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Bhanurangsi Savangwongse
Prince Bhanubandhu Vongsevoradej
Prince Bhanurangsi in 1881
Chief of the Joint Operations Department
In office 1892–1896
Preceded by	Surasakmontri
Succeeded by	Chitcharoen
In office 1899–1901
Preceded by	Chitcharoen
Succeeded by	Chirapravati Voradej
Commander of the Navy Department
In office 17 February 1902 – 24 February 1903 Acting: 29 January 1901 – 17 February 1902
Preceded by	Andreas du Plessis de Richelieu
Succeeded by	Paribatra Sukhumbandhu
Director-General of the Siamese Navy
In office 19 June 1920 – 31 August 1922
Preceded by	Paribatra Sukhumbandhu (as Minister of the Navy)
Succeeded by	Abhakara Kiartivongse (as Minister of the Navy)
Born	(1859-01-11)11 January 1859 Bangkok, Siam
Died	13 June 1928(1928-06-13) (aged 68) Bangkok, Siam
Spouse	Maen Bunnag Liam Supphasut Sun Paksiwongsa Lap Chatikkarat Lek Yongchaiyudh Yiam na Bangxang Yoi Komarakul
Issue more...	Princess Dibyasambandh Prince Birabongse Bhanudej
House	Bhanubandh (Chakri dynasty)
Father	Mongkut (Rama IV)
Mother	Debsirindra
Signature
Military career
Allegiance	Kingdom of Siam
Service / branch	Royal Siamese Army Royal Siamese Navy
Rank	Field Marshal Admiral of the Fleet

Prince Bhanurangsi Savangwongse, The Prince Bhanubandhu Vongsevoradej or His Royal Highness Prince Bhanurangsi Savangwongse, Prince Uncle (11 January 1859 – 13 June 1928) (Thai: สมเด็จพระราชปิตุลาบรมพงศาภิมุข เจ้าฟ้าภาณุรังษีสว่างวงศ์ กรมพระยาภาณุพันธุวงศ์วรเดช) was a son of King Mongkut of Siam and Queen Debsirindra.^[1][2]

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.^[3]

His most famous son is the Formula One racer, Prince Birabongse Bhanudej Bhanubandh, better known as Prince Bira.^[4]

His Royal Highness 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.^[5]

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.^[6]

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.

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

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)

• Knight of the Most Illustrious Order of the Royal House of Chakri (1882)
• Knight of the Ancient and Auspicious Order of the Nine Gems (1869)
• Knight Grand Cordon (Special Class) of the Most Illustrious Order of Chula Chom Klao (1900)
• Knight of the Ratana Varabhorn Order of Merit (1912)
• Knight Grand Commander (Senangapati) of the Honourable Order of Rama (1918)
• Knight Grand Cordon (Special Class) of the Most Exalted Order of the White Elephant (1913)
• Knight Grand Cordon (Special Class) of the Most Noble Order of the Crown of Thailand (1920)
• Dushdi Mala Medal (1893)
• Chakra Mala Medal (1893)
• Chakrabarti Mala Medal (1898)
• Saradul Mala Medal (1926)
• Pushpa Mala Medal (1901)
• King Rama IV Royal Cypher Medal, 2nd Class (1904)
• King Rama V Royal Cypher Medal, 1st Class (1901)
• King Rama VI Royal Cypher Medal, 1st Class (1910)
• King Rama VII Royal Cypher Medal, 1st Class (1926)
• Rachada Bhisek Medal (1893)
• Prabas Mala Medal (1898)
• Rajini Medal (1898)
• Dvidha Bhisek Medal (1903)
• Rajamangala Medal (1907)
• Rajamangala Bhisek Medal (1908)
• King Rama VI Coronation Medal (1911)
• King Rama VII Coronation Medal (1925)

•  Austria-Hungary:
  • Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Iron Crown (1873)
•  Brunswick:
  • Grand Cross of the Order of Henry the Lion (1909)
•  France:
  • Grand Cross of the National Order of the Legion of Honour (1921)
•  Hawaii:
  • Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Order of Kalākaua (1881)
•  Italy:
  • Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus (1895)
  • Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Crown of Italy (1881)
•  Japan:
  • Grand Cordon with Paulownia Flowers of the Order of the Rising Sun (1890)
•  Portugal:
  • Grand Cross of the Order of Christ (1878)
•  Prussia:
  • Grand Cross of the Order of the Red Eagle (1896)
•  Russia:
  • Knight of the Order of the White Eagle (1891)
•  Spain:
  • Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic (1879)