Phetracha (alternative spellings: ''Bedraja'', ''P'etraja'', ''Petraja'', ''Petratcha''; also called ''Phra Phetracha''; , ; 1632– 5 February 1703) was a
king
King is a royal title given to a male monarch. A king is an Absolute monarchy, absolute monarch if he holds unrestricted Government, governmental power or exercises full sovereignty over a nation. Conversely, he is a Constitutional monarchy, ...
of the
Ayutthaya Kingdom
The Ayutthaya Kingdom or the Empire of Ayutthaya was a Thai people, Thai kingdom that existed in Southeast Asia from 1351 to 1767, centered around the city of Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya (city), Ayutthaya, in Siam, or present-day Thailand. Europe ...
, usurping the throne from his predecessor King
Narai
King Narai the Great (, , ) or Ramathibodi III ( ) was the 27th monarch of Ayutthaya Kingdom, the 4th and last monarch of the Prasat Thong dynasty. He was the king of Ayutthaya Kingdom from 1656 to 1688 and arguably the most famous king of the ...
and originally settled in Phluluang Village. His
dynasty
A dynasty is a sequence of rulers from the same family, usually in the context of a monarchy, monarchical system, but sometimes also appearing in republics. A dynasty may also be referred to as a "house", "family" or "clan", among others.
H ...
, the Ban Phlu Luang dynasty, was the last ruling house of the
Ayutthaya Kingdom
The Ayutthaya Kingdom or the Empire of Ayutthaya was a Thai people, Thai kingdom that existed in Southeast Asia from 1351 to 1767, centered around the city of Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya (city), Ayutthaya, in Siam, or present-day Thailand. Europe ...
.
[Reid, Anthony (Editor), Dhiravat na Prombeja, ''Southeast Asia in the Early Modern Era'', Cornell University Press, 1993, ]
Originally a member of King
Narai
King Narai the Great (, , ) or Ramathibodi III ( ) was the 27th monarch of Ayutthaya Kingdom, the 4th and last monarch of the Prasat Thong dynasty. He was the king of Ayutthaya Kingdom from 1656 to 1688 and arguably the most famous king of the ...
's extended family (two of his relatives were among Narai's wives), he was a trusted councilor of Narai, and the Director-General of the Royal Department of Elephants. However, in 1688 he led the
Siamese revolution of 1688
The Siamese revolution of 1688 was a major popular uprising in the Siamese Ayutthaya Kingdom (modern Thailand) which led to the overthrow of the pro-French Siamese king Narai. Phetracha, previously one of Narai's trusted military advisors, took a ...
, had Narai's heirs executed, and by marrying Narai's only daughter took the throne of Ayutthaya kingdom upon Narai's death. He opposed the pro-French policies of Narai, ejecting the French officers and some other French citizens from the kingdom, and launched the
Siege of Bangkok, to exile all French troops from Siam. Since then, Siam and France have only contacted a few times. His reign was marred by rebellions, insurrections and political upheavals throughout due to the nature of his ascension to power, especially those claiming ties of loyalty to the previous dynasty, as well as to the late King Narai himself.
Background
Phetracha was born in 1632 at Phuluang village,
Suphan Buri. His wet nurse was
Chao Mae Dusit who was the mother of
Kosa Lek and
Kosa Pan,
De la Loubère has recorded that he was a cousin of King Narai, and that his mother was also one of King Narai's
wet nurse
A wet nurse is a woman who breastfeeding, breastfeeds and cares for another's child. Wet nurses are employed if the mother dies, if she is unable to nurse the child herself sufficiently or chooses not to do so. Wet-nursed children may be known a ...
s. It was also recorded that his sister would later become one of King Narai's concubines.
He was Right Director-General of the Royal Department of Elephants, and wrote a manual with Narai on the art of elephant craft.
[Chakrabongse, C., 1960, Lords of Life, London: Alvin Redman Limited] Hence, he was sometimes referred to as "the Elephant Prince".
Although Thai historians recorded that Phetracha was not interested in being King,
Jesuit
The Society of Jesus (; abbreviation: S.J. or SJ), also known as the Jesuit Order or the Jesuits ( ; ), is a religious order (Catholic), religious order of clerics regular of pontifical right for men in the Catholic Church headquartered in Rom ...
missionaries stated otherwise, that he was an ambitious man. While this matter is ambiguous, it is generally agreed that he was a very influential figure in that period, harboring respect from many officers. It is also said that he strongly believed in Buddhism, thus gaining support from many monks, who feared Ayutthaya kingdom was being converted to
Christianity
Christianity is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion, which states that Jesus in Christianity, Jesus is the Son of God (Christianity), Son of God and Resurrection of Jesus, rose from the dead after his Crucifixion of Jesus, crucifixion, whose ...
. Moreover, Phetracha seemed to gain King Narai's trust as well, as he was one of King Narai's close aides and confidants. When the
royal palace at
Lopburi was finished, King Narai would stay there for many months in a year, leaving Phetracha as regent to take care of matters in Ayutthaya.
Phetracha's rivalry with counsellor
Constantine Phaulkon is understandable. While Phaulkon's ideology was to open Ayutthaya kingdom to the international community (and benefit from the expansion of foreign trading), Phetracha was a traditionalist who was allegedly disgusted by international influence in Ayutthaya kingdom. King Narai himself favored the opening of his country and created many diplomatic ties with European countries, notably France.
Reign
When Narai was seriously ill with no hope of recovery, on 18 May 1688 Phetracha had a successful coup and arrested Narai himself, his half-brothers Prince Aphaithot and Prince Noi, and his adopted son Phra Pi. Phaulkon was summoned to the palace, there he and the French officers were surrounded and disarmed. Phaulkon was thrown to the palace dungeon and brutally tortured.
After questioning Phra Pi, he discovered Phra Pi had conspired with Phaulkon to assume the throne, and Phra Pi was executed on 20 May. Further questioning of Phaulkon revealed a plot to raise a rebellion, and he too was executed by Phetracha's adopted son
Luang Sorasak on 5 June. Narai, on his deathbed, was unable to do anything, except curse Phetracha and his son. Luang Sorasak then had Prince Aphaithot and Prince Noi executed.
[Rajanubhab, D., 2001, Our Wars With the Burmese, Bangkok: White Lotus Co. Ltd., ]
Phetracha soon ordered his troops to attack the French troops led by
General Desfarges at the start of
Siege of Bangkok. On the death of Narai on 11 July, Phetracha proclaimed himself king, he appointed Luang Sorasak, his son as the
Prince Viceroy and Nai Chopkhotchaprasit, the officer under his department and who helped contending the throne as the
Prince Deputy Viceroy, and gave regalia as Prince Deputy Viceroy rank with Khun Ongkharaksa and promoted to Chaophraya Surasongkhram, because of the credit to helped contending the throne too.
After withholding the siege for four months and later a negotiated settlement, the French soldiers were allowed to return to France. Only Dutchmen were allowed to trade in the capital before the French and English finally ended their dispute with Siam.
[
During his reign, "there were troubles for a long time", according to ]Damrong Rajanubhab
Prince Tisavarakumara, the Prince Damrong Rajanubhab (; Full transcription is "Somdet Phrachao Borommawongthoe Phra-ongchao Ditsawarakuman Kromphraya Damrongrachanuphap" (สมเด็จพระเจ้าบรมวงศ์เธอ พ� ...
. The governors of Nakhon Si Thammarat
Nakhon Si Thammarat (, ; from ) is a city municipality (''thesaban nakhon'') located in Mueang Nakhon Si Thammarat, the capital of Nakhon Si Thammarat Province. Nakhon Si Thammarat Province is situated in the South of Thailand. It is about s ...
and Nakhon Ratchasima
Nakhon Ratchasima (, ) is the capital of Nakhon Ratchasima province, the largest city in Isan, Northeastern Thailand and the List of municipalities in Thailand#Largest cities by urban population, third-largest city in Thailand. It is 250 km (1 ...
rebelled and it took many years for them to be suppressed.[
Upon his death on 5 February 1703, Phetracha was succeeded by his eldest son Sorasak, who took the title of Suriyenthrathibodi.][
]
Issue
Honors
Title
Titles and ranks appointed by King of Siam
*Oc Phra Phetracha or Oc-Prá Pipitcharatcha () Chancellor of department Elephants Affairs in the reign of King Narai with sakdina 5000.
* Chaophraya Surasi Acting Chancellor of the Ministry of Defence in the reign of King Narai.
Enthronement
*Somdet Phra Phetracha () King of Siam of the Ban Phlu Luang Dynasty.
Namesakes
* Phetracha Road. Lopburi province.
* Phra Phetracha auditorium. Thepsatri Rajabhat University Lopburi province.
In popular culture
King Phetracha's corporeal presence was mentioned in:
Thai literature
* Chronicle of Phan Chanthanumat records the history of Phetracha's reign
International literature
*Louis XIV et le Siam the French-Siamese historical fiction composed by Dirk Van der Cruysse. ''Phetracha'' was mentioned of troublemaker in the French embassy parade.
*Pour la plus grande gloire de Dieu composed by Morgan Sportès. ''Phetracha'' was crowned king of Siam in the reign of King Narai.
*Phaulkon the adventurer (1862) composed by William Dalton. The fiction mentioned ''Phetracha'' who was crowned king of Siam and executed Constantine Phaulkon.
*Le Ministre des moussons[Keefe-Fox, Claire.(1998). Le Ministre des moussons. Paris: Plon. 530 pp. ] the French-Siamese historical fiction composed by Claire Keefe-Fox mentioned ''Phetracha'' during the ousting of French forces in 1688.
Film and television
* Love Destiny (TV series) ''Phra Phetracha'' was King Narai's regent cast by Sarut Vijittranon.
*OM! Crush on me (2021) Thai historical movie mentioned ''Phra Phetracha'' who was general director of department of Elephants Affairs.
*Sri Ayodhaya 2 ''King Phetracha'' cast by M.R. Mongkolchai Yugala.
* Love Destiny 2 (TV series) ''King Phetracha'' cast by Sarut Vijittranon.
Legend
See also
* Ayutthaya Kingdom
The Ayutthaya Kingdom or the Empire of Ayutthaya was a Thai people, Thai kingdom that existed in Southeast Asia from 1351 to 1767, centered around the city of Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya (city), Ayutthaya, in Siam, or present-day Thailand. Europe ...
References
{{Authority control
1632 births
1703 deaths
Ban Phlu Luang dynasty
Kings of Ayutthaya
Leaders who took power by coup
17th-century monarchs in Asia
18th-century monarchs in Asia
17th-century Thai people
18th-century Thai monarchs