Chaophraya Mahasena (Pli)

Chaophraya Mahasena (Thai: เจ้าพระยามหาเสนา, died January 1794), personal name Pli (Thai: ปลี), was the Samuha Kalahom (Thai: สมุหกลาโหม) or Prime Minister of Southern Siam from 1782 to 1794. He was known for his roles in many military campaigns for Siam (modern Thailand) in the late eighteenth century.

Chaophraya Mahasena Pli was a son of Chaophraya Kalahom Khlongklaeb (Thai: เจ้าพระยากลาโหมคลองแกลบ), who was the Samuha Kalahom or Minister of Military from 1755 to 1759 during the reign of King Borommokot of Ayutthaya. He appeared in history for the first time in Thonburi period when he was Phra Phonlamueang, an official position under Chaophraya Surasi the governor of Phitsanulok. Pli was later promoted to the position of Phraya Phetchabun the governor of Phetchabun. In 1778, during the Siamese Invasion of Laos, King Surinyavong of Luang Phrabang pledged alliance to the Siamese and contributed a force of 3,000 Lao men to join the Siamese attacks on Vientiane. Chaophraya Chakri ordered Phraya Phetchabun Pli to lead the Lao forces from Luang Phrabang to attack the city of Vientiane from the northeast.

When Chaophraya Chakri became King Rama I and established the Rattanakosin Kingdom in 1782, he appointed Phraya Phetchabun Pli as Samuha Kalahom with the title of Chaophraya Mahasena. Since 1733, due to a political conflict, the position of Samuha Kalahom had been deprived of its authority over Southern Siam and had become a powerless military figurehead. In 1782, with the appointment of Chaophraya Mahasena Pli, King Rama I restored the authority over Southern Siamese cities to Samuha Kalahom, which became the position of Prime Minister of Southern Siam. Historical records described that Pli was appointed to this position of Samuha Kalahom because his long meritorious service under Chaophraya Surasi or Prince Surasinghanat of the Front Palace and because Pli's father had been a Samuha Kalahom previously.