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.

Early life

Prince Ananda Mahidol Mahidol (Mom Chao Ananda Mahidol Mahidol — หม่อมเจ้า อานันทมหิดล มหิดล) was born in Heidelberg, Germany. He was the first son of Mahidol Adulyadej Prince of Songkhla (son of king Chulalongkorn) and Mom Sangwal (last title Somdej Phra Sri Nakarindhara Boromaratchachonnani) who were studying there at the time. King Vajiravhud, his uncle, sent a telegram on October 13 1925 auspiciously naming him "Ananda Mahidol" (อานันทมหิดล), meaning "the joy of Mahidol". ("Ananda Mahidol" is one word and is his first name. While he held the title of "Mom Chao" (junior class of the princes), he also used the surname of "Mahidol"; his name at this point was thus "Mom Chao Ananda Mahidol Mahidol").

Related Topics:
Mom Chao - Heidelberg - Germany - Mahidol Adulyadej - Chulalongkorn - Mom - Sangwal - Vajiravhud - October 13 - 1925

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He followed his parents to Paris, Lausanne, and then to Massachusetts when, in 1927, another uncle of his, King Prajadhipok issued a royal edict exalting him to a higher princely class of Phra Worawong Ther Phra Ong Chao. (This edict also benefited other "Mom Chao" who were the children of Chao Fa and their commoner wives, among them his elder sister Mom Chao Galyani Vadhana and his younger brother who, upon his birth later in the year, was born Phra Worawong Ther Phra Ong Chao Bhumibol Adulyadej).

Related Topics:
Paris - Lausanne - Massachusetts - 1927 - Prajadhipok - Phra Worawong Ther Phra Ong Chao - Chao Fa - Galyani Vadhana - Bhumibol Adulyadej

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The Mahidol family returned to Thailand in 1928 after Prince Mahidol Adulyadej finished his medical study at Harvard University. The Prince died in 1929 when Ananda Mahidol was 4 years old.

Related Topics:
1928 - Harvard University - 1929

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The Thai Revolution in 1932 raised the possibility that King Prajadhipok might abdicate. Queen Savang Vadhana, his grandmother, was concerned about Prince Ananda Mahidol's safety as he was one of the likely heirs to the throne. It was then suggested that the Mahidol family again moved to Lausanne. The official reason for this was for the health and further education of the princes. They left Thailand in 1933 and Prince Ananda Mahidol spent most of his youth in Switzerland.

Related Topics:
1932 - Prajadhipok - Queen Savang Vadhana - Lausanne - 1933 - Switzerland

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However, when King Prajadhipok's abdication was imminent, the Prince's mother was approached by a member of government, asking for her opinion about Ananda Mahidol becoming the next king.

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