Queen Si Suriyothai Memorial
Historic City of Ayutthaya, Thailand
Your base for this sight is the Unesco World Heritage City of Ayutthaya. For travel information on Ayutthaya, read the AsiaExplorers Ayutthaya Travel Guide. For day trips to Ayutthaya, use Bangkok as your base. Read the Bangkok Travel Guide for more information.
Si Suriyothai Chedi
The Si Suriyothai Chedi is on the grounds of Wat Suan Luang Sopsawan. I compare it to the Taj Mahal, because it was also built by a king for his wife. In this case, it was King Maha Chakrapat (1548-1568) in memory of his wife, Phra Si Suriyothai.
King Chakrapat ascended the throne at age 36. (Refer to Ayutthaya History) Seven months into his reign, the Burmese attacked Ayutthaya. King Chakrapat led the army himself, followed by his sons, Prince Ramesuan and Prince Mahintarathiraj. The queen, worried for her husband's safety, disguised herself as a soldier and rode out to battle on elephant with the rest of the army.
The troops of Ayutthaya clashed with those of the Burmese from Hongsawadee, led by General Brae. The king immediately wrote towards General Brae to engage him in battle, however, his elephant stumbled, giving General Brae the upper hand. Just as the general was about to stab the king, Queen Suriyothai suddenly intervened to save him. But her elephant also lost balance, and she was fatally stabbed by General Brae. She died was still on the elephant, and the two princes Ramesuan and Mahintarathiraj took her body back to the capital.
To commemorate the queen's sacrifice, King Chakrapat erected a chedi in her honour at a small shrine named Wat Sopsawan, which was thereafter renamed Wat Suan Luang Sopsawan.
Chedi Si Suriyothai.
Ayutthaya Travel Guide
Useful information on the ruins and tourist attractions in Ayutthaya
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