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Uparaja[a] is anoble title reserved for theviceroy inIndia and theBuddhist dynasties inBurma,Cambodia,Laos andThailand, as well as some of their minor tributary kingdoms. It is ultimately fromSanskrit उपराजupa-rāja equivalent tosub andrex respectively inLatin.[1]
The viceroy in the IndianMagadha Empire was titled Uparaja (lit. vice king).[2]
The Great Deputy King, in fullMaha Uparaja Anaukrapa Ainshe Min, incorrectly interpreted as Crown Prince by Europeans, and addressed as His Royal Highness, was the single highest rank among theMin-nyi Min-tha, i.e. princes of the royal blood. It is shortened toAinshe Min (အိမ်ရှေ့မင်း,IPA:[èiɰ̃ʃḛmɪ́ɰ̃]).
However, the position was not reserved for the highest birth rank (if there is one,Shwe Kodaw-gyi Awratha, i.e. eldest son of the sovereign, by his chief Queen), nor did it carry a plausible promise of succession, which was usually only settled in an ultimate power struggle.
The wordOuparach (Khmer:ឧបរាជ) is derived from bothSanskrit andPali languages, literally meansVice King, who obtains the position following the crowned king. The full term of Ouparach in order to provide the proper honor isSamdach Preah Ouparach (Khmer:សម្តេចព្រះឧបរាជ) orSamdach Preah Moha Ouparach (Khmer:សម្តេចព្រះមហាឧបរាជ្យ). According to tradition of Kingdom ofCambodia, Samdach Preah Moha Ouparach positions as the supreme official controlling other high and low officials.[3]
Uparat (Thai:อุปราช;RTGS: Upparat), in fullPhra Maha Upparat (พระมหาอุปราช), as pronounced in historicalSiam, translates toviceroy.[4]Front Palace (Thai:วังหน้า;RTGS: Wang Na), however, was the more usual designation, often referred to in English asSecond King orVice King.
The office was discontinued in 1876 byRama V, following theFront Palace Crisis of 1874, in favour of the office ofCrown Prince of Siam (Thai:สยามมกุฎราชกุมาร;RTGS: Sayammakutratchakuman). Note that those servingvice a king constitute a different office, that ofregent or regency council.