| Chairachathirat ไชยราชาธิราช | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| King of Ayutthaya | |||||
| King of Siam | |||||
| Reign | 1534–1546 | ||||
| Predecessor | Ratsadathirat | ||||
| Successor | Yotfa | ||||
| Died | 1546 | ||||
| Spouse | Chitwadi Sri Sudachan | ||||
| Issue | Yotfa Sisin | ||||
| |||||
| House | Suphannaphum Dynasty | ||||
Chairachathirat[1] (Thai:ไชยราชาธิราช,Jaiyarājādhirāja), orChai[2]: 37 reigned 1534–1546 as King of theAyutthaya kingdom ofSiam. His reign was remarkable for the influx ofPortuguesetraders,mercenaries, andearly Modern warfare technology.
The evidence regarding his father is not yet clear; the Royal Chronicle by the Venerable Vanarata of Pakaeo Temple and the Royal Chronicle (Rattanakosin edition) only state that King Chairachathirat is of the royal family of KingRamathibodi. ThePali text "Sangitiyavansa", authored in the reign of KingRama I by the Venerable Vanarata ofPho Temple, state that he is the nephew (son of the sister) ofRamathibodi.[citation needed]
In 1533, following the death of King Borommaracha IV, PrinceRatsadathirat (Borommaracha IV's son) succeeded to the Ayutthayan throne. Governmental authority under five-year-old Ratsadathirat proved to be weak. In 1534, only five months after his nephew's ascension, Chairacha marched to Ayutthaya to stage acoup, killed his nephew, and took the throne of Ayutthaya.[3]: 72
In 1539, KingTabinshwehti attacked theMon people inhabiting Chiang Kran, which was under Siamese rule. Chairachathirat "marched against Chiang Kran" with the aid of 120 Portuguese traders in Ayutthaya[2]: 37 and drove the Burmese back. The Portuguese were then allowed to build a church near the Takhian Canal to practice their religion.[3]: 12
Chairacha appointed his brother Prince Thianracha (laterMaha Chakkrapat) as theUparaja but did not grant him the title of King ofSukhothai as Chairacha was trying to unite the two kingdoms by reducing the power of Sukhothai nobles.[4] He also called the Sukhothai nobles to Ayutthaya to move them from their base atPitsanulok and made Ayutthaya the sole center of authority.
Though not having a son by a queen, Chai did have one,Yodfa, from LadySudachan, his favoriteChao Chom. However, she had a secret lover,Worawongsathirat, an officer of the Guards. Returning from the north, Chai became ill and died, and suspicion fell on Lady Sudachan. Her eleven-year-old son, Yodfa, became king in 1546. Chai's half brother, Prince Thianracha, became regent but entered a monastery to escape the ensuing power struggle. Sudachan became pregnant by Worawongsathirat and Yodfa was soon murdered. Khun Worawongsa assumed power. Khun Piren, and other retired officers, then ambushed the king and queen, and placed Thianracha on the throne in 1549.[2]: 38–39
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Chairachathirat Born: ? Died: 1546 | ||
| Regnal titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | King of Ayutthaya 1534–1546 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Ruler of Phitsanulok 1529–1534 | Succeeded by |