ClassX Video Lessons Youtube Channel Nutty Productions The Queen That DROWNED Because She Couldn't Be TOUCHED..
Imagine a nightmare where you’re drowning, struggling to stay afloat, and people who could save you just watch. This was the tragic reality for Queen Sunanda of Siam.
In 1877, Princess Sunanda Kumariratana became the Queen Consort of Siam, which is now known as Thailand. She was the daughter of King Mangkut and married her half-brother, King Rama V. Although she was his first wife and reportedly his favorite, King Rama V had many wives and children.
Queen Sunanda’s life was short and filled with mystery, especially regarding her death. She was traveling with her nearly two-year-old daughter, Princess Garena Bon Beijdana, and was pregnant with another child, possibly a future heir. They were on their way to the royal family’s summer home, which was quite luxurious.
To reach the summer residence, they had to cross the dangerous Chao Phraya River by boat. Queen Sunanda and her family were on a separate boat from the guards who were supposed to protect them. Accounts differ, but either strong river currents or a collision with another boat caused their boat to capsize. Sunanda and her daughter were thrown into the water, weighed down by their heavy royal clothing.
Despite having guards nearby, none of them jumped in to save the queen and her children. Why? They were following an ancient Siamese law that forbade commoners from touching royalty. This law was rooted in old religious beliefs and superstitions, and breaking it was a serious crime, punishable by death.
Additionally, there was a belief that rescuing a drowning person could endanger the rescuer and interfere with the spirits of the water. These beliefs and laws left the guards in a difficult position, fearing the consequences of breaking the rules.
King Rama V was devastated by the loss of his family. Some stories say he imprisoned the guards for following the law, while others suggest some guards did try to save the queen, ignoring the law. Regardless, King Rama V organized an extravagant 10-day funeral for Sunanda, which took 10 months to prepare. The ceremony was grand, with jewels and a large funeral pyre.
Although King Rama V made many reforms during his reign, he did not change the law that could have saved his wife. However, after the tragedy, he reportedly repealed the ancient law.
Would you have risked everything to save the queen, or at least tried to help in some way? This story makes us think about the choices people make and the impact of laws and beliefs on those decisions. Let us know your thoughts, and explore more fascinating tales from history!
Imagine you are one of the guards on the boat. Would you have followed the law or tried to save the queen? In groups, take turns debating both sides of the argument. Consider the consequences of your actions and how they align with your personal values.
Research another historical figure who faced a dilemma due to cultural or legal restrictions. Create a presentation to share with the class, highlighting the similarities and differences with Queen Sunanda’s story.
Write a short story or create a comic strip that reimagines the events leading to Queen Sunanda’s death. How might the story have changed if the guards had acted differently? Share your creative work with the class.
Discuss the role of laws and ethics in society. How do they influence people’s actions? Consider modern examples where laws might conflict with personal morals. Reflect on how these situations compare to the guards’ dilemma.
Create an artwork that represents the emotions and themes of Queen Sunanda’s story. Use any medium you prefer, such as drawing, painting, or digital art. Display your artwork in a class gallery and explain your artistic choices.
Sure! Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript:
—
It probably sounds like a nightmare you’ve experienced before—drowning, helpless, kicking and clawing at the water as you fight for your life. You peer through to the surface to see a group of people who can save you, but instead, they just watch, staring at you from above as your lungs slowly fill with water. For Queen Sunanda of Siam, this was a tragic reality.
Today on Nutty History, we’re covering the mysterious tale of the woman who drowned in front of a group of onlookers who did nothing to save her or her two-year-old daughter. Oh, and she was pregnant and a queen.
Before we delve into why no one saved this royal, please subscribe to our channel and check out our other interesting content.
In 1877, 17-year-old Princess Sunanda Kumariratana became Queen Consort of Siam (now Thailand). As the daughter of King Mangkut, Sunanda had royal blood, but she became queen consort through her marriage to King Mangkut’s son, King Rama V. Yes, that makes her husband her half-brother, but we’ll move past that.
Although Sunanda was the king’s first wife and reportedly his favorite, she was not the only woman in his life. After her marriage, Sunanda became a literal sister wife when the king also married her two younger sisters. During his lifetime, King Rama V had many consorts and children.
Sunanda’s short life is shrouded in mystery, particularly surrounding her death. At the time of her passing, she was traveling with her nearly two-year-old daughter, Princess Garena Bon Beijdana, and was pregnant with a child she believed to be male, possibly the heir to the throne. The mother-daughter duo was on their way to visit the royal family’s summer residence outside of Bangkok, which was quite luxurious.
King Rama had gone all out on the palatial estate, which required crossing the treacherous Chao Phraya River by boat. Due to their status, Sunanda, the princess, and the baby were on a separate boat from the guards who were meant to escort and protect them.
Accounts vary, but it is said that the strong currents of the river abruptly rose and capsized the queen’s boat, or that a colliding steamboat was to blame. Regardless of the cause, Sunanda and her daughter were thrown into the rushing water, weighed down by their heavy royal clothing.
You might think that with a boatload of guards meant to protect the queen and her family, they would have jumped in to save her, right? Unfortunately, instead of coming to their aid, the guards merely watched as the queen consort and her children struggled in the water.
So, what happened? Were these guards cruel and heartless, or just following the law? It’s believed they were adhering to an ancient Siamese law that forbade commoners from touching members of the royal family. The origins of this law are not entirely known, but it is thought to be rooted in ancient religious beliefs and superstitions.
In addition, the penalty for breaking this law was severe—touching a royal was a capital offense. While it might seem like a good occasion to break the rules, the guards may have feared the consequences of intervening.
Another long-held belief in Siam was that one should never attempt to rescue a drowning person, as it could endanger the rescuer. Additionally, there was a superstition that rescuing someone from drowning would interfere with the spirits of the water.
King Rama V did not take the news of his family’s deaths well. In one version of events, he supposedly imprisoned the guards who followed the law and let his loved ones die. In another account, some guards did jump in to try to save the queen, disregarding the law.
Regardless of what truly happened, King Rama prepared an extravagant funeral for Sunanda, which was a 10-day affair that took 10 months of preparation. The deceased children were surrounded by jewels, and Sunanda’s cremation ceremony involved a grand funeral pyre.
Despite the reforms during King Rama V’s reign, he did not change the law that could have saved his wife. However, after the deaths of his family members, he reportedly repealed the ancient law.
Would you have risked everything to save the queen, or at least thrown her an oar? Let us know your thoughts in the comments, and check out our other videos for more fascinating tales from history. Thanks for watching!
—
This version maintains the essence of the story while removing any inappropriate language or sensitive content.
Queen – A female monarch who rules a kingdom or an empire, often by hereditary right. – Queen Elizabeth I was one of the most influential rulers in English history, known for her strong leadership during the Elizabethan era.
Siam – The former name of Thailand, a country in Southeast Asia known for its rich cultural history. – In the 19th century, Siam was a powerful kingdom that managed to maintain its independence while neighboring countries were colonized by European powers.
Drowning – The act of dying by being submerged in water and unable to breathe. – The tragic drowning of the Titanic passengers in 1912 remains one of the most infamous maritime disasters in history.
Law – A system of rules created and enforced through social or governmental institutions to regulate behavior. – The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was a landmark law in the United States that aimed to end segregation and discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.
Beliefs – Convictions or acceptance that certain things are true or real, often influenced by cultural or religious backgrounds. – The beliefs of the Puritans greatly influenced the social and political development of the early American colonies.
Guards – Individuals or groups assigned to protect or oversee the safety of a person, place, or thing. – The guards at the Tower of London have been responsible for the security of the Crown Jewels for centuries.
Tragedy – An event causing great suffering, destruction, and distress, often involving death or serious injury. – The tragedy of World War I resulted in the loss of millions of lives and had a profound impact on global politics and society.
History – The study of past events, particularly in human affairs. – Understanding history helps us learn from past mistakes and shape a better future for society.
Family – A group of individuals related by blood, marriage, or adoption, often considered the basic unit of society. – The Kennedy family is one of the most prominent political families in American history, with several members serving in public office.
Superstitions – Beliefs or practices resulting from ignorance, fear of the unknown, or trust in magic or chance. – In medieval Europe, superstitions about witches led to widespread fear and the infamous witch hunts.
