Phraya Songsuradet


Phraya Songsuradej
พระยาทรงสุรเดช
Birth nameDeva Bandhumasena
Born(1892-08-12)12 August 1892
Bangkok, Siam
Died1 June 1944(1944-06-01) (aged 51)
Phnom Penh, Cambodia, French Indochina
Allegiance Siam
BranchRoyal Siamese Army
Years of service1913–1938
RankColonel

Colonel Thep Phanthumsen (Thai: เทพ พันธุมเสน; 12 August 1892 – 1 June 1944), better known by the noble title Phraya Songsuradet (พระยาทรงสุรเดช), was a Thai military officer and member of the People's Party. As a cadet he studied at the Royal Prussian Main Cadet Institute and was a leading member of the senior army officers responsible for the Siamese revolution of 1932. After the revolution, he became de facto chief of the whole military.

He had conflicts with Plaek Phibunsongkhram, who was a junior military officer in many serious matters. After Phibunsongkhram's rise to power in 1938, these conflicts became the allegations in the subsequent Songsuradet rebellion.