Tilokaraj

Tilokaraj, also spelt Tilokarat and Tilokkarat, was the 9th monarch of the Mangrai Dynasty.

Early life

According to the Chiang Mai Chronicle, he was the sixth child of Samfangkaen. The 'lok' part of his name means sixth.

He became king in 1443 by deposing his father and within a year had imposed control over Nan and Phrae. He also attacked Chiang Rung and the Shan region several times but could not impose control. He faced several revolts. He had his favourite son, Bunruang, executed on suspicion of disloyalty. While clearly a warlike ruler, he was also a vigorous patron of Sri Lankan-style Buddhism, building several monasteries including Wat Chet Yot and Wat Pa Daeng, and enlarging Wat Chedi Luang to house the Emerald Buddha.
His ashes have rest since 1491 in the main Chedi of Wat Chet Yot temple in Chiang Mai.