Narisara Nuwattiwong

Chitcharoen จิตรเจริญ
Prince Narisara Nuwattiwong
Born	(1863-04-28)28 April 1863 Grand Palace, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok, Siam
Died	10 March 1947(1947-03-10) (aged 83) Bangkok, Siam
Spouse	Ratchawong Pluem Siriwong Malai Sewatam Ratchawong To Ngon-rot
Issue	9 sons and daughters Mom Chao Pluemchit Chittraphong Mom Chao Ai Mom Chao Charoenchai Mom Chao Sam Mom Chao Pralomchit Mom Chao Duangchit Mom Chao Yachai Mom Chao Phlao-rot Mom Chao Konnika
House	Chitrabhongse (Chakri)
Father	Mongkut (Rama IV)
Mother	Phannarai (Chae Siriwong)
Signature
Minister of Royal Treasury
In office 21 March 1892 – 23 December 1894
Preceded by	Chaturonrasmi
Succeeded by	Srisiddhi Thongjaya
Minister of Defence
In office 1894–1899
Preceded by	Phum Srichaiyant
Succeeded by	Thongkhongkonhyai
Chief of the Joint Operations Department
In office 1896–1899
Preceded by	Bhanurangsi Savangwongse
Succeeded by	Bhanurangsi Savangwongse
Commander of the Navy Department
In office 1898–1899
Preceded by	Kachornchratwongse
Succeeded by	Prachak Silapakhom

Prince Chitcharoen, the Prince Narisara Nuwattiwong (Thai: นริศรานุวัดติวงศ์ RTGS: Naritsaranuwattiwong; 28 April 1863 – 10 March 1947), Prince Naris for short, né Chitcharoen (จิตรเจริญ), was a member of the royal family of Siam (now Thailand), minister, general and scholar. A polymath, he became known as "the great craftsman of Siam" and "the prince master". The anniversary of his birth, 28 April, is celebrated in Thailand as "Prince Naris Day".

Early life

Prince Narisara Nuwattiwong was born on 28 April 1863 in Bangkok, Thailand. He was the son of Pannarai and King Rama IV (also known as King Mongkut). Prince Nuwattiwong was educated by Western missionaries who encouraged his interest in the fine arts.

Career

Government

Prince Narisara Nuwattiwong was appointed as the Director of Public Works, Town and Country Planning for the Ministry of the Interior. He worked on Thailand's early urban planning and became an Art Advisor for the Royal Institute of Thailand. His other jobs included working for the Ministry of the Treasury, the Ministry of War, and the Ministry of the Palace. From 1892 to 1894, he served as Minister of the Treasury.

From 1894 to 1899, he was the Minister of War. During his tenure, the former Kalahom department (dating back to the 15th century) was radically modernised based on Western models. From 1896 to 1899, Prince Naris—who was both a general of the army and an admiral—additionally held the position of the Commander of the Department of Military Operation, the highest military position in the Siamese Army of that time. From 1898 to 1899 he was also the Commander of the Navy Department and therefore commanding officer of the Siamese Navy.

Prince Naris served as Regent of Siam from 1934 to 1935, substituting for his nephew King Prajadhipok (Rama VII) who resided in England during the treatment of an eye condition. After Prajadhipok's definite abdication in 1935 and the choice of 9-year-old Ananda Mahidol as the new king, Naris declined the request to continue as regent, pointing to his old age.

Design

When Prince Naris began his art endeavours, there was no Siamese concept of design. Thailand had no art museum, and the arts were not taught at universities. Prince Naris worked with Siamese craftsmen and Italian artists on royal commissions to create Siamese "art".

As Thailand began to modernize, it created its first European-style government ministries. Narisara was assigned to design the crest for these newly created ministries. Each crest he designed was different, representing the role of each group.

Architecture

Wat Benchamabophit (the Marble Temple) was the first temple in Thailand to use marble in its construction. This temple has been described as a defining example of a modern Buddhist temple by the Western Ministries of Architecture.

The Wat Benchamabophit School is next to Wat Benjamabophit. Unlike the temple, the school was built in Western style. Phraubosotwatrachativas is another temple made of marble, but the style of this building combines Western and Thai styles. The temple contains oil paintings that were inspired by art found in Western medieval churches.

Music

• "Sansoen Phra Barami" or Royal Anthem
• "Khamen Sai Yok"

Family

Prince Naris was married three times. His first wife was Mom Rajawongse Pluem Sirivongse (หม่อมราชวงศ์ปลื้ม ศิริวงศ์), with whom he had one daughter:

• Prince Pluemchit Chitrabongse (หม่อมเจ้าปลื้มจิต จิตรพงศ์)

After the death of his first wife, Prince Naris married Mom Malai Chitrabongse Na Ayudhaya (née Sewatam) (หม่อมมาลัย เศวตามร์), with whom he had two sons:

• Prince Ai Chitrabongse (หม่อมเจ้าอ้าย จิตรพงศ์)
• Prince Charoenchai Chitrabongse (หม่อมเจ้าเจริญใจ จิตรพงศ์)

After the death of his second wife, the prince remarried one last time, marrying Mom Rajawongse To Ngon-rot (หม่อมราชวงศ์โต งอนรถ). They had a total of six children, of whom five were male:

• Prince Sam Chitrabongse (หม่อมเจ้าสาม จิตรพงศ์)
• Princess Pralomchit Chitrabongse (หม่อมเจ้าประโลมจิตร จิตรพงศ์)
• Princess Duangchit Chitrabongse (หม่อมเจ้าดวงจิตร จิตรพงศ์)
• Prince Yachai Chitrabongse (หม่อมเจ้ายาใจ จิตรพงศ์)
• Prince Phlao-rot Chitrabongse (หม่อมเจ้าเพลารถ จิตรพงศ์)
• Princess Konnika Chitrabongse (หม่อมเจ้าหญิงกรณิกา จิตรพงศ์)

Death

Naris died on 10 March 1947 from a stroke. His funeral was held publicly at Sanam Luang. His cremation pyre was similar to the royal funeral pyre of Ananda Mahidol.

Further reading

• Chitrabongs, M.L. Chittawadi (January 2017). PRINCE NARIS: A Siamese Designer (Hardcover ed.). Chicago: Serindia Publications. ISBN 9781932476859.

External links

• The Prince Narisara Nuvadtivongs