Suriyenthrathibodi

Suriyenthrathibodi สุริเยนทราธิบดี
King of Ayutthaya
Statue of King Suriyenthrathibodi, Wat Sai Temple
King of Siam
Reign	1703–1709
Predecessor	Phetracha
Successor	Thai Sa
Died	1709 Ayutthaya, Ayutthaya Kingdom
Issue	Thai Sa Borommakot Princess Kaeo Princess Thapthim
House	Ban Phlu Luang Dynasty
Father	Phetracha
Mother	Kusawadi of Chiang Mai

Sanphet VIII^[1] (Thai: สรรเพชญ์ที่ ๘) or Suriyenthrathibodi (Thai: สุริเยนทราธิบดี) was the King of Ayutthaya from 1703 to 1709 and the second ruler of the Ban Phlu Luang Dynasty. Suriyenthrathibodi was also known by the noble title he held before ascending the throne, Luang Sorasak (Thai: หลวงสรศักดิ์). He was the eldest son of the founder of the Ban Phlu Luang dynasty, Phetracha.^[2]:277

The "Revolution" of 1688

When King Narai was seriously ill with no hope of recovery, Phetracha arrested Constantine Phaulkon and the French officers. After questioning Mom Pi, he discovered Mom Pi had conspired with Phaulkon to assume the throne, and Mom Pi was executed. Further questioning of Phaulkon revealed a plot to raise a rebellion, and he too was executed. Narai, on his deathbed, was unable to do anything, except curse Phetracha and his son, Luang Sorasak. Luang Sorasak then had Narai's two brothers executed.^{[2]:271–273}

"Tiger King"

The Thai commoners in his time gave him the name Phra Chao Suea,^[1] (Thai: พระเจ้าเสือ "Tiger King"), for he was, according to the official chronicles, as evil as tiger.^[3] "Stories abound of his appalling private life and his acts of cruelty."^[4]:67 The Chronicle of Ayutthaya, Phan Chanthanumat (Choem)'s Edition, described his behaviour as follows:^[3]

"His Majesty habitually pleased himself with liquor and intercourse with the female children under 11-12 years of age. If any female was unable to endure him and writhed in pain, His Majesty would become furious and bestow a penalty upon her by crushing her to death with his feet. But if any female could maintain her tolerance without struggle, His Majesty would be elated and bestow upon her certain gratuities and rewards.

"Furthermore, when His Majesty took a trip to any canal, sea, island or any other place full of sharks, sawfish and other aquatic beings, he always drank liquor. If any concubine, lady, page or official caused his barge shaken, His Majesty would exercise no judgment and express no mercy, but would be enraged and order the person to be dragged with a hook and thrown into water to be consumed by sharks and sawfish.

"Moreover, His Majesty never maintained himself in the five precepts. He gratified himself by having intercourse with the wives of the government officers. From that time onwards, he was given the name the 'Tiger King'."

The Chronicle of Ayutthaya, British Museum's Version, also contained the like:^[5]

"At that time, the king was of vulgar mind, uncivil behaviour, savage conduct, cruel habit. He was never interested in charitable activities, but only in the activities which breached the royal traditions. Also, he lacked inhibition, but was consumed by unholy sin. Eternal were anger and ignorance in his mind. And the king habitually drank liquor and pleased himself by having intercourse with the female children not yet attaining the age of menstruation. In this respect, if any female was able to endure him, that female would be granted a great amount of rewards, money, gold, silks and other cloth. Should any female be incapable of bearing with him, he would be enraged and strike a sword at her heart, putting her to death. The caskets were every day seen to be called into the palace to contain the female dead bodies and to be brought out of the palace through a royal gate at the end of the royal confinement mansion. That gate thereby gained the name the 'Gate of Ghosts' until now."

References