Sukhumala Marasri

Sukhumala Marasri (Thai: สุขุมาลมารศรี; RTGS: Sukhumanmarasi; 10 May 1861 – 9 July 1927) was a daughter of King Mongkut (Rama IV) and his concubine, Samli (เจ้าคุณจอมมารดาสำลี). Her given name was Princess Sukhumala Marasri (พระองค์เจ้าสุขุมาลมารศรี). She was later one of the four consorts of her half-brother King Chulalongkorn (Rama V).

Sukhumala Marasri
Queen consort of Siam
Tenure1877 – 23 October 1910
Born(1861-05-10)10 May 1861
Grand Palace, Bangkok, Siam
Died9 July 1927(1927-07-09) (aged 66)
Bang Khun Phrom Palace, Bangkok, Siam
SpouseChulalongkorn (Rama V)
IssueSuddha Dibyaratana
Paribatra Sukhumbandhu
HouseChakri Dynasty
FatherMongkut (Rama IV)
MotherSamli Bunnag

Early life

Sukumala was born in Royal Grand Palace on 10 May 1861. She was the 52nd child of King Mongkut. Her mother was consort Samli. She had 5 full siblings, including the famous Princess Napaborn, and from her father's side she was a half-sister to King Chulalongkorn (later her husband), Queens Sunandha Savang Vadhana, and Saovabha.

When she was ten years old, King Mongkut died and was succeeded by Sukhumala Marasri's half-brother, Prince Chulalongkorn.

Life as queen

Sometime in her teenage years, Sukhumala became a royal wife to King Chulalongkorn. The marriage produced two children; Princess Suddha Dibyaratana (later the Princess of Ratanakosin), who was also the first surviving Chao-Fah, a child of the sovereign which their mother is the Queen Consort or a Princess by blood, and Prince Paribatra Sukhumbandhu (later the Prince of Nakorn Sawan.) In her husband's reign she served as the King's secretary and was referred to as "the Princess Consort".

After her husband died, she moved to her son's palace, Bang Khun Phrom. During the reign of King Vajiravudh, her nephew, he officially named her as his father's fourth queen consort, making her official title Her Majesty Queen Sukhumala. When Prajadhipok succeeded to the throne, he gave his father's two surviving queens consort, Savang Vadhana and Sukhumala, the title of "the Queen Aunt". In the same style Sukhumala was preceded by Savang Vadhana, reflecting the fact that Savang Vadhana was created queen consort by Chulalongkorn before Sukhumala.

Queen Consort Sukhumala Marasri died on 9 July 1927 at the age of 66 at the Bang Khun Phrom Palace (H.R.H. Prince Paribatra Sukhumbandhu Palace). Her only surviving child, Prince Paribatra Sukhumbandhu, and her younger full sister, Princess Napaborn, were at her bedside.

Aftermath

In her memory, one district was named "Rajdhevi" after Sukumala.

When Prahadhipok abdicated and was succeeded by his nephew, Ananda Mahidol in 1935, Sukumala was no longer aunt to the new king, thus she was simply referred to as Her Majesty Queen Sukumala Marasri. Unlike her younger-half sister, Savang Vadhana, who was created "the Queen Grandmother".

Her son, Prince Paribatra Sukhumbandhu was a prominent figure in Siamese politics during the later part of the absolute monarchy, often credited as the man behind King Prajadhipok's throne. The prince served as Minister of the Interior at the time of the Siamese revolution of 1932, he was captured by the Khana Ratsadon (the People's Party) and placed under arrest. Prajadhipok accepted the demands of the rebels and became a constitutional monarch. Prince Paribatra, however was exiled from Siam. He eventually settled and died in Indonesia, he never returned to his homeland. Mom Rajawongse Sukhumbhand Paribatra, politician and Governor of Bangkok is one of his grandchildren.

Sukumala's younger sister, Princess Napaborn died at the age of 94.

Honours
  • The Most Illustrious Order of the Royal House of Chakri
  • The Ancient and Auspicious of Order of the Nine Gems
  • Dame Grand Cross (First Class) of The Most Illustrious Order of Chula Chom Klao
  • King Rama IV Royal Cypher Medal (Second Class)
  • King Rama V Royal Cypher Medal (First Class)
  • King Rama VI Royal Cypher Medal (First Class)
  • King Rama VII Royal Cypher Medal (First Class)
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References
    • Paul M. Handley, "The King Never Smiles" Yale University Press: 2006, ISBN 0-300-10682-3

    See also
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