Bhanurangsi Savangwongse

Prince Bhanurangsi Savangwongse, The Prince Bhanubandhu Vongsevoradej or His Royal Highness Prince Bhanurangsi Savangwongse, Prince Uncle (11 January 1859 – 13 June 1928) (Thai: สมเด็จพระราชปิตุลาบรมพงศาภิมุข เจ้าฟ้าภาณุรังษีสว่างวงศ์ กรมพระยาภาณุพันธุวงศ์วรเดช) was a son of King Mongkut of Siam and Queen Debsirindra.[1][2]

Bhanurangsi Savangwongse
Prince Bhanubandhu Vongsevoradej
Prince Bhanurangsi in 1881
Chief of the Joint Operations Department
In office
1892–1896
Preceded bySurasakmontri
Succeeded byChitcharoen
In office
1899–1901
Preceded byChitcharoen
Succeeded byChirapravati Voradej
Commander of the Navy Department
In office
17 February 1902 – 24 February 1903
Acting: 29 January 1901 – 17 February 1902
Preceded byAndreas du Plessis de Richelieu
Succeeded byParibatra Sukhumbandhu
Director-General of the Siamese Navy
In office
19 June 1920 – 31 August 1922
Preceded byParibatra Sukhumbandhu (as Minister of the Navy)
Succeeded byAbhakara Kiartivongse (as Minister of the Navy)
Born(1859-01-11)11 January 1859
Bangkok, Siam
Died13 June 1928(1928-06-13) (aged 68)
Bangkok, Siam
Spouse
  • Maen Bunnag
  • Liam Supphasut
  • Sun Paksiwongsa
  • Lap Chatikkarat
  • Lek Yongchaiyudh
  • Yiam na Bangxang
  • Yoi Komarakul
Issue
more...
HouseBhanubandh (Chakri dynasty)
FatherMongkut (Rama IV)
MotherDebsirindra
SignatureBhanurangsi Savangwongse's signature
Military career
AllegianceKingdom of Siam
Service / branch
Rank

Although the Prince held a number of posts in the government of his elder brother, King Chulalongkorn, including the post of Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Siamese Army, he is best remembered as the founder of the Thai postal service and the first Field marshal in Royal Siamese Army during King Vajiravudh.[3]

His most famous son is the Formula One racer, Prince Birabongse Bhanudej Bhanubandh, better known as Prince Bira.[4]

Early life and education

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Prince Bhanurangsi Savangwongse statue in front of General Post Office (Bangkok)

His Royal Highness Prince Bhanurangsi Savangwongse born on 11 January 1860 at the Grand Palace, Bangkok. He has 3 brothers and sisters, including King Chulalongkorn, Princess Chandrmondol and Prince Chaturonrasmi. After 2 years, his mother died. Later, his father died when he was 10 years old. He was the scatterer of rice in the procession of the royal funeral of King Mongkut. When he was 12 years old King Chulalongkorn appointed him as Prince Brother, with a royal ceremony at the Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall. When he was 13 years old he was ordained as a novice at Wat Phra Kaew with Supreme Patriarch Pavares Variyalongkorn as a preceptor then went out to Wat Bowonniwet Vihara.[5]

He began his studies in the school of female teachers and began to study by himself. After that, he studied the books of Khmer and Pali at the Bureau of Phraya Priyatthi Dhammada when he is ordained. After that, he studied military education at the Bureau of the King's Guard since 1872 and learning the Thai language from Phraya Srisoonthorn Waham (Noi Ajarayangkul) including studying civil service traditions and royal traditions from Prince Mahamala, the Prince Bamrapporapak.[6]

Careers

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He carried out military service in a special officer rank, with a first lieutenant's uniform in Bureau of the King's Guard When King Chulalongkorn travelled to Singapore (2nd time) and Burma, parts of England throughout India including the rising districts of Siam along the western coast of Malaya. He held positions including Minister of the Council and Privy Council of King Chulalongkorn, Chancellor of the Ministry of Defense, The Privy Council of King Rama VI and the President and Privy Councilor in King Rama VII, Inspector General, Commander of the Navy Department and Director-General of the Post and Telegraph Department.

Death

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Prince Bhanurangsi Savangwongse died on 13 June 1928 aged 68 at Buraphaphirom Palace.

Issue

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He had 16 children, 9 sons and 7 daughters:

Name Birth Death Marriage Their children
Date Spouse
By Man Bunnag
Nibanna Bhanubongse, Prince Bhanubongse Biriyadej (1885-09-07)7 September 1885 22 August 1934(1934-08-22) (aged 48) 26 October 1917 Princess Vilayakulya Devakula Prince Bhanudevan Bhanubandhu
Concubine Paew Savanna Vichairat
Arun Pheng-iam Prince Bhanbhanu Bhanubandhu
Princess Arunkhaiseang Bhanubandhu
Mali Sukcharoen Prabhabhadhu Konkosiyakaj
Prince Suriyabhandhu Bhanubandhu
Phanwarophat Svetarundra
Phayao Nayaphan Prince Niphathabhandhubongse Bhanubandhu
Princess Uthaikanya Bhanubandhu
Prince Siriwongse Vadhanadej (1889-03-07)7 March 1889 5 May 1909(1909-05-05) (aged 20) None None
Princess Chaloemkhetmongkhon (1892-03-10)10 March 1892 23 January 1957(1957-01-23) (aged 64) 22 November 1907 Yugala Dighambara, Prince of Lopburi Prince Bhanubandhu Yugala
Prince Chalermbol Dighambara
Prince Anusorn Mongkolkarn
By Liam Suphasut
Princess Dibyasambandh (1885-05-17)17 May 1885 26 July 1908(1908-07-26) (aged 23) 28 February 1901 Abhakara Kiartivongse, Prince of Chumphon Prince Kiart Abhakara
Prince Aditya Dibabha
Prince Rangsiyakorn Abhakara
By Sun Paksiwongsa
Prince Suriyon Yiembayab (1894-09-14)14 September 1894 19 September 1912(1912-09-19) (aged 18) None None
By Lap Chatikarat
Prince Ballap Danaya (1899-09-16)16 September 1899 2 July 1901(1901-07-02) (aged 1) None None
By Lek Yongchaiyudh
Princess Khaimuk Bhanubandhu (1904-04-23)23 April 1904 29 December 1904(1904-12-29) (aged 0) None None
Princess Rambhai Prabha (1907-07-25)25 July 1907 14 June 1979(1979-06-14) (aged 71) Unknow Prince Thaniseksangat Jumbala Mom Rajawongse Rueng-amphai Isarankura
Mom Rajawongse Hathaithani Jumbala
Prince Aphassorawongse (1909-06-20)20 June 1909 24 June 1982(1982-06-24) (aged 73) 1943
Divorced 1950
Mani Bunnag Mom Rajawongse Ornmani Niwetmarin
Unknow Amphai Seangsuk Mom Rajawongse Bhandhurangsri Bhanubandhu
Mom Rajawongse Sudaratana na Nagara
Prince Birabongse Bhanudej (1914-07-15)15 July 1914 23 December 1985(1985-12-23) (aged 71) 12 January 1938
Divorced 1949
Ceril Heycock None
18 December 1951
Divorced 1956
Celia Howard Mom Rajawongse Biradej Bhanubandh
1959
Divorced 1964
Arunee Chuladakoson None
1967
Divorced 1980
Chuanchom Chaiyananda Mom Rajawongse Rabibara Bhanubandh
Mom Rajawongse Biranubongse Bhanubandh
Prince Norasetdha Suriyalaksana (1915-12-09)9 December 1915 22 March 1954(1954-03-22) (aged 38) None None
Prince Chirasakdi Suprabhas (1918-09-04)4 September 1918 12 September 1942(1942-09-12) (aged 24) 22 September 1938 Mani Bunnag Mom Rajawongse Dejanasakdi Sakdidejna Bhanubandhu
Mom Rajawongse Thim Sakdidejna Bhanubandhu
Princess Lek Bhanubandhu (1919-09-05)5 September 1919 11 September 1919(1919-09-11) (aged 0) None None
Unknow mother
Unnamed Princess (1891-11-17)17 November 1891 1 December 1891(1891-12-01) (aged 0) None None
Prince Daeng Bhanubandhu (1904-04-23)23 April 1904 23 April 1904(1904-04-23) (aged 0) None None

Honours

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National honours

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Foreign honours

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Ancestry

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References

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  1. ^ "จอมพลสมเด็จพระราชปิตุลาบรมพงศาภิมุข เจ้าฟ้าภาณุรังษีสว่างวงศ์ กรมพระยาภาณุพันธุวงศ์วรเดช".
  2. ^ ""สมเด็จวังบูรพา" เสาหลักประเทศ Ep.1 ปฏิเสธขึ้นครองราชย์ นำทหารดูแล ร.5". 9 July 2019.
  3. ^ "สมเด็จพระราชปิตุลาบรมพงศาภิมุข เจ้าฟ้าภาณุรังษีสว่างวงศ์ กรมพระยาภาณุพันธุวงศ์วรเดช ประสูติ ณ พระบรมมหาราชวัง".
  4. ^ Bass (13 June 2021). "13 มิถุนายน 2471 วันทิวงคต สมเด็จฯ เจ้าฟ้าภาณุรังสีสว่างวงศ์ฯ "พระบิดาแห่งการไปรษณีย์ไทย"". ศิลปวัฒนธรรม.
  5. ^ "สมเด็จพระเจ้าบรมวงศ์เธอ เจ้าฟ้าภาณุรังษีสว่างวงศ์ฯเสด็จทิวงคต - วันนี้ในอดีต".
  6. ^ "#เรื่องเล่าจากภาพถ่าย "ความโทมนัสในพระชนม์ชีพสมเด็จฯวังบูรพา" จอมพล สมเด็จพระราชปิตุลาบรมพงศาภิมุข เจ้าฟ้าภาณุรังษีสว่าง… | Thai royal family, Old pictures, I kings".
Bhanurangsi Savangwongse
House of Bhanubandh
Cadet branch of the House of Chakri
Born: 11 January 1859 Died: 13 June 1928
Military offices
Preceded byas Chief of the Army Department Chief of the Joint Operations Department
1892–1896
Succeeded by
Preceded by Chief of the Joint Operations Department
1899–1901
Succeeded by
Preceded by Commander of the Navy Department
acting
1901–1902
Succeeded by
Himself
Vacant
Title last held by
Chonlayutthayothin
Commander of the Navy Department
1902–1903
Succeeded by
Preceded byas Minister of the Navy Director-General of the Navy
1920–1922
Succeeded byas Minister of the Navy
Political offices
Preceded by
Prachaksinlapakhom
Minister of Defence
1901–1910
Succeeded by
Assembly seats
New creation President of the Supreme Council of State
1926–1928
Succeeded byas acting