Constantine Phaulkon
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Constantine Phaulkon (born Constantin Gerakis, often short Phaulkon) (1667 - June 5 1688) was a Greek adventurer, who became first cousellor of King Narai of Siam. Phaulkon is a very controversial character in Thai history.
Born on Cephalonia (Greece), Phaulkon came to Siam (today's Thailand) in 1675 after being ship assistant on a English trade ship. Due to his talent of learning languages easily, he learned Thai quickly and started to work at the court of King Narai as a translator. Due to his connection with the British East India Company he quickly rose to become a counsellor of the king.
His position gained him a lot of envy by the Thai members of the royal court. When King Narai became terminally ill, the rumor was spread that Phaulkon wants to use the designated heir Phra Pui to become king himself later. In a coup d'état started by Petraja, the foster brother of Narai, Phaulkon and his followers as well as the royal heir were arrested and killed on June 5, 1688 in Lopburi. After king Narai died a few days later, Petraja became the new king of Siam and started a xenophobic regime. To a good deal his justification for the coup d'état led to the bad image of Phaulkon in Thailand even today.
References
- http://mapage.noos.fr/memoires-de-siam/phaulkon0.html (in French)
- George A. Sioris, Phaulkon - The Greek First Counsellor at the Court of Siam: An Appraisal, Bangkok 1988, ISBN 974-8298-41-8de:Constantine Phaulkon