Father Chulalongkorn House Chakri Dynasty Name Srivilailaksana Srivilailaksana | Parents Chulalongkorn Mother Pae Bunnag | |
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Born 24 July 1868
Grand Palace
Bangkok, Thailand ( 1868-07-24 ) Died October 26, 1904, Bangkok, Thailand Cousins Subhadradis Diskul (M.C.), Kornnika Chitrabhongse Similar People Chulalongkorn, Mongkut, Suddha Dibyaratana, Bhongprabai, Adisaya Suriyabha | ||
Grandparents Mongkut, Debsirindra | ||
Srivilailaksana, Princess of Suphanburi (Thai: ศรีวิไลยลักษณ์; rtgs: Siwilailak; 24 July 1868 – 26 October 1904), was the Princess of Siam (later Thailand). A member of Siamese Royal Family, she was a daughter of Chulalongkorn, King Rama V of Siam, born while her father was the heir-apparent. Her father had great trust in her and referred to her as My greatest-trusted lovely daughter.
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Srivilailaksana was one of the vice-presidents of the Red Unalom Society (later Thai Red Cross Society) with the other princesses.
She received the royal title Krom at the 4th level Krom Khun Suphan Bhakavadi (translated as the Princess of Suphanburi; Thai: กรมขุนสุพรรณภาควดี). She died a year after receiving the royal title. The Royal Cremation was created at Nivetthammapravat Temple, in the area of Bang Pa-In Royal Palace.
Birth
Princess Srivilailak was the eldest daughter of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) the Great of Siam and Chao Chom Manda Pae Bunnag (later elevated into Lady (Chao Khun Phra) Prayuravongse), daughter of Lord (Chao Phraya) Suravongs Vaiyavadhana (son of Somdet Chao Phraya Borom Maha Si Suriyawongse). She had two younger sisters;
She was born while his father held the title of heir-apparent to the Siamese throne; he was Prince Chulalongkorn, the Prince Pinit Prajanadh and her mother was Mom Pae. She was born outside the Grand Palace, because of an ancient tradition: Her mother was not allowed to give birth inside the palace until the prince succeeded to the throne. The privilege of birth in the Grand Palace was reserved for children of the King. Prince Chulalongkorn prepared the Nanda Utayan Garden house near the grand palace for Mom Pae to reside in.
When Mom Pae seven months pregnant, she gave birth prematurely. The child was still in the belly, so the doctor understood that the royal child died. So the doctor put the belly in the solid pot, sinking in the river by the ancient tradition. But before sinking, Mom Pae's father, Phraya Suravongs Vaiyavadhana wanted to know the baby was the prince or princess. So he ripped the belly out, he surprisingly found the baby was breathing, and the baby was the princess. So they helped taking care of the princess very well. Then the mother and the princess moved to Suan Kularb House, in the area of Grand Palace.
After she was born, she was held the title Mom Chao and the style of Serene Highness. And when her father succeed the Siamese Throne from her grandfather, King Mongkut (Rama IV), she was elevated her title into Princess and style of Royal Highness. She was given the full name from her father as Srivilailaksana Sundornsakdi Galyavadi (Thai: ศรีวิไลยลักษณ์ สุนทรศักดิกัลยาวดี). Her mother, Mom Pae, was elevated into Chao Chom Manda.
Royal responsibilities
She took care of her step-siblings, especially the young princesses who were approaching adulthood. In palace tradition, these young princesses had to be carefully watched over.
For the royal duties, she was one of the executive vice-president of the Red Unalom Society, the major humanitarian organisation (later Thai Red Cross Society), founded by Queen Savang Vadhana as maternal patron. And Queen Saovabha Phongsri was appointed the first president, and Thanpuying Plien Phasakoravongs acted as the society secretary. She worked as the executive vice-president with the other princesses;
Prestigious royal title
On 10 January 1903, in the occasion of King Chulalongkorn's 35th anniversary of accession to the throne. She was given the Krom royal title Krom Khun Suphan Bhakvadi (translated as the Princess of Suphanburi). Because she was his greatest trusted lovely daughter, she was given the 4th level of the Krom ranks, Krom Khun, instead Krom Muen which was normally given to the royal children.
In announcing the honour, the King said the Princess, who was his very trusted daughter. Furthermore, it is a well-known fact that she had been steadfast in her devotion to the King in order that He would enjoy grace and glory. As she was beloved by her younger step-siblings, they helped to make her a diamond necklace, and gave it to her on the special occasion of her receiving the royal title.
There was the great celebration around the city, along with an exhibition about her life and Royal duties of Princess Srivilailaksana. A contest about the royal family was held in the schools around the city.
Death
Princess Srivilailaksana suffered from a terrible illness and died on 26 October 1904, at the age of only 36. As her body lay in state within Aisawan Dhiphya-Asana Pavilion, in the compound of the Bang Pa-In Royal Palace, Ayutthaya Province mourners thronged to pay their final respects. In her funeral ceremony, her half-sister, Princess Chandra Saradavara, Princess of Phichit suffered from illness and died on 21 February 1905, while going to pay respect to her at the Bang Pa-In Royal Palace. According to the Four Reigns novel, "Move one royal daughter's body down here, and move the another one royal daughter's body up there"...
Funeral
After she died in her residence in the area of Grand Palace. King Chulalongkorn ordered to officers, laid her body in Sutthai Sawan Prasat Throne Hall, in the compound of the Grand Palace. Until 14 February 1905, her body was moved to Bang Pa-In Royal Palace by moving from Sutthai Sawan Prasat, through Sakdichaiyasit Gate, straight to Samsen's train station. And then, the train moved through Ayutthaya Province, where King Chulalongkorn was there one day before the princess' body reached Ayutthaya.
Her body was laid in state in Aisawan Dhiphya-Asana Pavilion, a pavilion constructed in the middle of a pond, in the compound of the Bang Pa-In Royal Palace. The royal funeral tradition dates back to the Ayyutthaya period is influenced by thousand-year-old India's Hindu traditions that treat kings as incarnations or descendants of deities and Buddhism's merit-making ceremonies. The three-day funeral ceremony and ritual officially started on 17 February 1905. The Royal Cremation ceremony was created at Nivetthammapravat Temple, in the area of the palace, performed by King Chulalongkorn, and mourned by every member of the Royal family. In the next morning, King Chulalongkorn collected his daughter's ashes and transferred into the stupa near the temple.