GetWiki

{{short description|Military dictator of Thailand from 1963-73 and briefly in 1976}}{{EngvarB|date=November 2016}}{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2016}}

factoids

| native_name_lang = thField marshal (Thailand)>Field marshalOrder of Chula Chom Klao>PChW Order of Rama Order of the White Elephant>MPCh Order of the Crown of Thailand Order of the Defender of the Realm>SMN Military Order of Christ Order of the Sword>KmstkSO Order of Merit of the Italian Republic Order of Sikatuna>GCS Order of St Michael and St George Legion of Merit>LOMThailand>Thai| image = Thanom Kittikachorn 1960s.jpg| order = 10th Prime Minister of Thailand| monarch = Bhumibol Adulyadejtitle=See listPraphas Charusathien>2=Prince Wan Waithayakon|3=Pote Sarasin}}| term_start = 9 December 1963On 17 November 1971 he a self-coup, Repeal 1968 constitution, Repeal National Assembly (Thailand) which consists of Senate of Thailand>Senate and House of Representatives and use of the powers of Prime Minister as head of the Revolutionary Council until 18 December 1972 He returned as Prime Minister after the promulgation of 1972 temporary charter.}}| predecessor = Sarit Thanarat| successor = Sanya Dharmasakti| monarch1 = Bhumibol Adulyadejtitle=See listPraphas Charusathien>2=Prince Wan Waithayakon|3=Sukich Nimmanheminda}}| term_start1 = 1 January 1958| term_end1 = 20 October 1958| predecessor1 = Pote Sarasin| successor1 = Sarit ThanaratList of Commanders of the Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters>Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces| term_start3 = 11 December 1963| term_end3 = 30 September 1973| predecessor3 = Sarit Thanarat| successor3 = Dawee ChullasapyaList of commanders-in-chief of the Royal Thai Army>Commander-in-chief of the Royal Thai Army| term_start4 = 11 December 1963| term_end4 = 1 October 1964| predecessor4 = Sarit Thanarat| successor4 = Praphas Charusathien| office5 = Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand| primeminister5 = Sarit Thanarat| term_start5 = 9 February 1959| term_end5 = 8 December 1963| predecessor5 = Sukich Nimmanheminda| successor5 = Praphas CharusathienMinistry of Foreign Affairs (Thailand)>Minister of Foreign Affairs| primeminister6 = himself| term_start6 = 19 December 1972| term_end6 = 14 October 1973| predecessor6 = Jaroonphan Isarangkun Na Ayutthaya| successor6 = Jaroonphan Isarangkun Na AyutthayaChiang Mai University{{fact>date=July 2022}}| primeminister7 = himself| predecessor7 = University established| successor7 = Sukich Nimmanheminda| term_start7 = 21 February 1964| term_end7 = 20 February 1972List of Defence Ministers of Thailand>Minister of DefencePote SarasinSarit Thanarat>himself}}| term_start8 = 23 September 1957| term_end8 = 14 October 1973| predecessor8 = Plaek Phibunsongkhram| successor8 = Dawee Chullasapyadf=yes8|11}}Tak province>Tak, Nakhon Sawan, Siam (now Mueang Tak, Tak, Thailand)df=yes6191111}}| death_place = Bangkok, ThailandJongkol Thanad-rob|1914}}Narong Kittikachorn>Narong| signature = Thanom Kittikachorn Signature.svg(File:RTA OF-10 (Field Marshal).svgList of Field Marshals (Thailand)>Field Marshal15px) List of Admirals of the Fleet (Thailand)>(File:RTAF OF-10 (Marshal of the Royal Thai Air Force).svgList of Marshals of the Royal Thai Air Force>Marshal of the Air Force}}Thailand}}Thailand}}| serviceyears = 1929–1973List of Commanders of the Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters>Supreme Commander of the Royal Thai Armed ForcesFranco-Thai War|World War II}}| party = United Thai People's PartyNational Socialist Party (Thailand)>National Socialist Party| footnotes = | caption = Thanom in the 1960s}}Field Marshal Thanom Kittikachorn (, {{RTGS|Thanom Kittikhachon}}, {{IPA-th|tʰā.nɔ̌ːm kìt.tì(ʔ).kʰā.t͡ɕɔ̄ːn|pron}}; 11 August 1911 – 16 June 2004) was the leader of Thailand from 1963 to 1973, during which he staged a self-coup, until public protests which exploded into violence forced him to step down. His return from exile in 1976 sparked protests which led to a massacre of demonstrators, followed by a military coup.

Early life

Thanom Kittikachorn was born in Tak Province to Khun Amphan Kittikachorn and his wife, Mrs Linchee Kittikachorn. His family was of Thai Chinese descent.{{Citation |last=Chaloemtiarana |first=Thak |title=Thailand: The Politics of Despotic Paternalism |year=2007 |place=Ithaca NY |publisher=Cornell Southeast Asia Program |page=88 |isbn=978-0-8772-7742-2}} He attended Wat Koak Plu Municipal School, then was admitted to the Army Cadet Academy. After receiving his commission, he reported for duty with Infantry Regiment VII in Chiang Mai. Thanom later studied at the Cartography School and the Infantry School, and graduated from the National Defense College in its first class.

Rise to power

After serving in the Shan States of Burma during the British Colonial destruction, then Lieutenant Colonel Thanom took part in a successful 1947 coup headed by Colonel Sarit Thanarat. He became a regimental commander and was head of the Lopburi military department. He was soon promoted to colonel, commanding the 11th Infantry Division. Thanom was appointed a member of parliament in 1951, his first political role. He was promoted to major general the same year.In February 1953, Thanom led the suppression of a rebellion against military rule, and was rewarded with promotion to lieutenant general. He represented Thailand at the ceremony to mark the end of the Korean War in July 1953 and was later promoted as commander of the 1st Region Army.He was appointed deputy cooperatives minister in 1955. Thanom supported Sarit in his coup against the government of Field Marshal Plaek Phibunsongkhram, and was subsequently appointed defence minister in Pote Sarasin's puppet regime in 1957. Thanom consolidated his power base as the second military leader and right-hand man of Sarit. A few days after the December 1957 general election, in which the pro-government Sahaphum Party ("United Land") had performed disappointingly, Thanom co-founded the National Socialist Party (Chat Sangkhomniyom). He became the deputy leader of this party, designed to extend the pro-government camp and win over former members of Phibunsongkhram's Seri Manangkhasila Party who had been reelected to parliament as independents.{{Citation |author=Thak Chaloemtiarana |title=Thailand: The Politics of Despotic Paternalism |year=2007 |place=Ithaca NY |publisher=Cornell Southeast Asia Program |page=88 |isbn=978-0-8772-7742-2}}In 1958, he was made a full general and assumed the offices of prime minister and defence minister. He was prime minister for nine months, after which he was replaced by Sarit himself and made deputy prime minister, defence minister, and armed forces deputy supreme commander.

Prime minister of Thailand

File:CongressBuilding SEATO.jpg|thumb|left|Prime Minister Thanom (Second right) at the 1966 SEATO convention in 180pxPrime Minister Thanom succeeded his predecessor one day after Sarit's death in 1963. He subsequently appointed himself commander-in-chief of the army. One year later, he promoted himself to the concurrent ranks of field marshal, admiral of the fleet, and marshal of the air force. Thanom continued the pro-American and anti-communist politics of his predecessor, which helped to ensure massive US economic and financial aid during the Vietnam War. Although he was personally popular, his regime was known for massive corruption. He established and led the United Thai People's Party (Saha Prachathai) in October 1968.Thanom reappointed himself prime minister in February 1969 after general elections had been completed. The following year saw the beginnings of the 1970s peasant revolts in Thailand. Then, in November 1971, he staged a coup against his own government, citing the need to suppress communist infiltration. He dissolved parliament and appointed himself Chairman of the National Executive Council, and served as a caretaker government for one year. In December 1972, he appointed himself prime minister for a fourth time, also serving as the defence and foreign ministers. Thanom, his son Colonel Narong, and Narong's father-in-law General Praphas Charusathien became known as the "three tyrants".Public discontent grew, along with demands for a general election to choose a new parliament. Student-led demands for a return to constitutional government led to days of violence followed by the sudden downfall of his government. Thanom and the other "tyrants" flew to exile in the United States and Singapore. Thanom's departure was followed by a restoration of democratic rule in Thailand.

After Thammasat University massacre

(File:วันนี้ในอดีต ๑๑ เมษายน ๒๕๐๙ จอมพลถนอม กิตติขจร ให้สัมภาษณ์หนังสือพิมพ์.webm|thumb|left|Thanom in press conference)In October 1976, Thanom returned to Thailand in the robes of a novice monk,In the book of exile, Thaksin pens his legacy to stay at Bangkok's Wat Bowonniwet. Even though he announced he had no desire to enter politics, his return triggered student protests, which eventually moved onto the campus of Thammasat University. This was only a year after South Vietnam and Thailand's neighbors Laos and Cambodia had fallen to the communists, and right-wing Thais suspected the protesters wished the same fate for their own country. On 6 October 1976, right-wing militants, aided by government security forces, stormed the Thammasat campus, violently broke up the protests, and killed many protesters. That evening, the military seized power from the elected civilian government of Democrat MR Seni Pramoj and installed hard-line royalist Thanin Kraivichien as premier.Thanom soon left the monkhood, but he kept his word never to take part in politics again. Late in his life, he attempted to rehabilitate his tarnished image and recover properties seized when his government was overthrown.Controversy arose in early 1999 when it became known that Thanom was appointed as an honorary officer of the Royal Guard by prime minister Chuan Leekpai as recommended by the military.JOURNAL, Naruemon, Thabchumpon, THAILAND: A Year of Diminishing Expectations, Southeast Asian Affairs, 1999, 321, 27912233, Thanom settled the matter himself by resigning.NEWS, Singh, Ajay, Gearing, Julian, The Murky Events of October 1973,weblink 30 March 2023, Asia Week, 26, 3, 28 January 2000, CNN, WEB,weblink ให้พ้นจากตำแหน่งนายทหารพิเศษ, 29 March 1999, Royal Thai Government Gazette, 30 March 2023, th, Thanom Kittikachorn died in 2004 the age of 92 in Bangkok General Hospital, after suffering a stroke and a heart attack two years earlier.WEB,weblink Thanom Kittikachorn, June 21, 2004, John Aglionby, The Guardian, January 6, 2022, His family's medical expenses were paid by King Bhumibol Adulyadej, which some saw as payback for Thanom's agreeing to the king's request that he leave the country to end the violence in 1973. Thanom's cremation was held on 25 February 2007 at Wat Debsirin. Queen Sirikit presided over the cremation ceremony, lighting the royal flame on behalf of King Bhumibol. Her youngest daughter, the Princess Chulabhorn, was also present. Thanom's wife died in 2012, aged 96.

Honours

Thanom received the following royal decorations in the Honours System of Thailand:Biography {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120918144958weblink |date=18 September 2012 }}, Royal Thai Army website (in Thai). Retrieved on 4 December 2008.

• 1961 - (File:Order of Chula Chom Klao - 1st Class (Thailand) ribbon.svg|80px) Knight Grand Cross (First Class) of The Most Illustrious Order of Chula Chom Klao
• 1965 - (File:Order of Rama 1st Class ribbon.svg|80px) Knight Grand Commander of the Honourable Order of Rama
• 1956 - (File:Order of the White Elephant - Special Class (Thailand) ribbon.svg|80px) Knight Grand Cordon (Special Class) of the Most Exalted Order of the White Elephant
• 1955 - (File:Order of the Crown of Thailand - Special Class (Thailand) ribbon.svg|80px) Knight Grand Cordon (Special Class) of The Most Noble Order of the Crown of Thailand
• 1988 - (File:Order of Ramkeerati (Thailand) ribbon.svg|80px) Order of Symbolic Propitiousness Ramkeerati (Special Class)
• 1972 - (File:Bravery Medal with wreath (Thailand) ribbon.svg|80px) Bravery Medal with wreath
• 1962 - (File:Victory Medal - World War II (Thailand) ribbon.svg|80px) Victory Medal - World War II
• 1955 - (File:Victory Medal - Korean War with flames (Thailand) ribbon.svg|80px) Victory Medal - Korean War (with flames)
• 1972 - (File:Victory Medal - Vietnam War with flames (Thailand) ribbon.svg|80px) Victory Medal - Vietnam War (with flames)
• 1969 - (File:Freeman Safeguarding Medal - 1st Class (Thailand) ribbon.svg|80px) Freeman Safeguarding Medal (First Class)
• 1934 - (File:Safeguarding the Constitution Medal (Thailand) ribbon.svg|80px) Safeguarding the Constitution Medal
• 1943 - (File:Medal for Service in the Interior - Asia (Thailand) ribbon.svg|80px) Medal for Service Rendered in the Interior
• 1962 - (File:Border Service Medal (Thailand) ribbon.svg|80px) Border Service Medal
• 1944 - (File:Chakra Mala Medal (Thailand) ribbon.svg|80px) Chakra Mala Medal
• 1950 - (File:King Rama VIII Royal Cypher Medal (Thailand) ribbon.svg|80px) King Rama VIII Royal Cypher Medal, Third Class
• 1964 - (File:King Rama IX Royal Cypher Medal (Thailand) ribbon.svg|80px) King Rama IX Royal Cypher Medal, First Class
• 1952 - (File:King Rama VII Coronation Medal (Thailand) ribbon.svg|80x80px) King Rama VII Coronation Medal
• 1950 - (File:King Rama IX Coronation Medal (Thailand) ribbon.svg|80x80px) King Rama IX Coronation Medal
• 1932 - (File:150 Years Commemoration of Bangkok Medal ribbon.svg|80x80px) 150 Years Commemoration of Bangkok Medal
• 1957 - (File:25th Buddhist Century Celebration Medal (Thailand) ribbon.svg|80x80px) 25th Buddhist Century Celebration Medal
• 1972 - (File:Ribbon bar of Red Cross Medal of Appreciation, 1st Class (Thailand).svg|80px) Red Cross Medal of Appreciation, First Class

Foreign honours

• {{flag|Taiwan}} :
  • (File:Order of Precious Tripod with Special Grand Cordon ribbon.png|80x80px) Special Grand Cordon of the Order of the Sacred Tripod
  • (File:Order of the Cloud and Banner 1st.gif|80x80px) Special Grand Cordon of the Order of the Cloud and Banner
  • (File:TWN Order of Brilliant Star 1Class BAR.svg|80x80px) Special Grand Cordon of the Order of Brilliant Star
  • (File:TWN Order of Propitious Clouds 1Class BAR.svg|80x80px) Special Grand Cordon of the Order of Propitious Clouds
  • (File:Special Breast Order of Yun Hui.png|80x80px) Special Breast of the Order of the Yun Hui

• {{Flag|South Korea}} :
  • (File:ROK Order of Merit for National Foundation - Order of the Republic of Korea.png|80x80px) Republic of Korea Medal of the Order of Merit for National Foundation
  • (File:Taeguk Cordon Medal.png|80x80px) Taegeuk of the Order of Military Merit
  • (File:ROK Order of Service Merit (1st Class) Blue Stripes.png|79x79px) Blue Stripes of the Order of Service Merit

• {{flag|South Vietnam}} :
  • (File:VPD National Order of Vietnam - Grand Cross BAR.svg|80x80px) Grand Cross of the National Order of Vietnam
  • (File:Vietnam Kim Khanh Decoration ribbon-First Class.svg|80x80px) Kim Khanh Decoration, First Class

• {{flag|Philippines}} :
  • (File:PHL Order of Sikatuna - Grand Cross BAR.png|80x80px) Grand Collar of the Order of Sikatuna
  • (File:PHI Legion of Honor 2003 Chief Commander BAR.svg|80x80px) Chief Commander of the Legion of Honor

• {{flag|Spain}} :
  • (File:ESP Order of Civil Merit GC.svg|80x80px) Grand Cross of the Order of Civil Merit
  • (File:ESP Gran Cruz Merito Militar (Distintivo Blanco) pasador.svg|79x79px) Grand Cross with White Decoration of the Order of Military Merit

• {{flag|Vatican City}} :
  • (File:VAT Order of Saint Gregory the Great GCross BAR.svg|80x80px) Grand Cross of the Order of St. Gregory the Great
  • (File:VAT Order of Saint Sylvester GCross BAR.svg|80x80px) Grand Cross of the Order of Saint Sylvester
• {{flag|United States}} :
  • (File:US Legion of Merit Chief Commander ribbon.png|80x80px) Chief Commander of the Legion of Merit

• {{flag|Denmark}} :
  • (File:Order of the Dannebrog S.K.svg|80x80px) Grand Cross of the Order of the Dannebrog

• {{flag|Portugal}} :
  • (File:PRT Order of Christ - Grand Cross BAR.svg|80x80px) Grand Cross of the Order of Christ (G.C.C.)

• {{flag|Germany}} :
  • (File:GER Bundesverdienstkreuz 7 Grosskreuz.svg|80x80px) Grand Cross 1st Class of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany

• {{flag|Luxembourg}} :
  • (File:Ordre de la couronne de Chene GC ribbon.svg|80x80px) Grand Cross of the Order of the Oak Crown

• {{flag|Sweden}} :
  • (File:Royal Order of the Sword - Commander Grand Cross BAR.svg|80x80px) Commander Grand Cross of the Royal Order of the Sword

• {{flag|Italy}} :
  • (File:Cordone di gran Croce OMRI BAR.svg|79x79px) Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (O.M.R.I.)

• {{flag| Netherlands}} :
  • (File:Order of Orange-Nassau ribbon - Knight Grand Cross.svg|79x79px) Grand Cross of the Order of Orange-Nassau

• {{flag|Belgium}} :
  • (File:BEL - Order of Leopold - Grand Cordon bar.svg|80x80px) Grand Cordon of the Order of Leopold

• {{flag|Indonesia}} :
  • (File:Pita (Ribbon) Bintang Mahaputera Adipradana.png|80x80px) Star of Mahaputera, 2nd Classราชกิจจานุเบกษา, แจ้งความสำนักนายกรัฐมนตรี เรื่อง พระราชทานพระบรมราชาอนุญาตประดับเครื่องอิสริยาภรณ์ต่างประเทศ, เล่ม ๗๘ ตอนที่ ๗๑ ง หน้า ๑๙๖๐, ๕ กันยายน ๒๕๐๔

• {{flag|Argentina}} :
  • (File:ARG Order of the Liberator San Martin - Grand Cross BAR.svg|80x80px) Grand Cross of the Order of the Liberator General San Martín

• {{Flag|Japan}} :
  • (File:JPN Kyokujitsu-sho 1Class BAR.svg|80x80px) Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun

• {{flag|Kingdom of Laos}} :
  • (File:LAO Order of the a Million Elephants and the White Parasol - Grand Cross BAR.svg|80x80px) Grand Cross of the Order of the Million Elephants and the White Parasol

• {{flag|United Kingdom}} :
  • (File:UK Order St-Michael St-George ribbon.svg|80x80px) Honorary Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George (G.C.M.G.)

• {{flag|Ethiopian Empire}} :
  • (File:Order of the Holy Trinity (Ethiopia) - ribbon bar.gif|80x80px) Grand Cross of the Order of the Holy Trinity

• {{flag|Malaya}} :
  • (File:MY Darjah Yang Mulia Pangkuan Negara (Defender of the Realm) - SMN.svg|80x80px) Honorary Grand Commander of the Order of the Defender of the Realm (1962)WEB,weblink Senarai Penuh Penerima Darjah Kebesaran, Bintang dan Pingat Persekutuan Tahun 1962., 15 June 2016, 14 February 2019,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20190214223410weblink">weblink dead, (S.M.N.)

• {{flag|Austria}} :
  • (File:AUT Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria - 1st Class BAR.svg|80x80px) Grand Star of the Decoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria
• {{Flag|Kingdom of Greece}} :
  • (File:GRE Order of George I - Grand Cross BAR.png|80x80px) Grand Cross of the Order of George I
• {{Flag|Kingdom of Norway}} :
  • (File:St Olavs Orden storkors stripe.svg|80x80px) Grand Cross of the Order of St. Olav
• {{Flag|Imperial Iran}} :
  • (File:Order of Crown Ribbon Bar - Imperial Iran.svg|80x80px) Knight of the Order of the Crown (Iran)
• {{Flag|Tunisia}} :
  • (File:Order of the Republic (Tunisia) - ribbon bar.gif|80x80px) Order of the Republic (Tunisia)
• {{flag|United Nations}} :
  • (File:United Nations Service Medal Korea ribbon.svg|80x80px) United Nations Korea Medal

Notes

{{notelist}}

References

{{reflist}}

External links

• KITTIKACHORN, Field Marshal Thanom
• weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20070929130438weblink">"Thanom's sometimes turbulent life"
• weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20080529164758weblink">Thailand Government

{{Prime Ministers of Thailand}}{{Royal Thai Army Chiefs}}{{History of Thailand 1932 - 1973}}{{History of Thailand since 1973}}{{Grand Commander of the Order of the Defender of the Realm}}{{Authority control}}