Bhanurangsi Savangwongse, the Prince Bhanubandhu Vongsevoradej (11 January 1859 – 13 June 1928) ( th, สมเด็จพระราชปิตุลาบรมพงศาภิมุข เจ้าฟ้าภาณุรังษีสว่างวงศ์ กรมพระยาภาณุพันธุวงศ์วรเดช) was a son of King

Mongkut Mongkut ( th, มงกุฏ; 18 October 18041 October 1868) was the fourth monarch of Siam (Thailand) under the House of Chakri, titled Rama IV. He ruled from 1851 to 1868. His full title in Thai was ''Phra Bat Somdet Phra Menthora Ramathibo ...

Siam Thailand ( ), historically known as Siam () and officially the Kingdom of Thailand, is a country in Southeast Asia, located at the centre of the Indochinese Peninsula, spanning , with a population of almost 70 million. The country is bo ...

and Queen Debsirindra. Although the Prince held a number of posts in the government of his elder brother, King

Chulalongkorn Chulalongkorn ( th, จุฬาลงกรณ์, 20 September 1853 – 23 October 1910) was the fifth monarch of Siam under the House of Chakri, titled Rama V. He was known to the Siamese of his time as ''Phra Phuttha Chao Luang'' (พร ...

, including the post of Commander-in-Chief of the

Royal Siamese Army The Royal Siamese Armed Forces (Thai: กองทัพหลวง) were the armed forces of the Thai monarchy from the 12th to 19th centuries. The term refers to the military forces of the Sukhothai Kingdom, the Ayutthaya Kingdom, the Thonbur ...

, he is best remembered as the founder of the Thai postal service and the first

Field marshal Field marshal (or field-marshal, abbreviated as FM) is the most senior military rank, ordinarily senior to the general officer ranks. Usually, it is the highest rank in an army and as such few persons are appointed to it. It is considered as ...

during

King Vajiravudh Vajiravudh ( th, วชิราวุธ, , 1 January 188126 November 1925) was the sixth monarch of Siam under the Chakri dynasty as Rama VI. He ruled from 23 October 1910 until his death in 1925. King Vajiravudh is best known for his effor ...

. His most famous son is the

Formula One Formula One (also known as Formula 1 or F1) is the highest class of international racing for open-wheel single-seater formula racing cars sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). The World Drivers' Championship, ...

racer, Prince Birabongse Bhanutej Bhanubandh, better known as

Prince Bira Prince Birabongse Bhanudej Bhanubandh ( th, พีรพงศ์ภาณุเดช; ; 15 July 191423 December 1985), better known as Prince Bira of Siam (now Thailand) or by his ''nom de course'' B. Bira, was a member of the Thai royal ...

Early life and education

Bangkok General Post Office - 2017-05-05 (001)

Prince Bhanurangsi Savangwongse born on 11 January 1860 at the

Grand Palace The Grand Palace ( th, พระบรมมหาราชวัง, Royal Institute of Thailand. (2011). ''How to read and how to write.'' (20th Edition). Bangkok: Royal Institute of Thailand. .) is a complex of buildings at the heart of Ba ...

, Bangkok. He has 3 brothers and sisters, including

King Chulalongkorn Chulalongkorn ( th, จุฬาลงกรณ์, 20 September 1853 – 23 October 1910) was the fifth monarch of Siam under the House of Chakri, titled Rama V. He was known to the Siamese of his time as ''Phra Phuttha Chao Luang'' (พร� ...

, Princess

Chandrmondol Chandrmondol Sobhon Bhagiawati, the Princess Wisutkrasat ( th, จันทรมณฑล โสภณภควดี; ; ; 24 April 1855 — 14 May 1863) also known as Princess Fa-ying or Somdetch Chow Fa-ying ( th, สมเด็จเจ้า ...

and Prince

Chaturonrasmi Prince Chaturonrasmi, the Prince Chakkrabatradipongse ( th, สมเด็จพระเจ้าบรมวงศ์เธอ เจ้าฟ้าจาตุรนต์รัศมี กรมพระจักรพรรดิพงศ ...

. After 2 years, his mother died. Later, his father died when he was 10 years old. He was the scatterer of rice in the procession of the royal funeral of King Mongkut. When he was 12 years old King Chulalongkorn appointed him as Prince Brother, with a royal ceremony at the

Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall The Grand Palace ( th, พระบรมมหาราชวัง, Royal Institute of Thailand. (2011). ''How to read and how to write.'' (20th Edition). Bangkok: Royal Institute of Thailand. .) is a complex of buildings at the heart of Ban ...

. When he was 13 years old he was ordained as a novice at

Wat Phra Kaew Wat Phra Kaew ( th, วัดพระแก้ว, , ), commonly known in English as the Temple of the Emerald Buddha and officially as Wat Phra Si Rattana Satsadaram, is regarded as the most sacred Buddhist temple in Thailand. The complex c ...

with Supreme Patriarch

Pavares Variyalongkorn Pavares Variyalongkorn ( th, ปวเรศวริยาลงกรณ์, , etc.; 14 September 1809 – 28 September 1892) was a Buddhist scholar, historian and a prince of the Chakri dynasty. A son of the Viceroy Maha Senanurak and Noi Lek, ...

as a preceptor then went out to

Wat Bowonniwet Vihara Wat Pavaranivesh Vihara Ratchawarawihan ( th, วัดบวรนิเวศวิหารราชวรวิหาร; , ) is a major Buddhist temple ('' wat'') in Phra Nakhon district, Bangkok, Thailand. Being the residence of Nyanasamva ...

. He began his studies in the school of female teachers and began to study by himself. After that, he studied the books of Khmer and Pali at the Bureau of Phraya Priyatthi Dhammada when he is ordained. After that, he studied military education at the Bureau of the

King's Guard The King's Guard and King's Life Guard (called the Queen's Guard and the Queen's Life Guard when the reigning monarch is female) are the contingents of infantry and cavalry soldiers charged with guarding the official royal residences in the ...

since 1872 and learning the Thai language from Phraya Srisoonthorn Waham (Noi Ajarayangkul) including studying civil service traditions and royal traditions from Prince Mahamala, the Prince Bamrapporapak.

Careers

He carried out military service in a special officer rank, with a

first lieutenant First lieutenant is a commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces; in some forces, it is an appointment. The rank of lieutenant has different meanings in different military formations, but in most forces it is sub-divided into a ...

's uniform in Bureau of the King's Guard When King Chulalongkorn travelled to Singapore (2nd time) and Burma, parts of England throughout India including the rising districts of Siam along the western coast of Malaya. He held positions including Minister of the Council and Privy Council of King Chulalongkorn, Chancellor of the Ministry of Defense, The Privy Council of King Rama VI and the President and Privy Councilor in King Rama VII, Inspector General, Commander of the Navy Department and Director-General of the Post and Telegraph Department.

Death

Prince Bhanurangsi Savangwongse died on 13 June 1928 aged 68 at Buraphaphirom Palace.

Issue

He had 16 children, 9 sons and 7 daughters: # Princess Dibyasambandh # Prince Nibanna Bhanubongse # Prince Siriwongse Vadhanadej # Princess (unnamed) # Princess Chalermkhetramongmol # Prince Suriyon Yiembayab # Prince Ballap Danaya # Prince Daeng (stillborn) # Princess Khaimuk # Princess Rambhai Prabha # Prince Aphassorawongse # Prince

Birabongse Bhanudej Prince Birabongse Bhanudej Bhanubandh ( th, พีรพงศ์ภาณุเดช; ; 15 July 191423 December 1985), better known as Prince Bira of Siam (now Thailand) or by his ''nom de course'' B. Bira, was a member of the Thai royal ...

# Prince Norasetdha Suriyalaksana # Prince Chirasakdi Suprabhas ( :th:พระวรวงศ์เธอ พระองค์เจ้าจิรศักดิ์สุประภาต) # Princess Lek (died at six days old)

Ancestry

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bhanurangsi Savangwongse Thai male Chao Fa 19th-century Chakri dynasty 20th-century Chakri dynasty Bhanubandh family Children of Mongkut Field marshals of Thailand Ministers of Defence of Thailand Knights Grand Cordon of the Order of Chula Chom Klao Knights of the Ratana Varabhorn Order of Merit Knights Grand Commander (Senangapati) of the Order of Rama Recipients of the Dushdi Mala Medal, Pin of Arts and Science Recipients of the Order of the White Eagle (Russia) 1859 births 1928 deaths Commanders-in-chief of the Royal Thai Army Members of the Privy Council of Thailand 19th-century military history of Thailand