Bhanurangsi Savangwongse

Prince Bhanurangsi Savangwongse, The Prince Bhanubandhu Vongsevoradej or His Royal Highness Prince Bhanurangsi Savangwongse, Prince Uncle (11 January 1859 – 13 June 1928) (สมเด็จพระราชปิตุลาบรมพงศาภิมุข เจ้าฟ้าภาณุรังษีสว่างวงศ์ กรมพระยาภาณุพันธุวงศ์วรเดช) was a son of King Mongkut of Siam and Queen Debsirindra.

Although the Prince held a number of posts in the government of his elder brother, King Chulalongkorn, including the post of Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Siamese Army, he is best remembered as the founder of the Thai postal service and the first Field marshal in Royal Siamese Army during King Vajiravudh.

His most famous son is the Formula One racer, Prince Birabongse Bhanutej Bhanubandh, better known as Prince Bira.

Early life and education
Prince Bhanurangsi Savangwongse born on 11 January 1860 at the Grand Palace, Bangkok. He has 3 brothers and sisters, including King Chulalongkorn, Princess Chandrmondol and Prince Chaturonrasmi. After 2 years, his mother died. Later, his father died when he was 10 years old. He was the scatterer of rice in the procession of the royal funeral of King Mongkut. When he was 12 years old King Chulalongkorn appointed him as Prince Brother, with a royal ceremony at the Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall. When he was 13 years old he was ordained as a novice at Wat Phra Kaew with Supreme Patriarch Pavares Variyalongkorn as a preceptor then went out to Wat Bowonniwet Vihara.

He began his studies in the school of female teachers and began to study by himself. After that, he studied the books of Khmer and Pali at the Bureau of Phraya Priyatthi Dhammada when he is ordained. After that, he studied military education at the Bureau of the King's Guard since 1872 and learning the Thai language from Phraya Srisoonthorn Waham (Noi Ajarayangkul) including studying civil service traditions and royal traditions from Prince Mahamala, the Prince Bamrapporapak.

Careers
He carried out military service in a special officer rank, with a first lieutenant's uniform in Bureau of the King's Guard When King Chulalongkorn travelled to Singapore (2nd time) and Burma, parts of England throughout India including the rising districts of Siam along the western coast of Malaya. He held positions including Minister of the Council and Privy Council of King Chulalongkorn, Chancellor of the Ministry of Defense, The Privy Council of King Rama VI and the President and Privy Councilor in King Rama VII, Inspector General, Commander of the Navy Department and Director-General of the Post and Telegraph Department.

Death
Prince Bhanurangsi Savangwongse died on 13 June 1928 aged 68 at Buraphaphirom Palace.

Issue
He had 16 children, 9 sons and 7 daughters:


 * 1) Princess Dibyasambandh
 * 2) Prince Nibanna Bhanubongse
 * 3) Prince Siriwongse Vadhanadej
 * 4) Princess (unnamed)
 * 5) Princess Chalermkhetramongmol
 * 6) Prince Suriyon Yiembayab
 * 7) Prince Ballap Danaya
 * 8) Prince Daeng (stillborn)
 * 9) Princess Khaimuk
 * 10) Princess Rambhai Prabha
 * 11) Prince Aphassorawongse
 * 12) Prince Birabongse Bhanudej
 * 13) Prince Norasetdha Suriyalaksana
 * 14) Prince Chirasakdi Suprabhas (th:พระวรวงศ์เธอ พระองค์เจ้าจิรศักดิ์สุประภาต)
 * 15) Princess Lek (died at six days old)

National honours

 * Order of the Royal House of Chakri (Thailand) ribbon.svg Knight of the Most Illustrious Order of the Royal House of Chakri (1882)
 * Order of the Nine Gems (Thailand) ribbon.svg Knight of the Ancient and Auspicious Order of the Nine Gems (1869)
 * Order of Chula Chom Klao - Special Class (Thailand) ribbon.svg Knight Grand Cordon (Special Class) of the Most Illustrious Order of Chula Chom Klao (1900)
 * Ratana Varabhorn Order of Merit ribbon.svg Knight of the Ratana Varabhorn Order of Merit (1912)
 * Order of Rama 1st Class ribbon.svg Knight Grand Commander (Senangapati) of the Honourable Order of Rama (1918)
 * Order of the White Elephant - Special Class (Thailand) ribbon.svg Knight Grand Cordon (Special Class) of the Most Exalted Order of the White Elephant (1913)
 * Order of the Crown of Thailand - Special Class (Thailand) ribbon.svg Knight Grand Cordon (Special Class) of the Most Noble Order of the Crown of Thailand (1920)
 * Ribbon bar of Dushdi Mala - Military, Service to the Nation (Thailand).svg Dushdi Mala Medal (1893)
 * Chakra Mala Medal (Thailand) ribbon.svg Chakra Mala Medal (1893)
 * Chakrabarti Mala Medal (Thailand) ribbon.svg Chakrabarti Mala Medal (1898)
 * Saradul Mala Medal (Thailand) ribbon.svg Saradul Mala Medal (1926)
 * Pushpa Mala Medal (Thailand) ribbon.png Pushpa Mala Medal (1901)
 * King Rama IV Royal Cypher Medal (Thailand) ribbon.svg King Rama IV Royal Cypher Medal, 2nd Class (1904)
 * King Rama V Royal Cypher Medal (Thailand) ribbon.svg King Rama V Royal Cypher Medal, 1st Class (1901)
 * King Rama VI Royal Cypher Medal (Thailand) ribbon.svg King Rama VI Royal Cypher Medal, 1st Class (1910)
 * King Rama VII Royal Cypher Medal (Thailand) ribbon.svg King Rama VII Royal Cypher Medal, 1st Class (1926)
 * Silver Jubilee Medal (Thailand).svg Rachada Bhisek Medal (1893)
 * Prabas Mala Medal ribbon.svg Prabas Mala Medal (1898)
 * Queen's Medal (Thailand) ribbon.svg Rajini Medal (1898)
 * Dvidhabhisek Medal ribbon.svg Dvidha Bhisek Medal (1903)
 * Record Reign Medal (Thailand) ribbon.svg Rajamangala Medal (1907)
 * 40 Year Reign Medal (Thailand) ribbon.svg Rajamangala Bhisek Medal (1908)
 * King Rama VI Coronation Medal (Thailand) ribbon.svg King Rama VI Coronation Medal (1911)
 * King Rama VII Coronation Medal (Thailand) ribbon.svg King Rama VII Coronation Medal (1925)

Foreign honours

 * Austria-Hungary:
 * AUT KuK Order of the Iron Crown 1st Class BAR.svg Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Iron Crown (1873)
 * Duchy of Brunswick:
 * D-HAN-B-Order Henry Lion BAR.png Grand Cross of the Order of Henry the Lion (1909)
 * 🇫🇷 France:
 * Legion Honneur GC ribbon.svg Grand Cross of the National Order of the Legion of Honour (1921)
 * Kingdom of Hawaii:
 * The Royal Order of Kalakaua I Grand Cross.gif Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Order of Kalākaua (1881)
 * Kingdom of Italy:
 * Cavaliere di gran Croce Regno SSML BAR.svg Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus (1895)
 * Cavaliere di Gran Croce OCI Kingdom BAR.svg Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Crown of Italy (1881)
 * 🇯🇵 Japan:
 * JPN Toka-sho BAR.svg Grand Cordon with Paulownia Flowers of the Order of the Rising Sun (1890)
 * Kingdom of Portugal:
 * PRT Order of Christ - Grand Cross BAR.svg Grand Cross of the Order of Christ (1878)
 * Prussia:
 * PRU Roter Adlerorden BAR.svg Grand Cross of the Order of the Red Eagle (1896)
 * Russian Empire:
 * RUS Order White Eagle BAR.png Knight of the Order of the White Eagle (1891)
 * 🇪🇸 Spain:
 * ESP Isabella Catholic Order GC.svg Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic (1879)