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Chatusadom or Catustambha ( th, จตุสดมภ์ , literally "Four Pillars" from
Sanskrit Sanskrit (; attributively , ; nominally , , ) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in South Asia after its predecessor languages had diffused there from the northwest in the late ...
''Catur'' "Four" + ''Stambha'' "Pillars") was the Thai system of central executive governance during the
Ayutthaya Kingdom The Ayutthaya Kingdom (; th, อยุธยา, , IAST: or , ) was a Siamese kingdom that existed in Southeast Asia from 1351 to 1767, centered around the city of Ayutthaya, in Siam, or present-day Thailand. The Ayutthaya Kingdom is conside ...
,
Thonburi Kingdom The Thonburi Kingdom ( th, ธนบุรี) was a major Thai people, Siamese kingdom which existed in Southeast Asia from 1767 to 1782, centered around the city of Thonburi, in Siam or present-day Thailand. The kingdom was founded by Taksin ...
and Rattanakosin Kingdom from 1454 to 1892. For about four hundred years, it had served as the constitution of central government of
Siam Thailand ( ), historically known as Siam () and officially the Kingdom of Thailand, is a country in Southeast Asia, located at the centre of the Mainland Southeast Asia, Indochinese Peninsula, spanning , with a population of almost 70 mi ...
or
Thailand Thailand ( ), historically known as Siam () and officially the Kingdom of Thailand, is a country in Southeast Asia, located at the centre of the Indochinese Peninsula, spanning , with a population of almost 70 million. The country is bo ...
until King
Chulalongkorn Chulalongkorn ( th, จุฬาลงกรณ์, 20 September 1853 – 23 October 1910) was the fifth monarch of Siam under the House of Chakri, titled Rama V. He was known to the Siamese of his time as ''Phra Phuttha Chao Luang'' (พร ...
organized ''Chatusadom'' into modern
ministries Ministry may refer to: Government * Ministry (collective executive), the complete body of government ministers under the leadership of a prime minister * Ministry (government department), a department of a government Religion * Christian mi ...
and officially established the
Cabinet Cabinet or The Cabinet may refer to: Furniture * Cabinetry, a box-shaped piece of furniture with doors and/or drawers * Display cabinet, a piece of furniture with one or more transparent glass sheets or transparent polycarbonate sheets * Filing ...
on April 1, 1892.


The ''Chatusadom'' system

King
Trailokanat Borommatrailokkanat ( th, บรมไตรโลกนาถ, , sa, Brahmatrailokanātha) or Trailok (1431–1488) was the king of the Ayutthaya Kingdom from 1448 to 1488. He was one of many monarchs who gained the epithet ''King of White Elep ...
promulgated the constitution of ''Chatusadom'' in his Palatine Law, or ''Phra aiyakan tamnaeng na phonlaruean'' ( th, พระไอยการตำแหน่งนาพลเรือน), with the promulgation date being 1454. The original written law had been lost, however. ''Chatusadom'' went through subsequent amendments over time and
King Rama I Phra Phutthayotfa Chulalok Maharaj (, 20 March 1737 – 7 September 1809), personal name Thongduang (), also known as Rama I, was the founder of the Rattanakosin Kingdom and the first monarch of the reigning Chakri dynasty of Siam (now Thai ...
enacted the Palatine Law in the
Three Seals Law The ''Three Seals Law'' or ''Three Seals Code'' ( th, กฎหมายตราสามดวง; ) is a collection of law texts compiled in 1805 on the orders of King Rama I of Siam. Most of the texts were laws from the Ayutthaya era which ha ...
, from which the ''Chatusadom'' was mostly studied. The ''Chatusadom'' bureaucracy was divided into ''Phonlaruean'' ( th, พลเรือน) or Civil Affairs and ''Thahan'' ( th, ทหาร) or Military Affairs. ''Chatusadom'' was led by two Prime Ministers, alternatively Grand Chancellors ( th, อัครมหาเสนาบดี) who held the rank of ''Chao Phraya''; }) , , ''Chao Phraya Chakri'' ( th, เจ้าพระยาจักรี) , , ''Krom Mahatthai'' ( th, กรมมหาดไทย) , ,
The Seal of the Lion or the ''Rajasiha'' Seal , , oversaw ''Phonlaruean'' or Civil Affairs all over the kingdom including the Four Ministries. , - , ''Samuha Kalahom'' ( th, สมุหกลาโหม) , , ''Chao Phraya Maha Sena'' ( th, เจ้าพระยามหาเสนา), alternatively ''Phraya Kalahom'' ( th, พระยากลาโหม) , , ''Krom Kalahom'' ( th, กรมกลาโหม) , ,
Gajasiha The ''gajasimha'' or ''gajasiha'' (from sa, gaja+siṃha, script=Latn / pi, gaja+sīha, script=Latn) is a mythical hybrid animal in Hindu mythology, appearing as a ''sinha'' or ''rajasiha'' (mythical lion) with the head or trunk of an elephant. ...
Seal , , oversaw Military affairs. Below ''Samuha Nayok'' in Civil affairs were the Four Ministries, from which ''Chatusadoms name was derived. Each ministry was led by a ''Senabodi'' or Minister who held the rank of ''Phraya'' and each ministry had a Thai and a Sanskrit-derived name. }) or
''Nakhonban'' ( th, นครบาล)
from Sanskrit ''Nagara'' "City" + ''Pala'' "protector" , , ''
Phraya Yommaraj Yommarat ( th, ยมราช) is a Thai noble title historically given to the minister of the Krom Mueang or Nakhonban, one of the four ministries under the ''chatusadom'' system, charged with keeping the peace in the capital. Holders of the ti ...
'' ( th, พระยายมราช) , ,
"
Yama Yama (Devanagari: यम) or Yamarāja (यमराज), is a deity of death, dharma, the south direction, and the underworld who predominantly features in Hindu and Buddhist religion, belonging to an early stratum of Rigvedic Hindu deities ...
Riding Lion" Seal , , The Police Bureau; guarded cities.
Also occasionally led troops into foreign wars. , - , ''Kromma Wang'' ( th, กรมวัง) or
''Thammathikorn'' ( th, ธรรมาธิกรณ์)
from Sanskrit ''Dhamma'' "Law" + ''Adikara'' "authority" , , ''Phraya Thammathibodi'' ( th, พระยาธรรมาธิบดี) , ,
"
Shiva Shiva (; sa, शिव, lit=The Auspicious One, Śiva ), also known as Mahadeva (; ɐɦaːd̪eːʋɐ, or Hara, is one of the principal deities of Hinduism. He is the Supreme Being in Shaivism, one of the major traditions within Hindu ...
Riding
Nandi Nandi may refer to: People * Nandy (surname), Indian surname * Nandi (mother of Shaka) (1760–1827), daughter of Bhebe of the Langeni tribe * Onandi Lowe (born 1974), Jamaican footballer nicknamed Nandi * Nandi Bushell (born 2010), South Afri ...
" Seal , , Ministry of Palatial Affairs.
Oversaw the ceremonies of the palace.
Also oversaw Buddhist religious affairs. , - , ''Krom Klang'' ( th, กรมคลัง) or
''Kosathibodi'' ( th, โกษาธิบดี)
from Sanskrit ''Kosa'' "Pocket" + ''Adhipati'' "Lord" , , ''Phraya Sri Thammaraj'' ( th, พระยาศรีธรรมราช)
also ''Phraya Kosathibodi'' ( th, พระยาโกษาธิบดี),
colloquially as ''Phraya Phrakhlang'' ( th, พระยาพระคลัง) , ,
The Lotus Seal , , Ministry of Treasury and Taxation.
In later period when Siam had established trade with foreign nations the Minister also oversaw Trade and Foreign Affairs.
Known to Westerners as "Phraklang" and other derived terms. , - , ''Krom Na'' ( th, กรมนา) or
''Kasetrathibodi'' ( th, เกษตราธิบดี)
from Sanskrit ''Ksetra'' "Field" + ''Adhipati'' "Lord" , , ''Phraya Phollathep'' ( th, พระยาพลเทพ) , , Nine different seals
used in different occasions. , , Ministry of Agriculture.
Oversaw land ownership and rice storage. These four ministers were collectively called ''Vieng-Wang-Klang-Na'' ( th, เวียงวังคลังนา). The ''Senabodi'' ministers of the Four Ministries held the rank of ''Phraya'' in the Ayutthaya period. However, during the late Ayutthaya and Bangkok period the ranks of these ministers rose to ''Chao Phraya''.


History and subsequent amendments

The Four Ministries of ''Chatusadom'' or ''Vieng-Wang-Klang-Na'' had existed in
Ayutthaya Ayutthaya, Ayudhya, or Ayuthia may refer to: * Ayutthaya Kingdom, a Thai kingdom that existed from 1350 to 1767 ** Ayutthaya Historical Park, the ruins of the old capital city of the Ayutthaya Kingdom * Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya province (locally ...
before 1455. Each ministry was called ''Krom'' and the ministers held the rank of ''Khun''. The chancellor of the executives in Early Ayutthaya was called ''Senabodi'' ( th, เสนาบดี from Sanskrit ''Senapati'') who oversaw the Ministries. King Trailokanat organized and institutionalized the Four Ministries into bureaucratic apparatus in the Palatine Law of 1454. The Four Ministers were raised to the rank of ''Phraya'' and the Ministries were given Sanskrit-derived names. The executives was led by two prime ministers; the ''Samuha Nayok'' and the ''Samuha Kalahom'', who performed administrative duties on behalf of the king in Civil and Military Affairs, respectively. The officials were divided into Civil and Military divisions. However, as time progressed, the distinction between Civil and Military divisions became blurred and all official including Civil officials were expected to perform military duties especially during the wars. The two prime ministers and four ministers had their own offices and each office had a long list of functionaries. After King Trailokanat, auxiliary departments were added to the apparatus to meet the demands. King
Ramathibodi II Chettathirat ( th, เชษฐาธิราช, ) or (upon accession to the Ayutthayan throne) Ramathibodi II ( th, รามาธิบดีที่ ๒; 1472/73 – July/10 October 1529) was the King of Sukhothai from 1485 and King of Ay ...
established the ''Krom Phra Suratsawadi'' ( th, กรมพระสุรัสวดี) or the Registration Department in 1518 to specifically oversee the census of manpower for more efficient levy and conscription. After the conclusion of a trade treaty with the Portuguese in 1511, ''Phra Khlang Sinkha'' ( th, พระคลังสินค้า) or Royal Warehouse was established within the Ministry of Treasury to deal with foreign trades, in which the royal court held the monopoly. In the seventeenth century, the trade with Western nations grew and the ''Kromma Tha'' ( th, กรมท่า) or the Ministry of Pier, formerly a department within the Ministry of Treasury, rose to importance and the term ''Kromma Tha'' became quite synonymous with ''Krom Klang''. The position of ''Samuha Kalahom'' had grown powerful by the mid-Ayutthaya period as he controlled military forces. ''Okya'' Kalahom Suriyawongse the ''Samuha Kalahom'' usurped the throne and ascended as King
Prasat Thong Prasat ThongThe Royal Institute. List of monarchs Ayutthaya''. ( th, ปราสาททอง, ; c. 1600–1656; 1629–1656) was the first king of the Prasat Thong dynasty, the fourth dynasty of the Siamese Ayutthaya Kingdom. Accounts vary ...
in 1629. The power imbalance and potential threat from some ministers led the kings to reconsider and amend the ''Chatusadom'' bureaucracy. King Prasat Thong transferred the Cavalry and Elephant Regiments from ''Samuha Kalahom'' to ''Samuha Nayok''. Some kings preferred not to appoint ''Samuha Nayok'' or ''Samuha Kalahom'' to avoid creating powerful nobles, most notably King
Narai King Narai the Great ( th, สมเด็จพระนารายณ์มหาราช, , ) or Ramathibodi III ( th, รามาธิบดีที่ ๓ ) was the 27th monarch of Ayutthaya Kingdom, the 4th and last monarch of the Pr ...
, who instead assigned the duties and responsibilities of the two prime ministers to his ministers without officially investing them with titles and honors. The greatest reform of ''Chatusadom'' came during the reign of King
Phetracha Phetracha (alternative spellings: ''Bedraja'', ''P'etraja'', ''Petraja'', ''Petratcha''; also called ''Phra Phetracha''; th, เพทราชา, ; 1632– 5 February 1703) was a king of the Ayutthaya kingdom in Thailand, usurping the throne fr ...
. King Phetracha, who faced rebellions in
Nakhon Ratchasima Nakhon Ratchasima ( th, นครราชสีมา, ) is one of the four major cities of Isan, Thailand, known as the "big four of Isan". The city is commonly known as Korat (, ), a shortened form of its name. It is the governmental seat of ...
and
Nakhon Si Thammarat Nakhon Si Thammarat Municipality ( th, เทศบาลนครนครศรีธรรมราช, ; from Pali ''Nagara Sri Dhammaraja'') is a municipality (''thesaban nakhon'') in Southern Thailand, capital of Nakhon Si Thammarat prov ...
that took nearly three years to quell, sought to reduce the power of regional governors. He expanded the authority of ''Chatusadom'' to the regional level and redefined the two prime ministers. The ''Samuha Nayok'' became the Prime Minister of Northern Siam in both Civil and Military affairs while the ''Samuha Kalahom'' became the Prime Minister of Southern Siam. The division between the two prime ministers went from "functional" to "regional". King Phetracha also assigned the coastal port cities to the ''Kromma Tha''. Siam was then divided among the three ministers and the city governors were to report to the minister of their respective regions. The Minister of Trade or "Phraklang" also grown exceptionally powerful due to participation in foreign trades. By the eighteenth century in the Late Ayutthaya, three most powerful ministers of Siam were the ''Samuha Nayok'', the ''Samuha Kalahom'' and Phraklang the Minister of Trade. King
Borommakot Borommakot ( th, บรมโกศ, ) or Maha Thammarachathirat II ( th, สมเด็จพระมหาธรรมราชาธิราชที่ ๒) was the king of Ayutthaya from 1733 to 1758. His reign was the last blooming period ...
, who ascended the throne in 1733 after a civil war with his nephews, transferred the cities of the ''Samuha Kalahom'' who had declared neutrality in the civil war to ''Chaophraya'' Chamnan Borrirak the Minister of Trade who was his ardent supporter. The Southern Siamese cities were then transferred from ''Kalahom'' to ''Kromma Tha''. The ''Samuha Kalahom'' became a powerless figure. After the Fall of Ayutthaya in 1767, Thonburi and Rattanakosin kingdoms inherited the whole ''Chatusadom'' apparatus of the Late Ayutthaya period. King
Rama I Phra Phutthayotfa Chulalok Maharaj (, 20 March 1737 – 7 September 1809), personal name Thongduang (), also known as Rama I, was the founder of the Rattanakosin Kingdom and the first monarch of the reigning Chakri dynasty of Siam (now Tha ...
restored the Southern Siamese cities to the authority of ''Samuha Kalahom'' in 1782.{{cite book, last1=Thipakornwongse, Chao Phraya, title=Dynastic Chronicles, Bangkok Era, the First Reign, date=1990, publisher=Centre for East Asian Cultural Studies, author1-link=Chaophraya Thiphakorawong The seals of top three ministers were stamped on the
Three Seals Law The ''Three Seals Law'' or ''Three Seals Code'' ( th, กฎหมายตราสามดวง; ) is a collection of law texts compiled in 1805 on the orders of King Rama I of Siam. Most of the texts were laws from the Ayutthaya era which ha ...
. King Rama I who was formerly ''Chao Phraya'' Chakri the ''Samuha Nayok'' established the
Chakri dynasty The Chakri dynasty ( th, ราชวงศ์ จักรี, , , ) is the current reigning dynasty of the Kingdom of Thailand, the head of the house is the king, who is head of state. The family has ruled Thailand since the founding of the ...
. The ''Samuha Nayok''s of the Rattanakosin period were then not known as "''Chao Phraya'' Chakri", which was the generic titile of ''Samuha Nayok'', but instead known from their individualized title names, most famously ''Chao Phraya''
Bodindecha ''Chao Phraya'' Bodindecha ( th, เจ้าพระยาบดินทรเดชา, km, ចៅ ឃុន បឌិន, 13 January 1776 – 24 June 1849), personal name Sing Sinhaseni (), was a prominent military figure of the early Rat ...
. By the late nineteenth century, the ''Chatusadom'' system was inadequate for the modernizing Siam. King
Chulalongkorn Chulalongkorn ( th, จุฬาลงกรณ์, 20 September 1853 – 23 October 1910) was the fifth monarch of Siam under the House of Chakri, titled Rama V. He was known to the Siamese of his time as ''Phra Phuttha Chao Luang'' (พร ...
and
Prince Damrong Prince Tisavarakumarn, the Prince Damrong Rajanubhab (Thai language, Thai: ; Full transcription is "Somdet Phrachao Borommawongthoe Phra-ongchao Ditsawarakuman Kromphraya Damrongrachanuphap" (สมเด็จพระเจ้าบรมว ...
gradually re-organized and transformed the ''Chatusadom'' ministries into the ministries in modern, Western sense. Firstly, the Phraklang ministry was separated into the
Ministry of Finance A ministry of finance is a part of the government in most countries that is responsible for matters related to the finance. Lists of current ministries of finance Named "Ministry" * Ministry of Finance (Afghanistan) * Ministry of Finance and Eco ...
and
Ministry of Foreign Affairs In many countries, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the government department responsible for the state's diplomacy, bilateral, and multilateral relations affairs as well as for providing support for a country's citizens who are abroad. The entit ...
in 1875. Each ministry was called ''Krasuang'' ( th, กระทรวง) instead of ''Krom'', which became a term for subordinate departments. The reforms culminated in 1892 when King Chulalongkorn announced the official establishment of modern
Cabinet Cabinet or The Cabinet may refer to: Furniture * Cabinetry, a box-shaped piece of furniture with doors and/or drawers * Display cabinet, a piece of furniture with one or more transparent glass sheets or transparent polycarbonate sheets * Filing ...
comprising twelve ministries on April 1, 1892. The ''Krom Mahatthai'' of ''Samuha Nayok'' became the
Ministry of Interior An interior ministry (sometimes called a ministry of internal affairs or ministry of home affairs) is a government department that is responsible for internal affairs. Lists of current ministries of internal affairs Named "ministry" * Ministry ...
and ''Krom Kalahom'' became the
Ministry of Defence {{unsourced, date=February 2021 A ministry of defence or defense (see spelling differences), also known as a department of defence or defense, is an often-used name for the part of a government responsible for matters of defence, found in states ...
, thus ending the ''Chatusadom'' system.


See also

*
Thai nobility The Thai nobility was a social class comprising titled officials (''khunnang'', th, ขุนนาง) in the service of the monarchy. They formed part of a hierarchical social system which developed from the time of the Ayutthaya Kingdom (14th c ...
*
Sakdina ''Sakdina'' ( th, ศักดินา) was a system of social hierarchy in use from the Ayutthaya to early Rattanakosin periods of Thai history. It assigned a numerical rank to each person depending on their status, and served to determine their ...
*
List of samuhanayok The ''samuhanayok'' ( th, สมุหนายก) was one of the two chief ministers in the historical Chatusadom government system of Siam (now Thailand), originally charged with civil affairs but later overseeing both civil and military affair ...
*
List of samuhakalahom The ''samuhakalahom'' ( th, สมุหกลาโหม) was one of the two chief ministers in the historical Chatusadom government system of Siam (now Thailand) in use from the Ayutthaya through early Rattanakosin periods. The post was origin ...


References

15th-century establishments in Thailand 1892 disestablishments in Siam Political history of Thailand Ayutthaya Kingdom