Succession
Prince Narai was born in 1633 to King Prasat Thong and his Queen Sirikalayani, who was a daughter of Songtham. Prasat Thong had just usurped the throne from the ruling Sukhothai dynasty in 1629 and founded a dynasty of his own. Narai had an elder half-brother, Prince Chai, and an uncle Prince Sri Sudharmmaraja. Upon Prasat Thong’s death in 1656, Prince Chai succeeded his father as King Sanpet VI.
However, it was a Thai tradition gave brothers a higher priority over sons in succession. Prince Sudharmmaraja plotted with his nephew, Prince Narai, to bring Sanpet VI down. After nine months of ascension, Sanpet VI was executed following a coup. Narai and his uncle marched into the palace, and Sri Sudharmmaraja crowned himself king. Sri Sudharmmaraja appointed Narai as the Uparaja, or the Front Palace. However, Narai was also an ambitious prince and had requested Dutch support against his uncle. Sri Sudharmmaraja’s rule was weak and he fell under the control of Chao Phraya Chakri, an ambitious mandarin who also wanted the throne.
In 1656, Narai and his uncle finally alienated each other. Sri Sudharmmaraja lusted after Narai’s sister, Princess Rajakalayani. He ordered his soldiers to surround her residence and entered the house. The princess hid in the book chest and thus was moved to the Front Palace, were she met her brother.
Enraged at his uncle's behavior, Narai decided to take action. He drew his support from the Persian and Japanese mercenaries that had been persecuted during his father's reign. He also had the support of his brothers and the Okya Sukhothai, a powerful nobleman. On the Day of Ashura, the Persians and Japanese stormed the palace. The prince engaged in single combat with his uncle, until the king fled to the Rear Palace. Sri Sudharmmaraja was captured and was executed at Wat Kok Phraya in October 1656.
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