1924 Palace Law of Succession
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The 1924 Palace Law of Succession (Thai: กฏมณเฑียรบาลว่าด้วยการสืบราชสันตติวงศ์ พ.ศ. 2467) governs succession over the Throne of the Kingdom of Thailand. Established during the reign of King Vajiravudh, it attempted to systematically resolve previous succession controversies. The 1997 Constitution of Thailand relied on the law with regards to succession, but the 2006 Interim Constitution made no mention of succession, leaving it to "constitutional practice."
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[edit] Key features
The law based on the principle of primogeniture, with first in line being the eldest son of the previous monarch and second in line being the next-oldest son, and so on. The law expressly ruled against women ascending the throne (this clause was abrogated in later constitutions).
The 1924 law specifically established the primacy of descendants of each of King Chulalongkorn's Queens: Queen Saowabha, followed by Queen Savang Vadhana, followed by Queen Sukumala.
[edit] The law in practice
King Chulalongkorn and his three Queens produced seven sons with the princely rank of Chao Fa (Thai: เจ้าฟ้า; "sky lord"): five by Queen Saowabha, including Prince Vajiravudh; one by Queen Savang Vadhana, and one by Queen Sukumala. None of King Vajiravudh's four princely brothers by Queen Saowabha produced a royal-blooded male heir (one son produced a heir with a maid, another produced an heir with a foreign wife). Furthermore, three of the brothers died, leaving only Prince Prajadhipok. Vajiravudh had only a daughter, and Prajadhipok was childless.
Queen Savang Vadhana had only one surviving son, Prince Mahidol, who in turn produced a son, Prince Ananda Mahidol in 1925 by a commoner, Sangwalya. Prince Mahidol produced another son in 1927, Prince Bhumibol Adulyadej.
Queen Sukumala produced only one son, Prince Paripatra. Prince Paripatra had one son, Chumbhotpong Paripatra. Chumbhotpong Paripatra produced a daughter by a royal wife and a son, Prince Sukhumbhinanda, by a commoner wife. Prince Sukhumbhinanda produced 2 sons by a commoner wife: Mom Ratchawong Sukhumbhand born in 1953 and Mom Ratchawong Vararos born in 1959. Mom Ratchawong Sukhumbhand Paripatra produced two sons via commoner wives: Mom Luang Phinitphan and Mom Luang Waraphinan.
According to the Palace Law, Prince Prajadhipok (2nd eldest surviving son of the previous monarch, King Chulalongkorn, via the bloodline of Saovabha, the most senior queen) became 1st in line to the succession. Prince Mahidol became second in line (although older than Prajadhipok, he was son of Savang Vadhana, a more junior queen). Third and fourth in line would be Mahidol's sons: first Ananda Mahidol, then Bhumibol Adulyadej. Last in line would have been Prince Paripatra, although this is unlikely given he was in exile since 1932.
This line of succession was followed, with Prince Prajadhipok succeeding King Vajiravudh after he passed away in 1925. The absolute monarchy was overthrown in 1932, but the new constitution continued to rely on the palace law regarding matters of succession. Thus, Prince Ananda Mahidol succeeded the sonless King Prajadhipok after he abdicated in 1935. Prince Bhumibol Adulyadej succeeded the unmarried young King Ananda Mahidol after he was died in 1946.
[edit] The law today
The 1997 constitution of Thailand, like most preceding constitutions, continued to rely on the Palace Law with regards to succession. However, the 2006 Interim Constitution does not contain any articles regarding succession, and instead, left it to "constitutional practice."
The heir apparent to the Thai throne is Prince Vajiralongkorn, eldest and only son of King Bhumibol Adulyadej. Prince Vajiralongkorn has many sons - however, not all of them are legitimate.
The Thai constitution was amended in 1974 to allow the Privy Council to appoint a princess as successor to the throne. However this would only occur in the absence of an heir apparent. This amendment is retained in Section 23 of the 1997 "People's Constitution." This effectively signaled Princess Sirindhorn as second in line to the throne, but did not affect Prince Vajiralongkorn's status as heir apparent.
Recent constitutions of Thailand have made the amendment of the Palace Law of Succession the sole prerogative of the reigning King. According to Gothom Arya, noted public intellectual, this allows the reigning King, if he so chooses, to appoint his son or any of his daughters to the Throne.
[edit] References
- Aryan, Gothan (September 15-September 16, 2004), Thai Monarchy, International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, Retrieved on 05 July 2006, presented in Kathmandu, Nepal
- Paul M. Handley, "The King Never Smiles" Yale University Press: 2006, ISBN 0-300-10682-3
- Paul Handley, What the Thai coup was really about, 6 November 2006
- The Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand (1997), Section 20
