Boromakot

Who was Boromakot?

Somdet Phrachaoyuhua Borommakot or Somdet Phra Boromaracha Dhiraj III was the king of Ayutthaya from 1732 to 1758. His reign was the last blooming period of Ayutthaya as the kingdom would fall nine years after his death.

Prince Porn was the son of Phra Chao Suea. His elder brother, Prince Petch, succeeded the throne as Tai Sa in 1708. Porn was then appointed as the Front Palace. Upon the death of Tai Sa, however, Tai Sa decided to give his throne to his son, Prince Abhay, instead of his brother. In 1732, Tai Sa died and the civil war commenced. Porn led his armies against his nephews, Prince Abhay and Prince Poramet. The civil war was bloodshed and torn Ayutthaya apart. With the victory ensured, Porn executed his nephews and took the throne as King Boromakot.

Because the Samuha Kalahom had lent the support to Prince Abhay, Boromakot removed the power of Samuha Kalahom by depriving its authorities over southern Siam and transferred the power to Krom Tha instead. The Samuha Kalahom remained as a mere military figurehead.

In spite of the bloodshed that preceded his reign, Boromakot was known for his reconstruction of Buddhist temples and the peace and prosperity Ayutthaya finally enjoyed again. In 1753, Boromakot sent two Siamese monks to rehabilitate Theravada Buddhism in Sri Lanka.