Sri Suriyendra

Sri Suriyendra
Queen consort of Siam
Tenure	7 September 1809 – 21 July 1824
Born	1767 Amphawa, Siam
Died	1836 (aged 68–69) Bangkok, Siam
Spouse	Phutthaloetla Naphalai (Rama II)
Issue	Prince Ratchakuman Mongkut (Rama IV) Pinklao
Dynasty	Chakri
Father	Ngoen Saetan
Mother	Kaeo, Princess Sri Sudarak

Queen Consort of the Chakri Dynasty
	Amarindra (Rama I)
	Sri Suriyendra (Rama II)
	Debsirindra (Rama IV)
	Saovabha Phongsri (Rama V)
	Indrasakdi Sachi (Rama VI)
	Rambai Barni (Rama VII)
	Sirikit (Rama IX)

Queen Sri Suriyendra (Thai: ศรีสุริเยนทร; rtgs: Si Suriyen; 1767–1836) was the queen of Siam, wife of Phutthaloetla Naphalai, who was her own cousin, and mother of Mongkut and Pinklao. She was later named upon the coronation of her son Mongkut as Krom Somdet Phra Sri Suriyendramataya.

Princess Bunrot (บุญรอด) was a daughter of Princess Sri Sudarak (เจ้าฟ้ากรมพระศรีสุดารักษ์) (sister of Phutthayotfa Chulalok) and her Chinese husband^[1] Ngoen Saetan (เงิน แซ่ตัน). Princess Bunrot lived with her mother in the Grand Palace and grew up with her maternal female cousins, the daughters of Phutthayotfa Chulalok.

Princess Bunrot had an affair with her cousin, Prince Isarasundhorn, a son and heir apparent to King Phutthayotfa Chulalok. In 1801, the King discovered the princess' four-month pregnancy and banished her from the Grand Palace to live with her brother Prince Thepharirak. Prince Isarasundhorn begged his father to no avail to return the princess to the palace. The couple eventually settled at the Old Palace (Thonburi Palace) and Princess Bunrot became the prince's consort. The baby died, however, shortly after birth. With Prince Isarasundhorn (the future Phutthaloetla Naphalai), she bore three sons:

• The first, born in 1801, died shortly after birth;
• Prince Mongkut, or later King Mongkut (or King Rama IV), born in 1804;
• Prince Chutamani, or later King Pinklao, born in 1808.

Following Prince Isarasundhorn's coronation as Phutthaloetla Naphalai, Princess Bunrot was raised to Queen Sri Suriyendra. She was not the only wife as the Siamese monarchs was allowed have many consorts in accordance with tradition. Sri Suriyendra shared her husband with Princess Consort Kunthon and Princess Riam (Mother of King Nangklao (or King Rama III))and a number of the king's concubines.

Her son, Prince Mongkut became a monk in 1824, the same year that Phutthaloetla Naphalai died. It was her son Mongkut who was to be crowned according to tradition. However, the nobility decided to offer the crown to Prince Tub, who became King Nangklao (Rama III) (the Prince was a son of concubine, but had been extremely experienced in government). Mongkut then remained a monk to avoid court intrigues.

Sri Suriyendra then left the Grand Palace for the Old Palace (Wang Derm) to live with her son Prince Isaret (previously Prince Chutamani). She stayed there until her death in 1836, she did not live to see her son Mongkut crowned.

References

1. George William Skinner (1957). Chinese Society in Thailand: An Analytical History. Cornell University Press. p. 26.

External links

• THE RATTANAKOSIN PERIOD
• Queens and main Consorts of the Chakri Dynasty