by Scott Mehl
© Unofficial Royalty 2012
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House of Chakri (1782-present)

The funeral and cremation rituals of the Thai royals are perhaps some of the most spectacular displays. Steeped in tradition and driven by their Buddhist beliefs, the ceremonies take place over six days, usually months after the actual death. The primary reason for the delay is the amount of work involved in building and creating the ceremonial funeral pyre, on which the remains are cremated. These ceremonies take place on the Sanam Luang, a large open field and park, just north of the Grand Palace complex. Once the cremation ceremonies are finished, the ashes are taken to the Grand Palace briefly, before being enshrined within a Buddhist temple. The Kings are traditionally enshrined in the base of a Buddha statue within one of the temples. The ashes of other members of the royal family are typically housed in smaller memorials or monuments at the Royal Cemetery at Wat Ratchabophit.

Rama I
King Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke
reigned April 6, 1782 – September 7, 1809

Wikipedia: Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke, Rama I
King Rama I was born March 20, 1736, in the Kingdom of Ayutthaya. He was a prominent military leader under King Taksin, and this enabled him to crown himself the first King of Siam (now Thailand) in 1782, establishing the Chakri Dynasty which remains on the throne today. He married the future Queen Amarindra in 1760 and the couple had ten children. In addition, he had another 42 children with various consorts and concubines. King Rama I died on September 7, 1809, in Bangkok. His ashes are enshrined in the base of the Buddha statue at Wat Pho, in Bangkok.
Wikipedia: Wat Pho

Amarindra, Princess Consort

Wikipedia: Amarindra
Amarindra was born March 15, 1737, with the birth name Nak. She was married to the future Rama I in 1760 and bore 10 children. After an incident in which she attacked her husband’s favorite concubine, Nak was banished to another palace to live with one of her daughters. She was not raised to the rank of Queen until after her husband’s death, when her son, Rama II extended the honor to her. Queen Amarindra died May 25, 1826, in Bangkok.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rama II
King Buddha Loetla Nabhalai
reigned September 7, 1809 – July 21, 1824

Wikipedia: Buddha Loetla Nabhalai, Rama II
King Rama II was born on February 24, 1767, the son of Rama I and Queen Amarindra. In 1801 he married his cousin, Princess Bunerod (later Queen Sri Suriyendra), and they had three children. He also had a concubine, Chao Chom Manda Riam, whose son became the next King of Thailand. King Rama II died on July 21, 1824. His ashes are enshrined in the base of the main Buddha statue in the temple at Wat Arun, in Bangkok.
Wikipedia: Wat Arun

Sri Suriyendra, Queen Consort
Wikipedia: Sri Suriyendra
She was born in 1767 as Princess Bunreod, the daughter of Princess Sri Sudarak (sister of Rama I) and her husband Chao Kru Ngern. She married Rama II in 1801 and had three children. She died in 1836 in Bangkok.

Sri Sulalai, Royal Consort
Wikipedia: Sri Sulalai
Born in 1770 as Riam, Sri Sulalai was a consort of Rama II, and mother of the future Rama III. Upon her son’s accession, she was raised to the title of Princess Mother. Sri Sulalai died in 1837 in Bangkok.

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Rama III
King Jessadabodindra
reigned July 21, 1824 – April 2, 1851

Wikipedia: Jessadabodindra, Rama III
King Rama III was born on March 31, 1788, the son of King Rama II and his concubine, Sri Sulalai. He succeeded his father as King in 1824. King Rama III had numerous wives, bearing him 51 children, but none was ever made Queen. He died on April 2, 1851. His ashes are enshrined in the base of the Buddha statue at Wat Ratcha Orasaram, in Bangkok.

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Rama IV
King Mongkut
reigned – April 2, 1851 – October 1, 1868

Wikipedia: Mongkut, Rama IV
King Rama IV was born on October 18, 1804, son of King Rama II and Queen Sri Suriyendra. He became a Buddhist monk in 1824, and later succeeded his half-brother, Rama III, as King of Thailand. He had over 80 children, with 30 different wives and concubines. He died on October 1, 1868, in Bangkok. His ashes are enshrined in the base of the Buddha statue at Wat Ratchapradit, in Bangkok.

Soamanas Vadhanavadi, Princess Consort

Wikipedia: Soamanas Vadhanavadi
Soamanas was born December 21, 1834, a granddaughter of King Rama III. She married Rama IV in 1851 and gave birth to a son who died.  Soamanas died just months later, on October 10, 1852, at the age of 17.

Debsirindra, Queen Consort

Wikipedia: Debsirindra
Debsirindra was born July 17, 1834, a granddaughter of King Rama III. She married Rama IV in 1853 and had four children, including the Chulalongkorn, the future Rama V. She was titled Princess Ramboei, Princess Consort and then later raised to Queen Consort. Posthumously, her name was changed to Queen Debsirindra. She died on September 9, 1862.

Pannarai, Princess Consort

Wikipedia: Pannarai
Princess Consort Pannarai was born May 9, 1838, a younger sister of Queen Debsirindra. She was also a wife of King Rama IV and took over as ‘senior’ consort when her sister died. However, she was not elevated to the rank of Queen. She and the King had two children. She died on June 22, 1914, in Bangkok.

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Rama V
King Chulalongkorn
reigned October 1, 1868 – October 23, 1910

Wikipedia: Chulalongkorn, Rama V
Chulalongkorn was born September 20, 1853, the eldest son of King Mongkut (Rama IV) and Queen Debsirindra. He had four primary wives, all of whom were his half-sisters. In addition, he had over 90 other consorts and concubines, and a total of 77 children. Rama V died on October 23, 1910. His ashes are enshrined in the base of the Buddha statue at Wat Benchamabophit, in Bangkok.
Wikipedia: Wat Benchamabophit

Sunandha Kumariratana, Princess Consort

Wikipedia: Sunandha Kumariratana
Sunandha was born November 10, 1860, a daughter of King Rama IV and one of his lesser consorts, Piam. She married the future Rama V (her half-brother) in 1877 and they had one daughter. Sunandha and her daughter both died in a boating accident on May 31, 1880, when the boat they were on capsized on the way to the summer palace. Despite the presence of many witnesses, none were permitted to touch the Queen on penalty of death, and so she, her daughter, and an unborn son were all lost in the accident. Her ashes are enshrined at the Sunandha Nusavarya Memorial in the Royal Cemetery at Wat Ratchabophit.
Wikipedia: Royal Cemetery at Wat Ratchabophit

Sukhumala Marasri, Princess Consort

Wikipedia: Sukhumala Marasri
Sukhumala Marasri was born May 10, 1861, a daughter of King Rama IV and one of his concubines, Samli. She married her half-brother, the future Rama V in 1888 and they had two children. After her husband’s death, her nephew, Rama VI, raised her to the title of Queen Consort. She died on July 9, 1927, in Bangkok. Her ashes are enshrined in the Sukhumala Narimitra Memorial in the Royal Cemetery at Wat Ratchabophit.
Wikipedia: Royal Cemetery at Wat Ratchabophit

Savang Vadhana, Princess Consort

Wikipedia: Savang Vadhana
Savang Vadhana was born September 10, 1862, a daughter of King Rama IV and one of his lesser consorts, Piam. She married her half-brother, the future Rama V, in 1877 and they had 8 children. She was later raised to Queen Grandmother, as Sri Savarindira. She died in Bangkok on December 17, 1955. Her ashes are enshrined in the Rangsi Vadhana Memorial in the Royal Cemetery at Wat Ratchabophit.
Wikipedia: Royal Cemetery at Wat Ratchabophit

Saovabha Phongsri, Queen Consort

Wikipedia: Saovabha Phongsri
Saovabha Phongsri was born on January 1, 1864, a daughter of King Rama IV and one of his lesser consorts, Piam. She married her half-brother, the future Rama V, in 1878 and the couple had 9 children. She was the only wife of Rama V to be given the title Queen and was named Queen Regent in 1897 when her husband left Thailand on an extensive tour of Europe. She was later renamed Queen Mother, as Sri Bajarindra. She died on October 20, 1919, at the Grand Palace. Her ashes are enshrined in the Saovabha Pratisthana Memorial in the Royal Cemetery at Wat Ratchabophit.
Wikipedia: Royal Cemetery at Wat Ratchabophit

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Rama VI
King Vajiravudh
reigned October 23, 1910 – November 25, 1925

Wikipedia: Vajiravudh, Rama VI
Vajiravudh was born on January 1, 1881, the son of King Rama V and Soavabha Phongsri. He married several times but had no male heirs. King Rama VI died on November 25, 1925. His ashes are housed in the base of the main Buddha statue in the Phra Pathom Chedi, in Nakhon Pathom.
Wikipedia: Phra Pathom Chedi

Laksamilawan, Princess Consort

Wikipedia: Laksamilawan
Laksamilawan was born July 3, 1899, as Princess Vanbimol Voravan, a granddaughter of King Rama IV. She married Rama VI in 1922 after he’d ended his engagement with her elder sister, and she was raised to Princess Consort. Unable to bear any children, she left the royal court. Princess Laksamilawan was killed August 29, 1961, by a gardener intending to steal her wealth.

Indrasakdi Sachi, Princess Consort

Wikipedia: Indrasakdi Sachi
Indrasakdi Sachi was born on June 10, 1902. She married Rama VI in 1921 and was titled Princess Consort. The following year, she was raised to Queen Consort when the king found that she was expecting a child. Unfortunately, the Queen had several miscarriages and never delivered any children. She was demoted back to Princess Consort in 1925. She died on November 30, 1975, in Bangkok.

Suvadhana, Princess Consort

Wikipedia: Suvadhana
Suvadhana was born Krueakaew Abhaiwongse, a commoner, on April 15, 1906. She married King Rama VI in 1924 and the couple had one daughter, Princes Bejaratana Rajasuda. She spent many years living in England, during and after the war and returned to Thailand in 1957. She died on October 10, 1985, in Bangkok.

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Rama VII
King Prajadhipok
reigned November 25, 1925 – March 2, 1935 (abdicated)

Wikipedia: Prajadhipok, Rama VII
Prajadhipok was born November 8, 1893, the youngest son of King Rama V and Soavabha Phongsri. In August 1918, he married his cousin Princess Rambhai Barni Svastivatana. The couple had no children. He inherited the throne upon the death of his elder brother in 1925. He would see the establishment of a constitutional monarchy, replacing the centuries-old absolute monarchy of Thailand. King Rama VII abdicated the throne on March 2, 1935, while in England for some medical treatment. He spent the rest of his life living in England and died there on May 3, 1941. He was cremated in London, where his wife remained for another 8 years before returning to Thailand. At that point, his ashes were enshrined in the base of the Buddha statue at Wat Ratchabophit, in Bangkok.
Wikipedia: Wat Ratchabophit

Rambhai Barni, Queen Consort

Wikipedia: Rambhai Barni
Rambhai Barni was born December 20, 1904, a granddaughter of King Rama IV. She married her cousin, the future Rama VII, in August 1918. They had no children. After her husband’s death, she remained in England, where she was very involved with the Thai resistance during the War. She finally returned to Thailand in 1949. Queen Rambhai died May 22, 1984, in Bangkok.

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Rama VIII
King Ananda Mahidol
reigned March 2, 1935 – June 6, 1946

Unofficial Royalty: Ananda Mahidol, Rama VIII
Ananda Mahidol was born September 20, 1925, the elder son of Mahidol Adulyadej and Srinagarindra. He became King at the age of 9, on the abdication of King Rama VII. On June 9, 1946, the King died from a gunshot to the head. It was initially reported as an accidental death, but later three men were charged with conspiracy to murder the king and were executed. Most historians do not believe them to have been guilty, and the theories range from suicide to accidental shooting by his brother King Bhumibol Adulyadej who was the last to see him alive just minutes before the gunshot was heard and who succeeded him. Rama VIII’s ashes are enshrined in the base of the Buddha statue at Wat Suthat, in Bangkok.
Wikipedia: Wat Suthat

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Mahidol Adulyadej, the Prince Father

Wikipedia: Mahidol Adulyadej
Mahidol Adulyadej was born on January 1, 1892, the son of Rama V and Savang Vadhana. He married, on September 10, 1920, Sangwan Chukramol (later Princess Mother Srinagarindra) and they had three children. He suffered from chronic health problems which led to his death on September 24, 1929, in Bangkok. His ashes are enshrined in the Rangsi Vadhana Memorial at the Royal Cemetery at Wat Ratchabophit.
Wikipedia: Royal Cemetery at Wat Ratchabophit

Srinagarindra, the Princess Mother

Wikipedia: Srinagarindra
Srinagarindra was born Sangwan Talapat on October 21, 1900. She married Prince Mahidol on September 10, 1920, and the couple had three children. When her eldest son became King Rama VIII, she was raised to Princess Mother Sri Sangwan, and in 1970, became Princess Srinagarindra, the Princess Mother. Srinagarindra died on July 18, 1995, in Bangkok. Her ashes are enshrined in the Rangsi Vadhana Memorial at the Royal Cemetery at Wat Ratchabophit.
Wikipedia: Royal Cemetery at Wat Ratchabophit

Galyani Vadhana, Princess of Haradhiwas

Wikipedia: Galyani Vadhana
Princess Galyani was May 6, 1923, in London, the eldest child of Prince Mahidol Adulyadej and Sangwan Chukramol. She married twice and had one daughter from her first marriage. Princess Galyani died January 2, 2008, after battling abdominal cancer. She lay in state in the Grand Palace until her cremation, which took place on November 14-19, 2008. Her ashes are enshrined in the Rangsi Vadhana Memorial at the Royal Cemetery at Wat Ratchabophit.
Wikipedia: Royal Cemetery at Wat Ratchabophit

Bejaratana Rajasuda, the Princess Cousin

Wikipedia: Bejaratana Rajasuda
Princess Bejaratana was born November 24, 1925, at the Grand Palace, the only child of King Rama VI and Princess Subadhana. The King died the following day. Bejaratana never married and spent much of her life representing the Thai royal family. She died on July 27, 2011, in Bangkok. Her cremation took place April 8-12, 2012 and her ashes are enshrined in the Saovabha Pratisthana Memorial at the Royal Cemetery at Wat Ratchabophit.
Wikipedia: Royal Cemetery at Wat Ratchabophit

Rama IX
King Bhumibol Adulyadej
reigned June 6, 1946 – October 13, 2016

Unofficial Royalty: Bhumibol Adulyadej, Rama IX
Bhumibol Adulyadej was born December 5, 1927, at Mount Auburn Hospital in Cambridge, Massachusetts in the United States. He was the son of Prince Mahidol Adulyadej and his commoner wife Princess Srinagarindra. Bhumibol Adulyadej became King of Thailand at the age of 18 upon the death fo his 20-year-old brother King Ananda Mahidol from a gunshot to the head. He married Sirikit Kitiyakara and they had one son and three daughters.  King Bhumibol Adulyadej died on October 13, 2016, at Siriraj Hospital in Bangkok, Thailand at the age of 88, following several years of illness. At the time of his death, he was the world’s longest-reigning monarch, having reigned for 70 years and 126 days. The king’s cremation took place on October 26, 2017, thirteen days after the first anniversary of his death. On October 29, 2017, the royal ashes were enshrined at the Royal Cemetery at Wat Ratchabophit.
Wikipedia: Royal Cemetery at Wat Ratchabophit