Ten months of planning culminated in an elaborate funeral ceremony for Sunanda Kumariratana, a queen consort of Siam who died in 1880 at age 20. As a daughter of King Mongkut and Princess Piam, she occupied a central role within the Siamese court, serving as the first wife of the monarch during a period of transition in Thailand.
Royal Lineage and Marriage
Born in Bangkok on 10 November 1860, Sunanda Kumariratana was the fiftieth child of King Mongkut, also known as Rama IV. Her mother was Princess Consort Piam. Within the royal family structure, she became a wife to the King, alongside two of her younger half-sisters, Savang Vadhana and Saovabha Phongsri. Her position as an aristocrat and consort established her as a prominent figure in the royal hierarchy of the era.
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Take the IQ test →The Accident on the Chao Phraya
On 31 May 1880, while traveling to the Bang Pa-In Royal Palace, Sunanda Kumariratana and her daughter, Kannabhorn Bejaratana, perished in a maritime incident. Their royal boat, which was under tow by the steam yacht Pan Marut, collided with the steam boat Sorawan. Despite rescue efforts by boatmen who recovered the queen and princess from the water and attempted resuscitation, both were pronounced dead. Historical records clarify that bystanders actively intervened to provide aid, contradicting myths suggesting that societal protocols prevented rescuers from touching the queen.
Funeral Ceremonies
Following the tragedy, the monarch ordered a highly detailed funeral for the victims. The process lasted 10 months to ensure appropriate preparations, eventually commencing on 10 March 1881. The bodies were preserved through the use of quicksilver injections and placed into golden urns. A massive funeral pyre, reaching 280 feet, was constructed at a site known as Pra Mane. The cremation began on 15 March, concluding with a final procession to the Grand Palace on 20 March.
Legacy and Memorials
Sunanda Kumariratana remains memorialized at the Sunandanusavari, located within Saranrom Park in Thailand. Her life is documented in global historical archives and reflected in extensive language editions of Wikipedia, which highlight the continued interest in her brief life and the scale of the state rituals conducted after her death.
Fast facts
- Born: 10 November 1860, Bangkok
- Died: 31 May 1880, Thailand
- Spouse: King Chulalongkorn (Rama V)
- Father: King Mongkut (Rama IV)
- Child: Kannabhorn Bejaratana
- Funeral start date: 10 March 1881
- Funeral pyre height: 280 feet
- Burial site: Sunandanusavari, Saranrom Park
Questions readers ask
What caused the death of Sunanda Kumariratana?
She died by drowning following a collision between the royal boat she was traveling in and the steam boat Sorawan.
Where is the queen buried?
She is buried at the Sunandanusavari within Saranrom Park in Thailand.
