(also Somdet Phra Si Suriyothai; d.1548), queen consort of Ayutthaya (Thailand) during the second Suphannaphum (Suphanabhumi) dynasty (1409–1569). Suriyothai was born to a family descended from the royal family of the Thai Sukhothai kingdom (1238–1378). Little is known of her life before her death, and her life was surrounded by courtly intrigue. She was married to Prince Thian (Thianracha), son of King Ramathibodi II (r.1491–1529) by a concubine.
When Prince Thian's father died in 1529, his half brother ascended as Boromracha IV, but he died of smallpox in 1533. Boromracha's five-year-old son ascended as Rattha but was deposed by his uncle, another son of Ramathibodi II, who had him executed and ascended as Chairacha (r.1534–1547). When Chairacha died—possibly poisoned by his wife, Sri Sudacan —his eleven-year-old son ascended as Yot Fa with his mother, Sri Sudacan, as regent. At this point Prince Thian, apparently in fear for his life, entered the monastery of Ratchapraditsathan. Not long after, Sri Sudacan and her lover had Yot Fa executed, and her lover was raised to the throne as Khun Worawongsa. Worawongsa had been on the throne only five months when he, Sri Sudacan, and their baby were killed by nobles who wanted to secularize Prince Thian and place him on the throne. Thian is reported to have approved of the plot. At age thirty-six he ascended the throne as Chakkraphat (r.1548–1569) with Suriyothai, his principal wife, as his queen.
Suriyothai had to share the attention of her husband with concubines. Records attest that the daughters of those concubines were given in thanks to the four principal conspirators who had placed the king in power. King Chakkraphat gave the future Thai king Thammaracha his daughter by Suriyothai, Sawatdirat (also Wisut Kasattri, her name as royal princess). He also gave the other three supporters daughters by royal concubines, presumably his own.
Taking advantage of the turmoil in Ayutthaya, Pangsaweki (Tabinshwehti, r.1531–1550), king of Burma, invaded the country and laid siege to the capital. In desperation Chakkraphat himself, accompanied by Suriyothai, sons Ramesuan and Mahin, and a daughter, rode out to meet the invaders. In the battle Chakkraphat was knocked off balance when Pangsaweki's commander of the vanguard, Phra Jao Prae Tado Thammaraja , got behind him and startled his mount. At this point Suriyothai drove her elephant between Chakkraphat and his attacker. Phra Jao Prae Tado Thammaraja slashed her with his halberd from shoulder to breast. Chakkraphat was able to recover her body and retreat back into the city. He later erected a pagoda dedicated to her memory at the temple Suan Luang Sobsawan, where she had been cremated. Suriyothai's death in battle has become a legend in Thailand. The 2001 film Suriyothai, backed by the queen of Thailand, celebrates both her role as devoted wife and also her sacrifice for the sake of king and nation.
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