Crown Prince of Thailand - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

The Crown Prince of Thailand (or Siam
Siam (disambiguation)
Siam is an exonym that was used as the name of Thailand before 24 June 1939 and again from 8 September 1945 to 20 July 1949; see History of Thailand...

) (: Sayammakutratchakuman) was a title held by the heir apparent

Heir apparent

An heir apparent or heiress apparent is a person who is first in line of succession and cannot be displaced from inheriting, except by a change in the rules of succession....

to the Thai throne. First created by King Chulalongkorn

Chulalongkorn

Phra Bat Somdet Phra Poramintharamaha Chulalongkorn Phra Chunla Chom Klao Chao Yu Hua , or Rama V was the fifth monarch of Siam under the House of Chakri. He was known to the Siamese of his time as Phra Phuttha Chao Luang . He is considered one of the greatest kings of Siam...

(Rama V) in 1886, for his son Prince Maha Vajirunhis

Vajirunhis

Crown Prince Maha Vajirunhis was the first Crown Prince of the Chakri Dynasty. He was the first son of King Chulalongkorn and Queen Savang Vadhana....

, the king's eldest son by a royal wife Princess Consort Savang Vadhana

Savang Vadhana

Queen Savang Vadhana of Siam was a consort of King Chulalongkorn or Rama V. Her full name and title was Queen Sri Savarindira - thus she was not the Rajini , but just was a highest consort...

. Prior to this the Siamese throne did not have a law or formal system regulating the royal succession. In 1688 King Petracha of Ayutthaya

Ayutthaya kingdom

Ayutthaya was a Siamese kingdom that existed from 1350 to 1767. Ayutthaya was friendly towards foreign traders, including the Chinese, Vietnamese , Indians, Japanese and Persians, and later the Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch and French, permitting them to set up villages outside the walls of the...

created the title of Front Palace

Front Palace

Krom Phra Rajawang Bovorn Sathan Mongkol ) or the Front Palace was a royal title granted by the Siamese monarchy until the nineteenth century. The holder of the title of Front Palace was considered the heir to the throne and second only to the King. The title originated in the Ayutthaya period and...

, which by the Rattanakosin period had become the heir presumptive

Heir Presumptive

An heir presumptive or heiress presumptive is the person provisionally scheduled to inherit a throne, peerage, or other hereditary honour, but whose position can be displaced by the birth of an heir or heiress apparent or of a new heir presumptive with a better claim to the position in question...

to the throne. However few Front Palaces have succeeded to the throne this way, with the exception of King Buddha Loetla Nabhalai

Buddha Loetla Nabhalai

Phra Bat Somdet Phra Poramenthramaha Isarasundhorn Phra Buddha Loetla Nabhalai , or Rama II , was the second monarch of Siam under the House of Chakri, ruling from 1809-1824. In 1809, Isarasundhorn succeeded his father Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke, the founder of Chakri dynasty, as Buddha Loetla Nabhalai...

(Rama II) in 1809. After the Front Palace crisis

Front Palace crisis

The Front Palace crisis or the Front Palace incident was a political crisis that took place in the Kingdom of Siam from 28 December 1874 to 25 February 1875. The crisis was a power struggle between the reformist King Chulalongkorn and the conservative Prince Bovorn Vichaichan the Second King...

in 1875, the title of Front Palace was abolished and replaced with the title of Crown Prince, who became heir apparent to the throne.

In 1924 King Vajiravudh

Vajiravudh

Phra Bat Somdet Phra Poramentharamaha Vajiravudh Phra Mongkut Klao Chao Yu Hua , or Phra Bat Somdet Phra Ramathibodi Si Sintharamaha Vajiravudh Phra Mongkut Klao Chao Yu Hua , or Rama VI was the sixth monarch of Siam under the House of Chakri, ruling from 1910 until his death...

(Rama VI) promulgated the 1924 Palace Law of Succession

1924 Palace Law of Succession

The Palace Law on Succession, BE 2467 governs succession to the Throne of the Kingdom of Thailand, under the ruling House of Chakri. The law was established during the reign of King Vajiravudh to systematically resolve previous succession controversies...

to regulate the succession, this law essentially barred females, children of commoner wives or children of foreign wives to the throne, it also re-affirmed Agnatic Primogeniture

Primogeniture

Primogeniture is the right, by law or custom, of the firstborn to inherit the entire estate, to the exclusion of younger siblings . Historically, the term implied male primogeniture, to the exclusion of females...

, or succession through the male-line by seniority. This law also affected the individuals who could become Crown Prince. Since its creation only three Princes have been raised to this title, so far only one has succeeded to the throne.

Crown Princes

Crown Princes of Thailand
Picture	Name	Relationship to monarch	Mother	Birth	Receive title	Ceased to be Crown Prince
	Maha Vajirunhis Vajirunhis Crown Prince Maha Vajirunhis was the first Crown Prince of the Chakri Dynasty. He was the first son of King Chulalongkorn and Queen Savang Vadhana....	Eldest son of King Rama V Chulalongkorn Phra Bat Somdet Phra Poramintharamaha Chulalongkorn Phra Chunla Chom Klao Chao Yu Hua , or Rama V was the fifth monarch of Siam under the House of Chakri. He was known to the Siamese of his time as Phra Phuttha Chao Luang . He is considered one of the greatest kings of Siam...	Princess Consort Savang Vadhana Savang Vadhana Queen Savang Vadhana of Siam was a consort of King Chulalongkorn or Rama V. Her full name and title was Queen Sri Savarindira - thus she was not the Rajini , but just was a highest consort...	27 June 1878	14 January 1886	4 January 1895 (death)
	Maha Vajiravudh Vajiravudh Phra Bat Somdet Phra Poramentharamaha Vajiravudh Phra Mongkut Klao Chao Yu Hua , or Phra Bat Somdet Phra Ramathibodi Si Sintharamaha Vajiravudh Phra Mongkut Klao Chao Yu Hua , or Rama VI was the sixth monarch of Siam under the House of Chakri, ruling from 1910 until his death... later King Rama VI	Eldest son of King Rama V	Queen Saovabha Bongsri	1 January 1881	4 January 1895	23 October 1910 (ascension)
	Maha Vajiralongkorn	Eldest son of King Rama IX Bhumibol Adulyadej Bhumibol Adulyadej is the current King of Thailand. He is known as Rama IX...	Queen Sirikit Sirikit Somdet Phra Nang Chao Sirikit Phra Borommarachininat , is the queen consort of Bhumibol Adulyadej, King of Thailand. She is the second Queen Regent of Thailand...	28 July 1952	28 December 1972	incumbent

Heirs to the throne

List of heirs apparent and heirs presumptive since 1886, those in bold succeeded to the throne as King.

Heirs to the Thai Throne
Heir	Status	Relationship to monarch	Became Heir		Ceased to be Heir		Next in line of succession (Relation to heir)	Monarch
Heir	Status	Relationship to monarch	Date	Reason	Date	Reason	Next in line of succession (Relation to heir)	Monarch
Maha Vajirunhis Vajirunhis Crown Prince Maha Vajirunhis was the first Crown Prince of the Chakri Dynasty. He was the first son of King Chulalongkorn and Queen Savang Vadhana....	Crown Prince	Eldest son	14 January 1886	New creation	4 January 1895	Died of typhoid, age 17	Prince Vajiravudh Vajiravudh Phra Bat Somdet Phra Poramentharamaha Vajiravudh Phra Mongkut Klao Chao Yu Hua , or Phra Bat Somdet Phra Ramathibodi Si Sintharamaha Vajiravudh Phra Mongkut Klao Chao Yu Hua , or Rama VI was the sixth monarch of Siam under the House of Chakri, ruling from 1910 until his death... , 1886–1895, half-brother	Rama V Chulalongkorn Phra Bat Somdet Phra Poramintharamaha Chulalongkorn Phra Chunla Chom Klao Chao Yu Hua , or Rama V was the fifth monarch of Siam under the House of Chakri. He was known to the Siamese of his time as Phra Phuttha Chao Luang . He is considered one of the greatest kings of Siam...
Maha Vajiravudh Vajiravudh Phra Bat Somdet Phra Poramentharamaha Vajiravudh Phra Mongkut Klao Chao Yu Hua , or Phra Bat Somdet Phra Ramathibodi Si Sintharamaha Vajiravudh Phra Mongkut Klao Chao Yu Hua , or Rama VI was the sixth monarch of Siam under the House of Chakri, ruling from 1910 until his death...	Crown Prince	Eldest son	4 January 1895	Dead of previous	23 October 1910	Father died, became king.	Prince Chakrabongse, 1895–1910, brother
Chakrabongse Bhuvanadh	Prince Brother	Brother	23 October 1910	Brother became king	13 June 1920	Died of pneumonia, age 37	Prince Asdang, 1910–1920, brother	Rama VI Vajiravudh Phra Bat Somdet Phra Poramentharamaha Vajiravudh Phra Mongkut Klao Chao Yu Hua , or Phra Bat Somdet Phra Ramathibodi Si Sintharamaha Vajiravudh Phra Mongkut Klao Chao Yu Hua , or Rama VI was the sixth monarch of Siam under the House of Chakri, ruling from 1910 until his death...
Asdang Dejavudh	Prince Brother	Brother	13 June 1920	Death of previous	9 February 1924	Died of nephrosis, age 36	Prince Chudadhuj, 1910–1923, brother
Asdang Dejavudh	Prince Brother	Brother	13 June 1920	Death of previous	9 February 1924	Died of nephrosis, age 36	Prince Prajadhipok Prajadhipok Phra Bat Somdet Phra Poramintharamaha Prajadhipok Phra Pok Klao Chao Yu Hua , or Rama VII was the seventh monarch of Siam under the House of Chakri. He was the last absolute monarch and the first constitutional monarch of the country. His reign was a turbulent time for Siam due to huge political... , 1923-24, brother
Prajadhipok Prajadhipok Phra Bat Somdet Phra Poramintharamaha Prajadhipok Phra Pok Klao Chao Yu Hua , or Rama VII was the seventh monarch of Siam under the House of Chakri. He was the last absolute monarch and the first constitutional monarch of the country. His reign was a turbulent time for Siam due to huge political...	Prince Brother	Brother	9 February 1924	Death of previous	25 November 1925	Brother died, became king	Prince Mahidol Mahidol Adulyadej Mahitaladhibes Adulyadejvikrom, the Prince Father , or officially styled Mahidol Adulyadej, Prince of Songkla was the father of King Ananda Mahidol and King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand. He was also regarded as the father of modern medicine and public health of Thailand... , 1924-1925, half-brother
Mahidol Adulyadej Mahidol Adulyadej Mahitaladhibes Adulyadejvikrom, the Prince Father , or officially styled Mahidol Adulyadej, Prince of Songkla was the father of King Ananda Mahidol and King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand. He was also regarded as the father of modern medicine and public health of Thailand...	Prince Brother	Half-brother	25 November 1925	Half-brother became King	24 September 1929	Died of pneumonia, age 37	Ananda Mahidol Ananda Mahidol Ananda Mahidol was the eighth monarch of Thailand under the House of Chakri. At the time he was recognized as king by the National Assembly, in March 1935, he was a nine-year-old boy living in Switzerland. He returned to Thailand in December 1945. Six months later, in June 1946, he was found shot... , 1925-1929, son	Rama VII Prajadhipok Phra Bat Somdet Phra Poramintharamaha Prajadhipok Phra Pok Klao Chao Yu Hua , or Rama VII was the seventh monarch of Siam under the House of Chakri. He was the last absolute monarch and the first constitutional monarch of the country. His reign was a turbulent time for Siam due to huge political...
Ananda Mahidol Ananda Mahidol Ananda Mahidol was the eighth monarch of Thailand under the House of Chakri. At the time he was recognized as king by the National Assembly, in March 1935, he was a nine-year-old boy living in Switzerland. He returned to Thailand in December 1945. Six months later, in June 1946, he was found shot...	Phra Ong Chao (1927)	Nephew (son of Mahidol Adulyadej)	24 September 1929	Death of previous	2 March 1935	Abdication of uncle	Bhumibol Adulyadej Bhumibol Adulyadej Bhumibol Adulyadej is the current King of Thailand. He is known as Rama IX... , 1932-1935 brother
Bhumibol Adulyadej Bhumibol Adulyadej Bhumibol Adulyadej is the current King of Thailand. He is known as Rama IX...	Phra Ong Chao	Prince Brother	2 March 1935	Brother became King	9 June 1946	Brother died, became King	none	Rama VIII Ananda Mahidol Ananda Mahidol was the eighth monarch of Thailand under the House of Chakri. At the time he was recognized as king by the National Assembly, in March 1935, he was a nine-year-old boy living in Switzerland. He returned to Thailand in December 1945. Six months later, in June 1946, he was found shot...
Maha Vajiralongkorn Maha Vajiralongkorn Somdet Phra Boromma-orasathirat Chao Fa Maha Vajiralongkorn Sayammakutratchakuman is the only son of Bhumibol Adulyadej, the King of Thailand, and Queen Sirikit...	Crown Prince (1972)	Eldest and only Son	28 July 1952	Born	present	incumbent	Dipangkorn Rasmijoti Dipangkorn Rasmijoti Prince Dipangkorn Rasmijoti , a member of the Royal Family of Thailand, is a grandson of King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand, and is the fifth son of Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn. His mother is Princess Srirasmi, the Crown Prince's third legal wife... , 2005- son	Rama IX Bhumibol Adulyadej Bhumibol Adulyadej is the current King of Thailand. He is known as Rama IX...

Crown Princes

Heirs to the throne

See also