Si Suthammaracha
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Si Suthammaracha ศรีสุธรรมราชา | |
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King of Ayutthaya | |
Prasat Thong dynasty |
Si Suthammaracha (Thai: ศรีสุธรรมราชา, Śrī Sudharmarājā) was the King of Ayutthaya from August 1656 to 26 October 1656 (2 months 17 Days).[1] He was a younger brother of Prasat Thong.
Not long after Si Suthammaracha seized the throne from
Struggle the throne
Upon King Prasat Thong’s death in 1656, Prince Chao Fa Chai, his eldest son, succeeded his father as King Sanpet VI.
However, it was a Thai tradition gave brothers a higher priority over sons in succession. Prince Si Suthammaracha, Chao Fa Chai's uncle, plotted with his nephew, Prince Narai, to bring Sanpet VI down. After nine months of ascension, Sanpet VI was executed following a coup. Narai and his uncle marched[2] into the palace, and Si Suthammaracha crowned himself king. Si Suthammaracha appointed Narai as the Uparaja, or the Front Palace. However, Narai was also an ambitious prince and had requested Dutch support against his uncle. Si Suthammaracha’s rule was weak and he fell under the control of Chao Phraya Chakri, an ambitious mandarin who also wanted the throne.
In 1656, Narai and his uncle finally alienated each other. Si Suthammaracha lusted after Narai’s sister, Princess Ratcha Kanlayani. He ordered his soldiers to surround her residence and entered the house. The princess hid in the book chest and thus was moved to the Front Palace, where she met her brother.
Enraged at his uncle's behavior, Narai decided to take action. He drew his support from the Persian, and Japanese
References
- ^ van der Cruysse, D. (2002). Siam and the West, 1500-1700, Silkworm Books
- ^ Wyatt, DK (1984). Thailand: A Short History. Chiang Mai: Silkworm. p. 107.
- ISBN 9747534584
- ^ Chakrabongse, C., 1960, Lords of Life, London: Alvin Redman Limited