Kingdom of Chiangmai
Encyclopedia
Kingdom of Rattanaingsa or Kingdom of Chiangmai was the vassal state of Siamese Rattanakosin Kingdom in the 18th and 19th century before being annexed due to the centralization policies of Chulalongkorn
in 1884. The kingdom was one of successors of medieval Lanna
kingdom that had been under Burmese rule for two centuries until it was captured by Siamese forces under Taksin
of Thonburi
in 1774. Chiangmai kingdom was ruled by Tipchak dynasty and came under Thonburi and later Bangkokian tributary.
Chaikaew of Lampang, and Phraya Chabaan, a Lanna noble, plotted the liberation of Lanna cities from Burmese authorities and decided to request supports from Taksin of Thonburi in 1774. Taksin sent Phraya Chakri (later Buddha Yodfa Chulalok) and Phraya Surasi (later Maha Sura Singhanat
) to capture Chiangmai. The joint forces took Chiangmai and Lampoon. Phraya Chabaan was installed as Phraya Luang Vachiraprakarn the Lord of Chiangmai and King Chaikaew died the same year, to be succeeded by his son Kawila as the King of Lampang. Kawila’s sister, Sri Anocha, was married to Phraya Surasi.
However, the Burmese tried their best to recover their lost territories. The attacks were so immense that Vachiraprakarn decided to evacuate the city and moved his people to Lampang in 1776.
In 1782, Phraya Chakri, now Somdet Chao Phraya Maha Kasatseuk, suppressed a rebellion at Thonburi and crowned himself as Buddha Yodfa Chulalok the King of Siam at Bangkok. As his brother-in-law, Buddha Yodfa Chulalok made Kawila the Lord Min Vachiraprakarn of Chiangmai in 1782 under Siamese tributary.
Lord Min Vachiraprakarn evacuated the people of Lampang to stay at Vieng Paxang until the sufficient resources was gathered and he moved into Chiangmai in 1796. Lord Min Vachiraprakarn pursued the policies of manpower recovery as he invaded the neighboring states to gather the people into Chiangmai and Lampoon including the Shan States
, Kengtung, and Chiang Hung
. In 1799, the court of Chiangmai renamed the city as Rattana-ingsa. Min Vachiraprakarn also constructed auspicious animal monuments around the cities.
from the Konbaung dynasty
. Also, Kawila went on various campaigns against Burma and sent the captives to Bangkok.
The Chiangmai succession was strictly regulated by Bangkok. After the death of a king, the Uparaja retained the status as a prince until he visited the King of Bangkok that he would be elevated to the king. As the result, the reign of Chiangmai kings were not continuous as the Uparaja usually spent at least a year going to Bangkok.
Chiangmai sent tributes to Bangkok triennially. The tributes included worthy forest products like the teak
. Chaingmai had also provided troops and manpower to Bangkok on her military campaigns, including that of Rebellion of Anouvong in 1824. Also, Chiangmai was the main base for the Siamese efforts to expand into Shan states.
The degree of Chiangmai's control over its subdornate states varied on the course of history. Under Kawila, his fresh installment by Rama I enforced the Chiangmai control over the principalities. However, the principalities then gained their autonomies as strong symbolic justification from Bangkok was not granted. In the mid-19th century, the Chiangmai control resumed under Mahotrapratet due to the encouragement of Rama III.
in 1885 the British Empire had finished taking control of Burma and was penetrating its influences into the Shan states. For the first time, the woodlands of Lanna was revealed to the West, its deep inland position having barred it from the sight of European traders during the Ayutthayan period. The first missionaries arrived in 1868 and established schools that educated the children of Chaingmai in English and Lanna script
. The printing was introduced.
British companies arrived to do the forestry of the valuable teak, including British Borneo Company (arrived in 1864), Bombay Burma Company (1889), and Siam Forest Company. The British brought the Burmese and Karen
workers into Lanna. They were also came into conflicts with Chiangmai royalty over the benefits as the British tried to impose the system of land ownership over the traditional land-grant system. Most of the cases were judged in the courts at Bangkok and, due to inferior legal knowledges, King Inthawichayanon
had to pay heavy indemnities to the British.
sent Phra Narinthra Rachaseni as his intendant to Chiangmai. The Bangkok court, which considered the Western influences as a threat and knew how to deal with them, couldn't leave the Chiangmai court to have the relations with Western powers independently.
Things went urgent in 1883 when it was rumored that Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom was going to made herself the godmother of Princess Dara Rasmi of Chiang Mai
, Inthawichayanon's daughter. This was perceived as the British efforts to take over Lanna. Chulalongkorn then sent his brother Krom Muen Pinit Prichakorn to Chiangmai to propose the engagement of Dararasmi as his concubine.
In 1884, Chulalongkorn announced his municipal provincial system and the two provinces - the Northwestern Province and Maharashtra Province - was imposed on the Chiangmai kingdom. All the Lanna kings including Chiangmai were reduced to city mayor
s. The Siamese nobility was installed as the officials of northern provinces in duality with native Lanna's old nobility.
Dararasmi was married to Chulalongkorn in 1886 as a symbol of union of two kingdoms. Dararasmi was raised to Princess Consort - a high rank of court ladies only preceded by Chulalongkorn's four queens. Inthawichayanon's son, Prince Inthawarorot, then ruled Chiangmai under strict regulation of Bangkokian intendants. Major General
Prince Kaew Nawarat was the last ruler of Chiangmai, as upon his death the title was dissolved (under the government of General Phibun) as well as the political power of Tipchak dynasty.
The modern descendants of the rulers of Chiangmai bear the surname Na Chiangmai as granted by Vajiravudh
under his 1912 Surname Act.
Chulalongkorn
Phra Bat Somdet Phra Poramintharamaha Chulalongkorn Phra Chunla Chom Klao Chao Yu Hua , or Rama V was the fifth monarch of Siam under the House of Chakri. He was known to the Siamese of his time as Phra Phuttha Chao Luang . He is considered one of the greatest kings of Siam...
in 1884. The kingdom was one of successors of medieval Lanna
Lanna
The Kingdom of Lanna was a kingdom centered in present-day northern Thailand from the 13th to 18th centuries. The cultural development of the people of Lanna, the Tai Yuan people, had begun long before as successive Tai Yuan kingdoms preceded Lanna...
kingdom that had been under Burmese rule for two centuries until it was captured by Siamese forces under Taksin
Taksin
Taksin ; was the only King of the Thonburi Kingdom...
of Thonburi
Thonburi
Thon Buri is an area of modern Bangkok. It was capital of Thailand from 1767 to 1782, during the reign of King Taksin, after the previous capital Ayutthaya was sacked by the Burmese. It is located on the opposite bank of Chao Phraya River to Bangkok...
in 1774. Chiangmai kingdom was ruled by Tipchak dynasty and came under Thonburi and later Bangkokian tributary.
Liberation from Burmese Rule
Prince Kawila of the Tipchak dynasty, who was the son of SaophaSaopha
Saopha, Chaofa, or Sawbwa was a royal title used by the rulers of the Shan States of Myanmar . The word means "king" in the Shan and Tai languages...
Chaikaew of Lampang, and Phraya Chabaan, a Lanna noble, plotted the liberation of Lanna cities from Burmese authorities and decided to request supports from Taksin of Thonburi in 1774. Taksin sent Phraya Chakri (later Buddha Yodfa Chulalok) and Phraya Surasi (later Maha Sura Singhanat
Maha Sura Singhanat
Somdet Phra Bawornrajchao Maha Sura Singhanat was the younger brother of Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke, the first monarch of the Chakri dynasty of Siam. As an Ayutthayan general, he fought alongside his brother in various campaigns against Burmese invaders and the local warlords...
) to capture Chiangmai. The joint forces took Chiangmai and Lampoon. Phraya Chabaan was installed as Phraya Luang Vachiraprakarn the Lord of Chiangmai and King Chaikaew died the same year, to be succeeded by his son Kawila as the King of Lampang. Kawila’s sister, Sri Anocha, was married to Phraya Surasi.
However, the Burmese tried their best to recover their lost territories. The attacks were so immense that Vachiraprakarn decided to evacuate the city and moved his people to Lampang in 1776.
In 1782, Phraya Chakri, now Somdet Chao Phraya Maha Kasatseuk, suppressed a rebellion at Thonburi and crowned himself as Buddha Yodfa Chulalok the King of Siam at Bangkok. As his brother-in-law, Buddha Yodfa Chulalok made Kawila the Lord Min Vachiraprakarn of Chiangmai in 1782 under Siamese tributary.
Lord Min Vachiraprakarn evacuated the people of Lampang to stay at Vieng Paxang until the sufficient resources was gathered and he moved into Chiangmai in 1796. Lord Min Vachiraprakarn pursued the policies of manpower recovery as he invaded the neighboring states to gather the people into Chiangmai and Lampoon including the Shan States
Shan States
The Shan States were the princely states that ruled large areas of today's Burma , Yunnan Province in China, Laos and Thailand from the late 13th century until mid-20th century...
, Kengtung, and Chiang Hung
Chiang Hung
Kingdom of Heokam or Kingdom of Chiang Hung was a political entity of Tai Lue people centered on the city of Chiang Hung or modern Jinghong the capital of Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture...
. In 1799, the court of Chiangmai renamed the city as Rattana-ingsa. Min Vachiraprakarn also constructed auspicious animal monuments around the cities.
A vassal to Bangkok
In 1802, Buddha Yodfa Chulalok elevated Min Vachiraprakarn as King of Chiangmai presiding over Lanna states (Principalities of Lampang, Lampoon, Nan, and Prae) but as a Siamese vassal. In 1804, King Kawila retook Chiang SaenChiang Saen
* Amphoe Chiang Saen, a district in modern Chiang Rai Province* Chiang Saen, a capital in the ancient Lanna kingdom, and the namesake of the modern district...
from the Konbaung dynasty
Konbaung dynasty
The Konbaung Dynasty was the last dynasty that ruled Burma from 1752 to 1885. The dynasty created the second largest empire in Burmese history, and continued the administrative reforms begun by the Toungoo dynasty, laying the foundations of modern state of Burma...
. Also, Kawila went on various campaigns against Burma and sent the captives to Bangkok.
The Chiangmai succession was strictly regulated by Bangkok. After the death of a king, the Uparaja retained the status as a prince until he visited the King of Bangkok that he would be elevated to the king. As the result, the reign of Chiangmai kings were not continuous as the Uparaja usually spent at least a year going to Bangkok.
Chiangmai sent tributes to Bangkok triennially. The tributes included worthy forest products like the teak
Teak
Teak is the common name for the tropical hardwood tree species Tectona grandis and its wood products. Tectona grandis is native to south and southeast Asia, mainly India, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Burma, but is naturalized and cultivated in many countries, including those in Africa and the...
. Chaingmai had also provided troops and manpower to Bangkok on her military campaigns, including that of Rebellion of Anouvong in 1824. Also, Chiangmai was the main base for the Siamese efforts to expand into Shan states.
The degree of Chiangmai's control over its subdornate states varied on the course of history. Under Kawila, his fresh installment by Rama I enforced the Chiangmai control over the principalities. However, the principalities then gained their autonomies as strong symbolic justification from Bangkok was not granted. In the mid-19th century, the Chiangmai control resumed under Mahotrapratet due to the encouragement of Rama III.
Western arrival
After the Third Anglo-Burmese WarThird Anglo-Burmese War
The Third Anglo-Burmese War was a conflict that took place during 7–29 November 1885, with sporadic resistance and insurgency continuing into 1887. It was the final of three wars fought in the 19th century between the Burmese and the British...
in 1885 the British Empire had finished taking control of Burma and was penetrating its influences into the Shan states. For the first time, the woodlands of Lanna was revealed to the West, its deep inland position having barred it from the sight of European traders during the Ayutthayan period. The first missionaries arrived in 1868 and established schools that educated the children of Chaingmai in English and Lanna script
Lanna script
The Tai Tham script , also known as the Lanna script, is used for three living languages: Northern Thai , Tai Lü and Khün. In addition, the Lanna script is also used for Lao Tham and other dialect variants in Buddhist palm leaves and notebooks...
. The printing was introduced.
British companies arrived to do the forestry of the valuable teak, including British Borneo Company (arrived in 1864), Bombay Burma Company (1889), and Siam Forest Company. The British brought the Burmese and Karen
Karen people
The Karen or Kayin people , are a Sino-Tibetan language speaking ethnic group which resides primarily in southern and southeastern Burma . The Karen make up approximately 7 percent of the total Burmese population of approximately 50 million people...
workers into Lanna. They were also came into conflicts with Chiangmai royalty over the benefits as the British tried to impose the system of land ownership over the traditional land-grant system. Most of the cases were judged in the courts at Bangkok and, due to inferior legal knowledges, King Inthawichayanon
Inthawichayanon
Phra Chao Inthawichayanon was King of Chiang Mai and Ruler of Lannathai from 1870 until his death in 1897. His daughter, Princess Dara Rasmi of Chiang Mai become King Rama V's Princess Consort...
had to pay heavy indemnities to the British.
Annexation
The indemnities to the British was a burden to Bangkok government as it had to lend money to Chiangmai for the debt. In 1873, ChulalongkornChulalongkorn
Phra Bat Somdet Phra Poramintharamaha Chulalongkorn Phra Chunla Chom Klao Chao Yu Hua , or Rama V was the fifth monarch of Siam under the House of Chakri. He was known to the Siamese of his time as Phra Phuttha Chao Luang . He is considered one of the greatest kings of Siam...
sent Phra Narinthra Rachaseni as his intendant to Chiangmai. The Bangkok court, which considered the Western influences as a threat and knew how to deal with them, couldn't leave the Chiangmai court to have the relations with Western powers independently.
Things went urgent in 1883 when it was rumored that Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom was going to made herself the godmother of Princess Dara Rasmi of Chiang Mai
Dara Rasmi of Chiang Mai
Princess Dara Rasmi , , was the Princess of Chiang Mai and Siam and the daughter of King Inthawichayanon and Queen Thipkraisorn Rajadevi of Chang Mai descended from the Jedton Dynasty...
, Inthawichayanon's daughter. This was perceived as the British efforts to take over Lanna. Chulalongkorn then sent his brother Krom Muen Pinit Prichakorn to Chiangmai to propose the engagement of Dararasmi as his concubine.
In 1884, Chulalongkorn announced his municipal provincial system and the two provinces - the Northwestern Province and Maharashtra Province - was imposed on the Chiangmai kingdom. All the Lanna kings including Chiangmai were reduced to city mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
s. The Siamese nobility was installed as the officials of northern provinces in duality with native Lanna's old nobility.
Dararasmi was married to Chulalongkorn in 1886 as a symbol of union of two kingdoms. Dararasmi was raised to Princess Consort - a high rank of court ladies only preceded by Chulalongkorn's four queens. Inthawichayanon's son, Prince Inthawarorot, then ruled Chiangmai under strict regulation of Bangkokian intendants. Major General
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
Prince Kaew Nawarat was the last ruler of Chiangmai, as upon his death the title was dissolved (under the government of General Phibun) as well as the political power of Tipchak dynasty.
The modern descendants of the rulers of Chiangmai bear the surname Na Chiangmai as granted by Vajiravudh
Vajiravudh
Phra Bat Somdet Phra Poramentharamaha Vajiravudh Phra Mongkut Klao Chao Yu Hua , or Phra Bat Somdet Phra Ramathibodi Si Sintharamaha Vajiravudh Phra Mongkut Klao Chao Yu Hua , or Rama VI was the sixth monarch of Siam under the House of Chakri, ruling from 1910 until his death...
under his 1912 Surname Act.
Lords of Chiangmai
- Phraya Luang Vachiraprakarn (1774 - 1776); formerly Phraya Chabaan
- Phraya Min Vachiraprakarn (1782 - 1802); formerly Prince Kawila of Lampang
Kings of Chiangmai
- Kawila (1802 - 1813)
- Thammalanka (1813 - 1822)
- Setthi Kamfan (1823 - 1825); formerly Prince of Lampoon
- Buddhawongse (1826 - 1846)
- Mahotrapratet (1847 - 1854)
- Kawilorot (1856 - 1870)
- InthawichayanonInthawichayanonPhra Chao Inthawichayanon was King of Chiang Mai and Ruler of Lannathai from 1870 until his death in 1897. His daughter, Princess Dara Rasmi of Chiang Mai become King Rama V's Princess Consort...
(1871 - 1884); Chiangmai was annexed
Govornors of Chiangmai
under Bangkok intendency- Inthawichayanon (1884 - 1896)
- Prince Inthawarorot (1901 - 1909)
- Major General Prince Kaew Nawarat (1911 - 1939)