Thailand's Heroine

Queen Suriyothai was the wife of King Mahaan elephant. The two kings fought each other.
Chakraphat of Ayutthaya whose reign lastedDuring the fight, King Maha Chakraphat was in
from 1549 to 1569. King Maha Chakraphat wasdanger and Queen Suriyothai seeing this, tried to
said to have so many white elephants that herescue her husband by driving her elephant in
was nicknamed the King of the White Elephant.between and in the bargain was cut from
According to Brahmanic beliefs, if a monarch hadshoulder to hip. The Burmese king on realizing that
one or more white elephants, it was glorious andhe had killed a woman was ashamed of himself
happy sign of his / her reign.and immediately withdrew from the battle.
Hardly six months after ascending to the throne,Ever since, Queen Suriyothai has been regarded
King Maha Chakraphat was put to test by theas the greatest heroines of Thai history. She has
king of Burma. King Tabengshweti wanted to testbeen revered for her bravery, love and devotion
King Maha Chakraphat's courage and exacttowards her husband. She was the first queen to
revenge on Siam. King Maha Chakraphat preparedhave gone onto the battle field. Her ashes are
himself for the war as he considered it to be anenshrined within the Sri Suriyothai pagoda at Suan
insult to his honour.Luang Sobsawan Temple in Ayutthaya province
Queen Suriyothai dressed herself as a man andof Thailand.
accompanied her husband to the battle front on