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Far East Kingdoms

South East Asia

 

Lampang (Mon)
AD 685/757? - 1925

Modern Thailand occupies much of the Indochinese peninsula in South-East Asia. It is bordered by Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia, and Burma. From the twelfth century onwards Thais expanded outwards, predominantly southwards into the Malay-Thai peninsula. State-building swiftly followed in Early Thailand to create a patchwork of kingdoms and minor principalities.

Lampang was a small Mon principality on the River Wang in the Khun Tan range in what is now northern Thailand. The city lays about seventy-two kilometres to the south-east of Chiang Mai (former capital of Lan Na). Originally this was known as Khelang Nakhon or Wiang Lakon, but the city of Lampang is also known as Lakhon or Nakhon Lampang (a distinction from the province of Lampang).

According to legend, when Camadevi of Haripunjaya elevated her older twin son as joint ruler at the age of seven, the younger son became jealous and requested a state of his own. She magically created Lampang with the help of a hunter and several rishis (individuals who have acquired supernatural powers), and gave the newly-founded state to the younger twin.

Lampang's earlier history is not well reported. The state generally was under the control of more powerful neighbours, from Haripunjaya to the Khmer empire to the kingdom of Lan Na.

The Thais of Ayutthaya defeated the Laotians and captured Lampang from them in 1515. About a century later the Burmese gained control over Lampang and held onto it almost uninterrupted until 1775, when Siam superseded it. The state was officially incorporated into Siam in 1892, but the royal line was allowed to continue local governance until 1925. Princes held the title chao phraya Nakorn Lampang.

The modern city of Lampang is the third-largest in northern Thailand and is the capital of Lampang province. It is a transportation hub which is surrounded by forest, good agricultural land, and abundant natural resources.

Buddhist temple of Chiang Mai in Thailand, by Chris Keeney Photography

Principal author(s): Page created: Page last updated:

(Information by John De Cleene and the John De Cleene Archive, from A History of Thailand, Chris Baker & Pasuk Phongpaichit (2005), from Southeast Asia: A Historical Encyclopaedia, from Angkor Wat to East Timor, Keat Gin Ooi (ABC-Clio, 2004), from Early Mainland Southeast Asia, C Higham (River Books Co, 2014), from Encyclopaedia of Ancient Asian Civilizations, Charles F W Higham (Facts on File, 2004), and from External Links: Ayutthaya Historical Research, and Forced Resettlement Campaigns in Northern Thailand During the Early Bangkok Period, Volker Grabowsky (Oriens Extremus, 1994, available via JSTOR), and The Indianized States of Southeast Asia, George Coedès (Walter F Vella (Ed), Susan Brown Cowing (Trans), University of Hawaii Press, 1968, and available online via the Internet Archive), and Lampang (Encyclopaedia Britannica), and Myth, Legend and History in the Northern Thai Chronicles, Donald K Swearer (Journal of the Siam Society, 26 March 1973, PDF), and The Nan Chronicle, David K Wyatt Trans, (SEAP Publications, 1994, available via documen.pub), and Thailand (World Statesmen).)

AD 678 / 750?

Indavara

Twin son of Camdevi of Haripunjaya.

AD 685 / 757

After about 685 or 757 (the dating appears to be confused for this largely legendary event) Indavara emerges as the younger twin son of Camadevi (Cham Thewi), the queen of Haripunjaya. She creates the state of Lampang, then known as Nakhon Khelang, to assuage his jealousy over the appointment of his older twin as her co-ruler.

1510/1511

Having been installed three years earlier by Lan Na as ruler of Nan, Mūn Sam Lan is now transferred to rule over Fang. Sòi is transferred from Phrae after Ayutthaya invades that small vassal state to replace him in Nan. Three years after this reshuffle, Sòi will be transferred to Lampang.

Wat Phra That Lampang Luang
Wat Phra That Lampang Luang is a magnificent temple in Thailand's Lampang, thought to have been built on a deliberately-created elevation, while inside is the priceless 'Emerald Buddha' which was carved from green jade

1513/14 - 1515

Sòi

Transferred from Phrae, then Nan.

1515 / 1516

Having served as ruler of Nan for three years, Mūn Thao Bun Khwang is transferred to rule Thoeng. Mūn Thao Bun Khwang is the son of Thao Bun Faeng, a former vassal ruler of Nan on behalf of Lan Na. Ayutthaya now defeats the Laotians and captures Lampang, bringing back plenty of booty which includes a famous black-stone image of Buddha.

? - 1538/39

Chao Saen Sonkham

Transferred to Nan for one month.

1538/39 - ?

Chao Saen Sonkham

Returned to govern Lampang.

1614

During the ascendancy of Toungoo as the principal Burmese power, recent conqueror of the powerful Thai kingdom of Lan Na, Burmese from Pegu manage to gain overlordship over Lampang.

Mengrai, founder of the kingdom of Chiang Mai in 1259
Mengrai, in the centre, was the founder of the kingdom of Lan Na at Chiang Mai in 1259, a late medieval rival to Sukhothai in what is now Thailand

fl 1626 - 1638

Chao Pana Muang Lampang

Also ruler of Nan. Died.

1626

The ruler governor or prince of Lampang (details are unclear) captures the city of Nan and rules it until his death in 1647 or 1648. The defeated rebel ruler of Nan, Chao Un Muang, flees to Lan Xang.

1732

Lampang gains its independence from the Burmese, but only until 1751 when they regain control. A forester by the name of Thip Chang has gained popular support to overthrow the overbearing ruler of Lampang, which he then does.

He ascends the throne and takes the reignal name of Phraya Sulavachai. While he has regained the state's independence from the Burmese, he still permits them to exercise overlordship, no doubt to avoid the potential for reconquest.

1732 - 1759

Phraya Sulavaluchai Songkram

Threw off Burmese overlordship but then allowed it.

1751

The Burmese of Pegu regain overlordship over Lampang but, only a couple decades later and with the help of Ayutthaya, the people of this region will forcibly reject Pegu's controls.

Lampang in Thailand
Lampang began before AD 700 as a Mon settlement by the name of Kelang Nakorn within the Hariphunchai kingdom, before later being integrated into the Lanna kingdom (External Link: Creative Commons Licence Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic)

1759 - 1774

Kaeo / Nai Chai Kaew

Son.

1774 - 1782

Phra Chao Kawila / Kavila

Son. Later king of Chiang Mai (Lan Na).

1771 - 1776

The Thai people of Lan Na revolt in 1771 against Burmese rule. Krung Thonburi takes advantage of the situation to expel the Burmese and annexe the country in 1774. Phaya Taksin of Krung Thonburi rebuilds what had been the Thai kingdom of Ayutthaya and expands it, adding north-eastern Khmer territory, Laos as far as Vientiane, and the northern Malay peninsula.

Lan Na becomes a principality under Taksin's overlordship, with the ruling title reduced to the status of chao (the Thai term for 'prince'). Lan Na's former capital at Chiang Mai is abandoned until 1796.

Kawila, a major player in the revolt, is related to the new Thai king by marriage. Kawila is elevated in 1782 to the rank of prince of the newly reconquered Chiang Mai, but the restored Lan Na encompasses only the area around Lampang.

General Phaya Taksin of Ayutthya and Krung Thonburi
General Phaya Taksin of Ayutthya soon announced his own state at Krung Thonburi, although it would only be short-lived

1782 - 1794

Phraya Kham Som / Khamsom

Vassal of a reduced Lan Na.

1780s?

During the last quarter of the eighteenth century, people from around Lan Na flock to Lampang, a city which remains free of Burmese occupation as well as having seriously been depopulated by a good deal of fighting and fleeing.

1794 - 1826

Duang Thip / Phrachao Duangthip

Viceroy, then prince after 1823.

1804

The combined armies of Lan Na, Lampang, Vientiane, Nan, and Siam capture Chiang Saen, demolish its fortifications, and burn the city. The captured population is divided between the conquering armies.

1826 -1837

Phraya Chaiwong / Jayavansa

Prince of Lampang for Siam.

1837 - 1838

Phraya Khattiya / Khanthiya

Prince of Lampang for Siam.

1838 - 1848

Luang Noi In

Former regent of Lamphun.

1848 - 1850

There is an interregnum in Lampang which lasts for two years until a replacement governing prince can be selected, now on behalf of Siam as the dominant Thai kingdom.

Siam's royal barge
The Siamese royal barge is shown here on the River Chao Phraya at a time at which Siam's king worked hard to avoid being subsumed within French Indochina

1850 - 1871

Worayannarangsi / Varayanaransi

Viceroy, then prince after 1856.

1871 - 1873

There is a second interregnum in Lampang. Again this lasts for two years until a replacement governing prince can be selected. Siam is clearly in overall control by now.

1873 - 1893

Phrommaphiwong

Prince of Lampang for Siam.

1892

Siam overhauls the kingdom's administration to a form of cabinet government which consists of twelve ministers. Lan Na is formally incorporated into the kingdom, although its royal line is permitted to retain power. Lampang, Lamphun, Nan, and Phrae are also formally incorporated.

1893 - 1896

Noranan Chaichawalit

Prince of Lampang for Siam.

1897 - 1922

Bunyawat Wongmanit

Prince of Lampang for Siam.

1922 - 1925

Ratchabutr / Kaew Mueang Phuan

Prince of Lampang for Siam.

1925

At the end of a period in which King Vajiravudh has been introducing westernisation into Siam, the royal line of Lampang is suppressed. Within a year Lampang has been fully incorporated into the Siamese administrative district of Monthon Phayap.

King Chulalongkorn's funeral
King Chulalongkorn's funeral in 1910 was a state affair, documented in photographs and mourned by people wearing the seventeenth century costumes of Ayutthaya, Siam's former capital

 
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