Far East Kingdoms

Lamphun (Thais)
AD 1761 - 1943

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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.

The Mon state of Lamphun, sometimes referred to as Lampoon, was located along the River Kuang in what is now northern Thailand. This was about twenty-six kilometres to the south of Chiang Mai, capital of the powerful Thai state of Lan Na. Lamphun had also served as the capital of the medieval Haripunjaya state.

Late Stone Age cave paintings have been found in the region which have been dated to about 2000 BC. Between about 1000-800 BC people lived mainly in the Ban Wang Hai suburb of modern Lamphun, according to archaeological discoveries which were made in 1987.

These agricultural inhabitants established a town called Samantaraprate just to the south of Lamphun, where they buried their deceased along with implements which would be of use in the afterlife. They traded with India, southern China, the Dai Viet kingdom, and even the Roman world. The princes who governed over Lamphun held the title chao phraya Nakorn Lamphun.

According to legend, a Buddhist hermit ventured here from India, introduced his religion to the inhabitants, and mated with them to found the Mon people. The real explanation behind Mon origins is somewhat more prosaic.

The capital at Lamphun itself was founded about AD 750. It was captured by Lan Na in 1292 but, in 1558, the Burmese established their own overlordship over the principality and were not driven out until 1775. By then the city had been destroyed and depopulated (in 1762) and only later was it restored. It came under Siam's control from 1814 and was fully incorporated in 1892. The royal line was allowed to retain its position until it came to an end in 1943.

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(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), from Historical Atlas of the World, R R Palmer (Ed, Chicago, 1963), and from External Links: 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 Lamphun.go.th, and Thailand (World Statesmen), and Lanna Info Library.)

1761 - 1763

Following the fall of Toungoo, Khi Hut of Lan Na establishes a two-year period of independence from Burmese control. They return, however, when Konbaung conquers Chiang Mai in in 1762-1763.

They also capture Lamphun, former capital of the Haripunjaya state and now a vassal of Lan Na. Large segments of the local population whether nobility or agrarian is deported to Ava. Lamphun is destroyed, part of Burmese efforts to surround Ayutthaya.

1814

Rama II of Siam restores Lamphun as a principality which has independence from Chiang Mai (Lan Na) and Lampang. The younger brother of Lan Na's Kaila is appointed as its ruler. The Chronicle of Chiang Mai, generally a reliable source, states that this restoration takes place in 1805.

Today's Lamphun province holds the former capital of the seventh century Hariphunchai empire, with two notable temples in the form of Wat Phra That Hariphunchai and Wat Phra That Lampang Luang

1814 - 1815

Brother of Kawila of Lan Na.

1815 - 1827

Regent, initially for Kham Fan (1814-1815).

1827 - 1838

Details unavailable. Later ruled Lampang (1838).

1838 - 1841

Details unavailable.

1841 - 1843

Details unavailable.

1843 - 1871

Details unavailable.

1871 - 1891

Details unavailable.

1891 - 1896

Details unavailable.

1892

Siam overhauls its administration to a form of cabinet government which consists of twelve ministers. It formally incorporates Lamphun into is expanding holdings, but allows the royal line to continue to govern the city and its immediate territory.

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

1896 - 1911

Details unavailable.

1911 - 1943

Son. Major-general in the 'Special Royal Guard'.

1943

The royal line is ended with the loss of Chakkham Khachonsak. The principality becomes a province within the kingdom of Thailand which is governed by a provincial governor.