Paribatra Sukhumbhand

Who was Paribatra Sukhumbhand?

Prince Paribatra Sukhumbhand, Prince of Nakhon Sawan was a highly influential Thai military officer and government minister in the early 20th century during the last years of the absolute monarchy. He served as Chief of Staff of the Royal Thai Army, Commander of the Royal Thai Navy, Naval Minister, Army Minister, Defense Minister, Interior Minister, and as a Privy Counsellor to both King Vajiravudh and King Prajadhipok.

. After the 1932 coup that ended the absolute monarchy in Siam, he was exiled from the kingdom to Bandung, Indonesia, which was then under the Dutch administration. During World War II he cooperated with Plaek Pibulsonggram. He died in 1944 while in exile, in Japanese-controlled Indonesia.

A half-brother to two Thai kings, Prince Paribatra fathered eight children by his royal wife, Mom Chao Prasongsom Paribatra. Two were sons, but only one, Chombhot Paribatra, lived to adulthood. Prince Paribatra also had a son with a commoner wife, Mom Somphan Paribatra na Ayudhaya, Prince Sukhumabhinanda - father of Mom Ratchawong Sukhumbhand Paribatra, the current governor of Bangkok.