FORTUNE AND GLORY:

CONSTANTINE FAULKON

By Manuel Lutgenhorst

Based on

POUR LA PLUS GRANDE GLORIE DE DIEU

a book by Morgan Sportes

FORTUNE AND GLORY is about an extraordinary Greek adventurer who runs away from home, sails for the British for twenty years, arrives in Siam, and becomes the favorite and most powerful prime minister of King Narai. Constantine Faulkon manipulates two powerful Kingdoms, Siam and France, into an alliance, maneuvers through the politics of missionaries and traders and becomes one of the most audacious and prominent figures in the history of 17^th-century European relations with Southeast Asia.

Fortune and Glory is conceived as a music theater piece with music to be inspired by Lully, Charpentier, Couperin, Purcell and the music of Thailand in 1650. It should also have a contemporary feel.

As references for this play we could think of PACIFIC OVERTURES and THE KING AND I.

European reports provide a striking picture of 17^th century Siam (Ayuthaya) as a famed and wealthy trade center. By then Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch, French and English traders jostled there with Chinese, Japanese, Persian, Indian, Malay and other Asian traders. Ayuthaya’s openness to trade – and to the information and ideas that traders brought –was likely one of the sources of its strength.

French Jesuits, missionaries and merchants first arrived in 1662 during the reign of Ayuthaya’s most outward-looking and cosmopolitan ruler, King Narai (1656-1688). During the 1680’s, through the mediation of Faulkon, a Greek adventurer and a favorite and powerful minister of King Narai, splendid embassies were exchanged between King Narai and King Louis XIV. The French plan was to convert King Narai to Christianity and to gain a foothold in the Thai kingdom when, in 1687, they sent troops to garrison Bangkok and Mergui. In order to protect Ayuthaya from foreign rule, Petracha, a relatively minor official as general of the elephants, organized a well prepared coup, deposed the ailing King, had Faulkon executed and ejected the French from Bangkok. Upon the death of King Narai, Petracha assumed the throne himself. Agitation over these events and the legitimacy of Petracha’s subsequent dynasty would dog Ayuthaya for the next 80 years.

Faulkon was a man of contradiction: an emotional and proud Mediterranean, a survivor, a fighter, a modern businessman, a nouveau riche, a shrewd politician, a devoted father, vain and full of himself. He was a brilliant talker able to converse on any subject, a storyteller with an excellent memory and a sharp sense for business. He loved women and wine. A French lieutenant, who lived in Siam from 1685-1688 writes:

Faulkon had a soul that was great, noble, and sublime and such a superior genius as enabled him to conduct the greatest Projects to an issue, with a world of prudence and sagacity. Happy Constance! If all these great qualities had not been clouded over by gross defects, especially boundless ambition; by insatiable avarice, often to a degree of sordidness; and by a jealousy, which, taking fire on the least occasion, rendered him harsh, cruel, implacable, insincere and capable of the most hateful things in life.

Constantine Faulkon was born in 1647 in Greece the son of an innkeeper. When he was 13 (1660) he ran away from home and jumped onboard a boat to England. For nearly 20 years he journeyed the sea, proving his courage by fighting in several wars, and working on trading ships in the East. In 1678, he arrived in Siam, working as a cabin boy on a ship owned by the EAST INDIES COMPANY. During this last journey he became friendly with Burnaby, director of the Company, and George White. By that time -- he was 30 years old -- he had learned how to survive, fight, work, and speak brilliantly in Portuguese, English and Malay.

Burnaby and White wanted to keep Faulkon in Siam as an intermediary for their trade and business dealings in Siam. But Faulkon had no papers to stay in the country, so Burnaby and White arranged for him to "disappear" until the English ship had left, stranding him in Siam. He worked for the EAST INDIES COMPANY, learned Siamese language and became familiar with his new home.

In 1680, Burnaby and White sent Faulkon on a journey to smuggle weapons to Likor, which was at war with Siam. On the way, he was shipwrecked and found ashore by villagers, who brought him to the local official, who accused him of smuggling weapons. Faulkon lied so perfectly well that the poor man decided to send him back to the capital to be interrogated there.

As soon as Faulkon returned to Siam, Burnaby and White, worried for their future business, decided to introduce him to Kosa Lek, the prime minister, with the hope that he will employ this brilliant young man. The minister was very impressed with Faulkon and the gifts he presented, and offered him the opportunity to work for King Narai, which Faulkon gladly accepts. His first responsibilities were accounting for the financial transactions of traders with Siam and controlling the royal warehouses. He was also sent on his first trade mission to Persia, which proved very successful. In fact, he did such a brilliant job that he was soon hated by the Persians, who had been cheating the Siamese, undisturbed, for generations. Kosa Lek praised his work to the King, and Faulkon rapidly grew to be an important man.

The Jesuits, who were very active and had the support of the King, became aware of Faulkon, and wrote to their headquarters in Rome that they wanted this man ‘for any price’. They saw in Faulkon a powerful ally and tool for their politics to convert the Kingdom to the Catholic faith.

Faulkon fell in love with Marie Ginard, a 16 year old Japanese - Portuguese girl, educated by Portuguese Jesuits, who insisted that he embrace the Catholic faith again if he planned to marry her. (During his time in England, Faulkon had converted to the Anglican Church.). He found his way back to his God, was baptized, and married Marie, with whom he had two children.

The Dutch, the most aggressive traders, had grown to be a considerable danger for Siam and the King. The only other nation that could be an equal was France. Faulkon entered the political stage. He suggested that King Narai send an envoy to France to offer the Sun King Louis XIV an alliance with Siam to balance the power of the Dutch and to protect the country from enemies. The prime minister and the mandarins presented this idea to the King, who long had an interest in France. The King ennobled Faulkon (Luang Wijayendra), making him superintendent of foreign trade and giving him control over the royal monopolies. Suddenly he was a man of real power and eminence. All foreign trade was to go through him. His subsequent policy to favor free trade was hated by the East India Company. He initiated the dispatch of a Siamese envoy to France, inviting the French King Louis XIV to form an alliance.

Petracha, a half brother of the King, and Sorasak, an adopted son of the King, jealous of the power and position Faulkon held over King Narai and the country, disagreed with his foreign policies, fearing that Siam would be dominated by foreign powers and religions. Working in secrecy, they co-opted the monks to their side by showing them the dangers threatened by the presence of French missionaries and military power.

The King ordered Faulkon to build fortresses as they were built in France. Faulkon enlisted the monks from the crowded temples to work for this project, which created a scandal. The prime minister complained to the King, who supported Faulkon’s decisions and ordered the minister punished. Soon after, the prime minister died and the King offers the job to Faulkon. Rather than accept the position directly, Faulkon smartly refused, choosing instead a ‘friend’ he could control. However, the power remained in his hands. As the favorite of the King he was feared, respected, hated. He had ultimate power. One day, angered by Faulkon’s politics, Sorasak entered his office, kicked him in his face, knocking out his teeth. Faulkon was devastated, while his enemies applauded. Enraged, Faulkon complained to the King, who could not bring himself to take sides against his adopted son. Instead, he ordered a competition to demonstrate to the mandarins and the country the superior qualities of his favorite minister. Faulkon won the competition, Sorasak was defeated.

Two years later, in 1685, the French ships arrived, bringing a letter for King Narai expressing the wish of Louis XIV to create an alliance, friendship and mutual trade. In exchange, King Narai must convert and embrace the Catholic faith. While Faulkon tried to explain to the ambassadors that conversion had to be approached slowly, they insisted on presenting their King’s request. Faulkon needed the alliance with France to protect his own position, but he could not arouse the anger of the Siamese monks and mandarins. So, Faulkon arranged a splendid reception and audience with the King. During the audience, he translated selectively what he felt the King should know. The two countries signed a treaty for trade and military training and the ambassadors left with the promise to send another mission. This visit and negotiation marked the peak of Faulkon’s career. However, only the Jesuits, who were behind the plans with Louis XIV, supported and applauded him. Petracha and the mandarins feared foreign intrusion, and the other nations feared for their trading power.

In 1687 a second French envoy arrived with five big boats, more than 700 soldiers, and Louis XIV’s request to occupy fortresses in Bangkok and Mergui and demand for the conversion of the King to Catholicism in return for protection and trade with France. Although Faulkon felt betrayed, he had no choice but to present the idea to the King, who granted the request of Louis XIV to control the fortresses.

At that time, with 700 soldiers in Bangkok the French had the capability of controlling the whole country. Like a chess player, Petracha assembled forces, created intrigues, and maneuvered to stop Faulkon and the French, whom he perceived as a real danger. Petracha had no choice - he did not trust Faulkon, and the King was seriously ill and weak. He knew that Faulkon had only two chances to survive -- either by putting a puppet king he could control on the throne, or by selling Siam to the French as a colony. Little by little, Petracha aroused hatred against the French and Faulkon's policies. To solidify his power, he went on a carefully calculated campaign to take over the country. He had all possible heirs to the throne put to death, confused the French generals, isolated and punished Faulkon (he poisoned his little son), mobilized the monks, and, aided by the Dutch, entered the palace. He put the ailing King under house arrest and sent a message to Faulkon stating that the King wanted to see him. Warned by his few remaining friends that it was a trap, Faulkon thought he could control the situation, believing that Petracha would not dare to touch him. When he entered the palace, he was overpowered and taken prisoner. Next, Petracha and Sorasak beheaded Mompit, the young favorite of the King and Faulkon’s potential puppet King and hung his head around Faulkon’s neck. Faulkon was then tortured for his money, and his wife raped by Sorasak. A few days later Faulkon was taken out of the city, beheaded, and his body fed to the dogs. King Narai died, and Petracha ascended to the throne.

Petracha then attacked the French in Bangkok. They held out for six months and then gave up. Not wanting to break all ties with France, Petracha offered them a boat to leave. Marie, Faulkon’s wife, escaped prison disguised as a man and arrived at the fortress in Bangkok in search of protection. The French general, afraid that Petracha would not allow the French troops to leave, and sent her back to her torturers, - humiliated and defeated.