The Revolt That Never Happened
On the 13 January 1912 dissatisfied with his reign and with the absolutist regime (especially his favourism towards the Wild Tiger Corps), a group of 7 Army officers decided to overthrow the King, the group's membership eventually reached 91 Officers. The group were led by Army Captain Khun Thuayhanpitak (Thai: ร.อ.ขุนทวยหาญพิทักษ์), including some member from the King's own bodyguards. Other men were either members of the low ranks of the regular Army or their companions up in the north country far from the delights of Bangkok. Perhaps inspired by the successful overthrow of the Manchus and the Qing Dynasty in China that same year, they decided to move forward. Their plans were unclear and their goals were contradictory, some wanted to replace Vajiravudh with one of his many brothers, others wanted a constitutional monarchy and some in the extreme wing a republic.
On the 1 April 1912, on Thai New Year, the King was to preside over the merit making ceremony in public. Captain Yut Khongyu (Thai: ร.อ.ยุทธ คงอยู่) was selected (by lottery) by the plotters to assassinate the Monarch on that day. Filled with guilt he instead confessed all the plans and names of the conspirators to the commander of the King's bodyguards on the 27 February, who in turn told the existence of the plot to the King's brother Prince Chakrabongse Bhuvanath, The Prince of Phitsanulok. The plotters were discovered before they even moved and were quickly arrested and imprisoned. Under a Military Tribunal: 3 were sentenced to death, 20 received life imprisonment, 32 received twenty years, 6 received fifteen years and a further 30 for twelve years imprisonment. They were tried under attempted regicide, treason and attempted overthrow of the government.
The failed uprising was the first revolt against the House of Chakri from the outside of the nobility. Despite their actions most of the plotters were pardoned or have their sentences lessened by the King himself in 1924, these included the death sentences (the King had felt that no one has actually been hurt). However the lesson was not lost on Vajiravudh who, quickly stepped up vigilance against any such threats in the future.
Read more about this topic: Palace Revolt Of 1912
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