List of rulers of Lan Na


This article lists the lord ruler of Lan Na from the foundation of the Ngoenyang in 638 until the end of Kingdom of Chiang Mai under Siamese administration in 1939 according to the Chiangmai Chronicle.

Kings of Ngoenyang (638–1296)

  1. Lao Chakkaraj or Lao Chok
  2. Lao Kao Kaeo Ma Muang
  3. Lao Sao
  4. Lao Tang or Lao Phang
  5. Lao Klom or Lao Luang
  6. Lao Leo
  7. Lao Kap
  8. Lao Khim or Lao Kin
  9. Lao Khiang
  10. Lao Khiu
  11. Lao Thoeng or Lao Ting
  12. Lao Tueng or Lao Toeng
  13. Lao Khon
  14. Lao Som
  15. Lao Kuak or Lao Phuak
  16. Lao Kiu or Lao Kwin
  17. Lao Chong
  18. Chom Pha Rueang
  19. Lao Chueang or Phaya Chueang or Khun Chuang
  20. Lao Ngoen Rueang
  21. Lao Chuen or Lao Sin
  22. Lao Ming
  23. Lao Muang or Lao Moeng
  24. Lao Meng
  25. Mangrai the Great, 1261–1292

Kings of Lan Na (1296–1558)

Sources:

Chiang Mai under Burmese rule for the 1st time (1558–1596)

Mangrai dynasty (1558–1578)

Bayinnaung marched his forces upon Chiang Mai. Facing overwhelming odds, Mekuti chose to surrender. The siege and capture of Chiang Mai were swift, lasting a mere three days. Despite this conquest, Bayinnaung initially allowed Mekuti to remain as King of Chiang Mai. This arrangement continued until the passing of Wisutthithewi. Following her death, Bayinnaung appointed his own son, Nawrahta Minsaw, as the new King of Chiang Mai, effectively bringing the Mangrai Dynasty to an end.

Chiang Mai under Ayutthayan suzerainty (1596–1615)

Naresuan led an army to attack Lan Na in 1584. Nawrahta Minsaw could not resist, so he surrendered, and Lan Na became a vassal state in 1596.

Chiang Mai under Burmese rule for the 2nd time (1615–1623)

Anaukpetlun marched his forces to capture Chiang Mai. Thado Kyaw, the ruler of Chiang Mai at that time, was captured and was executed. Consequently, Chiang Mai once again fell under Burmese dominion. Subsequently, Chao Pholsuek Say Chaiyasongkhram, the former ruler of Nan, was installed as the new ruler of Chiang Mai.

Chiang Mai's brief independence (1628–1631)

Anaukpetlun was assassinated, plunging the kingdom into a turbulent succession crisis. Taking advantage of this instability, Chao Pholsuek Say Chaiyasongkhram, the ruler of Chiang Mai, seized the opportunity to reclaim Lan Na's sovereignty, proclaiming its independence from Burmese rule.

Chiang Mai under Burmese rule for the 3rd time (1631–1727)

Following the assassination of Anaukpetlun and Chiang Mai’s subsequent declaration of independence, Thalun ascended to the Burmese throne. The following year, the Burmese army launched another invasion of Chiang Mai. Phol Suek Sai Chai Songkhram was captured to Hanthawaddy. Subsequently, Chao Fa Luang Thipphanet was installed as the new ruler of Chiang Mai, marking the end of city's brief period of independence. However, this part of the Chiang Mai Chronicle contradicts the evidence from Burmese, Ayutthaya, and Chiang Saen sources. This has led to debate over whether the records from this period might contain translation errors from the Chiang Saen Chronicle or other sources.

Chiang Mai as an independent city-state (1727–1763)

In 1727, Thepsingh assembled a group of followers and launched a surprise nighttime raid on Chiang Mai. He killed Nga Ngo, the reigning ruler of Chiang Mai, and subsequently seized power, proclaiming himself the new king.

Chiang Mai under Burmese rule for the 4th time (1763–1774)

In the year 1763, the Burmese forces, under the command of Po Apai Kamini, launched a major offensive, deploying nine divisions to conquer Chiang Mai and Lamphun. Following their successful campaign, the Burmese army forcibly deported a significant number of the Ong Kham family members and the local population of Chiang Mai to Ava. Po Apai Kamini subsequently established a military presence in Chiang Mai to secure Burmese control over the region.

Lan Na states under Siamese tributary (1775–1899)

Phraya Wichianprakarn and Kawila restored the independence of Lan Na and brought the region under the suzerainty of Siam beginning in the reign of Taksin of Thonburi. As a result, Lan Na, comprising 57 towns, became a tributary state of Siam. Later, Siam reorganized the administration of Lan Na into various towns by appointing tributary rulers, known as either Phra Chao Prathet Rat or Phraya Prathet Rat, to govern each town. The principal towns, referred to as Nakorn Prathet Rat, included: Chiang Mai, Lampang, Lamphun, Phrae and Nan.
The administration of the Lan Na towns under Siam evolved over time. During the reign of Rama V, when the Monthon was introduced, the Lan Na region was reorganized as Monthon Phayap. Eventually, after the Siamese revolution of 1932 which transitioned Siam to a constitutional monarchy, both the tributary system and the Monthon system were abolished. As a result, the various Lan Na towns became Provinces like any other in Siam, each governed by a provincial governor appointed by and reporting directly to the central government.