Chao Keo Naovarat
Encyclopedia
Major General Prince Kaew Naovarat was the 36th and last King of Lanna
and Prince of Chiang Mai
, reigning from 1909 to 1939 (Thai calendar 2454-2482). He succeeded Intavaroros Suriyavongse (1897–1909). His seat was within Lanna's capital Chiang Mai
, but he never held any true administrative power. With him ended the reign of the Seven Princes Dynasty.
, 7th ruling prince of Chiang Mai and Mae Choa Kew.
In 1877, when he was 15 years old and his father still ruled Chiang Mai, Naovarat was appointed as Vice minister of treasury. That same year, he brought 300 Chiang Mai and Lamphun families to Chiang San. In 1882, he became the Minister of treasury, responsible for bringing the royal tribute to King Rama V in Bangkok
in 1886. He became the Minister of interior in 1899.
And with Mom Kew:
In 1914, Chao Dara Rasmi, the Princess consort of Chulalongkorn
, who had a great part within the merger of Lanna with the Kingdom of Thailand, returned to Chiang Mai. The king gave her a residence at the Chedi Ngarm Palane Sala. In 1923 he built the current South Building as a wedding gift to his daughter Chao Siriprakai Na Chiengmai. Within this building, King Rama VII and Queen Rambhai Barni stayed during 1926 on a royal visi to Chiang Mai.
In 1933 Princess Phra Raja Jaya Chao Dara Rasmi died and the king oversaw her coffin being put to lay in state at the Chedi Ngarm Palace (remained in state from December 9, 1933 to April 23, 1934).
In 1934 he built the building of the current U.S. Consulate General at Chiang Mai, which replaced the old teak house.
In 1938, the king's daughter, the princess Chao Siriprakai Na Chiengmai died.
Naovarat became sick in early 1938, but he went to Bangkok
when King Ananda Mahidol
came back to Bangkok. He became sick again in March 1938. Upon his death in 1939, the royalty was abolished and the throne of the Lanna Kings, who had reigned over a Kingdom that was founded in the same period as Sukhothai and which existed for several centuries more, was replaced with a governors seat, a seat which was appointed from Bangkok.
The King's coffin lay in state at the Chedi Ngarm Palane Sala from June 3 to July 23, 1939.
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...
and 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...
, reigning from 1909 to 1939 (Thai calendar 2454-2482). He succeeded Intavaroros Suriyavongse (1897–1909). His seat was within Lanna's capital 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...
, but he never held any true administrative power. With him ended the reign of the Seven Princes Dynasty.
Early life
Naovarat was born September 29, 1862, at the royal residence of Chiang Mai (คุ้มหลวงนครเชียงใหม่) as the 6th son of Phra Choa IntavichyanonInthawichayanon
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...
, 7th ruling prince of Chiang Mai and Mae Choa Kew.
In 1877, when he was 15 years old and his father still ruled Chiang Mai, Naovarat was appointed as Vice minister of treasury. That same year, he brought 300 Chiang Mai and Lamphun families to Chiang San. In 1882, he became the Minister of treasury, responsible for bringing the royal tribute to King Rama V in Bangkok
Bangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
in 1886. He became the Minister of interior in 1899.
Marriage and family
When he was 22 years old, he married Mae Choa Jammary, daughter of Choa Rajapakinai Panfar. After that he married Choaying Fai, Mom Buakew, and Mom Sae. He had 4 sons and 2 daughters with his wives; with Mae Choa Jammary:- Choa Uttarakarnkoson (Choanoi sukkasame)
- Choaying Buatip
- Choa Rajabut (Wongtawan na Chiang Mai)
And with Mom Kew:
- Choa Pong in
- Choaying Siripraguy
- Choa Inthanon
Reign
In 1909, Naovarat became acting ruling prince of Chiang Mai. Following his brother's death in 1911, he officially took the throne. His duties included commanding Northern soldiers to quash rebels, building roads in Chiang Mai and another province, and being special guard of the king as Major General of Royal Thai Army.In 1914, Chao Dara Rasmi, the Princess consort of Chulalongkorn
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...
, who had a great part within the merger of Lanna with the Kingdom of Thailand, returned to Chiang Mai. The king gave her a residence at the Chedi Ngarm Palane Sala. In 1923 he built the current South Building as a wedding gift to his daughter Chao Siriprakai Na Chiengmai. Within this building, King Rama VII and Queen Rambhai Barni stayed during 1926 on a royal visi to Chiang Mai.
In 1933 Princess Phra Raja Jaya Chao Dara Rasmi died and the king oversaw her coffin being put to lay in state at the Chedi Ngarm Palace (remained in state from December 9, 1933 to April 23, 1934).
In 1934 he built the building of the current U.S. Consulate General at Chiang Mai, which replaced the old teak house.
In 1938, the king's daughter, the princess Chao Siriprakai Na Chiengmai died.
Naovarat became sick in early 1938, but he went to Bangkok
Bangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
when King Ananda Mahidol
Ananda Mahidol
Ananda Mahidol was the eighth monarch of Thailand under the House of Chakri. At the time he was recognized as king by the National Assembly, in March 1935, he was a nine-year-old boy living in Switzerland. He returned to Thailand in December 1945. Six months later, in June 1946, he was found shot...
came back to Bangkok. He became sick again in March 1938. Upon his death in 1939, the royalty was abolished and the throne of the Lanna Kings, who had reigned over a Kingdom that was founded in the same period as Sukhothai and which existed for several centuries more, was replaced with a governors seat, a seat which was appointed from Bangkok.
The King's coffin lay in state at the Chedi Ngarm Palane Sala from June 3 to July 23, 1939.
External links
- photo of the King: http://bangkok.usembassy.gov/consulcm/images/history1.gif
- another photo of the king: http://www.usmta.com/images/lanna-king-pic.JPG
- the kings coffin: http://bangkok.usembassy.gov/consulcm/images/history8.gif
