For the West African ethnic group known as the Choa, see Baggara

Baggara

The Baggāra Arabs are a set of communities inhabiting the portion of Africa's Sahel between Lake Chad and southern Kordofan, numbering over one million. They have a common language which is one of the regional colloquial Arabic languages...

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"Chao" is a title of the ruling prince of Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai sometimes written as "Chiengmai" or "Chiangmai", is the largest and most culturally significant city in northern Thailand. It is the capital of Chiang Mai Province , a former capital of the Kingdom of Lanna and was the tributary Kingdom of Chiang Mai from 1774 until 1939. It is...

 (also called Lannathai), and people who were related to the ruling prince of Chiang Mai. This system is called "Chao har kan" (เจ้าห้าขัน)

After the fall of the absolute monarchy

Absolute monarchy

Absolute monarchy is a monarchical form of government in which the monarch exercises ultimate governing authority as head of state and head of government, his or her power not being limited by a constitution or by the law. An absolute monarch thus wields unrestricted political power over the...

, the Chao har kan system was abolished by the People's Party (Khana Ratsadon - คณะราษฎร).

In present days, all of the "Chao" family used "Na Chiang Mai" for their surname.

List of the Ruling Princes of Chiang Mai

• Phra Chao Gavila (พระเจ้ากาวิละ) was the first ruling prince of Chiang Mai. He was born in 1742. He reigned 1774-1815
• Chao Luang Tummalunggar (เจ้าหลวงธัมมลังกา) was the second ruling prince of Chiang Mai. He was Chao Gavilla's brother. He was born in 1746 and became Chao Uparaja in 1784 when Chao Gavilla was the ruling prince of Chiang Mai. He reigned 1816-1821
• Chao Luang Sattikamfun (เจ้าหลวงเสฏฐีคำฝั้น) was the third ruling prince of Chiang Mai. He reigned 1822-1824
• Chao Luang Budhawong (เจ้าหลวงพุทธวงศ์) was the fourth prince ruling of Chiang Mai.He was the ruler of Chiang Mai for 20 years, from 1825-1846
• Pra Chao Mahotaraprathate (พระเจ้ามโหตรประเทศ) was the fifth ruling prince of Chiang Mai. He was the son of Chao Luang Tummalunggar. He reigned from 1847-1854
• Pra Chao Gavirorod (พระเจ้ากาวิโลรส) was the sixth ruling prince of Chiang Mai.He was the son of Phra ya Gavilla. He was also known as "Chao chewit Aow" (เจ้าชีวิตอ้าว) meaning lord
  Lord
  Lord is a title with various meanings. It can denote a prince or a feudal superior . The title today is mostly used in connection with the peerage of the United Kingdom or its predecessor countries, although some users of the title do not themselves hold peerages, and use it 'by courtesy'...
  
   of life, because if any people in Chiang Mai didn't follow his rule, those people would be persecuted, unless he said "Aow". He reigned from 1856 -1873
• Phra Chao Intavichyanon (พระเจ้าอินทวิชยานนท์) was the seventh ruling prince of Chiang Mai. He was a relative of Phra Chao Gavirorod. He became Chao Uparaja when Pra Chao Gavirorod was the ruling prince of Chiang Mai. He came to the throne when Phra Chao Gavirorod died in 1873. He reigned from 1874-1897.
• Chao Intavarorodsuriyawong(เจ้าอินทวโรรสสุริยวงษ์)
• Chao Keawnavarat (พลตรีเจ้าแก้วนวรัฐ)

Chao Uparaja

Chao Uparaja was the title that usually given to a brother of the ruling prince of Chiang Mai. This was unlike the ordinary Thai monarchy custom, where this title was given to the heir to the throne.

Chao Burirat

Chao Bururat was the title for a ruling prince of other Northern provinces like Lumpang, Lumpoon, Meahongsorn, etc.

Chao Rajabute

Chao Rajabute was the title for Chao Luang children.