| Ratsadathirat รัษฎาธิราช | |
|---|---|
| King of Ayutthaya | |
 | |
| King of Siam | |
| Reign | Five months from 895LE (1533/34CE) to 896LE (1534/35CE) |
| Predecessor | Borommarachathirat IV |
| Successor | Chairachathirat |
| Born | 890LE (1528/29CE) |
| Died | 896LE (1534/35CE) |
| House | Suphannaphum Dynasty |
| Father | Borommarachathirat IV |
Ratsadathirat (Thai:รัษฎาธิราช,Raṣṭādhirāj) was thetwelfthking ofAyutthaya, an ancient kingdom inThailand. He was a son ofBorommarachathirat IV and succeeded his father to the throne of Ayutthaya at the age of five in 895LE (2076BE, 1533/34CE).[1] The following year, after having been on the throne for five months, he was put to death by his relative,[2]Chairachathirat, who then assumed the kingship.[1]
According to theRoyal Autograph Chronicle and its variant versions, his name isRatthathirat (รัฏฐาธิราช;Thai pronunciation:[rät̚˥.tʰäː˩˥.tʰi˥.räːt̚˥˩]; literally "overlord of the realm") orRatthathiratchakuman (รัฏฐาธิราชกุมาร;Thai pronunciation:[rät̚˥.tʰäː˩˥.tʰi˥.räːt̚˥˩.t͡ɕʰä˥.ku˩.mä̃ːn˧]; literally "child overlord of the realm").[3]
But he is better known by the nameRatsadathirat (รัษฎาธิราช;Thai pronunciation:[rät̚˥.sä˩.däː˧.tʰi˥.räːt̚˥˩]),[3] which is aSanskrit variant of thePali nameRatthathirat.
In theVan Vliet Chronicle, written in 1640CE by Dutch MerchantJeremias Van Vliet, his name is written asWoo-Rhae Rassa Thae Thieraya.[4]
All Thai and foreign chronicles say that Ratsadathirat was a son ofBorommarachathirat IV, theeleventhking of theKingdom of Ayutthaya, and that Ratsadathirat was five years of age when ascending the throne in 895LE (2076BE, 1533/34CE).[1] Ratsadathirat was possibly born in 890LE (2071BE, 1528/29CE). Modern scholars have suggested that his mother was a daughter of a powerful noble who wanted to be related with the royal household through marriage, because the enthronement of Ratsadathirat appears to have been supported by a group of nobles, despite his minority.[5]
In 895LE (2076BE, 1533/34CE),Borommarachathirat IV died ofsmallpox and his son, Ratsadathirat, succeeded him as king of Ayutthaya.[1] In 896LE (2077BE, 1534/35CE), after Ratsadathirat had been on the throne for five months,Chairachathirat seized the throne and had Ratsadathirat executed.[1] The execution was doneaccording to the palace law, that is, by covering the young king with a redsack before striking his neck with aSandalwoodclub.[5]
Thai and foreign chronicles state that Ratsadathirat andChairachathirat were relatives. But none of these documents gives enough information that makes clear the relationship between the two.[1] TheBuddhist Councils Chronicle says Chairachathirat was a nephew (son of an elder or younger sister) ofRamathibodi II, who was the father ofBorommarachathirat IV.[1] TheRoyal Autograph Chronicle and its variant versions merely say Chairachathirat was a relative of Ramathibodi II, the father of Borommarachathirat IV.[6] TheVan Vliet Chronicle says Chairachathirat was a distant relative of Ratsadathirat and served as the regent during the latter's reign.[4]
HistorianDamrongrachanuphap made a suggestion that Chairachathirat was theviceroy of Ayutthaya (ex officio ruler ofPhitsanulok) during the reigns of Borommarachathirat IV and Ratsadathirat. That is why it took Chairachathirat five months to arrive in Ayutthaya and seize the throne.[7] Modern scholars have suggested that another reason why Chairachathirat had to wait for five months before launching the coup is his need to check the attitude of each political faction and to await "a good opportunity", because Ratsadathirat was still supported by a group of nobles led by a powerful noble who seemed to be Ratsadathirat's grandfather (father of Ratsadathirat's mother).[5]
Moreover, the enthronement of Ratsadathirat was against tradition, because the viceroy had always been the first in line to succeed to the throne. For that reason, modern scholars are of an opinion that Ratsadathirat's ascension to the throne enraged Chairachathirat and the coup therefore resulted in "unnecessary violence", that is, the execution of the deposed five-year-old king. The coup also made Ratsadathirat the second king from theHouse of Suphannaphum to be executed.[5]
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Ratsadathirat Born: 890LE (1528/29CE) Died: 896LE (1534/35CE) | ||
| Regnal titles | ||
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| Preceded by | King of Ayutthaya Five months from 895LE (1533/34CE) to 896LE (1534/35CE) | Succeeded by |