Constantine Phaulkon

Constantine Phaulkon (1647–1688), born Konstantinos Gerakis on Cephalonia, was a Greek adventurer who became chief minister to King Narai of Siam. He left Cephalonia at thirteen for London, where his name became Falcon and then Phaulkon, and in 1669 joined the English East India Company.

In Siam from 1675, he mastered Siamese and entered Narai's court as an interpreter in 1681. He ran the royal treasury and steered Siam toward alliance with France. His power provoked the 1688 revolution: as Narai lay dying, Phetracha seized the court and had Phaulkon beheaded that June.