Saovabha
Encyclopedia
Queen Saovabha Bongsri ' onMouseout='HidePop("32375")' href="/topics/Royal_Thai_General_System_of_Transcription">RTGS:
—Saowapha Phongsi—) was a half-sister and queen of King Chulalongkorn
(Rama V) of Thailand, and mother of both King Vajiravudh
(Rama VI) and King Prajadhipok
(Rama VII). As in accordance with Thai royal tradition, King Vajiravudh later bestowed on his mother the tile of "Queen Mother Sri Bajrindra" ' onMouseout='HidePop("9574")' href="/topics/Royal_Thai_General_System_of_Transcription">RTGS:
—Si Phatcharinthra—).
(or Rama IV) and Princess Consort Piyamavadi
(Piam Sucharitakul). She was the youngest sister of the future Queen Sunandha
Kumariratana and Queen Savang Vadhana
. Saovabha became the consort of her half brother King Chulalongkorn
sometime in 1878. She gave him 9 children, 5 would survive to adulthood (one died in infancy), two would eventually become King of Siam.
In 1897, Queen Saovabha became the first female Regent of Siam, when her husband went on a tour of Europe. When he returned he bestowed upon her the title of Somdet Phra Nang Chao Saovabha Bongsi Praborommarachininat (roughly equivalent to H.M. the Queen Regent). During her time as queen she took many interests especially in the issues concerning women. In 1904 she established the first school for girls in Siam; the "Rajini School" or Queen's School in Bangkok.
She died in 1919 at the age of 57, She was given a grand Royal Funeral, attended by all members of the Siamese Royal Family, the ceremony was presided by her son King Vajiravudh. She plays a prominent posthumous role in the 1924 Palace Law of Succession
, in which her son King Vajiravudh stipulated that her children would take precedent among all others over the line of succession. This guaranteed the accession of her youngest son Prince Prajadhipok to the throne in 1925, despite there being more senior and learned sons of Chulalongkorn. The Queen Saovabha Memorial Institute
was named after her.
Royal Thai General System of Transcription
The Royal Thai General System of Transcription is the official system for rendering Thai language words in the Latin alphabet, published by the Royal Institute of Thailand...
—Saowapha Phongsi—) was a half-sister and queen of King Chulalongkorn
Chulalongkorn
Phra Bat Somdet Phra Poramintharamaha Chulalongkorn Phra Chunla Chom Klao Chao Yu Hua , or Rama V was the fifth monarch of Siam under the House of Chakri. He was known to the Siamese of his time as Phra Phuttha Chao Luang . He is considered one of the greatest kings of Siam...
(Rama V) of Thailand, and mother of both King Vajiravudh
Vajiravudh
Phra Bat Somdet Phra Poramentharamaha Vajiravudh Phra Mongkut Klao Chao Yu Hua , or Phra Bat Somdet Phra Ramathibodi Si Sintharamaha Vajiravudh Phra Mongkut Klao Chao Yu Hua , or Rama VI was the sixth monarch of Siam under the House of Chakri, ruling from 1910 until his death...
(Rama VI) and King Prajadhipok
Prajadhipok
Phra Bat Somdet Phra Poramintharamaha Prajadhipok Phra Pok Klao Chao Yu Hua , or Rama VII was the seventh monarch of Siam under the House of Chakri. He was the last absolute monarch and the first constitutional monarch of the country. His reign was a turbulent time for Siam due to huge political...
(Rama VII). As in accordance with Thai royal tradition, King Vajiravudh later bestowed on his mother the tile of "Queen Mother Sri Bajrindra" ' onMouseout='HidePop("9574")' href="/topics/Royal_Thai_General_System_of_Transcription">RTGS:
Royal Thai General System of Transcription
The Royal Thai General System of Transcription is the official system for rendering Thai language words in the Latin alphabet, published by the Royal Institute of Thailand...
—Si Phatcharinthra—).
Life
Saovabha was born as a Princess of Siam by King MongkutMongkut
Phra Bat Somdet Phra Poramenthramaha Mongkut Phra Chom Klao Chao Yu Hua , or Rama IV, known in foreign countries as King Mongkut , was the fourth monarch of Siam under the House of Chakri, ruling from 1851-1868...
(or Rama IV) and Princess Consort Piyamavadi
Piam
HRH Princess Piyamavadi Sri Bajarindra Mata, the Royal Consort to King Mongkut or Chao Khun Chom Manda Piam . She was one of the royal wives of King Mongkut...
(Piam Sucharitakul). She was the youngest sister of the future Queen Sunandha
Sunandha
Queen Sunandha Kumariratana was a daughter of King Mongkut and Princess Consort Piam. Her given name is Princess Sunandha Kumariratana...
Kumariratana and Queen Savang Vadhana
Savang Vadhana
Queen Savang Vadhana of Siam was a consort of King Chulalongkorn or Rama V. Her full name and title was Queen Sri Savarindira - thus she was not the Rajini , but just was a highest consort...
. Saovabha became the consort of her half brother King Chulalongkorn
Chulalongkorn
Phra Bat Somdet Phra Poramintharamaha Chulalongkorn Phra Chunla Chom Klao Chao Yu Hua , or Rama V was the fifth monarch of Siam under the House of Chakri. He was known to the Siamese of his time as Phra Phuttha Chao Luang . He is considered one of the greatest kings of Siam...
sometime in 1878. She gave him 9 children, 5 would survive to adulthood (one died in infancy), two would eventually become King of Siam.
In 1897, Queen Saovabha became the first female Regent of Siam, when her husband went on a tour of Europe. When he returned he bestowed upon her the title of Somdet Phra Nang Chao Saovabha Bongsi Praborommarachininat (roughly equivalent to H.M. the Queen Regent). During her time as queen she took many interests especially in the issues concerning women. In 1904 she established the first school for girls in Siam; the "Rajini School" or Queen's School in Bangkok.
She died in 1919 at the age of 57, She was given a grand Royal Funeral, attended by all members of the Siamese Royal Family, the ceremony was presided by her son King Vajiravudh. She plays a prominent posthumous role in the 1924 Palace Law of Succession
1924 Palace Law of Succession
The Palace Law on Succession, BE 2467 governs succession to the Throne of the Kingdom of Thailand, under the ruling House of Chakri. The law was established during the reign of King Vajiravudh to systematically resolve previous succession controversies...
, in which her son King Vajiravudh stipulated that her children would take precedent among all others over the line of succession. This guaranteed the accession of her youngest son Prince Prajadhipok to the throne in 1925, despite there being more senior and learned sons of Chulalongkorn. The Queen Saovabha Memorial Institute
Queen Saovabha Memorial Institute
Queen Saovabha Memorial Institute in Bangkok, Thailand, is a famous institute that specialises in the husbandry of venomous snakes, the extraction and research of snake venom...
was named after her.
Children
She had 9 children with King Chulalongkorn:- Princess Bahurada ManimayaBahurada ManimayaHer Royal Highness Princess Bahurada Manimaya, the Princess Debnariratana or Somdet Phra Chao Boromwongse Thoe Chao Fa Bahurada Manimaya Kromma Phra Debnariratana , was the Princess of Siam Her Royal Highness Princess Bahurada Manimaya, the Princess Debnariratana or Somdet Phra Chao Boromwongse...
(1878–1887) - Crown PrinceCrown Prince of ThailandThe Crown Prince of Thailand was a title held by the heir apparent to the Thai throne. First created by King Chulalongkorn in 1886, for his son Prince Maha Vajirunhis, the king's eldest son by a royal wife Princess Consort Savang Vadhana. Prior to this the Siamese throne did not have a law or...
Maha VajiravudhVajiravudhPhra Bat Somdet Phra Poramentharamaha Vajiravudh Phra Mongkut Klao Chao Yu Hua , or Phra Bat Somdet Phra Ramathibodi Si Sintharamaha Vajiravudh Phra Mongkut Klao Chao Yu Hua , or Rama VI was the sixth monarch of Siam under the House of Chakri, ruling from 1910 until his death...
, (later King VajiravudhVajiravudhPhra Bat Somdet Phra Poramentharamaha Vajiravudh Phra Mongkut Klao Chao Yu Hua , or Phra Bat Somdet Phra Ramathibodi Si Sintharamaha Vajiravudh Phra Mongkut Klao Chao Yu Hua , or Rama VI was the sixth monarch of Siam under the House of Chakri, ruling from 1910 until his death...
) (1880–1925) - Prince Tribejrudhamrong ( (1881–1887)
- Prince Chakrabongse BhuvanathChakrabongse BhuvanathField Marshal Prince Chakrabongse Bhuvanadh, Prince of Phitsanulok, , was the fortieth child of King Chulalongkorn and the fourth child of Queen Sri Bajarindra....
, Prince of Bisnulok (1882–1920) - Prince Siriraj Kakudhabhandu (1885–1887)
- Princess (unnamed) (1884)
- Prince Asdang Dejavudh, Prince of Nakhon Rajasima (1889–1924)
- Prince Chudadhut DharadilokChudadhut DharadilokPrince Chudadhuj Dharadilok, Prince of Phetchabun , was a son of King Chulalongkorn and Queen Saovabha of Thailand. He was one of the most senior Thai princes during the rule of his full brother, King Vajiravudh...
, Prince of Bejrapurana (1892–1923) - Prince PrajadhipokPrajadhipokPhra Bat Somdet Phra Poramintharamaha Prajadhipok Phra Pok Klao Chao Yu Hua , or Rama VII was the seventh monarch of Siam under the House of Chakri. He was the last absolute monarch and the first constitutional monarch of the country. His reign was a turbulent time for Siam due to huge political...
Sakdidej, Prince of Sukhothai, (later King PrajadhipokPrajadhipokPhra Bat Somdet Phra Poramintharamaha Prajadhipok Phra Pok Klao Chao Yu Hua , or Rama VII was the seventh monarch of Siam under the House of Chakri. He was the last absolute monarch and the first constitutional monarch of the country. His reign was a turbulent time for Siam due to huge political...
) (1893–1941)
See also
- 1924 Palace Law of Succession1924 Palace Law of SuccessionThe Palace Law on Succession, BE 2467 governs succession to the Throne of the Kingdom of Thailand, under the ruling House of Chakri. The law was established during the reign of King Vajiravudh to systematically resolve previous succession controversies...
- Savang VadhanaSavang VadhanaQueen Savang Vadhana of Siam was a consort of King Chulalongkorn or Rama V. Her full name and title was Queen Sri Savarindira - thus she was not the Rajini , but just was a highest consort...
- ChulalongkornChulalongkornPhra Bat Somdet Phra Poramintharamaha Chulalongkorn Phra Chunla Chom Klao Chao Yu Hua , or Rama V was the fifth monarch of Siam under the House of Chakri. He was known to the Siamese of his time as Phra Phuttha Chao Luang . He is considered one of the greatest kings of Siam...
- VajiravudhVajiravudhPhra Bat Somdet Phra Poramentharamaha Vajiravudh Phra Mongkut Klao Chao Yu Hua , or Phra Bat Somdet Phra Ramathibodi Si Sintharamaha Vajiravudh Phra Mongkut Klao Chao Yu Hua , or Rama VI was the sixth monarch of Siam under the House of Chakri, ruling from 1910 until his death...
- PrajadhipokPrajadhipokPhra Bat Somdet Phra Poramintharamaha Prajadhipok Phra Pok Klao Chao Yu Hua , or Rama VII was the seventh monarch of Siam under the House of Chakri. He was the last absolute monarch and the first constitutional monarch of the country. His reign was a turbulent time for Siam due to huge political...