Lavo kingdom
Encyclopedia
The Kingdom of Lavo was a political entity on the left bank of the Chao Phraya River in the Upper Chao Phraya valley from the end of Dvaravati
civilization, around the 7th century, until 1388. The original center of Lavo civilization was Lavo
itself, or modern Lopburi
, but the capital shifted southward to Ayodhaya around 11th century, where it remained and became the Ayutthaya kingdom
, according to recent historical analysis.
Isanavarman I of Chenla
expanded Khmer influence to the Chao Phraya valley through his campaigns around the 7th century. Dvaravati cities that fell under Khmer hegemony became Lavo, while the Western cities were spared from Khmer hegemony and formed the Kingdom of Supannabhum. Lavo was the center from which Khmer authority ruled over Dvaravatians.
The only native language found during early Lavo times is the Thai language
Which has been developed from the Mon language.It's also extremely incomplete. Until the age of Ram Khamhaeng has invented a new increase of thai language. However, there is debate whether Mon was the sole ethnicity of Lavo. Some historians point out that Lavo was composed of mixed Mon and Wa (a Palaungic people), with the Mons forming the ruling class. It is also hypothesized that the migration of Tai people into Chao Phraya valley occurred during the time of the Lavo kingdom.
Theravada
Buddhism remained a major belief in Lavo though Hinduism and Mahayana Buddhism from the Khmer Empire
wielded considerable influence. Around the late 7th century, Lavo expanded to the north. Jamadevi
, the first ruler of the Mon kingdom of Haripunchai
, was said to be a daughter of a Lavo king.
Few records are found concerning the nature of the Lavo kingdom. Most of what we know about Lavo is from archaeological evidence. Tang dynasty
chronicles record that the Lavo kingdom sent tributes to Tang as Tou-ho-lo. In his diary, the monk Xuanzang
referred to Dvaravati-Lavo as Tou-lo-po-ti, which seems to echo the name Dvaravati, as a state between Chenla and the Pagan Kingdom
. By the Song dynasty
, Lavo was known as Lo-hou .
In the 11th century the Khmer influences on Lavo began to wane as a result of the growing influence of the emerging Burmese kingdom of Pagan. In 1087 Kyanzittha of Pagan invaded Lavo, but King Narai of Lavo was able to repel the Burmese invasion and Lavo, emerging relatively stronger from the encounter, was thus spared from either Khmer or Burmese hegemony. King Narai moved the capital to Ayodhaya, and Lavo was then able to exert pressure on the Kingdom of Supannabhum on the west and slowly to take its cities.
Yet another wave of Khmer invasions arrived under Jayavarman VII
. This time, Lavo was assimilated into the religious cosmos of the Khmer Empire – Hinduism and Mahayana Buddhism. Khmer influence was great on Lavo arts and architecture as seen in the Prang Sam Yot. In 1239, the Tai governor of Sukhothai rebelled and declared independence from Lavo – giving birth to the Sukhothai Kingdom
. In Thai chronicles Lavo is called “Khmer”, and during the 13th century the Lavo kingdom shrank swiftly due to the expansion of Sukhothai under Ram Khamhaeng the Great, retreating to its heartland around Lavo and Ayodhaya.
King Vorachet, the tenth king of Ayodhaya (counting King Narai as the first) is hypothesized to be the same person as Ramathibodi I
or Uthong of the Ayutthaya kingdom. Uthong of Lavo and Pa Ngua of Supannabhum co-founded a new Ayutthaya, and Uthong became the king of the city. But Pa Ngua took Ayutthaya from Uthong’s son Ramesuan
in 1370 and Ramesuan returned to his homeland at Lavo. In 1388 Ramesuan took revenge by taking Ayutthaya back from Pa Ngua’s son, Thong Lan
.
Pa Ngua's nephew Nagarinthrathirat took Ayutthaya back for Supannabhum in 1424. The Lavo dynasty was then purged and became a mere noble family of Ayutthaya until the 16th century.
Dvaravati
The Dvaravati period lasted from the 6th to the 13th centuries. Dvaravati refers to both a culture and a disparate conglomerate of principalities.- History :...
civilization, around the 7th century, until 1388. The original center of Lavo civilization was Lavo
Lavo
Known as Lavo during most of its history, Lopburi province is one of the most important cities in the history of Thailand. The city has a long history, dating back into the prehistory period since the bronze age of more than 3,500 years ago....
itself, or modern Lopburi
Lopburi
Lopburi ) is the capital city of Lopburi Province in Thailand. It is located about 150 km north-east of Bangkok. As of 2006 it has a population of 26,500...
, but the capital shifted southward to Ayodhaya around 11th century, where it remained and became the Ayutthaya kingdom
Ayutthaya kingdom
Ayutthaya was a Siamese kingdom that existed from 1350 to 1767. Ayutthaya was friendly towards foreign traders, including the Chinese, Vietnamese , Indians, Japanese and Persians, and later the Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch and French, permitting them to set up villages outside the walls of the...
, according to recent historical analysis.
History
The legendary first king of Lavo, Phraya Kalavarnadit, was said to have established the city around 450 CE as one of the Dvaravati city-states. Kalavarnadit established a new era called the Chulasakaraj, which was the era used by the Siamese and the Burmese until 19th century.Isanavarman I of Chenla
Chenla
Chenla is the Chinese designation for Cambodia after the fall of Funan. That name was still used in the 13th century by the Chinese envoy Zhou Daguan, author of the Manners and Customs of Cambodia...
expanded Khmer influence to the Chao Phraya valley through his campaigns around the 7th century. Dvaravati cities that fell under Khmer hegemony became Lavo, while the Western cities were spared from Khmer hegemony and formed the Kingdom of Supannabhum. Lavo was the center from which Khmer authority ruled over Dvaravatians.
Thai language
Thai , also known as Central Thai and Siamese, is the national and official language of Thailand and the native language of the Thai people, Thailand's dominant ethnic group. Thai is a member of the Tai group of the Tai–Kadai language family. Historical linguists have been unable to definitively...
Which has been developed from the Mon language.It's also extremely incomplete. Until the age of Ram Khamhaeng has invented a new increase of thai language. However, there is debate whether Mon was the sole ethnicity of Lavo. Some historians point out that Lavo was composed of mixed Mon and Wa (a Palaungic people), with the Mons forming the ruling class. It is also hypothesized that the migration of Tai people into Chao Phraya valley occurred during the time of the Lavo kingdom.
Theravada
Theravada
Theravada ; literally, "the Teaching of the Elders" or "the Ancient Teaching", is the oldest surviving Buddhist school. It was founded in India...
Buddhism remained a major belief in Lavo though Hinduism and Mahayana Buddhism from the Khmer Empire
Khmer Empire
The Khmer Empire was one of the most powerful empires in Southeast Asia. The empire, which grew out of the former kingdom of Chenla, at times ruled over and/or vassalized parts of modern-day Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, Burma, and Malaysia. Its greatest legacy is Angkor, the site of the capital city...
wielded considerable influence. Around the late 7th century, Lavo expanded to the north. Jamadevi
Jamadevi
Queen Jamadevi , also known as Nang Chamthewi of Hariphunchai, Channa Devi or Channadevi .First ruler of the Mon kingdom of Hariphunchai . She gave birth to twins, one of whom succeeded her as ruler of Lamphun Queen Jamadevi (Thai: พระนางจามเทวี) (Pali: Camadevi), also known as Nang Chamthewi of...
, the first ruler of the Mon kingdom of Haripunchai
Haripunchai
Hariphunchai was a Mon kingdom in the north of present Thailand in the centuries before the Thais moved into the area. Its capital was at Lamphun, which at the time was also called Hariphunchai...
, was said to be a daughter of a Lavo king.
Few records are found concerning the nature of the Lavo kingdom. Most of what we know about Lavo is from archaeological evidence. Tang dynasty
Tang Dynasty
The Tang Dynasty was an imperial dynasty of China preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. It was founded by the Li family, who seized power during the decline and collapse of the Sui Empire...
chronicles record that the Lavo kingdom sent tributes to Tang as Tou-ho-lo. In his diary, the monk Xuanzang
Xuanzang
Xuanzang was a famous Chinese Buddhist monk, scholar, traveler, and translator who described the interaction between China and India in the early Tang period...
referred to Dvaravati-Lavo as Tou-lo-po-ti, which seems to echo the name Dvaravati, as a state between Chenla and the Pagan Kingdom
Pagan Kingdom
The Pagan Kingdom or Pagan Dynasty was the first kingdom to unify the regions that would later constitute the modern-day Burma...
. By the Song dynasty
Song Dynasty
The Song Dynasty was a ruling dynasty in China between 960 and 1279; it succeeded the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period, and was followed by the Yuan Dynasty. It was the first government in world history to issue banknotes or paper money, and the first Chinese government to establish a...
, Lavo was known as Lo-hou .
In the 11th century the Khmer influences on Lavo began to wane as a result of the growing influence of the emerging Burmese kingdom of Pagan. In 1087 Kyanzittha of Pagan invaded Lavo, but King Narai of Lavo was able to repel the Burmese invasion and Lavo, emerging relatively stronger from the encounter, was thus spared from either Khmer or Burmese hegemony. King Narai moved the capital to Ayodhaya, and Lavo was then able to exert pressure on the Kingdom of Supannabhum on the west and slowly to take its cities.
Yet another wave of Khmer invasions arrived under Jayavarman VII
Jayavarman VII
Jayavarman VII was a king of the Khmer Empire in present day Siem Reap, Cambodia. He was the son of King Dharanindravarman II and Queen Sri Jayarajacudamani. He married Jayarajadevi and then, after her death, married her sister Indradevi...
. This time, Lavo was assimilated into the religious cosmos of the Khmer Empire – Hinduism and Mahayana Buddhism. Khmer influence was great on Lavo arts and architecture as seen in the Prang Sam Yot. In 1239, the Tai governor of Sukhothai rebelled and declared independence from Lavo – giving birth to the Sukhothai Kingdom
Sukhothai kingdom
The Sukhothai Kingdom ) was an early kingdom in the area around the city Sukhothai, in north central Thailand. The Kingdom existed from 1238 till 1438...
. In Thai chronicles Lavo is called “Khmer”, and during the 13th century the Lavo kingdom shrank swiftly due to the expansion of Sukhothai under Ram Khamhaeng the Great, retreating to its heartland around Lavo and Ayodhaya.
King Vorachet, the tenth king of Ayodhaya (counting King Narai as the first) is hypothesized to be the same person as Ramathibodi I
Ramathibodi I
Uthong or Ramathibodi I was the first king of the kingdom Ayutthaya , reigning from 1351 to 1369. He was known as Prince U Thong before he ascended to the throne on March 4, 1351...
or Uthong of the Ayutthaya kingdom. Uthong of Lavo and Pa Ngua of Supannabhum co-founded a new Ayutthaya, and Uthong became the king of the city. But Pa Ngua took Ayutthaya from Uthong’s son Ramesuan
Ramesuan
King Ramesuan , son of king Ramathibodi I, reigned as the second and fifth king of the kingdom of Ayutthaya. When King Ramathibodi ascended to the throne of Ayuthaya, he sent King Ramesuan to reign in Lopburi...
in 1370 and Ramesuan returned to his homeland at Lavo. In 1388 Ramesuan took revenge by taking Ayutthaya back from Pa Ngua’s son, Thong Lan
Thong Lan
Thong Lan was the second king of Suphannaphum Dynasty in Ayutthaya Kingdom. He reigned 7 days before he was executed....
.
Pa Ngua's nephew Nagarinthrathirat took Ayutthaya back for Supannabhum in 1424. The Lavo dynasty was then purged and became a mere noble family of Ayutthaya until the 16th century.