| Royal Title: | King |
| Realm: | Thailand |
| Native Name: | พระมหากษัตริย์ไทย |
| Coatofarms: | King's Standard of Thailand.svgborder |
| Coatofarmscaption: | Royal Standard (since 1910) |
| Incumbent: | Vajiralongkorn (Rama X) |
| Incumbentsince: | 13 October 2016 |
| His/Her: | His |
| Heir Presumptive: | Dipangkorn Rasmijoti |
| First Monarch: | Si Inthrathit |
The succession of Thai monarchs began with Si Inthrathit at the establishment of the first Thai kingdom in 1238. With brief interruptions, 55 monarchs have ruled over four successive kingdoms, the current monarch being Vajiralongkorn (Rama X) of the Chakri dynasty.
In the Sukhothai Kingdom, the monarch used the title Pho Khun (Thai: พ่อขุน), and monarchs who reigned over the period of decline after Ram Khamhaeng the Great used the title Phraya (Thai: พญา).
In the Ayutthaya Kingdom and afterward, thanandon, the system of Thai royal titles, determines the style of the monarch's full regnal name (which includes the title), consisting of two interconnected parts:
Western nations referred to the monarch as the "King of Siam" (Latin: Rex Siamensium), regardless of Thai titles, since the initiation of relations in the 16th century. Mongkut (Rama IV) was the first monarch to adopt the title when the name Siam was first used in an international treaty.[2] When the kingdom's name was changed to Thailand, the monarch's Western title changed accordingly.[3]
Tai peoples migrated into mainland Southeast Asia in the 8th–10th centuries.[4] In the years after, Northern Thai groups established mueang that evolved into larger states, such as Ngoenyang.[5] [6] However, it was not until the decline of the Khmer Empire in the 13th century that a Central Thai kingdom politically and culturally related to modern Thailand was first founded.
The Phra Ruang dynasty was the only royal lineage that ruled over the Sukhothai Kingdom, the first Central Thai state. Established by Si Inthrathit in 1238, who declared independence from the Khmer Empire, the dynasty laid the foundations for Thai society.[7] Under Ram Khamhaeng the Great, the initial Thai script was invented and Therāvada Buddhism was established as the state religion.[8] [9]
The dynasty is named after the Traiphum Phra Ruang, a Buddhist cosmology book written by Maha Thammaracha I. During his reign, the kingdom was invaded by Ayutthaya, a neighboring Thai state, becoming a tributary during the reign of Maha Thammaracha II.
In the Sukhothai Kingdom, the monarch ruled from the city of Sukhothai, while the heir presumptive would occasionally be named uparaja, or viceroy, and ruled in Si Satchanalai. In 1438, Ayutthaya annexed Sukhothai at the death of Maha Thammaracha IV when Borommarachathirat II of Ayutthaya named his son Prince Ramesuan uparaja. In Ayutthaya, the tradition would evolve into the Front Palace system.[10]
| No. | Portrait | Regnal name | Personal name | Reign | Succession | Life details | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kamonteng Ansi Inthrabodinthrathit กมรเตงอัญศรีอินทรบดินทราทิตย์ | Pho Khun Si Inthrathit พ่อขุนศรีอินทราทิตย์ or Pho Khun Bang Klang Hao พ่อขุนบางกลางหาว | 1238 – 1270 | First King of Sukhothai | 1188 – 1270 (aged 82) Ruled locally in the Khmer Empire as Bang Klang Hao. His rebellion led to the establishment of Sukhothai, the first Central Thai kingdom | ||
| 2 | Pho Khun Ban Mueang พ่อขุนบานเมือง | 1270 – 1279 | Son of Si Inthrathit | 1237 – 1279 (aged approx. 42) Namesake for birth name of Maha Thammaracha IV[11] | |||
| 3 | Phrabat Kamonteng Ansi Rammarat พระบาทกมรเตงอัญศรีรามราช | Pho Khun Ram Khamhaeng the Great พ่อขุนรามคำแหงมหาราช | 1279 – 1298 | Younger brother of Ban Mueang; named uparaja | 1237/1247 – 1298 (aged approx. 51/61) Oversaw the height of Sukhothai prosperity, the development of the Thai script, and the propagation of Theravada Buddhism within Sukhothai | ||
| 4 | Phraya Loe Thai พระยาเลอไทย | 1298 – 1323 | Son of Ram Khamhaeng | 1262 – 1323 (aged approx. 61) Brother of Burmese queen consort May Hnin Thwe-Da.[12] His reign saw the decline of Sukhothai, as regions conquered by Ram Khamhaeng broke away | |||
| 5 | Phraya Ngua Nam Thum พระยางั่วนำถุม | 1323 – 1347 | Son of Ban Mueang and first cousin of Loe Thai | 1266 – 1347 (aged approx. 81) Brother of Burmese queen consort May Hnin Htapi.[13] Origin of his name is disputed[14] | |||
| 6 | Phra Maha Thammaracha I พระมหาธรรมราชาที่ ๑ | Phraya Li Thai พระยาลิไทย | 1347 – 1368 | Son of Loe Thai and first cousin once removed of Ngua Nam Thum; named uparaja as Li Thai in 1340/41 | 1300 – 1368 (aged approx. 68) Known for his devotion to Buddhist philosophy and writing. During his reign, Ayutthaya began invasions into Sukhothai | ||
| 1378: Sukhothai became a tributary state of the Ayutthaya Kingdom. | |||||||
| 7 | Phra Maha Thammaracha II พระมหาธรรมราชาที่ ๒ | Phraya Lue Thai พระยาลือไทย | 1368 – 1400 (approx.) | Son of Maha Thammaracha I | 1358 – 1400 (aged approx. 42) Born Lue Thai. Under his rule, the dynasty continued under tributary status | ||
| 8 | Phra Maha Thammaracha III พระมหาธรรมราชาที่ ๓ | Phraya Sai Lue Thai พระยาไสลือไทย | 1400 – 1419 (approx.) | Son of Maha Thammaracha II | 1380 – 1419 (aged approx. 39) Born Sai Lue Thai | ||
| 9 | Phra Maha Thammaracha IV พระมหาธรรมราชาที่ ๔ | Phraya Borommapan พระยาบรมปาล | 1419 – 1438 | Son of Maha Thammaracha III | 1401 – 1438 (aged approx. 37) Born Borommapan. Won the throne against his brother after the intervention of Intharacha of Ayutthaya.[15] Upon his death, Borommarachathirat II of Ayutthaya installed his son as uparaja, ending Phra Ruang succession | ||
| 1438: Unification with Ayutthaya Kingdom ended Sukhothai autonomy. | |||||||
The Aytthaya Kingdom was a result of a unification between two states: The Kingdom of Suphannaphum (Suphanburi) and The Kingdom of Lavo. Though the Kingdom of Lavo was originally a Mon kingdom, the migration of the Tai peoples into the Chao Phraya basin replaced the original Mons, consequently becoming the governors of these regions. This resulted in the capital moving from Lavapura (Lopburi) and Suphannaphum (Suphanburi) to Ayodhya (Old Ayutthaya), a new capital.[16] Later on, the Kingdom of Nakhon si Thammarat came under the influence of Ayutthaya after seceding from Sukhothai, and Sukhothai losing influence and coming under Ayutthaya.
This conflict would last long into the history of Ayutthaya Kingdom where families from the four major regional kingdoms vie over the throne of the kingdom. These kingdoms are: Kingdom of Nakhon Si Thammarat, Kingdom of Sukhothai, Kingdom of Lavo, and Kingdom of Suphannaphum. The Kingdom of Sukhothai was integrated into the Kingdom of Ayutthaya along with its noble famlies.[17]
| Ayodhya Governor Seat | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regnal name | Reign from | Reign until | Notes | |
| Phra Narai พระนารายณ์ | 1082 | 1087 | Both ruler of the Ayodhya seat and the Kingdom of Lavo | |
| Vacancy of the governor seat; the line split into the Ayodhya seat and the Lavapura seat (the Kingdom of Lavo) | ||||
| Phra Chao Luang พระเจ้าหลวง | 1089 | 1111 | ||
| Sai Nam Peung สายน้ำผึ้ง | 1165 | 1205 | ||
| Phra Chao Thammikaraja พระเจ้าธรรมิกราชา | 1205 | 1253 | ||
| Phra Chao Uthong พระเจ้าอู่ทอง | 1253 | 1289 | ||
| Phra Chao Chaisen พระเจ้าชัยเสน | 1289 | 1301 | ||
| Phra Chao Suwanracha พระเจ้าสุวรรณราชา | 1301 | 1310 | ||
| Phra Chao Thammaracha พระเจ้าธรรมราชา | 1310 | 1344 | ||
| Phra Boromracha พระบรมราชา | 1344 | 1351 | ||
| Phra Chao Uthong พระเจ้าอู่ทอง | 1344 | 1351 | After King Phraek Si Racha of the Lavapura seat passed, the throne passed through his daughter Son Sai, onto her son, the governor of Ayodhya: Phra Chao Uthong[18] | |
| Merger with Ayutthaya after Ramathibodi I, the Lord Uthong, inherited the Kingdom of Lavo | ||||
| No. | Portrait | Regnal name | Personal name | Birth | Reign from | Reign until | Death | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Somdet Phra Ramathibodi I สมเด็จพระรามาธิบดีที่ ๑ | Phra Chao Uthong พระเจ้าอู่ทอง | 3 April 1314 | 4 March 1351[19] | 1369 (18 years) (63 years old) | First King of Ayutthaya | ||||
| 2 | Somdet Phra Ramesuan สมเด็จพระราเมศวร | 1339 | 1369 | 1370 (less than one year) (abdicated) | 1395 (56 years old) | Son of Uthong | ||||