Mengrai
Encyclopedia
King Mangrai was the 25th King of Ngoen Yang (r.1261-1296) and the first King of Chiang Mai
(r.1296-1317), capital of the Lanna
Kingdom (1296-1558).
King Mangrai was born on October 2, 1238 in Ngoen Yang, (present day Chiang Saen
), in Thailand on the Mekong River which forms the border with Yunnan in China) as the son of the local ruler Lao Meng and his wife Ua Ming Chommueang, a princess from the Tai Lue city of Chiang Rung
, in Sipsongpanna (Xishuangbanna) in Yunnan
.
In 1259 Mangrai succeeded his father to become the first independent king of the unified Tai
city states in northern Lanna and what is now northern Laos
. Seeing that all the Tai states were disuntied and in danger, Mangrai quickly expanded his kingdom by conquering Muang Lai, Chiang Kham and Chiang Khong and intiating alliances with other states.
In 1262 he founded the city of Chiang Rai
as his new capital in the Kok River
basin. He seems also to have been operating around this time in the area of Fang still in the Upper Kok Valley.
In 1280 Mangrai first made peace between King Ngam Mueang of Phayao
and King Ram Khamhaeng of Sukhothai
, who had seduced the former's queen; and then was able to make a pact between the three Kings to defend their lands against the expanding Mongol Empire
.
While still living in the area of Fang he was visited by some merchants from the Mon kingdom of Haripunchai
(Haripunjaya, now known as Lamphun
), and hearing of the wealth of that kingdom he determined to conquer it, even against the advice of his councillors.
As it was deemed impossible to take the city by force, he sent a skilful merchant called Ai Fa to gain the confidence of the King Yi Ba, and in time he became the Chief Minister and managed to undermine the King's authority.
In 1281, with the people in a state of discontent, Mangrai defeated the Mon kingdom, and added the city and its wealth to his kingdom, while Yi ba, the last king of Hariphunchai, was forced to flee south to Lampang
.
(New City) on the western bank of the Ping River
, which has been the capital of the northern provinces more or less ever since.
A few years later, Yi Ba's son, King Boek of Lampang
, attacked Chiang Mai with a large army. However, King Mangrai and his second son, Prince Khram, fought back against the Lampang army.
In a personal combat on elephant back between Prince Khram and King Boek at Khua Mung, a village near Lamphun
. King Boek lost and ordered the withdrawal of his remaining men. As King Boek fled by way of the Doi Khun Tan mountain range between Lamphun and Lampang
, he was caught and executed. When King Mangrai's troops occupied the city of Lampang, King Yi Ba was made to flee again, this time to Phitsanulok.
There followed a period of confusion in the succession, with six kings ruling in eleven years, which could have been disastrous if the northern powers had not fallen upon their own troubles, and Sukhothai to the south had not also been weakened.
It was not until the ascension of the king's grandson Kham Fu in 1328 that the kingdom once again achieved the stability it had gained during the reign of its founder.
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...
(r.1296-1317), capital of the 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 (1296-1558).
Early years
Amphoe Chiang Saen
Chiang Saen is a district in the northern part of Chiang Rai Province, northern Thailand.-History:According to an ancient chronicle, the original city of Chiang Saen was built in 545 in an area called Yonok, by Tai migrants from the Chinese province of Yunnan, and was an important city of the...
), in Thailand on the Mekong River which forms the border with Yunnan in China) as the son of the local ruler Lao Meng and his wife Ua Ming Chommueang, a princess from the Tai Lue city of Chiang Rung
Jinghong
Jinghong romanised as chiang rung, chiang hung, chengrung, cheng hung, jinghung, keng hung and muangjinghung) is the capital of Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan province, China, and the historic capital of the former Tai kingdom of Sipsongpanna.-Location:Located between 100°25' -...
, in Sipsongpanna (Xishuangbanna) in Yunnan
Yunnan
Yunnan is a province of the People's Republic of China, located in the far southwest of the country spanning approximately and with a population of 45.7 million . The capital of the province is Kunming. The province borders Burma, Laos, and Vietnam.Yunnan is situated in a mountainous area, with...
.
In 1259 Mangrai succeeded his father to become the first independent king of the unified Tai
Tai peoples
The Tai ethnicity refers collectively to the ethnic groups of southern China and Southeast Asia, stretching from Hainan to eastern India and from southern Sichuan to Laos, Thailand, and parts of Vietnam, which speak languages in the Tai family and share similar traditions and festivals, including...
city states in northern Lanna and what is now northern Laos
Laos
Laos Lao: ສາທາລະນະລັດ ປະຊາທິປະໄຕ ປະຊາຊົນລາວ Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao, officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic, is a landlocked country in Southeast Asia, bordered by Burma and China to the northwest, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the south and Thailand to the west...
. Seeing that all the Tai states were disuntied and in danger, Mangrai quickly expanded his kingdom by conquering Muang Lai, Chiang Kham and Chiang Khong and intiating alliances with other states.
In 1262 he founded the city of Chiang Rai
Chiang Rai
-Demographics:Official Population count: According to the Thailand National Statistical Office, as of September 2010, Chiang Rai municipal district has a population of 199,699...
as his new capital in the Kok River
Kok River
The Kok River originates in Shan State, Burma. It flows down and across the Burma-Thailand border to Mae Ai district, Chiang Mai Province, passing under Phahonyothin Road. Most of its length is in Chiang Rai Province passing the districts Mueang Chiang Rai, Mae Chan, Chiang Saen and Wiang Chai. It...
basin. He seems also to have been operating around this time in the area of Fang still in the Upper Kok Valley.
In 1280 Mangrai first made peace between King Ngam Mueang of Phayao
Phayao
Phayao is a town in northern Thailand, capital of the Phayao Province. It covers the tambon Wiang and Mae Tam of Mueang Phayao district. As of 2005 it has a population of 19,118.The town is located the shore of the Phayao lake....
and King Ram Khamhaeng of Sukhothai
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...
, who had seduced the former's queen; and then was able to make a pact between the three Kings to defend their lands against the expanding Mongol Empire
Mongol Empire
The Mongol Empire , initially named as Greater Mongol State was a great empire during the 13th and 14th centuries...
.
While still living in the area of Fang he was visited by some merchants from 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...
(Haripunjaya, now known as Lamphun
Lamphun
Lamphun is a town in northern Thailand, capital of Lamphun Province. It covers the whole tambon Nai Mueang of Mueang Lamphun district...
), and hearing of the wealth of that kingdom he determined to conquer it, even against the advice of his councillors.
As it was deemed impossible to take the city by force, he sent a skilful merchant called Ai Fa to gain the confidence of the King Yi Ba, and in time he became the Chief Minister and managed to undermine the King's authority.
In 1281, with the people in a state of discontent, Mangrai defeated the Mon kingdom, and added the city and its wealth to his kingdom, while Yi ba, the last king of Hariphunchai, was forced to flee south to Lampang
Lampang
Lampang, also called Nakhon Lampang to differentiate from Lampang Province, is the third largest town in northern Thailand and capital of Lampang Province and the Lampang district. Traditional names for Lampang include Wiang Lakon and Khelang Nakhon. The city is still growing rapidly as trading...
.
Chiang Mai Era
In 1292 Mangrai choose a new site for his capital, but construction only began in 1296, when he founded Chiang MaiChiang 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...
(New City) on the western bank of the Ping River
Ping River
The Ping River , along with the Nan River, is one of the two main contributaries of Chao Phraya River. It originates at Doi Chiang Dao in Chiang Dao district, Chiang Mai Province. After passing Chiang Mai town, it flows though the provinces Lamphun, Tak, and Kamphaeng Phet...
, which has been the capital of the northern provinces more or less ever since.
A few years later, Yi Ba's son, King Boek of Lampang
Lampang
Lampang, also called Nakhon Lampang to differentiate from Lampang Province, is the third largest town in northern Thailand and capital of Lampang Province and the Lampang district. Traditional names for Lampang include Wiang Lakon and Khelang Nakhon. The city is still growing rapidly as trading...
, attacked Chiang Mai with a large army. However, King Mangrai and his second son, Prince Khram, fought back against the Lampang army.
In a personal combat on elephant back between Prince Khram and King Boek at Khua Mung, a village near Lamphun
Lamphun
Lamphun is a town in northern Thailand, capital of Lamphun Province. It covers the whole tambon Nai Mueang of Mueang Lamphun district...
. King Boek lost and ordered the withdrawal of his remaining men. As King Boek fled by way of the Doi Khun Tan mountain range between Lamphun and Lampang
Lampang
Lampang, also called Nakhon Lampang to differentiate from Lampang Province, is the third largest town in northern Thailand and capital of Lampang Province and the Lampang district. Traditional names for Lampang include Wiang Lakon and Khelang Nakhon. The city is still growing rapidly as trading...
, he was caught and executed. When King Mangrai's troops occupied the city of Lampang, King Yi Ba was made to flee again, this time to Phitsanulok.
Death and succession
King Mangrai's eldest son tried to seize the throne but was caught and executed, and his second son Khun Kham was set up to succeed him. King Mangrai died in 1317 at Chiang Mai; reputedly during a thunderstorm he was hit by lightning in the city's market.There followed a period of confusion in the succession, with six kings ruling in eleven years, which could have been disastrous if the northern powers had not fallen upon their own troubles, and Sukhothai to the south had not also been weakened.
It was not until the ascension of the king's grandson Kham Fu in 1328 that the kingdom once again achieved the stability it had gained during the reign of its founder.