Praphas Charusathien (, , ; 25 November 1912 – 18 August 1997) was a Thai military officer and politician. He was a

field marshal Field marshal (or field-marshal, abbreviated as FM) is the most senior military rank, senior to the general officer ranks. Usually, it is the highest rank in an army (in countries without the rank of Generalissimo), and as such, few persons a ...

of the

Royal Thai Army The Royal Thai Army or RTA (; ) is the army of Thailand and the oldest and largest branch of the Royal Thai Armed Forces. History Origin The Royal Thai Army is responsible for protecting the kingdom's sovereignty. The army was formed in 187 ...

and minister of interior in the governments of military rulers

Sarit Thanarat Sarit Thanarat (also spelled Dhanarajata; ; born Siri (); 16 June 1908 – 8 December 1963) was a Thai politician and military commander. He served as commander-in-chief of the Royal Thai Army (from 1954) and as Minister of Defense during ...

and

Thanom Kittikachorn Thanom Kittikachorn (, , ; 11 August 1911 – 16 June 2004) was Prime Minister of Thailand from 1963 to 1973, military officer, who supported and initiated military coups and became Thailand's defence minister. He rose to power when he staged a ...

Personal life and education

Praphas graduated from the

Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy (CRMA) (; ) is the service academy of Royal Thai Army (RTA). Established in 1887 it has graduated the majority of Thailand's military leaders, many of whom have become Prime Ministers of Thailand, Thai prime m ...

and became an infantry officer. He was sponsored by Field Marshal and Prime Minister-to-be

. He was quickly promoted to higher ranks. In 1957, Sarit appointed him minister of interior, a position in which he continued to serve after Sarit's death in 1963. The new prime minister was

, whose son married Praphas' daughter. From 1963 to 1973, he was additionally deputy prime minister and

Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Army The Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Army () is headquartered in Bangkok. The commander of the Royal Thai Army is a powerful position that has at times been the springboard to the premiership. Prior to 1932, the post of Commander of the Siam ...

. During this time, Praphas was the strong man in the background who pulled the strings in the Thanom government. He was known for obscure financial transactions and political intrigues, while sitting on the boards of 44 companies. In 1973, he was replaced as army commander by Gen.Krit Srivara, which signaled his loss of influence. In October 1973 protests against the rigid military rule grew into a massive popular uprising that was answered by a bloody crackdown on the protesting students and democracy activists. The many dead civilians prompted King Bhumibol Adulyadej to intervene. Praphas, Thanom and his son-in-law Col.Narong Kittikachorn went into exile. Praphas returned to Thailand in January 1977, after the military had ended the democratic interlude in October 1976. However, he was not able to exercise political influence again.

Family

Praphas married to Thanpuying Sawai Jarusathien, daughter of Lt. Von and Huai Panprasit. They have a total of 6 children. Praphas's children were married to important people with military and political power, including Supaporn Charusathien married with Narong Kittikachorn son of

, Orapan Charusathien married with Yuthasak Sasiprapha and Supanapa Charusathien married with Somtat Attanand.

Died

Praphas Charusathien died on 18 August 1997 in Bangkok.

Honours

received the following royal decorations in the

Honours System An order is a visible honour awarded by a sovereign state, monarch, dynastic house or organisation to a person, typically in recognition of individual merit, that often comes with distinctive insignia such as collars, medals, badges, and sash ...

of Thailand: * 1964 - Knight Grand Cross of the Most Illustrious

Order of Chula Chom Klao The Most Illustrious Order of Chula Chom Klao (; ) was established on 16 November 1873 by King Rama V of The Kingdom of Siam (now Thailand) to commemorate the 90th Jubilee of the Chakri Dynasty and bears his name (จุลจอมเกล� ...

* 1973 -

Knight Grand Commander of the Honourable Order of Rama * 1959 - Knight Grand Cordon of the Most Exalted

Order of the White Elephant __NOTOC__ The Most Exalted Order of the White Elephant (; ) is an order (decoration), order of Thailand. It was established in 1861 by King Mongkut, Rama IV of the Thailand, Kingdom of Siam. Along with the Order of the Crown of Thailand, it is r ...

* 1957 - Knight Grand Cordon of the Most Noble

Order of the Crown of Thailand The Most Noble Order of the Crown of Thailand (; ) is a Thai order, established in 1869 by King Rama V of The Kingdom of Siam (now Thailand) for Thais, the royal family, governmental employees, and foreign dignitaries for their outstanding serv ...

* 1988 - Member of the Order of Symbolic Propitiousness Ramkeerati * 1934 - Dushdi Mala Medal Pin of Bravery (Military) * 1941 - Victory Medal -

Franco-Thai War The Franco-Thai War (October 1940 – 28 January 1941, ; ) was fought between Thailand and Vichy France over certain areas of French Indochina. Negotiations shortly before World War II had shown that the French government was willing to alter th ...

* 1962 - Victory Medal -

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

* 1969 - Freeman Safeguarding Medal - 1st Class * 1934 - Safeguarding the Constitution Medal * 1958 - Border Service Medal * 1945 - Chakra Mala Medal * 1950 - King Rama VIII Royal Cypher Medal, 3rd Class * 1959 - King Rama IX Royal Cypher Medal, 2nd Class * 1929 - King Rama VII Coronation Medal * 1950 - King Rama IX Coronation Medal * 1932 - 150 Years Commemoration of Bangkok Medal ribbon

150 Years Commemoration of Bangkok Medal ribbon

Commemorative Medal on the Occasion of the 150th Years of Rattanakosin Celebration

Foreign honours

* : ** 1955 - Order of Orange-Nassau ribbon - Grand Officer

Grand Officer of the

Order of Orange-Nassau The Order of Orange-Nassau () is a civil and military Dutch order of chivalry founded on 4 April 1892 by the queen regent, Emma of the Netherlands. The order is a chivalric order open to "everyone who has performed acts of special merits for ...

** 1963 -

Order of Orange-Nassau ribbon - Knight Grand Cross

Grand Cross of the

* : ** 1957 - Grand Cross of the Cross of Military Merit * : **1961 - Grand Cross of the

Order of Merit of the Italian Republic The Order of Merit of the Italian Republic () is the most senior Italian order of merit. It was established in 1951 by the second President of Italy, President of the Italian Republic, Luigi Einaudi. The highest-ranking honour of the Republi ...

* : ** 1962 - Special_Breast_Order_of_Yun_Hui

Order of the Yunhui, Special Class * : **1962 - US Legion of Merit Commander ribbon

Commander of the

Legion of Merit The Legion of Merit (LOM) is a Awards and decorations of the United States military, military award of the United States Armed Forces that is given for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievemen ...

* : **1963 - Grand Cross of the

Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany The Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (, or , BVO) is the highest state decoration, federal decoration of the Federal Republic of Germany. It may be awarded for any field of endeavor. It was created by the first List of president ...

with Sash and Star * : ** 1963 - GRE Order of George I - Grand Cross BAR

Grand Cross of the

Order of George I The Royal Order of George I () is a Greek Order (distinction), order instituted by King Constantine I of Greece, Constantine I in 1915. Since the monarchy's abolition in 1973, it has been considered a dynastic order of the former Greek royal fami ...

* : ** 1964 - Honorary Grand Commander of the

Order of the Defender of the Realm The Most Esteemed Order of the Defender of the Realm () is a Malaysian federal award presented for meritorious service to the country. The Order Motto are 'Dipeliharakan Allah-Pangkuan Negara' (By the Grace of God-Defender of the Realm). The o ...

* : ** 1964 - BEL - Order of Leopold - Grand Cordon bar

Grand Cordon of the Order of Leopold * : ** 1964 - AUT Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria - 2nd Class BAR

Grand Decoration of Honour in Gold of the

Decoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria The Decoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria () is a state decoration of the Republic of Austria. It is divided into 15 classes and is the highest award in the Austrian national honours system. History The Decoration of Hono ...

with Sash * : ** 1966 - Order of Service Merit, First Class ** 1968 - Order of Military Merit, First Class * : ** 1966 - JPN Kyokujitsu-sho 1Class BAR

Grand Cordon of the

Order of the Rising Sun The is a Japanese honors system, Japanese order, established in 1875 by Emperor Meiji. The Order was the first national decoration awarded by the Japanese government, created on 10 April 1875 by decree of the Council of State. The badge feat ...

* : ** 1967 - St Olavs Orden storkors stripe

Grand Cross of the

Order of St. Olav The Royal Norwegian Order of Saint Olav (; or ''Sanct Olafs Orden'', the old Norwegian name) is a Norwegian order of chivalry instituted by King Oscar I on 21 August 1847. It is named after King Olav II, known to posterity as St. Olav. Just be ...

* : ** 1967 - Royal Order of the Sword - Commander Grand Cross BAR

Commander Grand Cross of the

Order of the Sword The Royal Order of the Sword (officially: ''Royal Order of the Sword''; Swedish: ''Kungliga Svärdsorden'') is a Swedish order of chivalry and military decoration created by King Frederick I of Sweden on 23 February 1748, together with the Or ...

* : **1967 - LAO Order of the a Million Elephants and the White Parasol - Grand Cross BAR

Grand Cross of the Order of the Million Elephants and the White Parasol * : **1968 - PHL Order of Sikatuna - Grand Cross BAR

Grand Cross of the

Order of Sikatuna The Order of Sikatuna () is the national order of diplomatic merit of the Republic of the Philippines. It is conferred upon individuals who have rendered exceptional and meritorious services to the Republic of the Philippines, upon diplomats, ...

* : **1968 - ETH Order of Menelik II - Grand Cross BAR

Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Menelik II

Notes

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Charusathien, Praphas Charusathien, Praphas Charusathien, Praphas

Praphas Charusathien Praphas Charusathien (, , ; 25 November 1912 – 18 August 1997) was a Thai military officer and politician. He was a Field Marshal (Thailand), field marshal of the Royal Thai Army and minister of interior in the governments of military rulers Sa ...

Grand Crosses with Star and Sash of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany