Uparats
Chakrabongse | 1908-1963 | Grandson of King Chulalongkorn/Rama V. Was passed over in the line of succession. Married an English woman. |
Itsarasunthon | 1767-1824 | Ruled as King Rama II; served as Uparat for his father, Rama I. His reign was known as the "Golden Age of Rattanakosin Literature." |
Phibun | 1897-1964 | Thai politician, revolutionary, and military officer. Served as Prime Minister for Thailand from 1938-1944 and 1948-1957. Established a military dictatorship that allied Thailand with Japan during World War II and instituted the Thai Cultural mandates, which among other things switched the name of the country from Siam to Thailand. |
Pinklao | 1808-1866 | Uparat for his brother, King Mongkut/Rama IV. Played a great role in the negotiation of the Bowring Treaty between the British Empire and Siam. |
Pridi | 1900-1983 | Thai lawyer, activist, and statesman who served as Regent of Thailand from 1941-1945 and Prime Minister of Thailand briefly in 1946. He was one of the leaders of the 1932 pro-democracy coup. |
Dara Rasmi | 1873-1933 | Princess of Chiang Mai and one of the princess consorts of King Chulalongkorn/Rama V. |
Sakdiphonlasep | 1785-1832 | Uparat for King Rama III. Led Siamese armies during the Lao Rebellion from 1826-1828 and ordered the construction of the Bowonniwet Temple. |
Senanurak | 1773-1817 | Uparat for King Rama II. Notable for his leadership during the Burmese-Siamese War from 1809-1812. |
Vajravudh | 1881-1925 | Ruled as King Rama VI. Was Crown Prince from 1895 to 1910. Notable for military reforms as well as reforms to the monthon system of administrative subdivisions. |
Wichaichan | 1838-1885 | Eldest son of Pinklao and nephew of King Mongkut/Rama IV; Uparat for Chulalongkorn/Rama V. His power as Uparat was great, culminating in the Front Palace crisis, which abolished the office. |
Hopefully I did Andrew Johnson justice this time around!
Uparaj in details. ...
1. Prince Chakraphongse. He married to an Ukranian, not British. and this was a ground he lost his crown prince status because AMWF was (and stil is) not social elites like. Alternatively Whitemen servants and advisors can have Siamese wife, some even found a 'New Noble Families'. Like Sawetsila. a family that ancestor was Henry Alabaster. who died quite young but not before raising his son...
The crown prince title was given to Prince Vajiravudh. who was once an element of of Durham Light Infantry (and he's Anglophille, Joining Anglo-French ally in WW1 was one thing he wanted to do from the beginning, but Germanophille overlords and princes (who could join forces to oust him at every turn) disapproved, this delayed his decisions until the United States joined the war in 1917
2. Prince Itsarasunthon. i really knew his princely name very little. Actually he should be Number one in this order. He was also a military general but that's not what he likes. He loves poetry more. and likes to surround himself with poets and musicians of all backgrounds.
He began a tradition that a king does NOT need to lead armies personally. much of his works is to restore what was lost along with the Fall of Ayutthaya. One such imporant works (out of many) was a translated Romance of Three Kingdoms, written as military and political treatise through Siamese lens, and translated by 'the best educated Chinese nobleman' (This because well educated Chinese will not venture elsewhere outside Sinic countries, these men. if not take Imperial Examinations in China, can leave for either Japan, Korea, Ryukyu, or Vietnam to find jobs there. which Cunfucian phillosophy is well pursued. but not anywhere within Indosphere including Siam, to this end. 'The Best Educated' Chinese is not 'fully educated' at all.
And Dynastic Cycle was not fully understood here until much later with Sinology became modern field of study. And this is when a Siamese Sinologist shown up (such as Kukrit Pramos, who his knowledge of China was far surpassed Chao Phraya Phra Klang 'Hon')). The other of his best known works was Ramakian (Ramayana written also by Siamese point of view), which a great undertakings where best poets of all backgrounds were recruited and gathered to co-write. This is when a peasant named 'Phu' earned fame as 'The King's favored Poet' after King Rama II 'went into writing dead end' and Phu propsed a different rhyme of the same story arc, which gives out the same meanings.
3. Luang Phibunsongkram (Born Plaek Khitsankha). He's not even Uparaj at all. his title was Prime Minister, and 'Modern Thai' was his (and also his intellectual aides) thinkings. The Last Siamese Warlord who wage the Last Imperial War. Also a father of Military Dictatorship that characterized Thai politics since 1932 revolutions.
'Prime Ministry' is now one of equivalent title of Uparaj.
Order of appearance should be last. he's very much miltiary in nature. a free army full of tanks mabye? and about Siamese 'tank' designs. Either British or Japanese are acceptable. Shermans, Panzer IV or T34 are not.
it could be random though, to represent Siamese reliant on imports. which technically 'any qualified bidder' earns tank production contracts.
4. Somdej Phra Pinklao. Co-reign as 'King of Siam' under an agreement terms with King Mongkut (The Priest King). He commanded army, and with it. Modernizations.
His eldest son (also Uparaj) was named after George Washington.
Note that King Mongkut didn't have much noble supports there due to him spent much of his life as a monk (after losing a political wranglings against his half brother, Prince Jessadabordin, who became King Rama III) and all of supporters during King Rama II were all purged--either executed, or incarcerated (Sunthon Phu was jailed for several years.) during King Rama III's reign.
To this end. King Mongkut agreed with PrincePinklao to permit him to 'run things' while recognize him as a 'Legitimate King'. The King himself spent some resources building a mountain palace in Prajuab Kiri Khan (Phra Nakorn Kiri. 'The Mountain City'.) as his resident where he studied astrology, something he loved alot to the point of calculating an eclipse. even determined date, time and place of occurences. and proved it at a village of Wa Kor, located by the same province, with envoys and ambassadors from many countries observing the same eclipse there.
5. Pridi Banomyong. Also a promoted noble under the title 'Luang Pradit Manutham'. One of the key members of Ghana Rasdr. (People's Party) revolutionary. A person who drafted the First Constitiution of Siam (one that's officially enacted, not two copes of rejected ones written to back the King's rule). and a regent of two kings of Mahidol family. he was jinxed in the end, had to flee to China, and later France. where he lived in Paris for the rest of his life.
His legacy was Thammasart University. which he intentionally founded as 'Science Po du Siam', all students were expected to become Francophones.
And much of Thai democracy was his works. though it was refined (and struggled) over time and eventually gained a final, present form, basically the 'most acceptable was in the late 90s. but ... jinxed in the end due to Successon Crisis that lasted 17 years (only ended few years ago).
6. Princess Consort Dara Rasami. I don't think she should be included. one of so many royal concubines of King Chulalongkorn. reviled by Left Wing movements (who infiltrate 'Redshirts' movements some decade ago).
There's other person worthy of this title which I will propose later in this post.
7. Sakdipholasep. I don't know much about him but he's involved with War against Dai Viet.
I have to dig into him alot.
8. Senanurak. A Great Genereal who spill bloods in the reign of King Rama II. While the King was busy working with papers, poets, and musicians restoring all piecs of cultural heritage lost during the Fall of Ayutthaya.
His role was very much forgotten. but legend of Maenak Phra Khanong is said to be based on a life of a soldier he commanded. (the other source said the 'Northern Campaigns' during King Rama III and IV. with him often portrayed carrying brown bess musket at war.).
9. Prince Vajiravudh (Who later reigned as King Rama VI.) . Royalist often contributed him with a role of 'Father of Modern Nationalism'. The Third crown prince (The first was Prince Vajirunahit, who died young, the second was an AMWF legend Prince Chakraphongse), and one of the two who eventually became king through royal succession. (The other is the now reigning king, Rama X). He was once serving in Durham Light Infantry regiment. and this gave him an idea of Scout organization (it is said he might even meet Lord Baden personally).
He became founder of Siamese chapter of Boys Scout organization. effectively the Third country in the world that join this organization.
His youth in Britain made him Anglophille. he's not really liked by Pro-German princes here. there were even regicide attempts. To this end, in addition to Boys Scouts, he founded Wild Tigers as his personal guard equipped entirely with British weapons (even use the same .303 Enfield, and not existing 8mm Mannlicher). And even more so, joined WW1 with Allies Entent (he wanted to join as early as 1915 but other princes did not approve, and those 'Pro Germans' ran the Army.
10. Wichaichan. Yes he was named after George Washington. son of Viceroy Pinklao. His enemy was Chuang Bunnag, a person he wrangled with.
The Crisis stemmed from the King Chulalongkon's bad health during his youth (and later in his life), he even wrote to British Ambassador saying that 'I might not live long enough to be consecrated.'. Guess what happens?
It is pity that some choices were ill chosen. while I don't mind others. (Prince Chakraphongse, though order was very off). Some should be replaced
- Princess Consort Dara Rasami shoudn't be here. Replace with Henry Alabaster (Not technically an Uparaj. also a foreigner but he served his Siamese Master well. prevented Colonizations to his last breath.).
- George Washington II, he lost his politial wrangling. (he wanted the throne himself, a wannabe George Washington). replace with Chuang Bunnag who won (and Bunnag family is still big here.)
well unless he's chosen as PC. which I want him to be as well. The other choice could be Chao Phraya Bordindecha. Hero of War aginst Dai Viet.
The other good candidate of Uparaj can be Prince Paribatra. regardless that he was despised by the revolutionary. (though Luang Phibunsongkram welcomed his possible return to Siam), he's no less competent prince. before revolution he was even placed as Hier to the Throne (Uparaj equivalent).