Prince Thammathibet : Two Perspectives of the Stories

Abstract

This academic article aims to study the stories of Prince Thammathibet from two perspectives (positive and negative) as methodology of this study. With the information collected from historical documents, it was found that the stories of Prince Thammathibet contained both positive and negative perspectives.

The positive perspective found in this study was that Prince Thammathibet was highly knowledgeable about languages and architecture. He composed many great pieces of literature. When he held the title Krom Phra Ratchawang Bowon Sathan Mongkhon (Front Palace), he performed many works to serve King Borommakot and accordingly gained the King’s trust. Lastly, he confessed to his crime and admitted the royal penalty.

The negative perspective found in this study was that Prince Thammathibet recklessly ordered a gunfire against his opponent who was a royal servant without a royal permission from his father. He assassinated his close relative, Krom Khun Suren-Intharaphitak (Prince Naren), due to suspicion that his relative could fight against him for the throne. He competed against his full and half (different mother) brothers, or the group of princes known as Chao Sam Grom (three princes from three palaces), to the extent that Prince Thammathibet almost took his brothers’ life.