Thai Royal Burial Sites by Scott Mehl
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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 2012. 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 Royal Cemetery Royal Cemetery Rama I King Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke reigned April 6 1782 – September 7 1809 King Rama I was born March 20 1736, 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 7 1809 in Bangkok. His ashes are enshrined in the base of the Buddha statue at Wat Pho, in Bangkok. Wat Pho Tomb of King Rama I Amarindra, Princess Consort Amarindra was born March 15 1737, 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 25 1826 in Bangkok. ********** Rama II King Buddha Loetla Nabhalai reigned September 7 1809 – July 21 1824 King Rama II was born on February 24 1767, 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 21 1824. His ashes are enshrined in the base of the main Buddha statue in the temple at Wat Arun, in Bangkok. Wat Arun Tomb of King Rama II 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. ********** Rama III King Jessadabodindra reigned July 21 1824 – April 2 1851 King Rama III was born on March 31 1788, the son of King Rama II and his concubine, Sri Sulalai. He succeeded his father as King in 1824. King Rama III had numerous wives, bearing him 51 children, but none was ever made Queen. He died on April 2 1851. His ashes are enshrined in the base of the Buddha statue at Wat Ratcha Orasaram, in Bangkok. Wat Ratch Orasaram Tomb of King Rama III Rama IV King Mongkut reigned – April 2 1851 – October 1 1868 King Rama IV was born October 18 1804, 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 1 1868 in Bangkok. His ashes are enshrined in the base of the Buddha statue at Wat Ratchapradit, in Bangkok. Wat Ratchapradit Tomb of King Rama IV Soamanas Vadhanavadi, Princess Consort Soamanas was born December 21 1834, 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 10 1852, at the age of just 17. Debsirindra, Queen Consort Debsirindra was born July 17 1834, 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 9 1862. Pannarai, Princess Consort Princess Consort Pannarai was born May 9 1838, 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 22 1914 in Bangkok. Rama V King Chulalongkorn reigned October 1 1868 – October 23 1910 Chulalongkorn was born September 20 1853, 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 23 1910. His ashes are enshrined in the base of the Buddha statue at Wat Benchamabophit, in Bangkok. Wikipedia: Wat Benchamabophit Wat Benchamabophit Tomb of Rama V Sunandha Kumariratana, Princess Consort Sunandha was born November 10 1860, 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 31 1880, 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 Sunandha Nusavarya Memorial Sukhumala Marasri, Princess Consort Sukhumala Marasri was born May 10 1861, 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 9 1927 in Bangkok. Her ashes are enshrined in the Sukhumala Narimitra Memorial in the Royal Cemetery at Wat Ratchabophit. Sukhumala Narimitra Memorial Savang Vadhana, Princess Consort Savang Vadhana was born September 10 1862, 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 17 1955. Her ashes are enshrined in the Rangsi Vadhana Memorial in the Royal Cemetery at Wat Ratchabophit. Rangsi Vadhana Memorial Saovabha Phongsri, Queen Consort Saovabha Phongsri was born January 1 1864, 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 20 1919 at the Grand Palace. Her ashes are enshrined in the Saovabha Pratisthana Memorial in the Royal Cemetery at Wat Ratchabophit. Saovabha Pratisthana Memorial Rama VI King Vajiravudh reigned October 23 1910 – November 25 1925 Vajiravudh was born January 1 1881, the son of King Rama V and Soavabha Phongsri. He married several times, but had no male heirs. King Rama VI died on November 25 1925. His ashes are housed in the base of the main Buddha statue in the Phra Pathom Chedi, in Nakhon Pathom. Wikipedia: Phra Pathom Chedi Phra Pathom Chedi Tomb of King Rama VI Laksamilawan, Princess Consort Laksamilawan was born July 3 1899, 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 29 1961 by a gardener intending to steal her wealth. Indrasakdi Sachi, Princess Consort Indrasakdi Sachi was born June 10 1902. 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.