In 1893, as French gunboats forced the Paknam blockade, Siam faced a crisis: dozens of French soldiers and civilians were held captive. King Chulalongkorn made a controversial decision to release them unconditionally, earning goodwill that shaped diplomatic negotiations. This episode explores the forgotten story of the French prisoners of the 1893 crisis—who they were, how they were treated, and how Chulalongkorn's clemency turned a potential atrocity into a masterstroke of soft power. We dive into the tense days after the gunboats Inconstant and Comète breached the Chao Phraya, the role of French consul Auguste Pavie, and the secret letters exchanged between Bangkok and Paris. The narrative reveals a king who understood that mercy could be more strategic than force, and how those freed prisoners became unlikely ambassadors for Siam's cause. Featuring voices from French naval reports, Siamese court records, and Pavie's memoirs, this episode sheds light on a little-known chapter that helped Siam survive colonialism.
Podden och tillhörande omslagsbild på den här sidan tillhör
Fexingo. Innehållet i podden är skapat av Fexingo och inte av,
eller tillsammans med, Poddtoppen.
