Ananda Mahidol

King Ananda Mahidol or Rama VIII (long royal name: Phrabat Somdej Phra Paramenthara Maha Ananda Mahidol Phra Athama Ramathibodinthra พระบาทสมเด็จพระปรเมนทรมหาอานันทมหิดล พระอัฐมรามาธิบดินทร (roughly "HM King Ananda Mahidol, the Eighth Ruler") (September 20, 1925 - June 9, 1946) was the eighth king of the Chakri dynasty of Thailand.

Circumstance of succession

In fact, it was an interesting turn in the history of succession when King Prajadhipok (Rama VII) abdicated in 1934 due to political quarrels with the new republican government as well as health problems, and abstained from exercising his right to name a successor. By that time, the crown had already been passed from Prince Mahidol's line to his half-brothers when his eldest brother Crown Prince Vajirunahis died prematurely during King Chulalongkorn's reign. A half-brother of his, Prince Vajiravhud replaced Prince Vajirunahis as the Crown Prince, and Vajiravhud's mother was later made Queen Regent when King Chulalongkorn left for a European tour. The implication of these was that the princes born to the same mother as Prince Vajiravhud (Queen Sri Pacharindra) then had higher claim to the throne than the other princes. This was exactly what happened after the death of King Vajiravhud — the crown was passed to his youngest brother, Prince Prajadhipok.

Related Topics:
Prajadhipok - Rama - 1934 - Vajirunahis - Chulalongkorn's - Vajiravhud - Sri Pacharindra

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Offering the throne to Prince Prajadhipok was not without a debate. In doing so, another strong candidate was bypassed: Prince Chulachakrapongse, son of the late Field Marshal Prince Chakrapongsepoovanat Prince of Phitsanulok who before his death was an heir-apparent to King Vajiravhud. It was debatable whether the Succession Law enacted by King Vajiravhud actually barred Prince Chakrapongsepoovanat (and for that matter, Prince Chulachakrapongse) from succession on the ground that he married a foreigner. The marriage was before this law was enacted and was endorsed by King Chulalongkorn though. There was no clear resolution about this; but in the end, Prince Prajadhipok was enthroned.

Related Topics:
Prajadhipok - Vajiravhud

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

When King Prajadhipok abdicated, as he was the youngest son of Queen Sri Pacharindra, the crown would then be passed back to the sons of the Queen whose rank was next to her: Queen Savang Vadhana, mother of the late Crown Prince Vajirunahis. After the late Crown Prince, she had two more sons who survived until adulthood: Prince Sommootiwongwarothai Prince of Nakhon Si Thammarat who had deceased without a son, and Prince Mahidol who, although deceased, had two sons. It emerged that Prince Ananda Mahidol would be the first person in line of succession.

Related Topics:
Savang Vadhana - Nakhon Si Thammarat

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

However, the same debate about Prince Chulachakrapongse occurred again. Again it was argued that King Vajiravhud had practically exempted his father from the barring in the Succession Law, and the crown might thus be passed back to the Prince.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

This time, it was the Cabinet who would decide. The opinion was splitted about the right to succession of Prince Chulachakrapongse. A key figure here was Pridi Phanomyong who persuaded the Cabinet that the Law should be interpreted as excluding the Prince from succession, and that Prince Ananda Mahidol should be the next king. It also appeared to be quite convenient for the government as well to have a king who was only 9 years old and was attending school in Lausanne, Switzerland. On March 2, 1935 Prince Ananda Mahidol was elected by the Thai parliament and government to succeed his uncle, King Prajadhipok.

Related Topics:
Pridi Phanomyong - Lausanne - Switzerland - March 2 - 1935 - Prajadhipok

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

See also King Prajadhipok's circumstance of succession

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~