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Pinklao
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Phrabat Somdet Phra Pinklao Chaoyuhua (September 4 1808 - January 7 1866) was a younger brother and the vice-king of Mongkut of Siam, who crowned him as a monarch with equal honor with Mongkut himself.
rince Chutamani was born on September 4, 1808 as a son of Prince Isarasundhorn and Princess Bunrod at the Old Thonburi Palace. Prince Chutamani also had an elder brother - Prince Mongkut - who was seven years older.
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Phrabat Somdet Phra Pinklao Chaoyuhua (September 4 1808 - January 7 1866) was a younger brother and the vice-king of Mongkut of Siam, who crowned him as a monarch with equal honor with Mongkut himself.
Early Life
Prince Chutamani was born on September 4, 1808 as a son of Prince Isarasundhorn and Princess Bunrod at the Old Thonburi Palace. Prince Chutamani also had an elder brother - Prince Mongkut - who was seven years older. In 1809, Prince Isarasundhorn was crowned as Buddha Loetla Nabhalai and his mother became Queen Sri Suriyendra. They all moved to the Grand Palace.
The government of Buddha Loetla Nabhalai, however, was dominated by Krom Meun Jessadabodindra - Buddha Loetla Nabhalai's son with Concubine Riam. In 1824, Prince Mongkut became a monk according to Siamese traditions. However, Buddha Loetla Nabhalai fell ill and died in the same year. The nobility, led by Chao Phraya Abhay Pudhorn the Samuha Nayok and Dis Bunnak the minister of Krom Tha supported Prince Jessadabodindra for the throne as he was proved to be very competent to rule. Therefore, Jessadabodindra was crowned.
Prince Mongkut then stayed in his monkhood to avoid political intrigues. Prince Chutamani, however, entered the government under Jessadabodindra and was awarded the title Krom Khun Isaret Rangsan. Krom Khun Isaret moved to the Old Palace, where he lived with his mother Queen Sri Suriyendra who died in 1836.
Reign with Mongkut
Jessadabodindra died in 1851. Krom Khun Isaret was undoubtly the claimant to the throne, but the claim of his brother Prince Mongkut was stronger. Mongkut was then crowned , and on May 25, 1851, Prince Isaret was crowned as the second monarch with equal honor to Mongkut. In practice, Pinklao held the title of Front Palace. The popular legend holds that Mongkut's own astrological calculations stated that his brother Prince Isaret also had the fate to become a king. However, Wyatt considers his appointment a way of Mongkut’s to prevent Pinklao from challenging his own position. Nevertheless, the relationship between the brothers remained peace and good throughout Mongkut's reign.
The government under Mongkut was, however, in the hands of Somdet Chao Phraya Borom Maha Prayurawongse and Somdet Chao Phraya Borom Maha Pichaiyat. Pinklao was known for his fluency in the English language as he was able to respond the letters of John Bowring. In the letters, he referred himself as the Second king and his brother as the First king. Therefore, Pinklao had played a great role in the negotiation of the Bowring Treaty.
As the second monarch and Front Palace, Pinklao maintained his own private army. It was his time that the power of the Front Palace greatly expanded as Mongkut gave his brother privileges and awards. Pinklao was interested in both western and Lao culture, speaking English, drilling his troops in European fashion and singing and dancing to mor lam music.
Pinklao died on January 7, 1866, predeceasing his brother for two years. His newphew, Chulalongkorn (son of Mongkut), succeeded the throne in 1868 and Somdet Chao Phraya Borom Maha Sri Suriyawongse arranged the title of Front Palace to be succeeded by Pinklao's son with Princess Aim, Prince Yingyot.
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