This year marks the 130th anniversary of The Paknam Incident 13 July, 1893.
The incident was the culmination of the Franco-Siamese war in 1893, a conflict between the French Third Republic and Siam over the Kingdom of Luang Prabang, a then tributary state to the Siamese kingdom on the eastern side of the Mekong River. The result of the war was the annexation of Luang Prabang under the French Protectorate of Lao (1893–1953). In the Thai historiography this is described as the loss of territory to the French but also as a strategic sacrifice made by King Chulalongkorn (r.1868–1910).
The Paknam incident was especially important to the Siamese as a manifestation of the real colonial threat that the kingdom faced. It has become one of the main pillars of Thai Official History, representing the resilience of the kingdom against colonialism. It resulted in a sacrifice from the Siamese side. King Chulalongkorn and his brothers are hailed as saviours of the country’s independence.
The incident took place at the mouth of the Chaopraya river, when the French sent a dispatch and gunboats towards Bangkok and the royal palace to put pressure on the Siamese king regarding the Lao territory. The Siamese sent a message prohibiting the French vessels to continue up the river, thereby breaking the 1856 treaty that permitted foreign passage on the Chaopraya. This was taken as a provocation by the French who used the high tide at sunset to cross Paknam with gunboats.
The Siamese navy was commanded by the Dane Andreas du Plessis de Richeliue (1852-1932) who led the defence from the Phra Chulachomklao Fort. After exchange of gunfire, killing fifteen Siamese and two French, the French vessels passed and anchored off the French embassy in Bangkok beginning a blockade to force the Siamese to cede the territory.
The disputed images of Richelieu
Officer Andreas du Plessis de Richeliue, commanding the Siamsese defence, is at the centre of the incident. De Richeliue had arrived in Bangkok in 1875 at the age of 23 and had risen quickly in the ranks of the relatively small Siamese navy. By 1900 he had become commander-in-chief of the navy, the first (and yet only) foreigner to do so.
In Thai history de Richelieu is described as King Chulalongkorn’s favourite among his foreign advisors. He has been hailed as the King’s humble advisor, not representing any colonial threat but putting his services for the betterment of the country. His role in the Paknam incident is described as heroical and decisive for the ending of the Franco-Siamse conflict.
On the other hand, Richelieu was not only a commander for the Siamese Navy and a “humble” advisor to the King. He was also an entrepreneur who saw opportunities in the modernization of Siam. Together with Hans Niels Andersen he established Andersen & Co. in 1884, which among other things was the main supplier to the Siamese navy (headed by de Richelieu). It was based on this company that H.N. Andersen founded the Danish East Asiatic Company, in 1897.
Richeliue used his networks and connections both in Bangkok and Copenhagen to win the concessions from the Siamese government, and invested in major revenue generating businesses, including railways and electricity.
In the Thai historiography two sides of Richeliue appear. On the one hand, he is the Paknam hero and dear friend of King Chulalongkorn. On the other hand, he is treated with suspicion as an opportunist who made his private fortunes of the Siamese modernization.
Reference
Chainimit Nawarat, Ritchalew [Richelieu] Bangkok: Phuean Di, 2015.