Maha Sura Singhanat
Encyclopedia
Somdet Phra Bawornrajchao Maha Sura Singhanat (1744–1803) was the younger brother of Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke
, the first monarch of the Chakri dynasty of Siam. As an Ayutthayan general, he fought alongside his brother in various campaigns against Burmese invaders and the local warlords. When his brother crowned himself as the king of Siam at Bangkok
in 1781, he was appointed the Front Palace
or Maha Uparaj, the title of the heir. During the reign of his brother, he was known for his important role in the campaigns against Bodawpaya
of Burma.
, the leader of Siamese mission to France in the seventeenth century. Bunma had four other siblings and two other half-siblings. Bunma himself was the youngest born to Daoreung.
was about to fall. Bunma fled the city with a small carrack to join the rest of his family at Amphawa
, Samut Songkram. His brother the Luang Yokbat of Ratchaburi
suggested that he should join Taksin's forces at Chonburi.
After the fall of Ayutthaya, the city and peripheral areas were under the control of the Burmese, while local Siamese nobles established their own states. In 1768, Taksin
recaptured Ayutthaya and repelled the Burmese. After the establishment of Thonburi and coronation of Taksin, Bunma was appointed Phra Maha Montri (Royal Police of the Right).
In the same year the two brothers joined the forces against Lord Pimai of Korat
. After the campaign he was raised to Phraya Anuchitraja Anuchitraja waged several fightings to repel Burmese invasions. In 1770, after the defeat of Lord Fang, Anuchitraja became Chao Phraya Surasi - the ruler of Pitsanulok and defender of northern frontiers. In 1771, Surasi joined Phraya Pichai in his legendary fighting that broke his sword. Chao Phraya Surasi was known for his ruthlessness in wars that the Burmese gave him the epithet Tiger Lord. In 1774, Phraya Surasi and his brother was assigned the mission of the capture of Lanna
from the Burmese. With the help of Prince Kawila of Lampang, the Siamese forces were able to take Chiangmai. Surasi then took Kawila's sister, Sri Anocha, as his principal wife.
During 1771 - 1781, Surasi joined his brother in massive campaigns subjugating the Laotian kingdoms of Vientiane
, Luang Prabang
, and Champasak
, and Cambodia
. In 1781, Taksin fell ill and a rebellion sprang out to depose the king. His brother the Somdet Chao Phraya Maha Kshatriyaseuk returned to Bangkok to undo the rebellion. Maha Kshatriyaseuk then crowned himself as Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke and moved the capital to the left bank of Chao Phraya river - modern Bangkok
. Surasi, as Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke's right hand, was appointed the Front Palace or heir to the throne.
launched the massive invasions of Siam in the Nine Armies War
. Maha Sura Singhanat led the Siamese forces to receive the Burmese attacks coming from the west and south. He strategically defeated the superior Burmese armies and forced Bodawpaya to retreat. Next year in 1786, Bodawpaya came again and encamped his armies at Ta Din Daeng. Maha Sura Singhanat then inflicted the fatal blow to the Burmese and forced them to retreat for the second time.
In 1802, the Burmese invaded Chiangmai
. Buddha Yodfa Chulalok sent his brother to relieve the siege on Chiangmai. However, Maha Sura Singhanat fell ill on the course of journey but dispatched his troops to Chiangmai in substitution. Buddha Yodfa Chulalok, upon hearing about the illness of his brother, then sent his nephew Anurak Devesh
the Rear Palace to get Chiangmai. But the Front Palace forces took Chiangmai beforehand and complained Royal Palace forces' inefficiency. This stirred the conflicts between militarymen of the two palaces.
Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke
Phra Bat Somdet Phra Poramintharamaha Chakri Borommanat Phra Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke , posthumously titled "the Great", or Rama I , was the founder and the first monarch of the reigning House of Chakri of Siam . He ascended the throne in 1782, after defeating a rebellion which had deposed King...
, the first monarch of the Chakri dynasty of Siam. As an Ayutthayan general, he fought alongside his brother in various campaigns against Burmese invaders and the local warlords. When his brother crowned himself as the king of Siam at Bangkok
Bangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
in 1781, he was appointed the Front Palace
Front Palace
Krom Phra Rajawang Bovorn Sathan Mongkol ) or the Front Palace was a royal title granted by the Siamese monarchy until the nineteenth century. The holder of the title of Front Palace was considered the heir to the throne and second only to the King. The title originated in the Ayutthaya period and...
or Maha Uparaj, the title of the heir. During the reign of his brother, he was known for his important role in the campaigns against Bodawpaya
Bodawpaya
Bodawpaya was the sixth king of the Konbaung Dynasty of Burma. Born Maung Shwe Waing and later Badon Min, he was the fourth son of Alaungpaya, founder of the dynasty and the Third Burmese Empire. He was proclaimed king after deposing his nephew Phaungkaza Maung Maung, son of his oldest brother...
of Burma.
Early life
Bunma was born in 1744 to Thongdee and Daoreung. His father Thongdee was the Royal Secretary of Northern Siam and Keeper of Royal Seal. As a son of aristrocrat, he entered the palace and began his aristocratic life as a royal page. Thongdee was a descendant of Kosa PanKosa Pan
Pan , known by his rank Chao Phraya Kosathibodi or former rank Ok Phra Wisut Sunthon or by the nickname Kosa Pan , was a Siamese diplomat and minister who led the Second Siamese Embassy to France sent by king Narai in 1686...
, the leader of Siamese mission to France in the seventeenth century. Bunma had four other siblings and two other half-siblings. Bunma himself was the youngest born to Daoreung.
Campaigns against the Burmese
In 1767, AyutthayaAyutthaya kingdom
Ayutthaya was a Siamese kingdom that existed from 1350 to 1767. Ayutthaya was friendly towards foreign traders, including the Chinese, Vietnamese , Indians, Japanese and Persians, and later the Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch and French, permitting them to set up villages outside the walls of the...
was about to fall. Bunma fled the city with a small carrack to join the rest of his family at Amphawa
Amphoe Amphawa
Amphawa is a district of Samut Songkhram Province, located slightly inland at the northwestern tip of the Bay of Bangkok.-Geography:...
, Samut Songkram. His brother the Luang Yokbat of Ratchaburi
Ratchaburi
Ratchaburi ) is a town in western Thailand, capital of the Ratchaburi Province. It covers the whole tambon Nai Mueang of Mueang Ratchaburi district. As of 2006 it has a population of 38,208.-External links:*...
suggested that he should join Taksin's forces at Chonburi.
After the fall of Ayutthaya, the city and peripheral areas were under the control of the Burmese, while local Siamese nobles established their own states. In 1768, Taksin
Taksin
Taksin ; was the only King of the Thonburi Kingdom...
recaptured Ayutthaya and repelled the Burmese. After the establishment of Thonburi and coronation of Taksin, Bunma was appointed Phra Maha Montri (Royal Police of the Right).
In the same year the two brothers joined the forces against Lord Pimai of Korat
Korat
Korats are a slate blue-grey shorthair domestic cat with a small to medium build and a low percentage of body fat. Their bodies are semi-cobby, and surprisingly heavy for their size. They are intelligent, playful, active cats and form strong bonds with people. Among Korats' distinguishing...
. After the campaign he was raised to Phraya Anuchitraja Anuchitraja waged several fightings to repel Burmese invasions. In 1770, after the defeat of Lord Fang, Anuchitraja became Chao Phraya Surasi - the ruler of Pitsanulok and defender of northern frontiers. In 1771, Surasi joined Phraya Pichai in his legendary fighting that broke his sword. Chao Phraya Surasi was known for his ruthlessness in wars that the Burmese gave him the epithet Tiger Lord. In 1774, Phraya Surasi and his brother was assigned the mission of the capture of Lanna
Lanna
The Kingdom of Lanna was a kingdom centered in present-day northern Thailand from the 13th to 18th centuries. The cultural development of the people of Lanna, the Tai Yuan people, had begun long before as successive Tai Yuan kingdoms preceded Lanna...
from the Burmese. With the help of Prince Kawila of Lampang, the Siamese forces were able to take Chiangmai. Surasi then took Kawila's sister, Sri Anocha, as his principal wife.
During 1771 - 1781, Surasi joined his brother in massive campaigns subjugating the Laotian kingdoms of Vientiane
Vientiane
-Geography:Vientiane is situated on a bend of the Mekong river, which forms the border with Thailand at this point.-Climate:Vientiane features a tropical wet and dry climate with a distinct monsoon season and a dry season. Vientiane’s dry season spans from November through March. April marks the...
, Luang Prabang
Luang Prabang
Luang Prabang, or Louangphrabang , is a city located in north central Laos, where the Nam Khan river meets the Mekong River about north of Vientiane. It is the capital of Luang Prabang Province...
, and Champasak
Champasak
Champasak may refer to* Champasak Province* Champasak * Kingdom of Champasak* Na Champassak family...
, and Cambodia
Cambodia
Cambodia , officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia...
. In 1781, Taksin fell ill and a rebellion sprang out to depose the king. His brother the Somdet Chao Phraya Maha Kshatriyaseuk returned to Bangkok to undo the rebellion. Maha Kshatriyaseuk then crowned himself as Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke and moved the capital to the left bank of Chao Phraya river - modern Bangkok
Bangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
. Surasi, as Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke's right hand, was appointed the Front Palace or heir to the throne.
The Front Palace
Maha Sura Singhanat pioneered the construction of the Front Palace. In 1785, the Burmese king BodawpayaBodawpaya
Bodawpaya was the sixth king of the Konbaung Dynasty of Burma. Born Maung Shwe Waing and later Badon Min, he was the fourth son of Alaungpaya, founder of the dynasty and the Third Burmese Empire. He was proclaimed king after deposing his nephew Phaungkaza Maung Maung, son of his oldest brother...
launched the massive invasions of Siam in the Nine Armies War
Nine Armies War
The Nine Armies Wars, so called in Siamese history because the Burmese came in nine armies, is also called the Burmese-Siamese War of 1785–1786. King Bodawpaya of Burma pursued an ambitious campaign to expand his dominions into the lands of the former Ayutthaya Kingdom...
. Maha Sura Singhanat led the Siamese forces to receive the Burmese attacks coming from the west and south. He strategically defeated the superior Burmese armies and forced Bodawpaya to retreat. Next year in 1786, Bodawpaya came again and encamped his armies at Ta Din Daeng. Maha Sura Singhanat then inflicted the fatal blow to the Burmese and forced them to retreat for the second time.
In 1802, the Burmese invaded Chiangmai
Kingdom of Chiangmai
Kingdom of Rattanaingsa or Kingdom of Chiangmai was the vassal state of Siamese Rattanakosin Kingdom in the 18th and 19th century before being annexed due to the centralization policies of Chulalongkorn in 1884...
. Buddha Yodfa Chulalok sent his brother to relieve the siege on Chiangmai. However, Maha Sura Singhanat fell ill on the course of journey but dispatched his troops to Chiangmai in substitution. Buddha Yodfa Chulalok, upon hearing about the illness of his brother, then sent his nephew Anurak Devesh
Anurak Devesh
Chaofa Krom Phra Anurak Devesh Krom Phra Rajawang Boworn Sathan Phimuk was a Siamese Prince and military leader. A nephew of King Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke the founder of the Chakri Dynasty, he was appointed Rear Palace or the Deputy Vice King of Siam...
the Rear Palace to get Chiangmai. But the Front Palace forces took Chiangmai beforehand and complained Royal Palace forces' inefficiency. This stirred the conflicts between militarymen of the two palaces.