Devawongse Varoprakar

From left to right: Prince Devawongse Varoprakar, King Chulalongkorn and Prince Damrong Rajanubhab, c. 1900

Prince Devavongse Varoprakar was born in Bangkok's Grand Palace on 27 November 1858 to King Mongkut , Rama IV of Siam and Princess Consort Piyamavadi (Piam Sucharitakul). He was their second child and their second son of the total 6 children which were

1. Prince Unakan Ananta Norajaya
2. Prince Devan Udayawongse (Later Prince Devawongse Varoprakar)
3. Princess Sunandha Kumariratana (Later Queen Sunandha Kumariratana)
4. Princess Savang Vadhana (Later Queen Sri Savarindira, the Queen Grandmother)
5. Princess Saovabha Bongsi (Later Queen Sri Bajarindra, the Queen Mother)
6. Prince Svasti Sobhana (Later Prince Svastivatana Visishta).

As a child, he had studied both Thai literature then ordained, and later studied English course in the Grand Palace. He first worked in the royal court of King Chulalongkorn, Rama V of Siam as an officer in the royal audit office, at the age of 17. He was promoted to be the King's private secretary in the foreign affairs, then be the King's Principal Secretary, as well the director of the comptroller general. Moreover, he was bestowed the royal nobility title of Krom Muean Devawongse Varoprakar in 1881.

At the age of 27, when Chao Phraya Phanuwongse Mahakosa Thobodi (Tuam Bunnag) had resigned, he was promoted to be the Minister of Foreign Affairs where he started to establish the modern diplomatic methods and policies. He was known by foreign diplomats and officials as "Prince Dewan of Siam".

As the Siamese King's delegate to the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria, he had visited many countries and observed the administrative patterns and methods of each country. As a result, the Siamese royal court was evolved since then as the modern royal administrative system was set with 12 formal ministries in 1892. In the international relation and politics, he had played the major role in several incidents during that time including all the treaties with many countries and the French Indochina-Siamese conflict; as well the domestic issues and issues involving the royal court.

He had asked the King's permission to settle the permanent office of the ministry outside his residence, and the permanent embassies abroad, first in London then Paris and more. Later, he was bestowed the royal title of Krom Luang Devawongse Varoprakar in 1886. King Rama V informally called Prince Devan as his "right hand".

During the reign of King Vajiravudh, Rama VI of Siam, who was the child of his maternal younger sister, Queen Sri Bajarindra, the Queen Mother, he was delegated to work as the Head of the King's administration (Prime Minister) and was awarded the title of Krom Phra Devawongse Varoprakar, in 1911. He was also delegated many positions of the royal court of King Rama VI such as the chairman of the minister council.

Later in 1916 he was one of few princes of Siam who was not born to the Queen but bestowed the royal title of Somdet Krom Phraya Devawongse Varoprakar, which the rank of Somdet Krom Phraya is the highest rank for the prince who works in the Siamese royal court and normally preserved for Chao Fa (children born to the Queen) or Prince Supreme Patriarch only.

At the age of 64 Prince Devawongse died due to sepsis from carbuncle (abscess) complicated his diabetes at Devavesma palace, his residence, on 28 June 28, 1923. His funeral was held in his residence, and the royal cremation ceremony, presided over by King Rama VI, who mourned him with traditional all-white dress, was held at Sanam Luang .

The Devawongse Varopakarn Institute of Foreign Affairs (DVIFA) named after the former minister Devawongse Varoprakar and is supervised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

• Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kingdom of Thailand
• Thammasat University Digital Collection