a new level. But Naresuan did not always play this starring role. The story of how he got the part is a drama all of its own.

The raw material was not promising. Naresuan did not hail from the capital, but from Phitsanulok, a provincial outpost. His family was installed on the throne of Ayutthaya by the Burmese (imagine an Irish king installed on the throne of England by the French). He spent so little time in the capital that he hardly functioned as a monarch. His dynasty lasted only 23 years after his death, and is the shortest in Siam's history.

The two earliest chronicles dating from the 17th century (Luang Prasert and Van Vliet) do not make a big deal out of him at all. The only European account that dates from his reign does not portray him as a hero.

Naresuan was first promoted to star billing around 200 years ago. After the disastrous fall of Ayutthaya to the Burmese in 1767, the chroniclers wanted a story showing that Siam could stand up to Burma. In their new version of the chronicle, the section on Naresuan is far longer than that focusing on any other king. It does not read like an historical account but a grand historical novel, full of stirring tales, riveting incidents, memorable dialogue, and deft insights into character. The whole thing is designed to sweep the reader along on a tide of emotion.

Naresuan was launched as the star of Siamese history, but once Burma ceased to be a threat, the story was no longer a box-office draw. In the histories compiled later in the 19th century, Naresuan is again nothing special.

The first revival came in the late 1910s, when Prince Damrong authored Thailand's first modern-style history book. Damrong had been a leading architect of the new European-style nation-state in Siam. In his book, he gave that nation a history, with Naresuan in the starring role.

The climax of Damrong's portrayal is the incident in 1584 when Naresuan breaks with Hongsawadi (Pegu). This incident does not appear in the oldest Siamese chronicle. Naresuan just goes to help his old Peguan patron in a local spat and then returns home after two of his elephants get into a tussle. In the early Bangkok rewrite of the chronicles, the incident became a much more elaborate, romantic tale. The King of Pegu fears his old protege is getting too big for his boots, so plots to have Naresuan killed. Naresuan finds out and stomps off home with this fine parting speech: "Because the King of Hongsawadi has not adhered to the ways of faithful friendship and royal tradition ... Ayutthaya and Hongsawadi shall not form a single golden kingdom as in the past, but shall be totally divorced from each other from this day."

This is the language of courtly politics, of king against king, of fealty. When Damrong rewrote this scene, he made a subtle but momentous change. He added a line stating that Naresuan had "declared independence". With these two words, he moved Naresuan out of the old world of kings and fealty and into the modern world of states and nations. He placed Naresuan alongside Thomas Jefferson and Giuseppe Garibaldi as a leader fighting for the independence and unity of a nation.

Prince Damrong's history book was a huge popular success, and became the main source for school textbooks down to the present day. Even so, Naresuan was still not assured of star billing because fashions change. After the absolute monarchy was overthrown in 1932 and the Army took power six years later, many dramas and films were written to celebrate the heroic role of the Army in Thai history, but they steered clear of Naresuan, and cast ordinary folk in the leading roles.

The next Naresuan revival began in the 1960s. Thailand again faced an external threat, this time from the communist states to the east, and a growing revolutionary movement in the countryside. Palace and Army again looked to Naresuan as a great historical symbol of Thailand's ability to defy its enemies. Statues of King Naresuan were erected all over Thailand in places historically associated with his name. Many were built by the army, and some major ones were inaugurated by the King.

The statues and stories of this era did not focus on the declaration of independence which Damrong played as the climax, but an incident eight years later. A massive army led by a Burmese prince invades Siam and reaches the outskirts of the capital. The Siamese army is much smaller, and when the Burmese attack, it dissolves in total disarray. Naresuan becomes detached from his forces and surrounded by the enemy. All seems lost. But Naresuan challenges his opponent to single combat on elephant-back and wins against all the odds. The massive Burmese army promptly packs up and goes home.

The story is improbable in all sorts of ways. Historians are unsure whether it happened, where it might have been, and how the war was truly resolved.

But such matters are immaterial. Against the background of the massive threats against Thailand in the Cold War, this tale was portrayed over and over again in print, in statuary, and on murals.

After the Cold War ended, the enthusiasm for Naresuan faded, but only a little. It revived when Thailand again seemed under attack in the 1997 financial crisis. The focus of the story shifted again, to Naresuan's sister Princess Suphankalaya, who was taken hostage by the Burmese, as the Thai economy was taken hostage by the International Monetary Fund.

The fact that Than Mui's films are launched when Thailand is again ruled by the military might be seen as pure coincidence … or as no coincidence at all.

chang noi

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/02/05/opinion/opinion_30025974.php

[rosmci]

Another European account of the story of King Naresuan and his brother, by Peter Williamson Floris who was in Pattani in 1612, has been reprinted in a book in Project Gutenberg.
http://www.gutenberg.org/files/13366/13366-8.txt
The section dealing with the story of King Naresuan begins:
"Siam, formerly a mighty and ancient kingdom, had been, not long before,
subdued, and rendered tributary to Pegu, yet did not continue long under
subjection. On the death of the king of Siam, two of his sons, who were
brought up at the court of Pegu, fled from thence to Siam. The eldest of
these, called in the Malay language, _Raja Api_, or the fiery king, set
himself up as king of Siam. He it was whom the Portuguese used to call
the _Black King of Siam_."

(Thanks to Ahoerstemeier for his help that led to locating it).

[Ibro]

Could you please tell me which THE OFFICIAL TITLE(in THAI-ROMANIZED)bore The Princess Mother Srinagarindra as THE ROYAL REGENT?
Thank you very much.

[GWR]

Ibro, I notice you have been visiting every day to look for the answer to this question. It's a subject I know little about, but I did find this:

Somdej Phra Srinagarindra Boromarajajonani, Her Royal Highness the Princess Mother

If that is not what you are looking for, it could be my ignorance on this subject will encourage others to do better:

http://www.maefahluang.org/maefahluang/royal_patron/index.asp

[GWR]

Srinagarindra (Thai: ศรีนครินทรา) (born 21 October 1900, Thon Buri – died 18 July 1995, Bangkok) was the Princess Mother of Thailand.
Princess Mother Monument in Rai Mae Fah Luang Art and Cultural Park, Chiang Rai Province
Princess Mother Monument in Rai Mae Fah Luang Art and Cultural Park, Chiang Rai Province

Her given name was Sangwan (Thai: สังวาลย์). Her formal name and title were Somdej Phra Srinagarindra Boromarajajonani (Thai: สมเด็จพระศรีนครินทราบรมราชชนนี). In Thailand, the Princess Mother was affectionately called Somdet Ya (Thai: สมเด็จย่า), "the Royal Grandmother", and by the various hill tribe people, she was called Mae Fah Luang (Thai: แม่ฟ้าหลวง), "Royal Mother from the sky", or "the heavenly Royal Mother".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Srinagarindra

Notes

There is some confusion as to why the Princess Mother was never titled Queen Mother, considering that she was the mother of two kings. Since her husband was never king and only had the title of a prince, she never ascended as a queen-consort, and was therefore she was given the title “Princess Mother” by her son.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thai_royal_and_noble_titles

[Pkv]

ผู้สำเร็จราชการแทนพระองค์ - Phu Samred Rachakarn Thaen Phra Ong

[GWR]

I think I'll try and salvage some of this article for longer term forum perusal, as the Bangkok Post tend to remove some articles quite quickly. I suppose the photographs may thus disappear quite soon:

Robe revived

Will this piece of Thai history find its way back?

USNISA SUKHSVASTI

http://www.bangkokpost.com/Outlook/080907_out01.jpg
http://www.bangkokpost.com/Outlook/080907_out02.jpg
[All Photos: Bangkok Post]
The golden robe (front [Top] and back) once belonging to Vice Admiral Andreas du Plessis de Richelieu.
http://www.bangkokpost.com/Outlook/080907_out03.jpg
King Chulalongkorn's Royal Cypher Medal, with the words `We will perpetuate the family lineage for posterity'.
http://www.bangkokpost.com/Outlook/080907_out04.jpg
Details of the gold embroidery with marine motifs.
http://www.bangkokpost.com/Outlook/080907_out05.jpg
Vice Admiral Andreas du Plessis de Richelieu, who became Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Navy.

A robe of heavily embroidered gold threads lay in a state of suspended existence in Denmark. But like Sleeping Beauty waking up from a 100 year sleep, it has recently been roused from its bed of silver paper and, wrapped in white linen, hidden away in the hushed security of a bank vault.

And this is no ordinary robe. The heavily embroidered, loose open style with intricate hem and cuffs is typical of those of those worn by members of the royal Siamese court of old, reflected today in the simplified graduation gowns worn at Chulalongkorn University commencement ceremonies. The filigree gold and silver threads that still shimmer despite their antiquity have a story to tell if you look closely enough. The intricate floral and vine patterns are interspersed with marine motifs - anchors, ship's wheels - that provide a clue to its original owner: Vice Admiral Andreas du Plessis de Richelieu.

It was in April of 1875 that Lt Richelieu arrived in Bangkok, bearing a private letter from King Christian IX of Denmark. An officer in the Danish Navy, he had come to offer his services to King Chulalongkorn during the height of European colonial expansion into Southeast Asia, a crucial period in Siamese history.

He was appointed chief of the naval inspection ship, the Regent, which patrolled the Bay of Bengal. In 1877, he had become commander of HMS Siam Mongkut, and by the following year he had been titled Luang Cholayuth Yothin and appointed chief commander of HMS Vesatri.

In this same year, as chief of the Naval Arsenal, he was also put in charge of a new unit, the Marines, which had been created to handle the newly imported Gatling guns.

Within the next decade, Richelieu's status grew, and his title elevated from Luang to Phra and later Phraya.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/Outlook/080907_out06.jpg
Vice Admiral Richelieu (front row second right) welcomes Prince Damrong Rajanubhab (centre) to his residence in Kokkedel, Denmark, in 1930.

He played an increasingly significant role in the Royal Thai Navy. Eighteen ninety-three was a year that is etched in every Thai history book. Known as the Gunboat Crisis of Rattanakosin Era 112, the French sent gunboats to block the Chao Phraya River estuary. In his book of 1895 titled The Peoples and Politics of the Far East, British MP and journalist Sir Henry Norman, who had travelled extensively in the region, noted that the Thai navy was at a significant disadvantage due to the lack of experience of its personnel and its smaller fleet. He noted the presence of two or three foreign officers, among whom was Phraya Cholayuth Yothin, or Richelieu. Henry noted that Richelieu had suggested using HMS Maha Chakri to attack the French fleet, since it was the Royal Thai Navy's most modern and fastest vessel, but this particular ship was berthed at the Grand Palace landing for the king's personal use only. It was equipped with state of the art guns which, unfortunately, none of the local officers knew how to use. Had the HMS Maha Chakri been deployed, suggests Norman, things might have been different. As it was, Siam had to cede its Lao territory to the French.

Richelieu was to go on to become the first and only foreign commander-in-chief of the Royal Thai Navy, from January 16, 1900 to January 29, 1901.

He also served the king in various other capacities, acting as the king's adjudant general. In 1883 he accompanied two royal princes to Europe for education in Denmark, during which trip he also negotiated the purchase of ships for the navy as well as ammunition. On this same trip he is said to have bought generators and lamps to be installed at the Royal Palace in Bangkok, the first time the palace was fitted with electric lighting. In 1897, during King Chulalongkorn's first visit to Europe, Queen Saovabha was installed as Regent, with Richelieu as one of her advisers.

In 1898, he accompanied Crown Prince Maha Vajiravudh on visits to the Russian tzar and tzarina (the Danish Princess Dagmar), to the king of Sweden and to the king of Denmark while attending the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, in England.

Richelieu was often in the entourage of Prince Damrong Rajanubhab and Prince Devawongse, who held the positions equivalent to the Minister of Interior and Minister of Foreign Affairs, respectively. With these two princes he developed a particularly strong and lifelong friendship. Prince Damrong subsequently visited Richelieu in Denmark several times, the last time in 1930, two years before Richelieu's death.

When Wat Benjamabopit was being built in 1901, he oversaw the shipment of the presiding Buddha image (copied from that in Phitsanulok) to be installed in the chapel. His name appears at the foot of the Buddha image together with that of King Chulalongkorn.

For his services to the king, and after he was elevated to the rank of vice admiral in 1902, he was awarded the Ratanaporn Medal Rama V, or the King Chulalongkorn Royal Cypher Medal (Rama V), prior to his return to Denmark at the end of a long and eventful time in the service of the king of Siam.

With this decoration came the gold robe which was to be worn on all formal ceremonial occasions as a full dress robe. According to the book Phra Phusa Song Nai Rajasamnak Siam (Royal Robes in the Court of Siam), written by historian Paothong Thongchua and published by BankThai, the tradition of the robe can be traced back to the Ayutthaya period as a ceremonial court costume adapted from the Persians and Indians.

The close friendship he retained with the king and members of the royal family can be seen in a description of the touching farewell given to Richelieu when he retired from the royal court in 1902, as recounted by his grandson, Allan Aage Hastrup, 76, who is now in possession of the robe.

"When my grandfather left Siam, the king, queen, Prince Damrong and a lot of other princes and royals followed him to Singapore. At the Governor's Palace dinner, grandfather sat next to the king, and the king said in his speech how much he appreciated him, how sorry he was to see him leave, and how he hoped he would soon come and visit. He also gave him a beautiful silver plate, covered with diamonds showing his coat of arms ... at the same time the king gave him the title of 'Admiral en Suite' and a pension. This was on February 24, on grandfather's 50th birthday!

"The next day, at 9am at the Maha Chakri, everybody was on deck when the king came out from his cabin. The king then asked my grandfather to appoint his successor as commander-in-chief of the Royal Thai Navy, and to give the Seal of the Navy to the one he found the most important after the king himself. Grandfather gave it to the only full-blooded brother of the king, Prince Bhanurangsi Savangwongse, who was also the minister of the War Cabinet."

When King Chulalongkorn undertook a second visit to Denmark in 1907, he made a point of visiting his old friend of 28 years, V Adm Andreas du Plessis de Richelieu. Photographs from the period show a mature vice admiral constantly in the presence of the King during his Denmark visit.

Richelieu married his half-cousin, Dagmar Lousie Lerche, in 1892 and had five children, three of whom were known to have been born in Siam in 1892, 1894 and 1897.

The youngest of these three - Agnes Ingeborg du Plessis de Richelieu, known as Abi - inherited the robe from her father, and she in turn passed it down to her only son, Allan Aage Hastrup.

Despite its sentimental value, Hastrup feels that the robe should be returned to its place of origin, Thailand, a sentiment that is echoed by the auction house, Bruun Rasmussen, in Denmark, which is planning to exhibit the robe in Bangkok at the end of the year. It is hoped that a Thai buyer will be found for this magnificent robe, and if possible, it will make its way back into the Royal Thai Court, its place of birth.

May soon expire:
http://www.bangkokpost.com/Outlook/08Sep2007_out001.php

[GWR]

UN honours film archive
Published on October 21, 2007

The National Film Archive of Thailand has been awarded a Fellini Silver Medal for its restoration of a 67-year-old film called "The King of the White Elephants".

Culture Minister Khunying Khaisri Sri-aroon will today accept the award from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation at the Phuket International Film Festival.

She said the Unesco award recognises the archive for its work preserving and restoring the 100-minute film, which was produced in 1940.

She said it and about 100 other films would be shown to the public as part of the celebrations of His Majesty the King's 80th birthday.

This is an opportunity for people to see famous movie stars like Petchara Chaoraj and Mitr Chaibancha.

Khunying Khaisri added the Cabinet would spend Bt198 million building a Royal Private Film Archive and Vault.

The archive will include 6,000 film segments made by His Majesty the King since 1946, considered to be the largest private film archive in the world.

Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont will seek royal permission for all these to be restored by the Fine Arts Department.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/10/21/national/national_30053223.php

[GWR]

Old film to mark King's birthday
Published on October 22, 2007

A treasured old film, "King of the White Elephant", will be screened at the National Film Archive's theatre in Nakhon Pathom in early December in honour of HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej on the occasion of his 80th birthday.

His Majesty will turn 80 on December 5.

This old film in English tells about a virtuous king who bravely defended Ayutthaya and defeated a tyrant from a neighbouring country. Despite his victory, the king allows the invading tyrant and his troops to re-turn to their country unharmed.

Pridi Banomyong wrote the script for this film while he was serving as a finance minister.

Produced before World War II, the film has been kept at the National Film Archive of Thailand. The organisation's conservation of old films, in particular the "King of the White Elephant", has won recognition from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco).

On behalf of the National Film Archive of Thailand, Culture Minister Khunying Khaisri Sriaroon yesterday received the Fellini Silver Medal Award from the Unesco representative.

"Other Asian countries have paid not much attention to old films despite the fact that films are very much like cultures," a representative of Unesco said.

The award presentation took place yesterday at the Phuket International Film Festival.

She said the National Film Archive of Thailand, a state agency, was now in the process of transforming into a public organisation but would continue to do its jobs in keeping both video and audio recordings.

The Nation

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/10/22/national/national_30053291.php

Related thread on HM the King's 80th Birthday celebrations:
http://www.angkor.com/2bangkok/2bangkok/forum/showthread.php?t=2469

[Ibro]

Can you please tell me what the official titles Rama I and Rama V took as the rulers of Thailand and what these titles are in the THAI language(ROMANIZED)?
Thank you very much.