Paruskavan Palace (Thai: วังปารุสกวัน) is a historic mansion in Bangkok. The house was built for King

Chulalongkorn Chulalongkorn (20 September 1853 – 23 October 1910), posthumously honoured as King Chulalongkorn the Great, was the fifth king of Siam from the Chakri dynasty, titled Rama V. Chulalongkorn's reign from 1868 until his death in 1910 was cha ...

's son, Prince

Chakrabongse Bhuvanath Chakrabongse Bhuvanath (; ; 3 March 1883 – 13 June 1920), was the 40th child of King Chulalongkorn and the fourth child of Queen Sri Bajarindra. Early life and education The prince was sent to the Russian Empire in his teens, where he stud ...

and his Ukrainian wife (

Kateryna Desnytska Kateryna Desnytska, Duchess of Phitsanulok (; ; 27 April 1886 – 3 January 1960) was a Ukrainian-born nurse who became a princess as wife of the Siamese prince Chakrabongse Bhuvanath. She was a participant in the Russo-Japanese War and was a ...

Catherine Desnitski Kateryna Desnytska, Duchess of Phitsanulok (; ; 27 April 1886 – 3 January 1960) was a Ukrainian-born nurse who became a princess as wife of the Siamese prince Chakrabongse Bhuvanath. She was a participant in the Russo-Japanese War and was a ...

), upon his return after finishing his studies in Russia. Immediately after his return, he was appointed Commandant of the Military College. For his residence, he was given Paruskavan Palace near

Amphorn Sathan Residential Hall The Amphorn Sathan Residential Hall or the Ambara Villa (: ''Phra Thinang Amphorn Sathan'') is a royal mansion situated inside Bangkok's Dusit Palace. It served as the primary residence of the former King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX) and former Q ...

, where the King lived. According to "Katya & The Prince of Siam" "the construction of Paruskavan Palace had in fact been begun in 1903 with 22,075

baht The baht (; , ; currency sign, sign: ฿; ISO 4217, code: THB) is the official currency of Thailand. It is divided into 100 ''satang'' (, ). Prior to decimalisation, the baht was divided into eight ''fueang'' (, ), each of eight ''at'' (, ). The ...

being paid for walls of 275 metres in length on 30 December. On 19 April 1904, 61,173 baht was paid upon completion of the walls excluding the roof. Originally three architects were involved but two became ill during the course of work (Mr Tamayo got cholera and had to return to Europe while Mr Scos got smallpox and died). This left Beyrolepi in charge until the work was finished at the end of 1905." Ekaterina Desnitskaya (Katya) designed the beautiful gardens of the Palace as well as redecorating it to include Western-style sofas and armchairs with a combination of Eastern materials. Prince and Katya's son Prince

Chula Chakrabongse Chula Chakrabongse (; ; 28 March 1908 – 30 December 1963), was a member of the family of the Chakri dynasty of Thailand and of the House of Chakkraphong. He was the only child of Prince Chakrabongse Bhuvanath and his Ukrainian wife Kateryna De ...

was born on 28 March 1908. After the divorce of the Prince and Katya in 1919, the King ordered the Paruskavan to be returned to the Crown. According to the Thai Government "When

King Prajadhipok Prajadhipok (8 November 1893 – 30 May 1941) was the seventh king of Siam from the Chakri dynasty, titled Rama VII. His reign was a turbulent time for Siam due to political and social changes during the 1932 Siamese revolution. He i ...

, King Rame VII, promulgated a constitution on 10 December 1932 and appointed

Phraya Manopakorn Nititada Phraya Manopakorn Nitithada (, ; 15 July 1884 – 1 October 1948), born Kon Hutasingha (or Hutasingh, , ) and simply known as Phraya Mano, was a Siamese nobleman who served as the first Prime Minister of Thailand, prime minister of Siam after ...

as Prime Minister under the new constitution, his place of work continued to remain at the Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall. On 21 June 1933, General Phraya Phahonphonphayuhasena (Phot Phahonyothin) assumed the premiership. The Prime Minister's Office was moved to Paruskavan Palace which had already been seized by the people who were responsible for bringing political changes to the country. Furthermore, it was the residence of General Phraya Phahonphonphayuhasena. Initially, the office was alternately known as Paruskavan Palace and the Prime Minister's Office, Paruskavan Palace. Later, however, it was known only by the latter name. When Field Marshal

Plaek Phibunsongkhram Plaek Phibunsongkhram; 14 July 1897 – 11 June 1964) was a Thai military officer and politician who served as the third prime minister of Thailand from 1938 to 1944 and again from 1948 to 1957. He rose to power as a leading member of the Kh ...

became Prime Minister on 16 December 1938, the Prime Minister's Office was relocated to Suan Kularb Palace which was near Paruskavan Palace." Currently used as the headquarters of the National Intelligence Agency; Museums of Police Department and

Metropolitan Police Bureau The Metropolitan Police Bureau () is a unit in the Royal Thai Police, and is responsible for maintaining security in Bangkok - the capital of Thailand. There are a total of 14 divisions (command units) and 2 direct divisions which report directly ...

References

{{Royal palaces in Thailand Buildings and structures in Bangkok Former royal residences in Bangkok Buildings and structures completed in 1905 1905 establishments in Siam Government buildings in Thailand Unregistered ancient monuments in Bangkok