Suriyenthrathibodi

Somdet Phra Sanphet VIII^[1] (Thai: สมเด็จพระสรรเพชญ์ที่ ๘) or Suriyenthrathibodi (Thai: สมเด็จพระเจ้าสุริเยนทราบดี) was the King of Ayutthaya from 1703 to 1709 and the second ruler of the Ban Phlu Luang Dynasty. Suriyenthrathibodi was also known by the noble title he held before ascending the throne, Luang Sorasak (Thai: หลวงสรศักดิ์). He was the eldest son of the founder of the Ban Phlu Luang dynasty, Phetracha.

"Tiger King"

The citizens in his time gave him the name Phra Chao Suea^[1] (Thai: พระเจ้าเสือ "Tiger King"), for he was, according to the official chronicles, as evil as tiger.^[2] The Chronicle of Ayutthaya, Phan Chanthanumat (Choem)'s Edition, described his behaviour as follows:^[2]

"His Majesty habitually pleased Himself with liquor and intercourses with the female children under 11-12 years of age. Where any female was unable to endure Him and writhed in pain, His Majesty would become furious and bestow a penalty upon her by crushing her to death with His feet. But where any female could maintain her tolerance without any struggling, His Majesty would be elated and bestow upon her certain gratuities and rewards.

"Furthermore, when His Majesty made a trip to any canal, sea, island or any other place plentiful with sharks, sawfish and other aquatic beings, He always drank liquor. If any concubine, lady, page or official caused His barge shaken, His Majesty would exercise no judgment and express no mercy, but would be enraged and order the person to be dragged with a hook and thrown into water to be consumed by sharks and sawfish.

"Moreover, His Majesty never maintained Himself in the five precepts. He gratified Himself by having carnal knowledge of the wives of His public officers. From that time onwards, He was given the name the 'Tiger King'."

The Chronicle of Ayutthaya, British Museum's Version, also contained the like:^[3]

"At that time, the King was of vulgar mind, uncivil behaviour, savage conduct, cruel habit. He engaged Himself in no charitable business, but in that against the royal traditions. Also, He lacked inhibition, but was consumed by unholy sin. Eternal were anger and ignorance in His mind. And the King habitually drank liquor and pleased Himself with the intercourses with the female children not yet attaining the age of menstruation. In this respect, where any female was able to endure Him, that female would be granted a great amount of rewards, money, gold, silks and other cloth. Should any female be incapable of bearing with Him, He would be enraged and strike at her heart, putting her to death. The caskets were every day seen to be called into the palace to contain the females' dead bodies and to be carried out of there through a royal gate at the end of the royal confinement mansion. That gate thereby gained the name the 'Gate of Ghosts' until now."

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