Wichaichan

Wichaichan วิไชยชาญ
Photograph of Wichaichan on his throne
Viceroy of Siam
Tenure	2 October 1868 – 28 August 1885
Appointer	Ascension Council on behalf of Chulalongkorn (Rama V)
Predecessor	Pinklao
Successor	Position abolished (Vajirunhis as Crown Prince)
Born	Yodying Prayurayot (1838-04-06)6 April 1838 Bangkok, Siam
Died	28 August 1885(1885-08-28) (aged 47) Bangkok, Siam
Spouse	Prik-lek Na Nagara Various consorts
Issue	28 sons and daughters, including: Rajani Chamcharas, Prince Bidyalongkorn
House	Chakri dynasty
Father	Pinklao
Mother	Aim Sae-ong
Religion	Theravada Buddhism

Krom Phra Ratchawang Bowon Wichaichan (Thai: กรมพระราชวังบวรวิไชยชาญ) or Phra Ong Chao Yodyingyot (or Yingyot) (พระองค์เจ้ายอดยิ่งยศ) (6 April 1838 – 28 August 1885) was a Siamese prince and member of the Chakri dynasty. He was the eldest son of Viceroy Pinklao and Princess Aim, and thus nephew to King Mongkut (Rama IV). Wichaichan succeeded his father by being appointed the Front Palace and Viceroy of Siam in 1868, during the reign of his cousin King Chulalongkorn (Rama V).^[1] During his tenure the office of Front Palace was extremely powerful and rivalled that of the monarch's own. Inevitably the two forces clashed in the Front Palace crisis.^[2] Wichaichan was defeated and the power of the Front Palace was greatly diminished. After his death in 1885, the last vestiges of the title were abolished in favour of a crown prince.^[3] Notably, he is the only Front Palace that was elected by the council, not appointed by the king in accordance with the royal tradition, which is still considered as controversial and unorthodox practice to this day.