Grand Palace - Wikipedia

The Grand Palace is a complex of buildings at the heart of Bangkok, Thailand. The palace has been the official residence of the Kings of Siam (and later ... GrandPalace FromWikipedia,thefreeencyclopedia Jumptonavigation Jumptosearch OfficialresidenceoftheKingofThailandsince1782 ThisarticleisaboutthepalacecomplexlocatedinBangkok,Thailand.Forotheruses,seeGrandPalace(disambiguation). TheGrandPalaceพระบรมมหาราชวังGrandPalacefromacrossChaoPhrayaRiverLocationwithinBangkokGeneralinformationStatusTheKing’sprivateproperty[1][2]LocationPhraNakhon,Bangkok,ThailandCoordinates13°45′00″N100°29′31″E/13.7501°N100.4920°E/13.7501;100.4920Coordinates:13°45′00″N100°29′31″E/13.7501°N100.4920°E/13.7501;100.4920Constructionstarted6May1782Completed1785OwnerVajiralongkornTechnicaldetailsSize218415.047m2(2,351,000sqft)Websitewww.royalgrandpalace.th ThisarticlecontainsThaitext.Withoutproperrenderingsupport,youmayseequestionmarks,boxes,orothersymbolsinsteadofThaiscript. TheGrandPalace(Thai:พระบรมมหาราชวัง,RTGS: PhraBoromMahaRatchaWang[3])isacomplexofbuildingsattheheartofBangkok,Thailand.ThepalacehasbeentheofficialresidenceoftheKingsofSiam(andlaterThailand)since1782.Theking,hiscourt,andhisroyalgovernmentwerebasedonthegroundsofthepalaceuntil1925.KingBhumibolAdulyadej(RamaIX),residedattheChitraladaRoyalVillaandhissuccessorKingVajiralongkorn(RamaX)attheAmphornSathanResidentialHall,bothintheDusitPalace,buttheGrandPalaceisstillusedforofficialevents.Severalroyalceremoniesandstatefunctionsareheldwithinthewallsofthepalaceeveryyear.ThepalaceisoneofthemostpopulartouristattractionsinThailand. Constructionofthepalacebeganon6May1782,attheorderofKingPhutthayotfaChulalok(RamaI),thefounderoftheChakriDynasty,whenhemovedthecapitalcityfromThonburitoBangkok.Throughoutsuccessivereigns,manynewbuildingsandstructureswereadded,especiallyduringthereignofKingChulalongkorn(RamaV).By1925,theking,theRoyalFamilyandthegovernmentwerenolongerpermanentlysettledatthepalace,andhadmovedtootherresidences.Aftertheabolitionofabsolutemonarchyin1932,allgovernmentagenciescompletelymovedoutofthepalace. Inshape,thepalacecomplexisroughlyrectangularandhasacombinedareaof218,400squaremetres(2,351,000 sq ft),surroundedbyfourwalls.ItissituatedonthebanksoftheChaoPhrayaRiverattheheartoftheRattanakosinIsland,todayinthePhraNakhonDistrict.TheGrandPalaceisborderedbySanamLuangandNaPhraLanRoadtothenorth,MaharajRoadtothewest,SanamChaiRoadtotheeastandThaiWangRoadtothesouth. Ratherthanbeingasinglestructure,theGrandPalaceismadeupofnumerousbuildings,halls,pavilionssetaroundopenlawns,gardensandcourtyards.Itsasymmetryandeclecticstylesareduetoitsorganicdevelopment,withadditionsandrebuildingbeingmadebysuccessivereigningkingsover200yearsofhistory.Itisdividedintoseveralquarters:theTempleoftheEmeraldBuddha;theOuterCourt,withmanypublicbuildings;theMiddleCourt,includingthePhraMahaMonthienBuildings,thePhraMahaPrasatBuildingsandtheChakriMahaPrasatBuildings;theInnerCourtandtheSiwalaiGardensquarter.TheGrandPalaceiscurrentlypartiallyopentothepublicasamuseum,butitremainsaworkingpalace,withseveralroyalofficesstillsituatedinside. Contents 1History 2OuterCourt 3TempleoftheEmeraldBuddha 4MiddleCourt 4.1PhraMahaMonthiengroup 4.1.1PhraThinangAmarinWinitchai 4.1.2PhraThinangPhaisanThaksin 4.1.3PhraThinangChakraphatPhiman 4.1.4PhraThinangDusidaphirom 4.1.5PhraThinangRacharuedee 4.1.6PhraThinangSanamChan 4.1.7HoSastrakhom 4.1.8HoSuralaiPhimanandHoPhraThatMonthien 4.2PhraThinangChakriMahaPrasatgroup 4.2.1PhraThinangChakriMahaPrasat 4.2.2PhraThinangMoonSatharnBoromArd 4.2.3PhraThinangSommuthiThevarajUppabat 4.2.4PhraThinangBoromRatchasathitMahoran 4.3PhraMahaPrasatgroup 4.3.1PhraThinangDusitMahaPrasat 4.3.2PhraThinangPhimanRattaya 4.3.3PhraThinangAphornPhimokPrasat 4.3.4PhraThinangRachakaranyaSapha 4.3.5HoPlueangKhrueang 4.3.6MountKailasa 4.4SiwalaiGarden 4.4.1PhraThinangBoromphiman 4.4.2PhraThinangMahisornPrasat 4.4.3PhraThinangSiwalaiMahaPrasat 4.4.4PhraThinangSitalaphirom 4.4.5PhraBuddhaRattanasathan 5InnerCourt 6Defensivewalls 6.1Pavilions 6.1.1PhraThinangChaiChumpol 6.1.2PhraThinangSuthaisawanPrasat 6.2Gates 6.3Forts 7MuseumoftheEmeraldBuddhaTemple 8Seealso 9References 9.1Citations 9.2Sources 10Externallinks History[edit] MonarchsoftheChakridynastyPhraBuddhaYodfaChulaloke(RamaI)PhraBuddhaLoetlaNabhalai(RamaII)Nangklao(RamaIII)Mongkut(RamaIV)Chulalongkorn(RamaV)Vajiravudh(RamaVI)Prajadhipok(RamaVII)AnandaMahidol(RamaVIII)BhumibolAdulyadej(RamaIX)Vajiralongkorn(RamaX)vte TheconstructionoftheGrandPalacebeganon6May1782,attheorderofKingPhutthayotfaChulalok(RamaI).[4]HavingseizedthecrownfromKingTaksinofThonburi,KingRamaIwasintentonbuildingacapitalcityforhisnewChakriDynasty.HemovedtheseatofpowerfromthecityofThonburi,onthewestsideoftheChaoPhrayaRiver,totheeastsideatBangkok.Thenewcapitalcitywasturnedintoanartificialislandwhencanalsweredugalongtheeastside.Theislandwasgiventhename'Rattanakosin'.ThepreviousroyalresidencewastheDermPalace,constructedforKingTaksinin1768.[5][6]TheoldroyalpalaceinThonburiwassmallandsandwichedbetweentwotemples;WatArunandWatTaiTalat,prohibitingfurtherexpansion.[7] Thenewpalacewasbuiltonarectangularpieceoflandontheverywestsideoftheisland,betweenWatPhotothesouth,WatMahathattothenorthandwiththeChaoPhrayaRiveronthewest.ThislocationwaspreviouslyoccupiedbyaChinesecommunity,whomKingRamaIorderedtorelocatetoanareasouthandoutsideofthecitywalls;theareaisnowBangkok'sChinatown.[5][6] Desperateformaterialsandshortonfunds,thepalacewasinitiallybuiltentirelyoutofwood,itsvariousstructuressurroundedbyasimplelogpalisade.On10June1782,thekingceremoniallycrossedtheriverfromThonburitotakepermanentresidenceinthenewpalace.Threedayslateron13June,thekingheldanabbreviatedcoronationceremony,thusbecomingthefirstmonarchofthenewRattanakosinKingdom.[4][8]Overthenextfewyearsthekingbeganreplacingwoodenstructureswithmasonry,rebuildingthewalls,forts,gates,thronehallsandroyalresidences.Thisrebuildingincludedtheroyalchapel,whichwouldcometohousetheEmeraldBuddha.[5][6] Tofindmorematerialfortheseconstructions,KingRamaIorderedhismentogoupstreamtotheoldcapitalcityofAyutthaya,whichwasdestroyedin1767duringawarbetweenBurmaandSiam.Theydismantledstructuresandremovedasmanybricksastheycouldfind,whilenotremovinganyfromthetemples.Theybeganbytakingmaterialsfromthefortsandwallsofthecity.Bytheendtheyhadcompletelyleveledtheoldroyalpalaces.ThebrickswereferrieddowntheChaoPhrayabybarges,wheretheywereeventuallyincorporatedintothewallsofBangkokandtheGrandPalaceitself.[9][10]MostoftheinitialconstructionoftheGrandPalaceduringthereignofKingRamaIwascarriedoutbyconscriptedorcorvéelabour.[11]Afterthefinalcompletionoftheceremonialhallsofthepalace,thekingheldafulltraditionalcoronationceremonyin1785.[5][12] ThelayoutoftheGrandPalacefollowedthatoftheRoyalPalaceatAyutthayainlocation,organization,andinthedivisionsofseparatecourts,walls,gatesandforts.[9][13]Bothpalacesfeaturedaproximitytotheriver.Thelocationofapavilionservingasalandingstageforbargeprocessionsalsocorrespondedwiththatoftheoldpalace.TothenorthoftheGrandPalacethereisalargefield,theThungPhraMen(nowcalledSanamLuang),whichisusedasanopenspaceforroyalceremoniesandasaparadeground.TherewasalsoasimilarfieldinAyutthaya,whichwasusedforthesamepurpose.TheroadrunningnorthleadstotheFrontPalace,theresidenceoftheViceKingofSiam.[14][15] TheGrandPalacefromacrosstheChaoPhrayaRiver,c.1880 TheGrandPalaceisdividedintofourmaincourts,separatedbynumerouswallsandgates:theOuterCourt,theMiddleCourt,theInnerCourtandtheTempleoftheEmeraldBuddha.Eachofthesecourt'sfunctionsandaccessareclearlydefinedbylawsandtraditions.TheOuterCourtisinthenorthwesternpartoftheGrandPalace;withinaretheroyalofficesand(formerly)stateministries.[14][16]TothenortheastistheTempleoftheEmeraldBuddha,theroyalchapel,andhomeoftheEmeraldBuddha.TheMiddleCourthousedthemostimportantstateapartmentsandceremonialthronehallsoftheking.TheInnerCourt,atthesouthendofthecomplex,wasreservedonlyforfemales,asithousedtheking'sharem.[17][18] DuringthereignofKingPhutthaloetlaNaphalai(RamaII),theareaoftheGrandPalacewasexpandedsouthwardsuptothewallsofWatPho.Previouslythisareawashometoofficesofvariouspalaceofficials.Thisexpansionincreasedtheareaofthepalacefrom213,674squaremetres(2,299,970 sq ft)to218,400squaremetres(2,351,000 sq ft).Newwalls,forts,andgateswereconstructedtoaccommodatetheenlargedcompound.Sincethisexpansion,thepalacehasremainedwithinitswallswithnewconstructionandchangesbeingmadeonlyontheinside.[14][19] ThelocationoftheGrandPalaceinBangkok.SeebelowforamoredetailedplanofthePalaceitself. Inaccordancewithtradition,thepalacewasinitiallyreferredtoonlyasthePhraRatchaWangLuang(พระราชวังหลวง)or'RoyalPalace',similartotheoldpalaceinAyutthaya.However,duringthereignofKingMongkut(RamaIV)thenamePhraBorommaMahaRatchaWangor'GrandPalace'wasfirstusedinofficialdocuments.ThischangeofnamewasmadeduringtheelevationofPrinceChutamani(theking'syoungerbrother)tothetitleofSecondKingPinklaoin1851.Theproclamationofhistitledescribedtheroyalpalaceasthe'supreme'(บรม;Borom)[3]and'great'(มหา;Maha)[3]palace.ThistitlewasgiveninordertodistinguishthepalacefromtheSecondKing'spalace(theFrontPalace),whichwasdescribedasthePhraBovornRatchaWang(พระบวรราชวัง)orthe'glorious'(บวร;Bovorn)palace.[20] Throughouttheperiodofabsolutemonarchy,from1782to1932,theGrandPalacewasboththecountry'sadministrativeandreligiouscentre.[21]Asthemainresidenceofthemonarch,thepalacewasalsotheseatofgovernment,withthousandsofinhabitantsincludingguardsmen,servants,concubines,princesses,ministers,andcourtiers.Thepalace'shighwhitewashedcastellatedwallsandextensivefortsandguardpostsmirroredthoseofthewallsofBangkokitself,andthustheGrandPalacewasenvisionedasacitywithinacity.Forthisreasonaspecialsetofpalacelawswerecreatedtogoverntheinhabitantsandtoestablishhierarchyandorder.[22] Bythe1920s,aseriesofnewpalaceswereconstructedelsewherefortheking'suse;theseincludedthemoremodernDusitPalace,constructedin1903,andPhayaThaiPalacein1909.TheseotherBangkokresidencesbegantoreplacetheGrandPalaceastheprimaryplaceofresidenceofthemonarchandhiscourt.By1925thisgradualmoveoutofthepalacewascomplete.ThegrowthandcentralizationoftheSiamesestatealsomeantthatthevariousgovernmentministrieshavegrowninsizeandwerefinallymovedoutoftheGrandPalacetotheirownpremises.DespitethistheGrandPalaceremainedtheofficialandceremonialplaceofresidenceaswellasthestagesetforelaborateancientceremoniesofthemonarchy.Theendoftheabsolutemonarchycamein1932,whenarevolutionoverthrewtheancientsystemofgovernmentandreplaceditwithaconstitutionalmonarchy.[22][23] TodaytheGrandPalaceisstillacentreofceremonyandofthemonarchy,andservesasamuseumandtouristattractionaswell.[22] MapoftheGrandPalace TempleoftheEmeraldBuddha BureauoftheRoyalHousehold QueenSirikitMuseumofTextiles SalaLukKhunNai SalaSahathaiSamakhom MuseumoftheEmeraldBuddhaTemple PavilionofRegalia,RoyalDecorationsandCoins PhraThinangAmarinWinitchai PhraThinangPhaisanThaksin PhraThinangChakraphatPhiman PhraThinangDusidaphirom PhraThinangRacharuedee PhraThinangSanamChan HoSastrakhom HoSulalaiPhiman HoPhraThatMontien PhraThinangChakriMahaPrasat PhraThinangMoonSatharnBoromArd PhraThinangSommuthiThevarajUppabat PhraThinangBoromRatchasathitMahoran PhraThinangDusitMahaPrasat PhraThinangPhimanRattaya PhraThinangAphornPhimokPrasat PhraThinangRachakaranyaSapha HoPlueangKhrueang MountKailasa SiwalaiGarden PhraThinangBoromphiman PhraThinangMahisornPrasat PhraThinangSiwalaiMahaPrasat PhraThinangSitalaphirom PhraBuddhaRattanasathan PhraThinangChaiChumpol PhraThinangSuthaisawanPrasat InnerCourt OuterCourt[edit] ThePhimanchaisriGate,themainentrancefromtheOutertotheMiddleCourt RoyalThaiArmysoldiersfromthe1stInfantryRegiment,King'sOwnBodyguards,restinginthemainguardhouseintheOuterCourt.Theregimentprovidesceremonialaswellaspracticalsecuritytothepalacecompound. TheOuterCourtorKhetPhraRachaThanChanNork(เขตพระราชฐานชั้นนอก)oftheGrandPalaceissituatedtothenorthwestofthepalace(thenortheastbeingoccupiedbytheTempleoftheEmeraldBuddha).EnteringthroughthemainVisetchaisriGate,theTempleoftheEmeraldBuddhaislocatedtotheleft,withmanypublicbuildingslocatedtotheright.[18] ThesebuildingsincludetheheadquartersandinformationcentreoftheGrandPalaceandtheBureauoftheRoyalHousehold.OtherimportantbuildingsinsidethecourtincludetheSalaSahathaiSamakhom(ศาลาสหทัยสมาคม),usedforimportantreceptionsandmeetings.TheSalaLukKhunNai(ศาลาลูกขุนใน)isanofficebuildinghousingvariousdepartmentsoftheRoyalHousehold.ThemainofficeoftheRoyalInstituteofThailandwasalsoformerlylocatedhere.TheOuterCourthasasmallmuseumcalledthePavilionofRegalia,RoyalDecorationsandCoins.ThePhimanchaisriGateopensdirectlyuntotheChakriMahaPrasatThroneHallandisthemainportalfromtheOuterCourtintotheMiddleCourt.[18][24] HistoricallythiscourtwasreferredtoasFaiNa(ฝ่ายหน้า,literallyInthefront),andalsoservedastheseatoftheroyalgovernment,withvariousministerialoffices,atheatre,stablesfortheking'selephants,barracksfortheroyalguards,theroyalmintandanarsenal.By1925,allgovernmentagenciesandworkershadvacatedthesiteandallofthebuildingswereconvertedforusebytheRoyalHousehold.[18] TempleoftheEmeraldBuddha[edit] WatPhraKaewortheTempleoftheEmeraldBuddhaasseenfromtheOuterCourt Mainarticle:WatPhraKaew TheTempleoftheEmeraldBuddhaorWatPhraKaew(วัดพระแก้ว)(knownformallyasWatPhraSiRattanaSatsadaram,วัดพระศรีรัตนศาสดาราม)isaroyalchapelsituatedwithinthewallsofthepalace.IncorrectlyreferredtoasaBuddhisttemple,itisinfactachapel;ithasallthefeaturesofatempleexceptforlivingquartersformonks.[25]Builtin1783,thetemplewasconstructedinaccordancewithancienttraditiondatingbacktoWatMahathat,aroyalchapelwithinthegroundsoftheroyalpalaceatSukhothai,andWatPhraSiSanphetatAyutthaya.ThefamedEmeraldBuddhaiskeptwithinthegroundsofthetemple.[4][26] Thetempleissurroundedonfoursidesbyaseriesofwalledcloisters,withsevendifferentgates.LikethoseancientroyaltemplesofSukhothaiandAyutthaya,theWatPhraKaewcomplexisseparatedfromthelivingquartersofthekings.Withinthesewallsarebuildingsandstructuresfordiversepurposesandofdifferingstyles,reflectingthechangingarchitectureduringthevariousreignsofthekings.Despitethis,mostofthebuildingswithinadherestrictlytoclassicalThaiarchitecture.TheestablishmentoftheTempleoftheEmeraldBuddhadatestotheveryfoundingoftheGrandPalaceandBangkokitself.[4][26] MiddleCourt[edit] ThelargestandmostimportantcourtistheMiddleCourtortheKhetPhraRachaThanChanKlang(เขตพระราชฐานชั้นกลาง)issituatedinthecentralpartoftheGrandPalace,wherethemostimportantresidentialandstatebuildingsarelocated.ThecourtisconsideredthemainpartoftheGrandPalaceandisfrontedbytheAmornwithiRoad,whichcutsrightacrossfromeasttowest.Thecourtisfurtherdividedintothreegroupsof'Thronehalls'(PhraThinang;พระที่นั่ง;RTGS: PhraThiNang)andoneSiwalaiGardenquarter.[27] PhraMahaMonthiengroup[edit] ThePhraMahaMonteinGroupasseenfromthewest.Fromlefttoright:AmarinWinitchaiThroneHall,PhaisanThaksinHall,ChakkraphatPhimanResidence. ThePhraMahaMonthien(พระมหามณเฑียร)groupofbuildingsarelocatedroughlyatthecentreoftheMiddleCourt,thereforeattheveryheartoftheGrandPalaceitself.ThetraditionalThaistylebuildinggroupisenclosedbyalowwall,asthiswasoncetheresidentialandsleepingabodeofkings.[28]ThusitisconsideredthemostimportantsetofthronehallsintheentireGrandPalace.AllofthebuildingswithintheMahaMonthienfacenorthandarearrangedfromfronttobackwiththepublicreceptionhallbeingatthefront,ceremonialhallsinthemiddleandresidentialhallsattheback,alloftheminter-connectedtoeachother.[8][29] AllRoyalcoronationssincethatofKingRamaIIhavetakenplacewithinthewallsofthisbuildinggroup.[28]Constructionbeganin1785attheorderofKingRamaI,theoriginalbuildingsonlyincludedtheChakraphatPhimarnThroneHallandthePhaisanThaksinThroneHall.LaterKingRamaIIcarriedoutmajorconstructionsincludingtheAmarinWinitchaiThroneHallandotherextensions.LaterinhisreignheaddedtheSanamChanPavilionandtheNaraiChinesePavilion.KingNangklao(RamaIII)renamedthebuildingsfromChakraphatPhiman(meaning'AbodeoftheChakravartin')toMahaMonthien(meaning'GreatRoyalResidence').Hecarriedoutmajorrenovationsandspentmostofhisreignresidinginthesebuildings.KingRamaIVlateraddedtwoarch-waysatthenorthandwestsideofthewallscalledtheThevaphibalandThevetraksaGaterespectively.KingVajiravudh(RamaVI)addedtwoporticoextensionstoeasternandwesternsidesoftheAmarinWinitchaiHall.[30]Sincethenmostbuildingsinitsoriginalplanremain,withoccasionalrenovationsbeingmadebeforeimportantanniversariessuchastheBangkokBicentennialCelebrationsin1982.ExceptfortheAmarinWinitchaiThroneHall,therestofthecomplexisclosedtothepublic.[8][29] TheThevaphibalGateisthecentralentrancetothehall,howeverthecentraldoorwayisreserveexclusivelyforusebytheking,othersmustenterthroughthetwootherdoorsoneitherside.ThegateisguardedbyChinese-stylestatues,includingmythicalwarriorsandlions.ThegateistoppedbythreeThai-stylespirescoveredinChineseceramics.[28][31] PhraThinangAmarinWinitchai[edit] TheexteriorofthePhraThinangAmarinWinitchai TheBussabokMalaMahaChakraphatPhimanandthePhuttanKanchanasinghatthrones.ThelatteristoppedtheRoyalNine-TieredUmbrella. ThePhraThinangAmarinWinitchaiMahaisurayaPhiman(พระที่นั่งอมรินทรวินิจฉัยมไหสูรยพิมาน)or,inbrief,thePhraThinangAmarinWinitchai(พระที่นั่งอมรินทรวินิจฉัย)isthenorthernmostandforwardbuildingoftheMahaMonthienbuildings,Itisalsoperhapsthemostimportant.ThethronehallwasconstructedinThaistyleasaroyalaudiencechamber,forreceivingforeignambassadorsandforconductingimportantstatebusinessesandceremonies.[32][33] Thelargethronehallstandsona50 cmhighbase,theroofiscoveredingreenandorangetiles.ThepedimentisdecoratedwithamuraldepictingthegodIndra.Themaincentraldoorisreservedforusebyroyalty,whileothersmustenterthroughtheadjacentsidedoors.Withinthehalltherearetworowsofsquarecolumns,fiveontheleftandsixontheright,adornedwithThaifloraldesigns.Thecofferedceilingisdecoratedwithglassmosaicstars.[32][33] AtthebackofthehallistheBussabokMalaMahaChakraphatPhimanThrone(พระที่นั่งบุษบกมาลามหาจักรพรรดิพิมาน;RTGS: ButsabokMalaMahaChakkraphatPhiman),flankedbytwogildedseventieredumbrellas.Thethroneisshapedlikeaboatwithaspiredpavilion(busabok)inthemiddle.ThiselevatedpavilionrepresentsMountMeru,thecentreofBuddhistandHinducosmology.[32]Thethroneisdecoratedwithcolouredenamelsandstonesaswellasdevaandgarudafigures.Thethronewasonceusedforgivingroyalaudiences.[33][34] Inthefrontofthronesitsanother,calledthePhuttanKanchanasinghatThrone(พระที่นั่งพุดตานกาญจนสิงหาสน์).ThethroneistoppedbythemassiveRoyalNine-TieredUmbrella,animportantsymbolofThaikingship.Thedifferenttiersrepresentstheking'spowerandprestigewhichextendsineightdirections:thefourcardinaldirectionsandthefoursubcardinaldirections.Thefinalandninthtierrepresentsthecentraldirectiondescendingintotheearth.Thesegiantumbrellasusuallydepositedaboveimportantroyalthrones,andoutofthesevenofwhicharecurrentlyinBangkok,sixoftheseumbrellasaresituatedwithinthevicinityoftheGrandPalaceandanotherissituatedabovethethronewithintheAnantaSamakhomThroneHalloftheDusitPalace.Thethroneismadeupofmulti-layeredsquaredplatformswithaseatinthemiddle.Thethroneisusedforthefirstroyalaudienceofeachking'sreignandforannualbirthdaycelebrationsandotherroyalreceptions.ItwasfromthisthronethatKingRamaIIreceivedJohnCrawfurd(thefirstBritishEnvoytoSiaminalmost200years)in1821.CrawfurdwassenttoBangkokbytheGovernor-GeneralofIndiaLordHastingstonegotiateatradetreaty.[31][33] PhraThinangPhaisanThaksin[edit] CoronationofKingPrajadhipok(RamaVII)insidethePhaisanThaksinHallon25February1926.ThekingsitsontheAtthitUtumbhornRajaAarnThrone,alsocalledtheOctagonalThrone. CoronationofKingBhumibolAdulyadej(RamaIX)insidethePhaisanThaksinHallon5May1950.ThekingsitsonthePhatharabitThroneandiscladinfullcoronationregalia. DirectlybehindisthePhraThinangPhaisanThaksin(พระที่นั่งไพศาลทักษิณ).Therectangular-shapedhallisaceremonialfunctionshall,wherethemostimportantreligiousandstateceremoniesareheld.Itisthemainvenuewhereroyalcoronationsareperformedatthebeginningofeachking'sreign,thelastcoronationceremonyheldherewason4May2019forKingRamaX.FormerlythehallwasaprivatereceptionhallandlivingspaceofKingRamaI.Heoftenhostedmeetingsanddinnersforhisclosestministersandothertrustedcourtiershere.Afterhisdeaththehallwasconvertedintoaceremonialspace.ThelongrectangularhallisdecoratedinrichmuralsdepictingscenesfromBuddhistandHindumythology.[35][36] Thehallhousestwothrones.TheAtthitUtumbhornRajaAarnThrone(พระที่นั่งอัฐทิศอุทุมพรราชอาสน์;RTGS: AttathitU-thumphonRatchaAt)ortheOctagonalThroneissituatedtotheeasternpartofthehall.Thisunusuallyshapedwoodenthroneisintheformofanoctagonalprismandisdecoratedwithgoldenlacquer,toppedbyawhiteseven-tieredumbrella.ItisusedduringthefirstpartoftheCoronationceremony,wherethekingisanointedwithholywater,justpriortothecrowningceremony;allChakrikingshavegonethroughthisancientritual.OncethekingisanointedheisabletositundertheRoyalNine-TieredUmbrellaasafullysovereignking.[36][37] AcrossthehalltothewesternsideisthePhatharabitThrone(พระที่นั่งภัทรบิฐ;RTGS: Phatthrabit).Thethroneisachairwithafootstool(moreakintoitsEuropeancounterparts)withtwohightablestoitssides.ThethroneistoppedbyanotherRoyalNine-tieredUmbrella.Thisthroneisusedduringthemainpartofthecoronationceremony,wheretheKingispresentedwiththevariousobjects,whichmakeuptheRoyalRegalia.Thekingwillcrownhimself,thenbeceremoniallypresentedwiththeobjectsoftheregaliabytheRoyalBrahmins.Theseinclude:theGreatCrownofVictory,theSwordofVictory,theRoyalStaff,theRoyalFlywisk,theRoyalFanandtheRoyalSlippers.[36][38] Apartfrombeingthesettingoftheseimportantceremonies,thehallhousesthePhraSiamDevadhirajfigure.ThisfigurewascreatedduringthereignofKingRamaIVtosymboliseandembodytheKingdom(ofSiam),itswell-beingandsafety.Itexistsasthepersonificationofthenationtobeusedasapalladiumforworship.Thegoldenfiguredepictsastandingdeity,dressedinroyalregalia,wearingacrownandholdingaswordinitsrighthand.Thefigureisabout8 inchestall,andishousedinaChinese-stylecabinetinthemiddleofthePhaisanThaksinHallfacingsouth.TherearealsootherfiguresofthesamescaledepictingotherHindugodsandgoddesses.Thefigurewasonceworshippedalmostdaily;todayhoweverreligiousceremoniesareonlyheldtoworshipthefigureduringtimesofgreatcrisis.[35][36] PhraThinangChakraphatPhiman[edit] CanopybedofKingRamaIattheeastsection,northroomoftheChakraphatPhimanHall.Everykingisrequiredtosleepatleastafewnightshere. ThePhraThinangChakraphatPhiman(พระที่นั่งจักรพรรดิพิมาน;RTGS: PhraThiNangChakkraphatPhiman)issituatedbehindthePhaisanThaksinThroneHallandisattheverycentreoftheMahaMonthienbuildings.ThehallwasbuiltduringthereignofKingRamaIastheprimaryapartmentandsleepingquarterofthemonarch,andistheinnermostpartoftheGrandPalace.[35]Theresidentialhallwasformedoutofthreeidenticalrectangularbuildings,allinter-connectedtoeachother.Themiddlesectionoftheresidentialhall(outofthethree),isareceptionroomwhiletheothertwosections,totheeastandwest,aredividedintothepersonalapartmentsoftheking.Theeastsectionistheprimarybedchamberofthemonarch;thehallisdividedintotworoomsbyagoldenscreen.ThenorthernroomcontainsacanopiedbedoriginallybelongingtoKingRamaI;abovethisbedhangsaRoyalNine-tieredUmbrella.Thesouthernroomcontainsthedressingandprivychamber,abovewhichhangsanotherNine-tieredUmbrella.Thewestsectionwasusedasamulti-purposehallforminorceremoniesandaudiences;howeverinthereignofKingRamaIIIthehallwasconvertedintoabedroom.Afterhisdeathitbecamethestorageplaceforthevariousweaponsandaccoutrementsofthemonarch.TheRoyalRegaliaofThailandiskepthere.[35][39] WhentheChakraphatPhimanHallwasfirstbuiltitwasentirelyroofedwithpalmleaves;laterthesewerereplacedwithceramictiles,thenwithglazedtilesduringthereignofKingRamaV.Thereisatraditionthatnouncrownedkingsareallowedtosleepwithinthishall.Howeveroncetheywerecrownedtheywererequiredtosleepthere,ifonlyforafewnights,literallyonthebedoftheirforefathers.[35][40]In1910,priortohiscoronation,KingRamaVIhadawell-concealedmoderntoiletinstallednearthebedchamber.[41]Thekingspentmanynightshereneartheendofhislifeanddiedherein1925.KingPrajadhipok(RamaVII)andKingRamaIXonlyspentafewnightshereaftertheirrespectivecoronationsinaccordancewithtradition.[35] BetweentheChakraphatPhimanandPhaisanThaksinHallsisasmallFrontReceptionHall,wherethekingcouldreceivecourtierswhilesittingonasmallplatform.Therearetwodoorsoneithersideoftheplatformleadingintotheroyalapartmentsbehind.TotherearandsouthoftheChakraphatPhimanHallistheBackReceptionHall.Thisrearhallisflankedbytworesidentialhalls.ThesearereservedformembersoftheRoyalFamilyandroyalconsortsfromtheInnerCourt.Theyarecalled:ThepsathanPhilatHall(พระที่นั่งเทพสถานพิลาศ)(totheeast)andtheThepassanaPhilaiHall(พระที่นั่งเทพอาสน์พิไล;RTGS: ThepphaAtPhailai)(tothewest).[35][42] PhraThinangDusidaphirom[edit] AroyalwhiteelephantatthemountingplatformoutsidethePhraThinangDusidaphirominthereignofKingRamaV. Apartfromthesegrandstatebuildings,therearealsoseveralminorstructuresandpavilionssurroundingthePhraMahaMonthienstructures.TheseincludefoursmallerhallsatthesidesoftheAmarinWinitchaiThronehall.[43][44] AsidethewalltothenorthwestisthePhraThinangDusidaphirom(พระที่นั่งดุสิตาภิรมย์;RTGS: PhraThiNangDusitaphirom).Builtonaraisedplatform,theone-storyhallwasusedasarobingchamberforthekingwhenarrivinganddepartingthepalaceeitherbypalanquinorbyelephant.[45]Hencetheelephant-mountingplatformtothewestandapalanquin-mountingplatformtothenorth.Atfirstthestructurewasanopenpavilion;thewallscoveredwithrichmuralswereaddedlaterbyKingRamaIII.TheentranceissituatedtotheeastandislinedwithstepsleadingfromtheAmarinWinitchaiThroneHall.ThehallistheonlystructurewithintheGrandPalacewithexteriordecorations.Thegoldenlacquerandblueglassmosaicdepictsangelscarryingasword.[43][46] PhraThinangRacharuedee[edit] PhraThinangRacharuedee TothesoutheastisthePhraThinangRacharuedee(พระที่นั่งราชฤดี;RTGS: PhraThiNangRatchaRuedi),aThai-stylepavilionconstructedduringthereignofKingRamaVIasanoutdooraudiencechamber.[47]Thepavilionwasconstructedforuseespeciallyduringthebirthdaycelebrationsoftheking.OriginallyKingRamaIVhadatwo-story,European-stylebuildingconstructed.Itspurposewastodisplaygiftsfromforeignnations;howeverwhenthisbuildingbecamedilapidatedKingRamaVreplaceditwithaChinese-stylepavilionwhichwasagaindismantledandrebuilt.Thepresentpavilionmeasures12by7.80metres(39.4 ft× 25.6 ft).ThepedimentsaredecoratedwithagildedfiguresofNarayanaonagarudaagainstawhitemosaicbackground.[48][49] PhraThinangSanamChan[edit] PhraThinangSanamChan ThesouthweststructureisthePhraThinangSanamChan(พระที่นั่งสนามจันทร์).BuiltduringthereignofKingRamaII,thepavilionisatraditionalThaipavilionwitharaisedplatforminside.[50]KingRamaIIusedthepavilionforrelaxationandforsittingwhensupervisingconstructionprojects.Measuringonly3.30by4.50metres(10.8 ft× 14.8 ft),thepavilionwasportableandcouldbemovedtodifferentsites.ThewoodenpedimentsaredecoratedwithgildedcarvingsandglassmosaicinafloraldesignwithChineseandWesterninfluences.Theeightcolumnsareinlaidwithglassmosaic.Theinnerplatformisdecoratedwithblacklacquerandglassmosaic.Thetopoftheplatformismadeoutofasinglepanelofteakmeasuring1.50by2metres(4.9 ft× 6.6 ft).ThepavilionwasstrengthenedandgivenamarblebasebyKingRamaIXin1963.[43][51] HoSastrakhom[edit] TothenortheastistheHoSastrakhom(หอศาสตราคม;RTGS: HoSattrakhom)ortheHoPhraParit(หอพระปริตร),ThehallisthesamesizeastheDusidaphiromHallandthetwoappeartohavebeenconstructedconcurrently.Inaccordancewithancienttradition,thehallwasbuiltfortheuseofMonmonkstocreateHolywater,whichwasthensprinkledaroundthepalacegroundeveryevening;thispracticewasdiscontinuedduringthereignofKingRamaVIIforfinancialreasons.CurrentlytheritualisonlypracticedduringBuddhistholydaysbyMonmonksfromWatChanaSongkhram.Thehallisdividedintotworooms;thenorthernroomisaprayerandritualroomformonks,includingclosetsbuiltintothewallsforreligioustexts.ThesouthernroomisastorageroomforBuddhaimagesandreligiousartifacts.[52][53] Duringtimesofwar,thepotencyofweaponswasenhancedbytheholywaterinaspecialceremony.Theweaponsandspecialamuletswerethendistributedtosoldiersbeforebattle.Asaresultofthisfunctionthewindowsanddoorsofthehallaredecoratedwithdepictionsofancientweapons.[48][52] HoSuralaiPhimanandHoPhraThatMonthien[edit] HoSuralaiPhiman,totheeastofthePhaisanThaksinThroneHall HoPhraThatMonthien,onthewestsideofthePhaisanThaksinThroneHall OneachsideofthePhaisanThaksinThroneHallisaBuddhaimagehall.OntheeastsideistheHoSuralaiPhiman(หอพระสุราลัยพิมาน;RTGS: HoPhraSuralaiPhiman),whichthenconnectstotheDusitsasadaGate.TheHoSuralaiPhimanisasmallThai-stylebuildingwhichisattachedtothePhaisanThaksinThroneHallthroughashortcorridor.ThehallhousesimportantandvaluableBuddhaimagesandfigures,includingonerepresentingeachandeveryreignoftheChakriDynasty.SomerelicsoftheBuddhaarealsoreportedlykepthere.[35][54] TheHoPhraThatMonthien(หอพระธาตุมณเฑียร)islocatedtothewestsideofthePhaisanThaksinHallandisalsoconnectedbyacorridorinsymmetrytotheSuralaiPhimanontheotherside.ThePhraThatMonteinhallcontainsseveralsmallgildedpagodascontainingtheashesofRoyalancestors.OriginallynamedHoPhraChao,thenamewaschangedbyKingRamaII,whoinstalledseveralvaluableandancientBuddhaimagesin1812.KingRamaIIIandKingRamaIValsohavetheirownBuddhaimagesinstalledhereandcarriedoutextensiverenovationstotheinteriorandexterior.[35][55] PhraThinangChakriMahaPrasatgroup[edit] PhraThinangChakriMahaPrasatisablendofThaitraditionalarchitectureandacombinationof19th-centuryEuropeanstyles. ThePhraThinangChakriMahaPrasatbuildingsarecomposedofninemajorandminorhalls,structuredinasimilarschemetotheMahaMonthienHallsfromnorthtosouth,howeverthetwobuildinggroupscontrastsgreatlyinstyles.Thisgroupofpalacesissituatedatthecentre,betweentheMahaMonteinandMahaPrasatgroups.[56]ThewholeoftheChakriMahaPrasatgroupwastheworkofKingRamaVandforeignarchitectsinthe19thcentury.DuringthereignofKingRamaItheareawasonceanexpansivegarden,laternamedSuanSai(สวนซ้าย)or'LeftGarden',thetwinofSuanKhwa(สวนขวา)orrightgarden,nowtheSiwalaiGardens.ThetwogardenswerenamedaccordingtotheirlocationontheleftandtherightoftheMahaMonthienbuildings.DuringthereignofKingRamaIIIanewresidentialpavilioncalledPhraTamnakTuek(พระตำหนักตึก)wasconstructedforhismother,PrincessMotherSriSulalai.Thenewresidencewascomposedofseverallow-lyingbuildingsandpavilions.KingRamaIVexpandedtheresidenceandgaveittohisconsortQueenDebsirindra.WithinthesebuildingsKingRamaVwasborn(in1853)andlivedasachild.[57][58] WhenKingRamaVascendedthethronein1868,hedecidedtobuildanewgroupofgranderthronehallstoreplacetheoldstructures.Thefirstphaseofconstructionbeganin1868,thenagainin1876,andthefinalphasebetween1882and1887.KingRamaVresidedinthepalaceuntil1910whenhegraduallymovedtothenewDusitPalace,tothenorthoftheGrandPalace.[57]KingRamaVIoccasionallystayedinthepalace;howeverhepreferredhisotherresidencesinthecountry.BythereignofKingRamaVIIthebuildingswereindireneedofrenovations,butduetoeconomicconstraintsonlytheChakriMahaPrasatThroneHallwasrenovated.ThisworkwascarriedoutbyPrinceItthithepsanKritakara,anarchitecturalgraduateoftheÉcoledesBeaux-ArtsinParis.Manyofhisworkscanstillbeseentoday.DuringthereignofKingRamaIXmanyofthebuildingsoncemorebecamesodilapidatedthattheyneededtobedemolishedaltogether.Intheirsteadnewhallswereconstructedin2004toreplacethem.[59][60] Formerlythesitehostedelevendifferentresidentialhallsandpavilions;in2012onlythreeareleft,althoughtheyhavebeencompletelyreconstructed:TheChakriMahaPrasatThroneHall,theMoonSatharnBoromArdHallandtheSommuthiThevarajUppabatHall.BehindthesestructuresliethegrandBoromRatchasathitMahoranHall,whichhasbeenrecentlyrebuilt.Noneoftheroomsareopentothepublic,asstatefunctionsarestillcarriedoutwithin.Thechangingoftheguardsoccursatthefrontcourtyardeverytwohours.[59] PhraThinangChakriMahaPrasat[edit] ThecentralprasatoftheChakriMahaPrasat ThePhraThinangChakriMahaPrasat(พระที่นั่งจักรีมหาปราสาท;RTGS: PhraThiNangChakkriMahaPrasat)issituatedonthenorthernmostpartofthePhraThinangChakrigroup.Thethronehallformsthefrontorthefaçadeoftheentirebuildinggroup.InfrontofthethronehallistheRathakitField;oneithersideofthethronehallarethePhromSophaGates.Thethronehallisconstructedinaneclecticstyle,ablendofThaiandEuropean(morespecificallyRenaissanceorItalianate)styles.ThelowerpartofthestructureisEuropean,whiletheupperpartisinThai-styledgreenandorangetiledroofsandgildedspiresorprasats.[61][62] AfteratriptoSingaporeandJava,intheEastIndies(presentdayIndonesia)in1875,KingRamaVbroughtbackwithhimtwoEnglishmen,thearchitectJohnClunichandhishelperHenryC.RosetodesignandconstructtheChakriMahaPrasatThroneHall.[56][63]Constructionbeganon7May1876.AtfirsttheKingwantedanentirelyEuropeanstructurewithdomes.HoweverattheinsistenceofChaoPhrayaSiSuriyawongse(ChuangBunnag),hisChiefMinister,theKingdecidedtoaddthegildedspiresandThairoofs.In1878theKingpersonallysupervisedtheraisingofthefinalcentralspireofthebuilding.Thethronehallwascompletedin1882,onthecentenaryoftheHouseofChakriandtheGrandPalace.ThusthenewthronehallwasgiventhenamePhraThinangChakri,meaningliterally'theseatoftheChakris'.[62][64] Thethronewasconstructedaspartofabuildinggroupinarotated'H'shapeplan,withtwoparallelbuildingsrunningonaneasttowestaxis.Inbetweenisanintersectinghall,withanaxisrunningnorthtosouth.ThenortherlyendofthestructureistheChakriMahaPrasatThroneHall;allotherbuildingsarehiddenbehindit.Thethronehallconsistsofthreestories,withthreeseventieredprasatsoneachofthethreemajorpavilionsalongtheaxis.Thecentralpavilionwithitsporticoandroofextensionsistallerandlargerthantheothertwoonthesides.[62]OwingtoamixofThaiandEuropeanstyles,theexteriordecorationisamixtureofordersanddoesnotfollowstrictclassicallines.TheThairoofsaredecoratedwiththesamegreenandorangetitlesastheotherthronehalls,inorderforthenewbuildingtoblendinharmoniouslytotheexistingskyline.TheexternalpedimentsandgatesofthethronehallaredecoratedwiththeemblemoftheChakriDynasty,anintertwinedChakraandTrishula.AbovethemiddlefloorwindowsthewesternstylecoatofarmsofSiamisused.Onthesemi-circlepedimentatthecentralhallthereisalsoaportraitofKingRamaV.[65][66] Theincongruousmake-upbetweentheWesternlowerhalfandThairoofhasbeencomparedwithaFarang(Western)ladyclothedinVictoriancostumewhilewearingaThaicrown.ThesymbolismofthisjuxtapositionistheemphasisofthesuperiorityofThaiarchitecture(asacrownuponthehead)overthoseoftheWest(thelowerhalfofthebody).[67]Thisstylisticinnovationwasmorethananartisticcoincidence,asitwassupposedtoconveyasignificantpoliticalmessageofSiameseresistanceoverWesternimperialism,bothofsovereigntyandstyle.Fromanotherperspective,thebuildingitselfepitomizestheinternalpoliticalstrugglebetweentheideasofWesternizationandmodernity(ledbyKingRamaV)againstthoseofthetraditionalrulingelites(asledbysomeofhisearlyministers).[63][68] TheChakriMahaPrasatin1890,soonafteritsconstruction. Withintheinterior,theupperandmiddlefloorsareStatefloors;theyareinturndividedintoseveralreceptionrooms,throneroomsandgalleriescompletewithroyalportraitsofeveryChakriMonarchs(includingSecondKingPinklao)andtheirconsorts.Morespecifically,totheeastgalleryareBuddhistImagesandotherreligiousimages,whiletothewestarereceptionroomsforStateguestsandotherforeigndignitaries.InotherpartsofthethronehalltherearealsolibrariesandroomswheretheashesofKings(RamaIVtoRamaVIII)andtheirQueensarehoused.[61]ManyoftheEuropean-madechandeliersinsidetheHallinitiallybelongedtoChaoPhrayaSiSuriyawongse;howevertheyprovedtoobigforhisownresidenceandheeventuallygavethemtoKingChulalongkronasgifts.ThethronehallwasalsothefirststructureinThailandinwhichelectricitywasinstalled,attheinsistenceofPrinceDevavongseVaropakar.ThelowerfloororgroundfloorisreservedforservantsandtheRoyalGuards.Currentlythereisamuseumdisplayingoldweapons.[69][70] Insidethemainhall(throneroom),situatedattheverycentreoftheChakriMahaPrasatHall,istheBhudthanThomThrone(พระที่นั่งพุดตานถม;RTGS: PhuttanThom),achaironaraisedplatform.TheThroneisflankedbytwoseven-tieredumbrellas,whilethethroneitselfistoppedbyaRoyalNine-TieredUmbrella.Behindthethroneisatapestrydepictingafieryintertwinedchakraandtrishulaorthe'Chakri',theemblemofthedynasty.Thethronehasbeenusedbythekingduringimportantstateoccasions,suchasthewelcomingoraccreditingofforeigndiplomatsandmissions.TheroomitselfhasalsobeenusedbyKingRamaIXtowelcomeforeigndignitariesandheadsofstate,suchasQueenElizabethII,PresidentBillClintonandPopeJohnPaulII.[71]RecentlytheKingwelcomedover21worldleadersinsidetheroomduringtheAsia-PacificEconomicCooperation(APECSummit)heldinBangkokin2003.[69]Thewallofthethroneroomisdecoratedwithfourpaintings,depictingimportantscenesinthehistoryofThaiforeignrelations.Ontheeastwallhangtwopaintingscalled'QueenVictoriareceivingKingMongkut'sAmbassador'and'KingLouisXIVreceivingtheAmbassadorofKingNaraiofAyutthayaintheHallofMirrorsatVersailles'.Onthewesthangs'KingMongkutreceivingBritishEnvoySirJohnBowring'and'NapoleonIIIreceivingtheSiameseAmbassadorsatFontainbleau'.[72][73] PhraThinangMoonSatharnBoromArd[edit] AsoldieroftheKing'sGuardsstandsattheentranceofthePhraThinangChakriMahaPrasat. ThePhraThinangMoonSatharnBoromArd(พระที่นั่งมูลสถานบรมอาสน์;RTGS: PhraThiNangMunSathanBorommaAt)issituatedbehindtheChakriMahaPrasatHalltotheeastsideandwasbuiltasaseparatewingin1869.[56]ThehallencompassestheoriginalareawhereKingRamaVwasbornandhadlivedasachild.PreviouslyKingRamaIhadtheareasetasideasasmallmangotreegarden.Currentlythehallissetoutasasmallbanquetingandreceptionvenue.[57][74] PhraThinangSommuthiThevarajUppabat[edit] ThePhraThinangSommuthiThevarajUppabat(พระที่นั่งสมมติเทวราชอุปบัติ;RTGS: PhraThiNangSommottiThewaratUpabat)issituatedontheoppositesideoftheMoonSantharnBoromArdHalltothewestoftheChakriMahaPrasatHall,thewingwasalsobuiltin1868.[56]Thehallisdividedintoseveralstaterooms,forusedbytheking,thereisareceptionroomandacouncilroom.Itwasinthishallon12July1874thatKingRamaVstatedtohisministershisintentiontoabolishslaveryinSiam.[57][75] PhraThinangBoromRatchasathitMahoran[edit] ThePhraThinangBoromRatchasathitMahoran(พระที่นั่งบรมราชสถิตยมโหฬาร;RTGS: PhraThiNangBorommaRatchaSathitMaholan),isalargebanquethallattheverybackoftheChakriMahaPrasatgroup.FormerlytheDamrongSawadAnanwongHallandtheNiphatpongThawornwichitHall.ThetwohallswerealsobuiltbyKingRamaVasabanquetinghalltohostforeignguestsanddignitaries.BythereignofKingRamaIXthebuildingwassorundownthatthekingorderedittobedemolished.[57]Constructionofanewhallbeganin1996,butwasinterruptedbythe1997Asianfinancialcrisis.Constructionwaseventuallyresumedon1April2004.Thenewthronehallwasbuiltonaraisedplatformandiscomposedofseveralinter-connectedbuildingsformingtwointernalcourtyards.Theseroomsfunctionasanewbanquetinghallandisuseforimportantstatefunctions.On13June2006thehallwelcomedtheroyalrepresentativesof25monarchiesworldwideforthecelebrationofKingRamaIX's60thAnniversaryontheThrone.Thisincluded12rulingmonarchs,8royalconsortsand7crownprinces.[76] PhraMahaPrasatgroup[edit] PhraMahaPrasatgroup DetailofoneofthegatestotheMahaPrasatgroup. ThePhraMahaPrasat(พระมหาปราสาท)groupissituatedonthewesternmostpartoftheMiddleCourt.[77]ThemainbuildingswithinthisareadatesfromthereignofKingRamaIandcontainssomeoftheoldestexistingedificewithintheGrandPalace.Theentirethronehallgroupiscontainedwithinawalledandpavedcourtyard.Similarlytotheothertwogroups,theMahaPrasatbuildingswerebuilt,embellishedandrefurbishedoversuccessivereigns.Thebuildingformedasingleaxisfromnorthtosouth,withthepublicthronehalltothefrontandresidentialhallsbehind.Surroundingthemarelesserfunctionalhallsandpavilionforusedbythekingandhiscourt.[78][79] InitiallyaftertheconstructionoftheGrandPalace,KingRamaIorderedthatonthislocationacopyofthePhraThinangSanphetMahaPrasat(พระที่นั่งสรรเพชญมหาปราสาท)shouldbebuilt.TheancientthronehallwasoncelocatedattheoldpalaceinAyutthaya,whichhadbeendestroyed15yearsearlier.[10][11]ThisnewthronehallwasgiventhenamePhraThinangAmarintharaPisekMahaPrasat(พระที่นั่งอมรินทราภิเษกมหาปราสาท;RTGS: PhraThiNangAmarinthraphisekMahaPrasat).Constructionbeganin1782andwasfinishedin1784.ThiswasthehallwhereKingRamaIcelebratedhisfullcoronationceremony.However,in1789thehallwasstruckbylightningandburnttotheground.InitsplaceKingRamaIorderedtheconstructionofanewhallunderadifferentdesignandname.[78][80] AsaresultofthisdisasterKingRamaIpredictedthattheChakridynastywouldlastonly150yearsfromitsfoundation.[81]Thisprophecywasrecordedinadiaryofaprincessofthefirstreign,afterreadingitmanyyearslater,KingRamaVremarkedthat150yearswastooshortandthattheprincessmusthaveinadvertentlydroppedanought.Thisprophecywasagainpresentinthemindsofmanypeople,whenonlythreemonthsafterthedynasty's150thanniversarycelebrationstheSiameserevolutionof1932wascarriedout.TherevolutionreplacedtheabsolutemonarchyoftheChakrimonarchswithaconstitutionalmonarchywithSiam'sfirstconstitution.[82] Theceremonialandresidentialpartwasdividedbetweentwonewhalls,theDusitMahaPrasatandthePhimanRattaya.Eversincethennocoronationswereheldinsidethehall.Upontheking'sdeath,thehallwasusedforhisofficiallying-in-state.Ithassincebecomeacustomthattheremainsofkings,queensandotherhigh-rankingmembersoftheroyalfamilyaretobeplacedwiththehallforanofficialmourningperiod.[78][80][83] Theentrancetothisbuildinggroupisthroughoneofthethreegatesatthenorthernendofthewall.ThesegatesaredecoratedwithChineseporcelaininfloralpatterns.OnlytheDusitMahaPrasatThroneHallisopentothepublic.[84] PhraThinangDusitMahaPrasat[edit] PhraThinangDusitMahaPrasat ThePhraThinangDusitMahaPrasat(พระที่นั่งดุสิตมหาปราสาท)dominatestheMahaPrasatgroup.Thethronehallwasbuiltonasymmetricalcruciformplan,theroofistoppedwithatallgildedspire.ThehallisconsideredanidealarchetypeofThaitraditionalarchitecture.Everyaspectoftheexteriordecorationofthethronehallisimbuedwithsymbolism.ThehallisbuiltintheshapeofatallmountaintorepresentMountMeru,themythologicalcentreoftheuniverse.[77][84] Thespirecanbedividedintothreesections.Thelowersection,whichisthebase,isformedofsevensuperimposedlayers,eachlayerrepresentingalevelofheaveninaccordancewiththeTraiphumBuddhistcosmology.Themiddlesectionisintheshapeofabell;howevertheroundnesshasbeenflattenedtocreateafoursidedshape.ThisrepresentsthestupainwhichtheBuddha'sasheshavebeeninterred.Thetopsectionissimilartothetopofchedis,depictingataperedlotusbudorthecrystaldewdropsignifyingtheescapefromtheSaṃsāraorcycleofrebirths.Thespireissupportedbygarudasonitsfoursides;aswellasbeingthesymbolofkingship,thegarudarepresentsthemythicalcreaturesoftheHimavantaforestsurroundingMountMeru.[80][84] ThepedimentsaredecoratedwiththefigureofNarayanaridingonthebackofagaruda,thisfiguresymbolizeskingshipandtheking'sassociationwiththeHindudeity.AccordingtolegendNarayanadescendedfromheaveninhumanformtohelpmankindbyalleviatingthemfromsuffering.Thusthedeityrepresentsalltheidealqualitiesinaking.Thethronehallstandsonahighbasewithconvexandconcavemoldings.Thebottomlayer,accordingtoThaibeliefsresemblesalion'sfoot,thelionisasymboloftheBuddha'sfamilyandalludestotheBuddha'sownroyalheritage.[77][85] ThefuneraryurnofQueenSaovabhaPhongsriin1919.High-rankingmembersoftheroyalfamilyusuallylayinstateforahundreddayswithintheDusitMahaPrasatThroneHall. Themostunusualfeatureofthethronehallisthesmallporch,projectingoutatthefrontofthebuilding.UnderthisporchstandstheBusabokMalaThrone(พระที่นั่งบุษบกมาลา),whosespireechoesthatofthelargerbuildingitself.Thehighbaseofthethroneissurroundedbyprayingdeities.DuringthereignofKingRamaI,thethronewasusedwhenthekingappearedbeforehisvassalstates;lateritwasusedforcertainceremonies.Thetwodoorstothehallissituatedatthesidesofthethrone.[77][85] Theinteriorwallsofthethronehallarepaintedwithalotusbuddesignarrangedinageometricpattern.Withinthelotusbudsareseatedprayingdeities,acommonThaimotifoftenassociatedwithholyplaces.Theceiling,whichhasacofferedoctagonalshapesectiondirectlybelowthespire,isdecoratedwithglassmosaicstars.Thisreinforcestheimpressionofbeinginaheavenlyabode.Theinteriorpanelofthedoorandwindowshuttersdepictedstandingdeitiesfacingeachotherholdingweaponsasguardsfortheking.Thethicknessofthewallsallowfurtherspacesbetweentheshuttersandthewalltobedecorated,thesearedecoratedwithmuralsdepictingtreesinChinesestyle.[77][86] Thetwoarmsofthecruciformplancontainsdifferentthronesforuseindifferentroyalfunctions;theseincludedtheMother-of-PearlThrone(พระแท่นราชบัลลังก์ประดับมุก)whichstandsalmostatthecentreofthehallbetweentheintersectingpointsofthefourarms.Thesquare-shapedthroneisentirelyinlaidwithmother-of-pearl,datingfromthereignofKingRamaI.ItwassavedfromtheAmarintharaPisekMahaPrasat,whenthethronehallburntdownin1789.[11][77]ThethroneistoppedbytheRoyalNine-tieredUmbrella.[86][87] TotheeasterntranseptistheMother-of-PearlBed(พระแท่นบรรทมประดับมุก)whichwasmadetomatchtheMother-of-PearlThrone.Thebedwasoncetheking'spersonalbedandwaskeptinsidethePhraThinangPhimanRattaya;howeveronceitwasnolongeruseditwastransferredtotheDusitMahaPrasatThroneHall.Thebedisintheformofahighplatformwithmanylayers,andsmallstepsleadingtothetop.Whenroyalceremoniesarecarriedoutwithinthethronehall,memberoftheroyalfamilytaketheirseatinthesoutherntransept,whilegovernmentofficialssittothenorth,Buddhistmonkstotheeast;thefuneralurnistothewest.DuringsuchtimesthethroneandbedwereusedasaltarsforBuddhaimages.[86] BehindtheMother-of-PearlThroneisthePhraBanchonBusabokMalaThrone(พระบัญชรบุษบกมาลา;RTGS: PhraBanchonButsabokMala).Thishalfthroneprotrudesfromthesouthernwallofthethronehallandopenslikeawindowintothehall.ThestyleofthethroneissimilartoBusabokMalaThroneontheporchoutside.ThethronewasbuiltduringthereignofKingRamaIV,inorderforthepalacewomentoattendimportantceremoniesthroughthewindowbutbehindascreen,separatingthemfrommenarrivingfromtheoutside.[88] PhraThinangPhimanRattaya[edit] AroyalprocessionatthePhraThinangAphornPhimokPrasat,withKingMongkut(RamaIV)andPrinceChulalongkorn ThePhraThinangPhimanRattaya(พระที่นั่งพิมานรัตยา)islocateddirectlybehindtheDusitMahaPrasatThroneHall.ThePhimanRattayaThroneHallisaresidentialpalaceandwasbuiltforKingRamaIasthemainroyalapartment.Overtimetheresidentialuseofthepalacedeclinedandwaseventuallyended.Nowthehallisonlyusedasaceremonialvenue.ThethronehallwasbuiltinthetraditionalThai-styleofarectangularshape.Theeast,westandsouthsidesofthehallaresurroundedbyacolonnadeofcolumnsontheoutside.Surroundingthehallaretwogardens.DuringthereignofKingRamaVIitwasusedasameetinghallformembersoftheroyalfamilyandotherfamilialfunctions.ThehallalsoprovidedavenuefortheinvestitureceremonieswhereindividualsareawardedwithStateordersanddecorationsbyamemberoftheroyalfamily.Nowthehallisonlyused,inconjunctionwiththeDusitMahaPrasat,asthemainvenueforstatefunerals.[84][89] PhraThinangAphornPhimokPrasat[edit] PhraThinangAphornPhimokPrasat ThePhraThinangAphornPhimokPrasat(พระที่นั่งอาภรณ์ภิโมกข์ปราสาท;RTGS: PhraThiNangAphonPhimokPrasat)isanopenpavilion,builtonaplatformontheeastwalloftheMahaPrasatgroup.ThepavilionwasbuiltbyKingRamaIVasarobingpavilionforthekingtochangehisregaliawhenenteringtheMahaPrasatpremises.Thepavilionwasalsousedastheking'sroyalpalanquinmountingplatform.ThepavilionisconsideredtheepitomeofthefinestqualitiesofThaitraditionalarchitectureinproportion,styleanddetail.AsmallerreplicaofthepavilionwasexhibitedattheBrusselsWorldFairin1958.[90][91] Thepavilionisbuiltonacruciformlayoutwiththenorthernandsouthernendsbeinglonger.Theroofistoppedwithaspireoffive-tiers,makingitaprasatratherthana'mahaprasat'(whichhasseven).Thespireissupportedbyswansasopposedtothetraditionalgarudas.TheeasternpedimentdepictstheHindugodShivastandingonaplinthwithonefootraised,holdingaswordinhislefthandandrighthandraisedtoablessing.[92]Thecolumnsofthepavilionaredecoratedwithgoldandsilverglassmosaicinafloralpattern;thecapitalofthesecolumnstaketheformoflonglotuspetals.[88][91] PhraThinangRachakaranyaSapha[edit] ThePhraThinangRachakaranyaSapha(พระที่นั่งราชกรัณยสภา;RTGS: PhraThiNangRatchaKaranyasapha)islocatedonthesouthernendoftheeasternwall.Theclosedrectangularbuildingwasbuiltasacouncilchamberforusebythekingandhisministers.In1897onhisfirsttriptoEurope,KingRamaVinstalledQueenSaovabhaPhongsriasregent,andshepresidedoverprivycouncilmeetingshere.Thistraditionwasrepeatedin1956whenQueenSirikit,asregentpresidedovertheprivycouncilwhileKingRamaIXbrieflyenteredtheSanghaasamonk.Occasionallythebuildingisstillusedbythekingforprivateaudiences.Thepeculiarcharacteristicofthisbuildingwastheprojectingpedimentsovertheroofline.ThisfeaturewascommonduringtheAyutthayaperiod.[93][94] HoPlueangKhrueang[edit] HoPlueangKhrueang TheHoPlueangKhrueang(ศาลาเปลื้องเครื่อง)isaclosedpavilion,situatedonthewesternwalloftheMahaPrasatgroup.ThepavilionwasbuiltbyKingRamaVIasarobingroom.Thebuildingisatwo-storiedThaistylerectangularshapedhallwithawalkwayleadingfromthetopfloortowardstheDusitMahaPrasatThroneHall.[95] MountKailasa[edit] MountKailasawastemporarilymovedtothefrontoftheChakriMahaPrasatfortheTonsureceremonyofPrinceMahaVajirunhisin1886. TheminiaturemodelofMountKailasa(เขาไกรลาสจำลอง;RTGS: KhaoKrailatChamlong),themythicalabodeofShiva,wasbuiltduringthereignofKingRamaIV.Theminiaturemountainwasusedasasettingforanimportantceremonycalledtheroyaltonsureceremony.[95]Thisancientriteofpassagewouldbeperformedfortheroyalprinceandprincessaroundtheageofthirteen.Theceremony,sometimeslastingsevendaysoffestivities,involvesapurifyingbathandthecuttingofthetraditionaltopknothairoftheroyalchild.Thelatteractwasdonebythekinghimself,thehairislaterthrownintotheChaoPhrayariverasanoffering.[96]Forthispurposethereisaminiaturepalaceonthesummitfortheceremonytotakeplace.thelowerpartofthemountainispopulatedwithstonesculpturesofminiaturemythicalanimalsoftheHimavantaForest.ThemountissituatedbehindthewalkwaybetweentheDusitMahaPrasatThroneHallandHoPluengKrueng.ThisareaisconsideredpartoftheInnerCourtandisnotopenedtothepublic.[97] SiwalaiGarden[edit] TheroyalladiesoftheInnerCourtenjoyingagameofcroquetintheSiwalaiGarden. TheSiwalaiGarden(สวนศิวาลัย,SuanSiwalai)issituatedtotheeasternmostpartoftheMiddlecourtandisconsideredseparatefromtheotherstatebuildingsandthronehalls.Thegardenhasbeeninitspresentform,sinceKingRamaV,andcontainsbothroyalresidencesandreligiousbuildings.Throughouttheyearsseveralstructureswerebuiltanddemolishedbyvariouskings.ThegardenwasfirstcreatedatthebehestofKingRamaIasaprivateretreatcalledtheSuanKaew(สวนแก้ว)or'CrystalGarden'.ThenamewaschangedbyRamaIItoSuanKhwaor'RightGarden',whoalsoembellishedthegardenandtransformeditintoapleasuregardenfortheinhabitantsoftheInnerCourt.[98] ThegreatestchangetotheareaoccurredduringthereignofKingRamaIV,whentheentiregardenwasturnedintoanewresidentialpalace.Thispalacewascomposedofseveralinterconnectedbuildingsofvariousstylesandsizesfortheking'suse.ThisbuildingscomplexwasnamedthePhraAbhinaowasNiwet(พระอภิเนาว์นิเวศน์;RTGS: PhraAphinaoNiwet).Thebuildinggroupareonaneasttowestaxis,withreceptionhallstotheeastandresidentialhallsinthewest.ThesebuildingswerebuiltinacombinationofThaiandWesternstyles;theprincipalbuildingofthePhraAbhinaowasNiwetgroupwasthePhraThinangAnantaSamakhom;thisEuropeanstylegrandaudiencechamberwasusedbythekingtoreceivevariousforeignmissions.OtherbuildingsincludedKingRamaIV'sprimaryresidentialhall,observatoryandbanquetinghall.BythereignofKingRamaVthePhraAbhinaowasNiwetbuildinggroupbecamesodilapidatedthatmostwereeventuallydemolished;thenamesofsomeofthehallswerelaterassumedbynewroyalbuildings(forexamplethenewAnantaSamakhomThroneHallintheDusitPalace).KingRamaVhadtheareaturnedoncemoreintoaprivategardenforusebytheInnerCourtandalsogavethegardenitspresentname.Thenewgardencontainedsomeoftheoldbuildingsaswellasnewadditions,suchasasmalllawninthesouthwesterncornercalledtheSuanTaoor'TurtleGarden'.[99]ThelayoutoftheSiwalaiGardenremainedmostlyunchangeduntilthepresentday.[100][101] PhraThinangBoromphiman[edit] PhraThinangBoromphiman ThePhraThinangBoromphiman(พระที่นั่งบรมพิมาน;RTGS: PhraThiNangBorommaPhiman)isthelargeststructurewithintheSiwalaiGarden;itislocatedatthenorthernmostend.[102][103]Thetwo-storeyNeo-RenaissanceresidencewasconstructedduringthereignofKingRamaVfrom1897to1903.Thenewpalacewasbuiltoverthesiteofanoldarmoury,afterKingRamaVhaditdemolished.ThenewpalacewasintendedasagifttothefirstCrownPrinceofSiam,PrinceMahaVajirunhis.ItwasoriginallynamedPhraThinangPhanumartChamroon(พระที่นั่งภานุมาศจำรูญ).However,beforetheconstructionwasfinishedtheprincediedoftyphoidattheageof16.Oncecompletedthepalacewashandedtothenextheir,CrownPrinceMahaVajiravudh,whoascendedthethronein1910asRamaVI.Helatergavethepalaceitspresentname.[104][105] Underthesupervisionofforeignarchitects,namelytheGermanC.Sandreczki,theBoromphimanThroneHallbecamethemostmodernbuildingwithintheGrandPalace;itwasalsothefirsttobedesignedtoaccommodatecarriagesandmotorcars.[106]Theexteriorwallsareembellishedwithpilastersandelaborateplasterdesigns.Thetriangularandsemi-circularpedimentsaredecoratedwithstuccoedfloralmotifs.Thepalace'sdistinctiveMansardroofiscoveredindarkgreyslatetiles.Onthefaçadeofthebuilding,themainandcentralpedimentshowtheemblemofthecrownprince.[105][107] EventhoughthearchitecturalstyleandexteriordecorationofthebuildingisentirelyWestern,theinteriordecorationsisentirelyThai.[102]Thecentralhall,situatedunderadome,isdecoratedwithmuralsofthegodIndra,Varuna,AgniandYama—alldepictedinThaistyle.BelowthemareThaiinscriptionscomposedbyKingRamaVIhimself.[105][108] Afterhisaccessiontothethrone,KingRamaVIoccasionallystayedatthepalace.KingRamaVIIstayedatthepalaceforafewnightsbeforehiscoronationin1925,whileKingAnandaMahidol(RamaVIII)madethepalacehismainplaceofresidenceuponhisreturntoThailandfromSwitzerlandinDecember1945.HelivedinthispalacewithhisyoungerbrotherPrinceBhumibolAdulyadej(laterKingRamaIX)andhismotherPrincessSriSangwan.Onthemorningof9June1946thepalaceborewitnesstohismysteriousandunexplaineddeathbygunshot.[102][109]KingRamaIXlaterrefurbishedthepalaceandaddedanextrawingextendingsouth.[100][105] Currentlythepalaceisnotopentothepublic,andservesastheofficialguesthouseforvisitingHeadsofStateandtheirentourage.[103][107][110]TothesoutheastoftheBoromphimanThroneHall,therearealsotwoguesthousesforusebytheentourageofstatevisitors.[105] PhraThinangMahisornPrasat[edit] KingAnandaMahidol(RamaVIII)(left),hismotherPrincessSriSangwanandyoungerbrotherPrinceBhumibolAdulyadejin1945. ThePhraThinangMahisornPrasat(พระที่นั่งมหิศรปราสาท)isasmallpavilionbuiltonthewallbetweentheSiwalaiGardenandtheMahaMonthienbuildings.Thepavilionhasamondop-styleroofandagildedspire,decoratedinglassmosaic.ThepavilionwasbuiltbyKingRamaIVasamonumenttohisfatherKingRamaII.AfteritscompletiontheashesofKingRamaIIwasmovedandwashousedinthepavilion.AfterthedeathofKingRamaIVtheasheswasmovedbacktotheHoPhraThatMonthienBuddhaImageHall,currentlythepavilionhousesseveralBuddhaimages.[111][112] PhraThinangSiwalaiMahaPrasat[edit] ThePhraThinangSiwalaiMahaPrasat(พระที่นั่งศิวาลัยมหาปราสาท)islocatedonthesouthern-easternendoftheSiwalaiGarden.[100][113]TheSiwalaiMahaPrasatisaThai-styleedificewithaMondopstylespireofseventiers.BuiltduringthereignofKingRamaVin1878tohousethemetalstatuesofhisfourpredecessors,whichwerecastin1869.Thehallwastobeusedasaroyalpantheon,wherethelivesofpreviousmonarchsweretobecommemoratedandworshiped.[114]LaterKingRamaVIhadthestatuesremovedandrehousedatthePrasatPhraThepBidornintheTempleoftheEmeraldBuddhacompound,wheretheywouldbemoreaccessibletothepublic.On6April1918thefirstceremonyofworshipwasinaugurated,thisceremonycontinuestobeperformedannually.Sincetheremovalofthestatues,theSiwalaiMahaPrasathasbeenleftvacant.[115] PhraThinangSitalaphirom[edit] ThePhraThinangSitalaphirom(พระที่นั่งสีตลาภิรมย์)isasmallopenpavilionmadeofwood,builtbyKingRamaVI.ThepavilionissituatedonthenorthernedgeofthelawnsouthoftheBoromphimanpalace.Thepavilionisdecoratedwithaflamemotifingildedblacklacquer.ThegablesbeartheinsigniaofKingRamaVI.Thekingusedthepavilionasaplaceofrestandasaseatduringgardenparties.[100] PhraBuddhaRattanasathan[edit] ThePhraBuddhaRattanasathan(พระพุทธรัตนสถาน)isaPhraubosot(orordinationhall),situatedattheverycentreoftheSiwalaiGarden.ThereligiousbuildingisashrinetoaBuddhaimagecalledthePhraBuddhaButsayaratChakraphatPimlomManeemai(พระพุทธบุษยรัตน์จักรพรรดิพิมลมณีมัย;RTGS: PhraPhutthaButsayaratChakkraphatPhimonManimai)whichwasbroughtfromChampasakinLaos.[citationneeded]TheubosotwasbuiltforthispurposebyKingRamaIV.Theubosotisbuiltofgreystoneandhasatwo-tiergreentitleroof.Atthefrontthereisaporticoofpillars.Runningaroundtheoutsideoftheubosotisanopenpillaredgallery.Religiousceremonieshavebeenperformedhereinthepast.[100][116] InnerCourt[edit] ChiefconsortSamliandherroyaldaughters.ConsortSamli(sittingcentre)wasawifeofKingRamaIV.OneofherdaughtersPrincessSukhumalaMarasri(right)becameconsorttoherhalf-brotherKingRamaV. TheInnerCourtortheKhetPhraRachaThanChanNai(เขตพระราชฐานชั้นใน),referredtosimplyasFaiNai(ฝ่ายใน;RTGS: FaiNai;literally'TheInside'),occupiesthesouthernmostpartoftheGrandPalacecomplex.Thisareaisreservedexclusivelyforusebythekingandhisharemofqueensandconsorts(minorwives).Thesewomenwereoftencalled'forbiddenwomen'orNangharm(นางห้าม;RTGS: nangham)bythegeneralpopulace.Otherinhabitantsofthecourtweretheking'schildrenandamultitudeofladies-in-waitingandservants.Theking'sroyalconsortsweredrawnfromtheranksoftheSiamese:royaltyandnobility.Usuallytherewerealsothedaughtersofrulersoftributarystates.[82][117]RoyalpolygamyendedinpracticeduringthereignofKingRamaVI,whorefusedtokeepapolygamoushousehold.ItwasendedofficiallybyKingRamaVIIintheearly20thcentury,whenheoutlawedthepracticeforallandtookonlyoneconsort:QueenRambhaiBarni.Bythistimetheinhabitantsofthecourthaddwindledtoonlyafewandfinallydisappearedwithinafewdecadesafterwards.[41][118]HistoricallytheInnerCourtwasatowncompletewithinitself,dividedbynarrowstreetsandlawns.Ithaditsownshops,government,schools,warehouses,lawsandlawcourts,allexclusivelycontrolledbywomenfortheroyalwomen.Menonspecialrepairworkanddoctorswereadmittedonlyunderthewatchfuleyesofitsfemaleguards.Theking'ssonswerepermittedtoliveinsideuntiltheyreachedpuberty;aftertheirtonsureceremoniestheyweresentoutsidethepalaceforfurthereducation.[41]TherearecurrentlynoinhabitantswithintheInnerCourtandthebuildingswithinarenotusedforanypurpose;nevertheless,theentirecourtisclosedtothepublic.[119] ThepopulationoftheInnerCourtvariedoverdifferentperiods,butbyallaccountsitwaslarge.[120]Eachqueenconsorthadherownhouseholdofaround200to300women.Hervariousladies-in-waitingwereusuallyrecruitedfromnoblefamilies;otherswereminorprincesseswhowouldalsohavearetinueofservants.Eachminorwifeorconsort(เจ้าจอม;ChaoChom)hadafairlylargehousehold;thiswouldincreasesignificantlyifshegavebirthtotheking'schild,asshewouldbeelevatedtotherankofconsortmother(เจ้าจอมมารดา;ChaoChomManda).Eachroyalladyhadaseparateestablishment,thesizeofwhichwasinproportiontoherrankandstatusinaccordancewithpalacelaw.AltogetherthepopulationoftheInnerCourtnumberednearly3,000inhabitants.[121] PrincessVoralaksanavadiinfullregaliaonhertonsurateceremonyin1880 TheInnerCourtwasoncepopulatedbysmalllow-lyingstructuressurroundedbygardens,lawnsandponds.Overthecourseofthelate19thcenturynewresidentialhouseswereconstructedinthisspace,resultinginovercrowdedconditions.MostofthebuildingsthatremainwereconstructedduringthereignofKingRamaVinWesternstyles,mostlyItalianate.[122]Theresidencesvaryinsizeandaredividedintothreecategories;smallroyalvillasorPhraThamnak(พระตำหนัก;RTGS: phratamnak),villasorThamnak(ตำหนัก;RTGS: tamnak)andhousesorRuen(เรือน;RTGS: ruean).Eachwasdistributedtotheinhabitantsinaccordancewiththeirrankandstature.ThecourtissurroundedandseparatedfromtherestoftheGrandPalacebyasecondsetofwallswithin,paralleltothosethatringaroundthepalaceasawhole.ThesewallsarepunctuatedbyasetofgatesthatconnectstheMiddletheInnerCourtstotheoutsideandtoeachother;theentrancethroughthesegateswerestrictlymonitored.[123]ThethreemainbuildinggroupsintheMiddleCourtarebuiltsothattheresidentialhallsofeacharesituatedtothesouthandstraddledtheboundarybetweentheMiddleandInnerCourt.Thustheseresidentialspacesofthekingbecamethefocalpointofpalacelifeandthelivesofthepalacewomenontheinside.[124]Immediatelybehindtheseresidentialhallsarethelargeroyalvillasofhigh-rankingconsortssuchasQueenSukhumalaMarasriandQueenSavangVadhana.SurroundingthemaresmallervillasbelongingtootherconsortssuchasthosebelongingtoPrincessConsortDaraRasmi.Finallyatthelowerend(thesouthernmostpart)aretherowhousesorTaoTeng(แถวเต๊ง;RTGS: thaeoteng)forthemiddle-andlow-rankingconsorts.[122]Theseresidencesalsofunctionedasadefactosecondarylayerofsurveillance,attheveryedgesoftheInnerCourt.[125] TheInnerCourtwasgovernedbyaseriesoflawsknownasthePalaceLaws(กฎมนเทียรบาล,KotMonthienBan;literally'PalaceMaintenanceLaw').SomeofthelawsdatedbacktothetimesoftheKingdomofAyutthaya.Mostofthemdealwiththehierarchyandstatusofthewomen,whileothersdealwiththeirbehaviourandconduct.[126]Theorderanddisciplineoftheinhabitantswereenforcedbyaregimentofall-femaleguards(กรมโขลน,KromKlone;RTGS: krommakhlon).TheseguardsweredescribedbyPrinceChulaChakrabongseas"toughlookingamazons".[41]TheheadofthisbodywasknownastheAtibodiFaiNai(อธิบดีฝ่ายใน;RTGS: AthibodiFaiNai)thedirectressoftheinside,underhercommandwerevariousofficials.TheseofficialshadspecificresponsibilitiesconcerningeveryfacetoflifewithintheInnerCourt.Theseresponsibilitiesincludeddutiesconcerning:disciplineandjails,themaintenanceofBuddhistimages,theguardingofgates,theinnertreasuryandexpenditure.Oneoftheirmaindutieswastoaccompanymen,oncetheywereadmittedintothearea,andtoremainwiththemuntiltheyleft.Theycontrolledthetrafficofthecourtandweredrilledlikeregularsoldiers.Whenanypersonofimportancepassedalongthestreetstheyranaheadandclearedthewayforthem.Atnighttheypatrolledthestreetswithlampsortorches.[120]Misbehaviourorindiscretiononbehalfofthewiveswaspunishablebydeath,forthewomenandtheman.[127]Thelastsuchpunishmentwasmetoutin1859toayoungnoblemanandaminorwife,whowerehavinganaffair.[128] AgroupphotographofseveralroyalladiesoftheInnerCourtinthereignofKingRamaV. OnlythechildrenofthekingcouldbeborninsidetheInnerCourt.Everydetailofthebirthoftheroyalchildwasrecorded,includingthetimeofbirth,whichwastobeusedlaterbycourtastrologerstocasthisorherhoroscope.CeremoniesconcerningthebirthandtheritesofpassageofthechildwasperformedwithinthewallsoftheInnerCourt.ThebirthofaroyalchildwasfirstannouncedbyasuccessionofwomenwhoproclaimedthenewsalongtheInnerCourt'sstreets.Thereweretwowaitingorchestras,oneontheinsidemadeofwomenandoneontheoutsideofmen,whowouldthencarryouttheofficialproclamationwithconchshellfanfares.IfthechildwasaprincetheGongofVictorywastobestruckthreetimes.Thechildrenwouldlivewiththeirrespectivemothersandbeeducatedinspecialschoolswithinthecourt.[127] Althoughthewomenof'TheInside'couldneverhavethesameleveloffreedomtothoseontheoutside,lifeinsidetheInnerCourtwasnotdisagreeable,aslifewaseasierthantheoutsideandmostnecessitieswereprovidedfor.Thewomenusuallyenteredthepalaceasgirlsandremainedinsidefortherestoftheirlives.Asgirlstheywouldbeassignedcertaindutiesaspages;astheygrewolderandbecamewivesandmotherstheywouldhaveahouseholdtolookafter.DuringthereignofKingRamaIV,thewomenofthepalacewereforthefirsttimeallowedtoleave;howevertheywererequiredtoobtainpermissionfromthedirectoressfirstandwerestrictlychaperoned.[123]Dr.MalcolmA.Smith,physiciantoQueenSaovabhaPhongsrifrom1914to1919,wrotethat,"thereisnoevidencetoshowthattheylongedforfreedomorwereunhappyintheirsurroundings.EvenMrs.Leonowens,fanaticalopponentofpolygamythatshewas,doesnottellusthat".[129]Indeed,AnnaLeonowens'bookTheEnglishGovernessattheSiameseCourt,publishedin1873,wassetinsidetheInnerCourt. Defensivewalls[edit] ThecastellatedwallsoftheGrandPalacewereconstructedduringthereignofKingRamaIin1782.LaterduringthereignofKingRamaIItheGrandPalaceanditswallswereextendedtowardsthesouth.Cannonemplacementswerereplacedwithguardhousesandweregivenrhymingnames.Thenorthernwallmeasures410 metres,theeast510 metres,thesouth360 metresandthewest630 metres,atotalof1,910metres(6,270 ft).Thereare12gatesintheouterwalls.Insidethepalace,therewereover22gatesandalabyrinthofinnerwalls;howeversomeofthesehavealreadybeendemolished.Aroundtheouterwallstherearealso17smallforts.Ontheeasternwall,facingSanamchaiRoad,therearetwothronehalls.[4][14] Pavilions[edit] PhraThinangChaiChumpol[edit] PhraThinangChaiChumpol ThePhraThinangChaiChumpol(พระที่นั่งไชยชุมพล;RTGS: PhraThiNangChaiChumphon)islocatedonthenorthoftheeasternwall,oppositetheTempleoftheEmeraldBuddha.Thesmallrectangularpavilionwasbuiltonthetopofthewallofthepalace.Thepavilionhasaroofoftwotiersandiscoveredwithgreytiles.[130]Theexteriorisdecoratedwithblacklacquerandglassmosaic.ThepavilionwasbuiltbyKingRamaIVasaviewingplatform,wherehecouldobserveroyalandreligiousprocessionsgoingbyalongtheSanamchaiRoad.ThepavilionwasalsousedforatimeasthemainshrineofthePhraSiamThevathirajfigure,beforeitwasmovedtoitscurrentshrineinthePhaisanThaksinHall.[131] PhraThinangSuthaisawanPrasat[edit] PhraThinangSuthaisawanPrasat,sittingbetweentheDevaPhitakandSakdiChaisitGates. KingBhumibolAdulyadejandQueenSirikitgrantingapublicaudienceonabalconyofPhraThinangSuthaisawanPrasat SituatedonthesoutheasternwalloftheGrandPalaceisthePhraThinangSuthaisawanPrasat(พระที่นั่งสุทไธสวรรยปราสาท);thehallsitsbetweentheDevaPhitakandSakdiChaisitGatesontheeasternwall.[100][132]ItwasfirstbuiltbyKingRamaIinimitationofthe"PhraThinangChakrawatPhaichayont"(พระที่นั่งจักรวรรดิ์ไพชยนต์;RTGS: PhraThiNangChakkrawatPhaichayon)onthewallsoftheRoyalPalaceinAyutthaya.OriginallycalledthePlubplaSungorhighpavilion,itwasmadeentirelyofwoodandwasanopen-airstructure.DuringthereignofKingRamaIII,anewstructurewasbuiltoutofbrickandmortar.ThisnewstructurewasrenamedPhraThinangSutthasawan(พระที่นั่งสุทไธสวรรย์;RTGS: PhraThiNangSutthaiSawan).Thehallisusedbythekingtogiveaudiencestothepublicandviewmilitaryparades.[130][133] Thenewstructureconsistsoftwo-stories,thelowerinWesternstyleandthetoplevelinThaidesign.Thecentralpavilionhasawoodenbalcony,whichisusedbythekingandroyalfamilyforthegrantingofpublicaudiences.Theroofoverthecentralpavilionistoppedbyafive-tierprasatinMondopstyle,decoratedinglassmosaic.Thehall'swingsstretchingfromthenorthtothesouth,eachhasninelargewindowsalongtheexterior.LaterinthereignofKingRamaV,theentirestructurewasrefurbishedandfinallygivenitspresentname.[100][133] Gates[edit] TheviewoftheGrandPalaceatnight,thefortintheforegroundisthePadejDusakornFort. TheGrandPalacehastwelvegates(ประตู,Pratu,literallyadoor),threealongeachofthefourwalls.ThesemassivegatesarebuiltofbrickandmortarandaretoppedwithaPrangstylespire.Thesegatesareallpaintedinwhite,withgiganticreddoors.Eachoftheseoutergatesweregivenrhymingnames,startingfromthenorthwestinaclockwisedirectionaround.[14][134] ThePadejDusakornFortandTempleoftheEmeraldBuddha. Northwall PhimanDeves(ประตูวิมานเทเวศร์;RTGS: WimanThewet) WisetChaisri(ประตูวิเศษไชยศรี;RTGS: WisetChaiSi) ManeeNoparat(ประตูมณีนพรัตน์;RTGS: ManiNoppharat) Eastwall SvastiSopha(ประตูสวัสดิโสภา;RTGS: SawatdiSopha) DevaPhitak(ประตูเทวาพิทักษ์;RTGS: ThewaPhithak) SakdiChaisit(ประตูศักดิ์ไชยสิทธิ์;RTGS: SakChaisit) Southwall VichitBanjong(ประตูวิจิตรบรรจง;RTGS: WichitBanchong) AnongkaRaksa(ประตูอนงคารักษ์;RTGS: Anongkharak) PhitakBovorn(ประตูพิทักษ์บวร;RTGS: PhithakBowon) Westwall SuthornThisa(ประตูสุนทรทิศา;RTGS: SunthonThisa) DevaPhirom(ประตูเทวาภิรมย์;RTGS: Thewaphirom) UdomSudarak(ประตูอุดมสุดารักษ์) Forts[edit] AlongthewallsoftheGrandPalacethereareseventeenforts(ป้อม,Pom);originallytherewereonlyten,withlateradditionsmade.Thesesmallstructuresareusuallysmallbattlementswithcannonplacementsandwatchtower.Thefortswerealsogivenrhymingnames.[14][17][134] Northwall InthornRangsan(ป้อมอินทรรังสรรค์;RTGS: InRangsan) KhanKuenphet(ป้อมขันธ์เขื่อนเพชร;RTGS: KhanKhueanPhet) PadejDusakorn(ป้อมเผด็จดัสกร;RTGS: PhadetDatsakon)(cornerfort) Eastwall SanchornJaiwing(ป้อมสัญจรใจวิง;RTGS: SanchonChaiWing) SingKornkan(ป้อมสิงขรขันฑ์;RTGS: SingkhonKhan) KayanYingyut(ป้อมขยันยิงยุทธ;RTGS: KhayanYingYut) RithiRukromrun(ป้อมฤทธิรุดโรมรัน;RTGS: RitthiRutRomRan) AnandaKiri(ป้อมอนันตคีรี;RTGS: AnantaKhiri) ManeePrakarn(ป้อมมณีปราการ;RTGS: ManiPrakan)(cornerfort) Southwall PisarnSima(ป้อมพิศาลสีมา;RTGS: PhisanSima) PuphaSuthat(ป้อมภูผาสุทัศน์;RTGS: PhuPhaSuthat)(cornerfort) Westwall SunthaBanpot(ป้อมสัตตบรรพต;RTGS: SattaBanphot) SolosSila(ป้อมโสฬสศิลา;RTGS: SolotSila) MahaSanthaLoha(ป้อมมหาสัตตโลหะ;RTGS: MahaSattaLoha) ThasanaNikorn(ป้อมทัศนนิกร;RTGS: ThatsanaNikon) MuseumoftheEmeraldBuddhaTemple[edit] MuseumoftheEmeraldBuddhaTemple TheMuseumoftheEmeraldBuddhaTemple(พิพิธภัณฑ์วัดพระศรีรัตนศาสดาราม),despiteitsname,isthemainartefactsrepositoryofboththeGrandPalaceandTempleoftheEmeraldBuddhacomplex.ThemuseumislocatedbetweentheOuterandMiddleCourtandsitsoppositethePhraThinangMahaPrasatGroup.Abuildingwasconstructedonthepresentlocationin1857duringthereignofKingRamaIVastheRoyalMint(โรงกษาปณ์สิทธิการ,RongKasarpSitthikarn;RTGS: RongKasapSitthikan).KingRamaVorderedtheminttobeenlarged,butnotlongafterthisthebuildingwasdestroyedbyfireandneededtoberebuilt.[135][136] Thetwo-storystructureisrectangularinshape.TheporticohasfourIoniccolumnswithflutedstemsandcabbageleafcapitals.ThefrontgablesofthebuildinghaveRenaissancestyleplastermoulding.Thelowerpartoftheexteriorwallsaremadeofplasteredbrick.Theupperwindowshavesemi-circularFrenchwindows,withpilastersonbothsides.[136]In1902anewroyalmintdepartmentwasconstructedoutsidethepalace'swallsandtheoldmintbuildingwasleftvacant.Thebuildingwasthenfirstconvertedforuseasaroyalguardsbarracksandlaterasaroyalguardsofficer'sclub.[135][136] In1982,onthebicentennialanniversaryyearofthefoundingofBangkokandthebuildingoftheGrandPalace,thebuildingwasselectedasthesiteofanewmuseum.ItwasestablishedattheinstigationofPrincessMahaChakriSirindhorntoholdcertainarchitecturalelements,whichhadtobereplaced;variousartefactsandBuddhaimagesthatweredonatedtotheGrandPalacebythegeneralpublic.[135][136] Thegroundfloorofthemuseumdisplaysavariedselectionofartefacts.[135]Theseincludedcertainarchitecturalelements,whichwereremovedfromvariousbuildingswithintheGrandPalaceduringdifferentrenovations,aswellaswerethestoneBuddhaimagesandChinesestatues.TheyincludedmanyfiguresfromThailiterature,theRamakien,suchasSuvannamacchaandHanuman.ThestonefiguresdatefromthereignofKingRamaIII,andwerelatermovedtothemuseumtopreventdamage.[136]Inthecentralhallarethebonesofwhiteelephants.Theseelephantswerenotactuallywhitebuthavecertainspecialcharacteristicssuchaspinkishcolouringandcreameyes.TheWhiteelephantwasanimportantsymbolofkingship;themorethemonarchpossessedthegreaterwashisprestige.ThisbeliefandvenerationoftheanimaliscommontomanyotherSouth-eastAsiancultures.[137][138] Cannonsandarchitecturalelements,displayedoutsidethemuseum Theupperfloorroomsdisplaymoreartisticandpreciousobjects.InthemainhallaretwoarchitecturalmodelsoftheGrandPalace,thefirstrepresentingtheGrandPalaceduringthereignofKingRamaI,andanotherinthereignofKingRamaV.BehindthesearenumerousBuddhaimagesandcommemorativecoins.Inthedoorwayleadingtothemainhallisasmallmother-of-pearlseatingplatformknownasPhraThaenSongSabai(พระแท่นทรงสบาย),whichwasoncelocatedinthePhraThinangPhimanRattayaThroneHall.TheplatformwasusedforinformalaudiencesanddatesfromthetimeofKingRamaI.[137]AttheendofthemainhallstandsthePhraThaenManangsilaThrone(พระแท่นมนังคศิลาอาสน์;RTGS: PhraThaenManangkhaSilaAt),whichisbelievedtodatetotheSukhothaiKingdomandwasbroughtbacktoBangkok,fromSukhothai,byKingRamaIV,whenhewasstillamonk.AgainstthewallsoneithersideofthehallarefourdifferentBuddhaimagesofJavanesestyle;theywerepurchasedbyKingRamaV.TheroomtotherightoftheManangsilaThronedisplaysthevariousseasonalrobesoftheEmeraldBuddha.TotheleftofthemainhallisalacquerwarescreendepictingthecrowningofShiva,kingofthegods.ThescreenwasformerlykeptinthePhraThinangAmarintharaPisekMahaPrasat;itwassavedfromthefireapparentlybythehandsofKingRamaIhimself.Therestoftheupperfloordisplaysvariousobjetsd′art(suchasamodelofMountKailasa)andmoreBuddhaimages.[139] Seealso[edit] AninformationsignregardingthestrictdresscodeforentrytotheGrandPalace. Thailandportal Architectureportal Associated WatPhraKaew EmeraldBuddha OtherroyalpalacesinBangkok DusitPalace–Mainroyalresidencefromaround1899to1950 AmphornSathanResidentialHall-Mainresidenceofthecurrentmonarchsince2016 ChitraladaRoyalVilla–Mainresidenceofthemonarchfromaround1950to2016 AnantaSamakhomThroneHall AbhisekDusitThroneHall VimanmekPalace PhayaThaiPalace–Mainresidenceofthemonarchfromaround1909to1910 Relatedsubjects ListofThairoyalresidences RattanakosinKingdom ChakriDynasty MonarchyofThailand CoronationoftheThaimonarch Thaiart ArchitectureofThailand References[edit] Citations[edit] ^"Thailand'skinggivenfullcontrolofcrownproperty".Reuters.17July2017.Retrieved26September2021. ^"CrownPropertyAct2018"(PDF)(inThai).RoyalThaiGovernmentGazette.2November2018.Retrieved26September2021. ^abcRoyalInstituteofThailand.(2011).Howtoreadandhowtowrite.(20thEdition).Bangkok:RoyalInstituteofThailand.ISBN 978-974-349-384-3. ^abcdeHongvivat2003,p. 7 ^abcdSuksri1999,p. 11 ^abcWatcharothai,etal.2005,p. 18 ^Rod-ari,Melody(January2016)."BeyondtheAshes:TheMakingofBangkokastheCapitalCityofSiam".PoliticalLandscapesofCapitalCities.pp. 155–179.doi:10.5876/9781607324690.c004.ISBN 978-1-60732-469-0. ^abcQuaritchWales1931,p. 71 ^abChakrabongse1960,p. 90 ^abGarnier2004,p. 42 ^abcChakrabongse1960,p. 93 ^Watcharothai,etal.2005,p. 19 ^Suksri1999,p. 15 ^abcdefSuksri1999,p. 16 ^Watcharothai,etal.2005,p. 21 ^Watcharothai,etal.2005,p. 24 ^abHongvivat2003,p. 8 ^abcdSuksri1999,p. 17 ^Watcharothai,etal.2005,p. 26 ^พระบรมมหาราชวังattheThaiWikipedia(Thai). ^Suksri1999,p. 7 ^abcSuksri1999,p. 8 ^Watcharothai,etal.2005,p. 29 ^Watcharothai,etal.2005,p. 197 ^Garnier2004,p. 43 ^abSuksri1999,p. 21 ^Suksri1999,p. 95 ^abcHongvivat2003,p. 70 ^abSuksri1999,p. 97 ^Watcharothai,etal.2005,p. 33 ^abSuksri1999,p. 101 ^abcSuksri1999,p. 102 ^abcdWatcharothai,etal.2005,p. 59 ^QuaritchWales1931,p. 178 ^abcdefghiSuksri1999,p. 98 ^abcdWatcharothai,etal.2005,p. 40 ^QuaritchWales1931,p. 78 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^Watcharothai,etal.2005,p. 151 ^"พระที่นั่งบรมราชสถิตยมโหฬาร :ปราสาทเรือนฐานันดรสูงในรัชกาลปัจจุบัน(Thai)"(PDF).emuseum.treasury.go.th.Archivedfromtheoriginal(PDF)on31August2011.Retrieved31January2012. ^abcdefHongvivat2003,p. 88 ^abcSuksri1999,p. 114 ^Watcharothai,etal.2005,p. 83 ^abcWatcharothai,etal.2005,p. 85 ^Chakrabongse1960,p. 116 ^abSmith1947,p. 53 ^QuaritchWales1931,p. 141 ^abcdSuksri1999,p. 115 ^abSuksri1999,p. 116 ^abcSuksri1999,p. 118 ^Watcharothai,etal.2005,p. 86 ^abSuksri1999,p. 119 ^Watcharothai,etal.2005,p. 99 ^Suksri1999,p. 120 ^abWatcharothai,etal.2005,pp. 103–104 ^Hongvivat2003,p. 92 ^Suksri1999,p. 123 ^Watcharothai,etal.2005,pp. 108–109 ^abSuksri1999,p. 122 ^QuaritchWales1931,p. 127 ^Watcharothai,etal.2005,p. 106 ^Watcharothai,etal.2005,p. 157 ^Watcharothai,etal.2005,pp. 159–161 ^abcdefg"BorophimanMansionandSiwalaiGardenGroup".BangkokMagazine.Archivedfromtheoriginalon2November2011.Retrieved31January2012. 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^abWatcharothai,etal.2005,pp. 248–249 ^abWatcharothai,etal.2005,pp. 198–201 ^abcdHongvivat2003,p. 96 ^abcdeSuksri1999,p. 124 ^abSuksri1999,p. 125 ^QuaritchWales1931,p. 273 ^Suksri1999,p. 126 Sources[edit] Chakrabongse,Chula(1956).TwainHaveMet:AnEasternPrinceCameWest.UnitedKingdom:G.T.Foulis&Co. Chakrabongse,Chula(1960).LordsofLife:HistoryoftheKingsofThailand.UnitedKingdom:AlvinRedmanLimited.ISBN 616733935X. Garnier,Derick(2004).Ayutthaya:VeniceoftheEast.Bangkok,Thailand:RiverBooks.ISBN 974-8225-60-7. Hongvivat,Nidda(2003).TempleoftheEmeraldBuddhaandtheGrandPalace.Bangkok,Thailand:SaengdaetPhuanDek.ISBN 974-90560-2-7. Noobanjong,Koompong(2003),Power,Identity,andtheRiseofModernArchitecture:FromSiamtoThailand,Dissertation.Com,ISBN 0-500-97479-9 Noobanjong,Koompong(2006),TalesfromtheThroneHall:theChakriMahaPrasatUnveiled(PDF),FacultyofIndustrialEducationKingMongkut'sInstituteofTechnologyLadkrabang:วารสารครุศาสตร์อุตสาหกรรมปีที่5ฉบับที่1ตุลาคม2548–มีนาคม2549,archivedfromtheoriginal(PDF)on3March2016 QuaritchWales,H.G.(1931),SiameseStateCeremonies,London,UnitedKingdom:Routledge,ISBN 0-7007-0269-5 Smith,Malcolm(1947),APhysicianattheCourtofSiam,London,UnitedKingdom:ShernvalPress,ISBN 0-19-582556-X Suksri,Naengnoi(1999),TheGrandPalace,Bangkok,Bangkok,Thailand:RiverBooks,ISBN 0-500-97479-9 Watcharothai,Watcharakiti;et al.(2005),พระบรมมหาราชวัง,GrandPalace:Bangkok,Thailand,BureauoftheRoyalHousehold,Bangkok,Thailand:ThaiWatanaPanichPressCo.,Ltd.,ISBN 974-8274-98-5 Woodhouse,LeslieAnn(2009),A"foreign"princessintheSiamesecourt:PrincessDaraRasami,thepoliticsofgenderandethnicdifferenceinnineteenth-centurySiam,California,USA:UniversityofCalifornia,Berkeley,ISBN 978-1-243-64277-6 Externallinks[edit] WikimediaCommonshasmediarelatedtoGrandPalace,Bangkok. 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