The 24 June 1932 victory by Khana Ratsadon (People's Party) over King Prachadipok represented the nadir of monarchical power in Siam. But it also marked the unbridling of praetorian ascendancy, no longer blocked by royalty. The armed forces now replaced royalty as the ascendant political institution in Thai society—although the monarchy remained a leading political institution cosmetically. This was because, at least initially, the Thai insurrectionists needed a thin veil of monar¬chization, in the form of popular support and simple legitimacy, to consolidate their control. Yet, despite appearances of maintaining itself as a monarchized military in terms of ritual and pageantry, the path dependence of military hegemony over society was solid and would generally remain so until 1957.

Dominating Khana Ratsadon in 1932 was Colonel Phraya Phahon Phonphrayuhasena.1 He was the leader of the “Four Tigers” or “Four Musketeers” and the reader of the revolutionary pronouncement of 24 June 1932. He was born, on 29 March 1887, as Pote Phahonyothin, and was known as Phraya Phahon. He descended from Mon-Chinese heritage. His patron had been his elder half-brother Phraya Phahonyothin Ramnithara Phakdi, a royal military officer. With the help of his brother, Phahon was able to enter the Royal Army Cadet Academy at the age of fourteen (class of 1901), and he graduated near the top of his class. In 1904 Phahon won a scholarship to study in Potsdam, Germany. There he met German student Hermann Goering and Japanese pupil Hideki Tojo.

Phahon became an early member of the “Kaiser” faction: non-royal Siamese military officers studying in Germany. Phahon was also part of the Siamese Artillery; officers in this unit faction also included Song Suradej, Phraya Ritthi Akkanay and Luang Phibun Songkram. Phahon returned to Siam in 1906 and completed his academy training in 1910. He then gained his first commission as second lieutenant. In 1912 Phahon returned to Europe, this time to Denmark, to study engineer¬ing at Copenhagen Engineering College. In 1914 Phahon entered the 4th Artillery Regiment, later becoming a captain and the commander of the 9th Artillery Regiment in Chachoengsao Province. He then rose to be the commander of the 2nd Artillery Army