Kitiyakara Voralaksana

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Kitiyakara Voralaksana
กิติยากรวรลักษณ์
Prince of Chanthaburi I
Born(1874-06-08)8 June 1874
Grand Palace, Bangkok, Siam
Died27 May 1931(1931-05-27) (aged 56)
Paris, France[1]
Spouse
  • Princess Apsarasaman Devakula
  • Chon Vijayabhai
  • La-ong Vicharanabutra
  • Chan Indraket
  • Lamiat Plianprayun
Issuesee § Marriage and issue
HouseKitiyakara family (Chakri Dynasty)
FatherChulalongkorn (Rama V)
MotherUam Bisalayabutra
SignatureKitiyakara Voralaksana กิติยากรวรลักษณ์'s signature
Acting Minister of Royal Treasury
In office
11 February 1908 – 1 April 1908
Preceded byKoed Bunnag
Minister of Royal Treasury
In office
1 April 1908 – 17 January 1923
Succeeded bySuphayok Kasem
Minister of Commerce
In office
20 August 1920 – 23 March 1926
Preceded byOffice established
Succeeded byPrince of Kamphaengphet
as minister of commerce and transport

Kitiyakara Voralaksana, 1st Prince of Chanthaburi (Thai: กิติยากรวรลักษณ์; RTGS: Kitiyakonworalak; 8 June 1874 – 27 May 1931) was a Prince of Siam, a member of the Siamese Royal Family (later Thailand). He originated the House of Kitiyakara (ราชสกุลกิติยากร). His descendants use this royal surname. He is the paternal grandfather of Queen Sirikit, consort of King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX of Thailand). Through Sirikit he is also the maternal great-grandfather of King Maha Vajiralongkorn (Rama X), who has been King of Thailand since 2016.

Biography[edit]

King Chulalongkorn's four sons while studying in Britain

Prince Kitiyakara Voralaksana was born at Grand Palace, Bangkok. He was the 12th child of King Chulalongkorn, Rama V of Siam, and Chao Chom Manda Uam (เจ้าจอมมารดาอ่วม). His maternal grandfather was a prominent Thai Chinese businessman who initiated the creation of the Khlong Phasi Charoen.[2] He attended primary school at Suankularb Wittayalai School, Bangkok. In 1885, he went to the United Kingdom, to study Oriental Studies, Pali and Sanskrit at Balliol College, Oxford.[3] He went to study abroad with three of his half-brothers:

After returning to Bangkok, he worked in the Office of the Royal Secretariat and Education Office (later Ministry of Education). On 26 April 1902, his father gave him the royal title as Prince of Chanthaburi, translated as Krom Muen Chunthaburi Naruenat (กรมหมื่นจันทบุรีนฤนาถ, the fifth level of the Krom ranks. He had used this title until his father's death. His royal title was elevated from Krom Muen into Krom Phra, the second level of the Krom ranks by his half-brother, King Vajiravudh (Rama VI)

Royal duties[edit]

He had worked at the Royal Secretariat office once he had come back to Siam in 1894 before becoming the director general of Education Department, ministry of education before being transferred to Comptroller General Department, Ministry of Finance in 1902 due to the diploma on accountant while studying in Balliol College, Oxford University. He later become an acting minister of finance in 1907 after resignation of Phraya Suriyanuwat (Koed Bunnag) due to endless conflicts with other ministers in the cabinet and the tax collectors. He had become officially minister of finance on 1 April 1908 due to his competency to handle the affairs in Ministry of Finance which successfully paved the way for Siamese Baht to be in Gold Standard on 11 November 1908.

He established the Saving Office (now Government Saving Bank) on 1 April 1913 for common people, savings and deposit to avoid any dangers; like thieves, fires, etc. He promoted saving money to all the people, and he established the Department of Commerce and statistics management service. He outlined the legal regulation of customs, and updated the ministries of revenue and taxation. Then were collected all the levy offices in the one department, in the control of this ministry. Moreover, he provided laws of alcohol and opium control into a government monopoly, thus paving the way for the future ability to enforce the government's opium ban.

In 1920, he became minister of commerce, according with his excellent ability in commerce and economics. However, he had to step down from minister of finance due to the heavy workloads on both ministries, especially the financial deficits during 1920's.

In the reign of King Prajadhipok (Rama VII), he became a member of the Supreme Council of State of Siam on 27 November 1925, with his uncles, and his half-brother, including

Moreover, he also worked as the committee of Siamese Royal Institute. He translated the novel Chandrakumarn Chadok from Pali into a Thai version. He created the Pali-Thai-Sanskrit-English Glossary, by using references from the Pali dictionary of R.C. Childers. Later the Pali Pakorn Association published this as the primary edition of dictionary, as the original had not been clearly done. Later, in the reign of King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX) gave the responsibility of restoring the original edition to Mom Luang Chirayu Navawongs, member of the Privy Council, joining with the Maha Mongkut Royal College Foundation. This new edition was established, published and now has become widely well-known.

Later life[edit]

Members of the House of Kitiyakara, 1925

In his later life, he went to Paris, France, to have his illnesses (Laryngeal cancer) treated. But he died there peacefully on 27 May 1931. Later, the Minister of Commerce built his statue and erected it to stand in front of the Commerce Ministry building. And the statue can be seen there, still standing today. This is in remembrance of the fact that he was the first Minister of Commerce of Siam, and all he did to protect the savings of common people in Thailand.

The official residence of the House of Kitiyakara is Dheves Palace, Bangkok. His descendants continue to live in this palace today.

Marriage and issue[edit]

Prince Kitiyakara Voralaksana, the Prince of Chunthaburi had 5 consorts, with 24 children; 14 sons and 10 daughters.

Name Birth Death Notes[4]
Prince Kiartikamchorn Kitiyakara 7 September 1896 18 February 1902 the first grandchild of King Chulalongkorn, died in childhood at age only 6
Prince Amorn Samarnluksana Kitiyakara 17 January 1897 14 August 1968 married Mom Pin Kitiyakara na Ayudhya, Mom Chao Chavalit Obhas Rabhibhat, and Mom Chao Chiraka Kitiyakara; had 3 sons and 3 daughters, died at age 71
Prince Nakkhatra Mangkala Kitiyakara 4 January 1898 11 February 1953 father of Queen Sirikit, later The Prince of Chunthaburi II Suranath, married Mom Luang Bua Sanitvongse; had 2 sons and 2 daughters, died at age 56
Princess Kamolpramoj Kitiyakara 5 December 1898 28 November 1974 married Mom Chao Marubara bhandhu Dhevakul and Mom Chao Vongsanuvatra Dhevakul; had issue, died at age 76
Prince Manojmanop Kitiyakara 24 January 1900 24 August 1901 died in childhood
Prince Kachornjob Kitikhun Kitiyakara 15 March 1901 28 January 1967 married Mom Rajawongse Vichitrachom Jayakura; had 2 sons, died at age 65
Princess Bibulaya Benchang Kitiyakara 13 November 1902 27 April 1969 married Prince Vanna Vaidhayakara, the Prince Naradhip Bongsaprabandh; had issue, died at age 66
Princess Kalyankasombati Kitiyakara 28 March 1904 4 February 1942 married Mom Chao Muradhrabhisek Sohnakul; had issue, died at age 37
Princess Chitra Banchong Kitiyakara 28 January 1906 29 October 1944 married Mom Rajawongse Nasatra Ladavalaya; had issue, died at age 37
Princess Songapsara Kitiyakara 22 July 1907 28 March 1988 married Mom Chao Plurng Nobbhadol Rabhibhat; had issue, died at age 81
Princess Sarada Chandra Kitiyakara 26 December 1908 30 September 1923 died young
Prince Pudh Kitiyakara 8 February 1911 26 December 1911 died in childhood
  • Jon Vijayabhai (later Mom Jon Kitiyakara na Ayudhya); had 2 sons and 2 daughters
Name Birth Death Notes[4]
Princess Badhana Kanana Kitiyakara 30 September 1903 29 May 1966 married Prince Vivadhanajaya Jayanta, son of Prince Jayanta Monkol, the Prince Mahisara Rajaharudaya; had issue, died at age 63
Prince Samakhom Kitiyakara 15 September 1905 1 October 1988 married Mom Rajawongse Samaikarn Dhevakul; had 2 sons and 2 daughter (1 died infant), died at age 83
Princess Bhornbhibatra Kitiyakara 30 August 1907 7 February 1925 died in childhood
Prince Kitimati Kitiyakara 30 August 1915 27 January 1982 unmarried, died at age 67
  • La-ong Vijarnbutra (later Mom La-ong Kitiyakara na Ayudhya); had 2 sons
Name Birth Death Notes[4]
Prince Chomchit Kitiyakara 16 October 1905 22 January 1948 unmarried, died at age 43
Prince Kolit Kitiyakara 13 July 1910 2 January 1976 married Princess Bhisidh Sobsamai; had 1 daughter, died at age 66
  • Jun Intaketu (later Mom Jun Kitiyakara na Ayudhya); had 2 sons and a daughter
Name Birth Death Notes[4]
Princess Chiraka Kitiyakara 27 April 1913 8 November 1975 married her half-brother Mom Chao Amorn Samarnlaksana Kitiyakara; had issue, died at age 62
Prince Chirinanda Kitiyakara 26 February 1915 9 April 1973 married Somluksana Dhipsamai; had 2 sons and 2 daughters, died at age 58
Prince Chiridanaya Kitiyakara 1 December 1916 24 July 1981 married his half-sister Mom Chao Kitipapiya Kitiyakara; had a son, died at age 67
  • Lamiet Plianprayul (later Mom Lamiet Kitiyakara na Ayudhya); had a son and 2 daughters
Name Birth Death Notes[4]
Princess Vinita Kitiyakara 2 December 1913 6 March 1998 married Mom Chao Vimvaditaya Rabhibhat; had issue, died at age 85
Prince Suvanit Kitiyakara 4 March 1915 9 April 1973 married Princess Suddha Sirisobha, daughter of Prince Chudadhuj Dharadilok, the Prince of Petchabun; had 2 daughter, died at age 65
Princess Kitipapiya Kitiyakara 6 December 1923 25 May 2012 married her half-brother, Mom Chao Chiridanaya Kitiyakara; had issue

Royal Decorations[edit]

Prince Kitiyakara Voralaksana received the following decorations in the Honours System of Thailand (then Siam):

Ancestry[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ เล็ก พงษ์สมัครไทย. พระญาติ ราชสกุล กรุงรัตนโกสินทร์. กรุงเทพฯ:มติชน, 2556, หน้า 10
  2. ^ Siamese Aristocracy: The Pisolyabutra Family
  3. ^ "Oxford men, 1880–1892, with a record of their schools, honours and degrees". Oxford, J. Parker. 1893. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
  4. ^ a b c d e Weir, pp.286–299
Kitiyakara Voralaksana
House of Kitiyakara
Cadet branch of the House of Chakri
Born: 8 June 1874 Died: 27 May 1931
Political offices
Preceded by
Phraya Suriyanuwat
 Minister of Finance
1907–1922 		Succeeded by
First Minister of Commerce
1920–1926 		Succeeded by
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