Crown Prince Crisis

Crown Prince Crisis
Date 11 October 4553 Location Suriya Result Pro-Arunothai Victory Execution of Seksan Brothers Cicero Octavio Arrested
Belligerents
Pro-Arunothai	Pro-Hadrian
Commanders and leaders
Suriyathibodi XV	Kasidit Seksan †
Thawin Thinnakorn	Santhawat Seksan †
Udom Jongthaleang	supported by:
Manop Chayanto	Cicero Octavio
Strength
Pro-Arunothai: 2,000+	Pro-Hadrian: 400+ (all surrendered)
RJOKR: 50+
Casualties and losses
-

Crown Prince Crisis was a conflict within the Suriya's royal family, between the Pro-Arunothai faction which supported Crown Prince Arunothai to become the next monarch and the Pro-Hadrian faction which supported Prince Hadrian, the only grandson of Suriyathibodi XIV (Chotiravindara), who have rights to assume the throne, according to the law of succession.

This is the first time that the King has dealt directly with conflict since changing the system to the constitutional monarchy.

Background

The conflict roots from during the late reign of Suriyathibodi XIV. In 4525, The king had reformed the law of succession to open chances for the descendants of the king's female heir to ascend the throne. According to this new reform, it is also made his sister's son, Prince Saengsrichai, a legitimate successor as well.

In 4526, Suriyathibodi XIV died before his reform is completed. The regent council agreed to chose Prince Saengsrichai to become Suriyathibodi XV of Suriya which means that if Saengsrichai has a male heir the rights of successor will belong to his heir before the heir of Princess Benjamard, past king's daughter and king's cousin. According to Princess Benjamard herself, she mentioned that:

"I didn't care about the throne. I want to live with my family, have a quiet life and happiness... but someone always tries to make this nonsense, big trouble."

The situation has no sign of conflict until 4551 after Saengsrichai appointed his son to be the Crown Prince of Suriya. The Seksan brothers, the ex-servant of Suriyathibodi XIV, contact secretly with Cicero Octavio, the ex-ambassador of Mandarr, husband of Princess Benjamard and father of Prince Hadrian. The three agree that Prince Hadrian should become the next king since he is six years older than Arunothai and has more suitable qualifications for both communication and education. Cicero mentioned the king in his diary that:

"Saengsrichai is a nationalist and xenophobia and does not follow inheritance rules for those reasons. And I remembered the first time I met him, he didn't say anything to me. But instead stared at me with disgust. Moreover, he tries to stop me for bring the religion to the family. Which his majesty (Suriyathibodi XIV) and my wife are already approved".

The Seksan brothers intended to "encircle the grand palace" with more than four hundred soldiers under the brothers' command to coerce the king to deposition Arunothai. However, the plan was postponed indefinitely until October 11, 4553, when the Queen and Crown Prince proceeded to perform royal activities at Naritthani. The operation began.

Conflicts and Aftermath

At 15:00, around four hundred soldiers besieged the Maha Bhanuwong Palace. People and tourists in the surrounding area were frightened from the armored vehicles and tanks that besiege the palace, with ready-to-attack status. At 15:30, a convoy consisting of two armored vehicles and one senior military officer car in the middle traveled into the palace. The situation is still tense and there are reports that the two generals are negotiating with the king in his private garden.

Until one hour passed, it appeared that there were 30 helicopter convoys follow by a convoy of APCs and tanks encircled a group of soldiers that remains surrounded by the palace and announced them to lay down their weapons. There are reports that these troops number up to two thousand. They are on King's side and are supported by the Prime Minister and the Minister of Defense.

At 17:03 pm, the palace gate opened. A spokesman for the Bureau of the Royal Household and the commander of the Raja Ongkharak issued a statement as follows:

"I learned of this outrageous plan through my Raja Ongkharak unit. For this reason, I ordered the death penalty to General Kasidit Seksan and General Santhavat Seksan on charges of rebellion including damaging the image of the country and the royal family. In addition, I will sentence life imprisonment to Mr.Cicero Octavio who supporting this rebellion and will not receive royal pardons in any way. And if anyone is thinking of helping, they will be punished to death".

Shortly after the announcement from the Grand Palace. It is reported that Cicero Octavio was arrested at Princess Benjamard's palace which possible that Saengsrichai has already prepared a resistance plan since the news of the rebellion.

There was an interrogation of soldiers that supporting the two generals. It turns out that nobody knows this was a rebellion against the king. On the other hand, they said they came because there were rumors of an attempt to assassinate the king which can be concluded that the two generals have made up the news to cause confusion for both the military and the people.

The situation returned to normal at 19:45. However, on the next day, Princess Benjamard along with Prince Hadrian came to the king requesting for the release of her husband. Nobody knows how the conversation going but nothing can change the king's thought at this point.

Analysis of Saengsrichai's enthronement

Many historians believed that Saengsrichai was backed by the military and politicians. While Prince Hadrian has no any connection except his father and some groups. Dr. Traipob Dechabuncha from Theprangsi University commented that the early life of Saengsrichai in Mandarr was difficult. He was bullied and look down upon by the Mandarr students. Saengsrichai lives without any help from his mother who wants him to survive by himself. Saengsrichai regularly fights with bullies. Until the bullies surrendered and made him leader, therefore he was known in the academy as the "Eagle Eye Prince".

In 4572, General Krerkrith Jatupahu, Saengsrichai's close friends, revealed that Seangsrichai once has a Mandarr girlfriend named "Katerina". Both spend sometimes together after graduation until Saengsrichai's mother tells him to return his homeland. Saengsrichai's girlfriend decided to broke up with him to force him to return to his country. Krerkrith believed that this is another pain that haunts Saengsrichai's life in Mandarr. 

"Cicero can love Benjamard but why Saengsrichai can't love Katerina? This is what Saengsrichai always though before he was forced by his mother to marry Princess Siranee. Now Saengsrichai hates everything about his family especially his uncle, his cousin and Cicero" - General Krerkrith Jatupahu

Krerkrith added that the reason that Saengsrichai established the War Elephant Battalion is that he could stay away from the family. Followed by creating the Raja Ongkharak which allowed Saengsrichai to observe the activities of his enemies or even his own family.