Anurak Devesh

Anurak Devesh
Rear Palace

Deputy Vice King of Siam
Tenure	circa 1782 – 20 December 1806
Appointed	Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke (Rama I)
Successor	Title abolished

Spouse	Princess Thongyu
Issue	35 sons and daughters with various consorts
House	Chakri Dynasty
Father	Phra Intraraksa (Seam)
Mother	Princess Thepsuthavadi
Born	(1746-03-28)28 March 1746 Kingdom of Ayutthaya
Died	20 December 1806(1806-12-20) (aged 60) Bangkok, Kingdom of Siam

Chaofa Krom Phra Anurak Devesh Krom Phra Rajawang Boworn Sathan Phimuk (Thai: เจ้าฟ้ากรมพระอนุรักษ์เทเวศร์ กรมพระราชวังบวรสถานภิมุข) (28 March 1746 – 20 December 1806) was a Siamese Prince and military leader. A nephew of King Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke (Rama I) the founder of the Chakri Dynasty, he was appointed Rear Palace or the Deputy Vice King of Siam. Becoming the only person to hold that title during the Rattanakosin Kingdom.

Life

Thong-In (ทองอิน) was born on the 28 March 1746 to an Ayutthayan aristocrat Phra Intraraksa (Seam) and Sa (later Princess Sister Thepsuthavadi; the eldest child of Thongdee and Daoreung). Sa was also the elder sister of Thong Duang, later Chao Phraya Chakri and in 1782 King Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke. Thong-In was the eldest child and has two younger brothers and a sister.

For a time Thong-In served in the Army under King Taksin of Thonburi as Luang Ritnaiwair (หลวงฤทธิ์นายเวร). In 1780 he was raised to the rank of Phraya Suriyaphai (พระยาสุริยอภัย) and was appointed governor of Nakhon Ratchasima.

When his uncle ascended to the throne as King of the new Rattanakosin Kingdom in 1782, he elevated his nephew to the rank of Chaofa (most senior rank of Prince). Soon he was appointed to the title of Krom Phra Rajawang Boworn Sathan Phimuk and Rear Palace or Deputy Vice King (Deputy Uparaja), this meant he was essentially the third most powerful individual in the Kingdom. When the new capital was built at Bangkok Prince Anurak Devesh built his residence (Wang Lang) back in Thonburi, directly opposite the Front Palace, today the site is now occupied by the Siriraj Hospital.

After becoming the Rear Palace he assisted King Rama I in his fight against King Bodawpaya of Burma in 1785 during the Nine Armies War. During the conflict he personally accompanied the King to recapture the city of Phitsanulok from the Burmese.

Death

Anurak Devesh died on the 20 December 1806 at the age of 60. After his death King Rama I decided not to appoint anyone to succeed him as Rear Palace and left the office vacant, the tradition was carried by subsequent kings until the official abolishment of the title in 1885 by King Chulalongkorn. Making Anurak Devesh the only Rear Palace of the Chakri Dynasty.

The Prince had 35 children, six borne from his consort Thongyu, others by concubines. Of his six children (borne with Thongyu), the four sons and two daughters received the title of Phra Ong Chao (the middle rank of Princes). The rest (borne with concubines) received the title of Mom Chao (the most junior rank of Princes), however during the reign of King Mongkut (Rama IV), all 35 children was given the additional title of "Royal Cousins" (พระสัมพันธวงศ์เธอ or Phra Samphan Wong Ther).

References

Translated from the Thai Wikipedia
วชิราวุธานุสรณ์สาร National Library of Thailand

Anurak Devesh Chakri Dynasty Born: 1746 Died: 1806
Preceded by new creation for the new dynasty	Rear Palace circa 1782–1806	Succeeded by no successor until 1885 when the title was abolished

Front Palaces of the Chakri Dynasty

First Reign	Maha Sura Singhanat Isarasundhorn (Later succeeded as King Rama II.) Anurak Devesh (Rear Palace)

Second Reign	Maha Senanurak

Third Reign	Maha Sakdi Polsep

Fourth Reign	Pinklao (Did not become King but was given the styles and titles of a King.)

Fifth Reign	Vichaichan (Title abolished after death.)

In 1885, the title was replaced with the Crown Prince of Siam

Rattanakosin Period (1782–1932)

Monarchs	Individuals	Key events

Chakri Dynasty Kings Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke (Rama I) Buddha Loetla Nabhalai (Rama II) Nangklao (Rama III) Mongkut (Rama IV) Chulalongkorn (Rama V) Vajiravudh (Rama VI) Prajadhipok (Rama VII) Vice Kings Maha Sura Singhanat Maha Senanurak Maha Sakdi Polsep Pinklao Bovorn Vichaichan Rear Palace Anurak Devesh	Royalty Devavongse Damrong Rajanubhab Chakrabongse Bhuvanath Paribatra Sukhumbhand Supreme Council of State of Siam Siamese Sunthorn Phu Bodindecha Prayurawongse Si Suriyawongse Khana Ratsadon Foreigners Nguyễn Ánh Dan Beach Bradley Jean-Baptiste Pallegoix Anna Leonowens John Bowring Gustave Rolin-Jaequemyns Auguste Pavie	Key events Foundation of Bangkok Grand Palace Tây Sơn-Siam War Nine Armies War Ta Din Dang campaign Tavoy expedition Invasion of Thalang Crawfurd Mission Cambodian Rebellion (1811-1812) Rebellion of Anouvong Burney Treaty Siamese-Vietnamese War (1831-1834) Siamese–Vietnamese War (1841–1845) Bowring Treaty Front Palace crisis Haw wars Incident of 103 Franco-Siamese War Paknam incident Anglo-Siamese Treaty of 1909 Palace Revolt of 1912 World War I Siamese Expeditionary Force 1924 Palace Law of Succession Siamese revolution of 1932 History of Thailand (1932–1973)