Sri Sulalai Explained

Consort:yes
Queen Mother of Siam
Birth Name:Riam
Birth Date:1770
Birth Place:Nonthaburi, Thonburi
Death Place:Bangkok, Siam
Spouse:Phutthaloetla Naphalai (Rama II)
Posthumous Name:Somdet Phra Sri Sulalai
House:Chakri dynasty
Father:Bunchan
Mother:Pheng
Religion:Theravada Buddhism (previously Islam)

Sri Sulalai (Thai: ศรีสุลาลัย; ; 1770–1837), née Riam (Thai: เรียม), was a royal consort of Phutthaloetla Naphalai, Rama II of Siam and was the mother of Nangklao, Rama III.

She was of Persian descent and her family was Muslim from the Southern part of the Kingdom. She married Prince Itsarasunthon as the second concubine and gave birth to Prince Thap (later Prince Chetsadabodin) in 1787.

In 1809, Prince Itsarasunthon was crowned as King Phutthaloetla Naphalai. Chao Chom Manda Riam then moved to the Royal Grand Palace and presided over the royal kitchen. Prince Chetsadabodin was trusted by the king to handle various state affairs. In 1824, King Phutthaloetla Naphalai died. According to the tradition, the throne would go to Prince Mongkut, the son of Queen Sri Suriyendra. However, the nobility instead enthroned Prince Chetsadabodin because he had served the king in Kromma Tha (Ministry of Trade and Foreign Affairs) for years and was proved to be competent to rule.

As her son was crowned, Noble Consort Riam was raised to Queen Mother Sri Sulalai, thus a member of the royalty. Her son also constructed a mosque in her honor.[1] She died in 1837.

Notes and References

  1. Book: Formichi, Chiara. Islam and Asia: A History. Cambridge University Press. 2020. 978-1-107-10612-3. 34.