| Abhakara Kiativong อาภากรเกียรติวงศ์ | |
|---|---|
| Prince of Chumphon | |
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| Minister of the Royal Siamese Navy | |
| In office | 1 April 1923 – 19 May 1923 |
| Acting | 1 October 1922 – 31 March 1923 |
| Monarch | Vajiravudh(Rama VI) |
| Predecessor | Bhanurangsi Savangwongse (as Director-General) |
| Successor | Asdang Dejavudh (as Director-General) |
| Born | (1880-12-19)19 December 1880 Bangkok,Siam |
| Died | 19 May 1923(1923-05-19) (aged 42) Chumphon, Siam |
| Spouse | Dibyasambandh and 5 other concubines |
| Issue | 11, includingAditya Dibabha |
| House | Abhakara (Chakri dynasty) |
| Father | Chulalongkorn(Rama V) |
| Mother | Mod Bunnag |
AdmiralPrince Abhakara Kiartivongse, Prince ofChumphon (19 December 1880 – 19 May 1923) (Thai:พระองค์เจ้าอาภากรเกียรติวงศ์,RTGS: Phra Ong Chao Aphakon Kiantiwong, full title:Thai:พระเจ้าบรมวงศ์เธอ พระองค์เจ้าอาภากรเกียรติวงศ์ กรมหลวงชุมพรเขตอุดมศักดิ์), was the 28th child of KingChulalongkorn (Rama V). He was commonly revered as "The Father of theThai Navy".[1]
As the founder of the Thai Navy (then known as the 'Royal Siamese Navy'), Abhakara was highly praised by many Thais as "Sadej Tia" (Thai:เสด็จเตี่ย; lit. Lord Father), "Mor Phon" (Thai:หมอพร; lit. Doctor Phon). The Thai Royal Navy officially granted him the title of "the Father of the Thai Navy" in 1993.[2]
There are 217 shrines and memorials built to honour him around Thailand.[3] The most famous of these is the Prince of Chumphon Shrine at Hat Sai Ree inChumphon Province, where he recuperated and rehabilitated from his illnesses, before his death on 19 May 1923.
Prince Abhakara Kiartivongse was born on 19 December 1880. His mother,chao chom manda Mot (Mot Bunnag), was a royal concubine from an aristocratic but non-royal family, which meant that Abhakara was unlikely to ascend to the throne.[4]
In late 1893, his father, Rama V, sent Abhakara and his brotherVajiravudh to study military science in Britain.[5] The king's decision was motivated by the recentloss of Siam's Laotian territories to France, and his consequent desire to modernise Siam's army and navy.[6] He hoped that his sons would acquire western military knowledge that would allow them to train future officers of the armed forces.[7] From January 1884, the two princes studied in Ascot under the tutelage ofBasil Thomson;[8] in 1895, Vajiravudh began training at theRoyal Military Academy Sandhurst, while Abhakara moved to The Limes, a naval preparatory school forBritannia Royal Naval College atGreenwich, before commencing sea training in April 1897 aboard the Siamese vesselMaha Chakri.[9] He was accepted as amidshipman (officer cadet) in theRoyal Navy and posted to thebattleshipHMS Revenge in November 1897,[10] and subsequently served inHMS Ramillies, the sloopHMS Cruiser and the reconnaissance vesselHMS Hawk.[11]
Abhakara achieved good marks in his training and impressed his supervisors with his skills, but was not allowed to undertake courses in naval tactics, gunnery or torpedoes, which were deemed to be of a 'confidential character' by theAdmiralty.[12]
Since the late 20th century, some royal biographers have claimed that Abhakara saw active service inCrete during the three months of theTheriso revolt,[13] but the chronology of this episode is difficult to corroborate with the prince's known postings and movements during his time in Britain, and the story has been described as one that 'may fit more easily into the category of legend than into that of fact.'[14]
Abhakara returned toSiam in 1900 to serve in the creation of Royal Siamese Navy. He was made Director of the Naval Education Department, and subsequently named Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Siamese Navy in 1903–10, in which role he contributed significantly to the modernisation of the force.[4] He was removed from public duties between 1911 and 1917, possibly as a result of rumors about his implication in plots against his half-brother, now king Vajiravudh.[4] During this period, he studiedsaiyasatandsaiwet, traditional Thai forms of healing and protective magic,[15] as well as folk healing and herbal medicine.[16]
Rehabilitated in 1917, he was made Inspector-General of the Royal Siamese Navy,[15] followed by the office of Chief of the General Staff of the Royal Siamese Navy in 1918, Acting Minister of Marine in 1922, and Minister of Marine in 1923.[15] In 1920, he returned to England to negotiate the purchase of thedestroyerHMS Radiant, which was transferred to the Royal Siamese Navy in September asPhra Ruang.[17] He commanded the ship during its subsequent voyage home.[18]
In 1922 he saw thatSattahip Bay was a strategic place for the establishment of a naval base and offered royal land inSattahip in order to build the present-day naval facilities.[19] In honor of his contributions, the prince was proclaimed "The father of theRoyal Thai Navy".
Abhakara was also a practitioner ofmuay Thai.[20] During KingVajiravudh's reign, he trained many muay Thai boxers, many of whom went on to become trainers themselves.[21]
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Not long after being honoured to the title "Commander in Chief, Admiral and Father" of the Siamese Navy, Abhakara resigned from office on the grounds of ill health. He travelled for rehabilitation to Monthon Surat for a month, and then to Hat Ree beach inChumphon province. He contractedinfluenza after an accidental exposure cold rain, which worsened his condition sharply, and died at the age of 42, on 19 May 1923, at 11:40 am.[22]
The Royal Thai Navy marks 19 May annually as the "Abhakara Memorial Day".
| Abhakara Kiartivongse | Father: Chulalongkorn, King Rama V of Siam | Paternal Grandfather: Mongkut, King Rama IV of Siam | Paternal Great-grandfather: Buddha Loetla Nabhalai, King Rama II of Siam |
| Paternal Great-grandmother: Queen Sri Suriyendra | |||
| Paternal Grandmother: Queen Debsirindra | Paternal Great-grandfather: Prince Sirivongse, the Prince Matayabidaksa | ||
| Paternal Great-grandmother: Mom Noi Sirivongs na Ayudhya | |||
| Mother: Chao Chom Manda Mohd Bunnag | Maternal Grandfather: Chao Phraya Suravongs Vaiyavadhana | Maternal Great-grandfather: Somdet Chao Phraya Borom Maha Sri Suriyawongse | |
| Maternal Great-grandmother: Klin Bunnag | |||
| Maternal Grandmother: Im Bunnag | Maternal Great-grandfather: unknown | ||
| Maternal Great-grandmother: unknown |
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Knight of the Most IllustriousOrder of the Royal House of Chakri (1900)_ribbon.svg)
Knight of the Ancient and AuspiciousOrder of the Nine Gems (1920)_ribbon.svg)
Knight Grand Cordon (Special Class) of the Most IllustriousOrder of Chula Chom Klao (1900)
Knight of theRatana Varabhorn Order of Merit (1921)_ribbon.svg)
Knight Grand Cross (First Class) of the Most ExaltedOrder of the White Elephant (1918)_ribbon.svg)
Knight Grand Cross (First Class) of the Most NobleOrder of the Crown of Thailand (1904)
Knight Commander (Second Class) of the HonourableOrder of Rama (1918).svg)
Dushdi Mala Medalfor Arts (1900)[23]_ribbon.svg)
Chakra Mala Medal (1922)_ribbon.png)
Pushpa Mala Medal (1909)_ribbon.svg)
King Rama V Royal Cypher Medal, 2nd Class (1901)_ribbon.svg)
King Rama VI Royal Cypher Medal, 1st Class (1921)
Denmark:
Grand Cross of theOrder of the Dannebrog (1922)
Italy:
Knight Grand Cross of theOrder of Saints Maurice and Lazarus (1907)
Japan:
Grand Cordon of theOrder of the Rising Sun (1903)[24] |
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The generations are numbered from the establishment of theChakri dynasty from 1782 | ||||||||||
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| Rama IV |
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| Rama VI |
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| Rama VII |
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| Rama VIII |
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| Rama IX |
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| Rama X |
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(  )*Became king**Appointed Viceroy ***Appointed Deputy Viceroy (  )^Appointed Crown PrinceX was degraded from royalty | ||||||||||
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