Phetracha

Phetracha
พระเพทราชา
King of Ayutthaya
Engraving of King Phetracha by Gaspar Bouttats, 1690
King of Siam
Reign1 August 1688[1] – 5 February 1703[citation needed]
PredecessorNarai
SuccessorSuriyenthrathibodi
ViceroySorasak
Born1632 (1632)
Died5 February 1703(1703-02-05) (aged 70–71)[citation needed]
Ayutthaya Kingdom
ConsortsKan, Princess Thephamat
Sudawadi, Princess Yothathep
Si Suphan, Princess Yothathip
Kusawadi of Chiang Mai
IssuePrince Trat Noi
Prince Phra Khwan
Suriyenthrathibodi, King of Ayutthaya (adopted)
Princess Chim
Princess Chin
Prince Dam
Prince Kaeo
Prince Bunnak
HouseBan Phlu Luang dynasty
ReligionBuddhism

Phetracha (alternative spellings: Bedraja, P'etraja, Petraja, Petratcha; also called Phra Phetracha; Thai: เพทราชา, pronounced [pʰêːt.rāː.t͡ɕʰāː]; 1632– 5 February 1703) was a king of the Ayutthaya Kingdom, usurping the throne from his predecessor King Narai and originally settled in Phluluang Village. His dynasty, the Ban Phlu Luang dynasty, was the last ruling house of the Ayutthaya Kingdom.[2]: 252 

Originally a member of King Narai's extended family (two of his relatives were among Narai's wives), he was a trusted councilor of Narai, and the Director-General of the Royal Department of Elephants. However, in 1688 he led the Siamese revolution of 1688, had Narai's heirs executed, and by marrying Narai's only daughter took the throne of Ayutthaya kingdom upon Narai's death. He opposed the pro-French policies of Narai, ejecting the French officers and some other French citizens from the kingdom, and launched the Siege of Bangkok, to exile all French troops from Siam. Since then, Siam and France have only contacted a few times. His reign was marred by rebellions, insurrections and political upheavals throughout due to the nature of his ascension to power, especially those claiming ties of loyalty to the previous dynasty, as well as to the late King Narai himself.

  1. ^ "History of Ayutthaya - Historical Events - Timeline 1650-1699". www.ayutthaya-history.com.
  2. ^ Reid, Anthony (Editor), Dhiravat na Prombeja, Southeast Asia in the Early Modern Era, Cornell University Press, 1993, ISBN 0-8014-8093-0