King Rama VI’S Legal Concept in Enacting the Palace Law of Succession, B.E.2467 (1924)

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Chachapon Jayaphorn

Abstract

According to historical evidence in Thai legal history, there were not any clear provisions relating to the rule of succession to the throne until the reign of King Vajiravudh (reigned B.E. 2453-2468 (1910 –1925)) In the late period of the reign, King Vajiravudh promulgated the Palace Law of Succession 2467 B.E. (1924) which is the first written Thai palace law of succession. Pursuant to the research, the law was influenced by the European law of succession to the throne using the analogy with the Royal British tradition as a result of His Majesty’s education in England during the status of the crown prince. However, he chose the rules which is in accordance with Royal Thai tradition and fulfill the loophole of it that would possibly cause the negative impact on the throne. Furthermore, he altered the Western provisions in accordance with Thai society and chose not to include those inconsistent with the Thai tradition as there would not be a perfect blend between the western and the Thai tradition.  His Majesty’s idea on creating new provisions of law without leaving out the old tradition has made the B.E.2467 (1924) Palace Law of Succession a perfect law through every succession with no rises of riots or insurgencies. The B.E.2467 (1924) Palace Law of Succession has been regarded an effective legislation that could permanently resolve previous succession controversies in Thai history. His Majesty’s legal policy is worth to be considered the main guide for the legal drafting and the legislation in the present time.

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