Phetracha

Phetracha (alternative spellings: Bedraja, P'etraja, Petraja, Petratcha; also called Phra Phetracha; Thai: เพทราชา, pronounced [pʰêːt.rāː.t͡ɕʰāː]; 1632– 5 February 1703) or King Mahaburut Wisutdetchaudom (สมเด็จพระมหาบุรุษวิสุทธิเดชอุดม, RTGS:Somdet Phra Mahaburut Wisutdetchaudom) or Phra Song Tham (พระทรงธรรม์) or Somdet Phra Thadathibet (สมเด็จพระธาดาธิเบศร์) born Thongkham (ทองคำ), was the king of the Ayutthaya Kingdom from 1688 to 1703 and the founder of the Ban Phlu Luang dynasty, the final ruling house of Ayutthaya. Originally a high-ranking official and Director-General of the Royal Department of Elephants under King Narai, he rose to power by orchestrating the Siamese revolution of 1688. Upon Narai's death, Phetracha seized the throne, executed the late king's heirs, and consolidated his legitimacy by marrying Narai's only daughter. His reign marked a decisive shift in Siamese foreign policy; he moved to expel French influence from the kingdom, leading to the Siege of Bangkok and the withdrawal of French troops. Consequently, diplomatic ties with the West were significantly reduced for decades. Phetracha's rule, however, was frequently destabilized by internal rebellions and political unrest from factions remains loyal to the previous dynasty.

Background

Phetracha was originally an elephant trainer from Ban Phlu Luang in Suphan Buri, his rise to prominence was tied to his family's close relationship with the monarchy. His mother, Phra Nom Prem, served as the wet nurse to King Narai; consequently, Phetracha was raised alongside Narai from childhood. His younger sister, Si Chulalak (Chaem), was also a primary consort of King Narai the Great.

Phetracha began his royal service in the Royal Department of Elephants, eventually becoming its Director-General (Jangwang). Due to his distinguished military service and merit, he earned the deep trust of King Narai and rose to high-ranking positions within the court. He ultimately served as the Samuha Phra Kotchaban (Director-General of the Royal Department of Elephants, Right Division), a position of considerable power and influence in King Narai's administration at the time. Hence, he was sometimes referred to as "the Elephant Prince".

Although Thai historians recorded that Phetracha was not interested in being King, Jesuit missionaries stated otherwise, that he was an ambitious man. While this matter is ambiguous, it is generally agreed that he was a very influential figure in that period, harboring respect from many officers. It is also said that he strongly believed in Buddhism, thus gaining support from many monks, who feared Ayutthaya kingdom was being converted to Christianity. Moreover, Phetracha seemed to gain King Narai's trust as well, as he was one of King Narai's close aides and confidants. When the royal palace at Lopburi was finished, King Narai would stay there for many months in a year, leaving Phetracha as regent to take care of matters in Ayutthaya.

Phetracha's rivalry with counsellor Constantine Phaulkon is understandable. While Phaulkon's ideology was to open Ayutthaya kingdom to the international community (and benefit from the expansion of foreign trading), Phetracha was a traditionalist who was allegedly disgusted by international influence in Ayutthaya kingdom. King Narai himself favored the opening of his country and created many diplomatic ties with European countries, notably France.

Reign

When Narai was seriously ill with no hope of recovery, on 18 May 1688 Phetracha had a successful coup and arrested Narai himself, his half-brothers Prince Aphaithot and Prince Noi, and his adopted son Phra Pi. Phaulkon was summoned to the palace, there he and the French officers were surrounded and disarmed. Phaulkon was thrown to the palace dungeon and brutally tortured.

After questioning Phra Pi, he discovered Phra Pi had conspired with Phaulkon to assume the throne, and Phra Pi was executed on 20 May. Further questioning of Phaulkon revealed a plot to raise a rebellion, and he too was executed by Phetracha's son Luang Sorasak on 5 June. Narai, on his deathbed, was unable to do anything, except curse Phetracha and his son. Luang Sorasak then had Prince Aphaithot and Prince Noi executed.

Phetracha soon ordered his troops to attack the French troops led by General Desfarges at the start of Siege of Bangkok. On the death of Narai on 11 July, Phetracha proclaimed himself king, he appointed Luang Sorasak, his son as the Prince Viceroy and Nai Chopkhotchaprasit, the officer under his department and who helped contending the throne as the Prince Deputy Viceroy, and gave regalia as Prince Deputy Viceroy rank with Khun Ongkharaksa and promoted to Chaophraya Surasongkhram, because of the credit to helped contending the throne too.

After withholding the siege for four months and later a negotiated settlement, the French soldiers were allowed to return to France. Only Dutchmen were allowed to trade in the capital before the French and English finally ended their dispute with Siam.

Although Phetracha's overthrow of King Narai was driven by the desire to expel the French and establish more equitable foreign relations, he did not pursue total isolationism; instead, he maintained cordial ties with the Dutch, reaffirming their trade monopolies on deerskin and tin through envoys to Batavia. His fifteen-year reign was plagued by chronic instability and rebellions due to his status as a usurper, including the Thammathien uprising and significant two-year military campaigns against defiant governors in Nakhon Ratchasima and Nakhon Si Thammarat.

To address these internal threats, he restructured the administration by dividing the northern and southern provinces under the Samuhanayok and Samuhaphrakalahom—granting both ministers civil and military authority—and bolstered the troops of the Front Palace to improve royal security. Despite this domestic unrest, Ayutthaya remained a regional power, receiving white elephant tributes from Cambodia and successfully mediating a peace between Vientiane and Luang Prabang after the former sought Siamese military assistance.

Upon his death on 5 February 1703, Phetracha was succeeded by his eldest son Sorasak, who took the title of Suriyenthrathibodi.

Death

King Phetracha died on 5 February 1703. He assumed the name of "pra throng than" which means God of Wisdom. The king was cremated nearly 22 months later on 26 December 1704. The drawing of this scroll was done by an expert Siamese artist.

Issue

Honors

Title

Titles and ranks appointed by King of Siam

• Oc Phra Phetracha or Oc-Prá Pipitcharatcha (Thai: ออกพระเพทราชา or ออกพระพิพิธราชา) Chancellor of department Elephants Affairs in the reign of King Narai with sakdina 5000.
• Chaophraya Surasi Acting Chancellor of the Ministry of Defence in the reign of King Narai.

Enthronement

• Somdet Phra Phetracha (Thai: สมเด็จพระมหาบุรุษ วิสุทธิเดชอุดม บรมจักรพรรดิศร บรมนาถบพิตร สมเด็จพระพุทธเจ้าอยู่หัว) King of Siam of the Ban Phlu Luang Dynasty.

Namesakes

• Phetracha Road. Lopburi province.
• Phra Phetracha auditorium. Thepsatri Rajabhat University Lopburi province.

In popular culture

King Phetracha's corporeal presence was mentioned in:

Thai literature

• Chronicle of Phan Chanthanumat records the history of Phetracha's reign

International literature

• Louis XIV et le Siam the French-Siamese historical fiction composed by Dirk Van der Cruysse. Phetracha was mentioned of troublemaker in the French embassy parade.
• Pour la plus grande gloire de Dieu composed by Morgan Sportès. Phetracha was crowned king of Siam in the reign of King Narai.
• Phaulkon the adventurer (1862) composed by William Dalton. The fiction mentioned Phetracha who was crowned king of Siam and executed Constantine Phaulkon.
• Le Ministre des moussons the French-Siamese historical fiction composed by Claire Keefe-Fox mentioned Phetracha during the ousting of French forces in 1688.

Film and television

• Love Destiny (TV series) Phra Phetracha was King Narai's regent cast by Sarut Vijittranon.
• OM! Crush on me (2021) Thai historical movie mentioned Phra Phetracha who was general director of department of Elephants Affairs.
• Sri Ayodhaya 2 King Phetracha cast by M.R. Mongkolchai Yugala.
• Love Destiny 2 (TV series) King Phetracha cast by Sarut Vijittranon.

See also

• Ayutthaya Kingdom

Notes