LANNA KINGDOM HISTORY

anna or Lannathai is the given name of a prosperous self ruling kingdom, once the power base of the whole of Northern Thailand as well as parts of present day Burma (Myanmar) & Laos. The title means "Land of a million rice fields'..

The history of modern Thailand begins 5,000 years ago. The ancestors of today's Thai people lived in areas of Southern China. Through various migration streams they worked their way south to Thailand, Burma and Lao. They entered today's Thailand at Chiang Saen (Yonokanagakom) on the southern banks of the Mae Khong River; this gateway to Siam is known to have been a kingdom as early as 773 A.D.

The mighty Lanna kingdom was founded by King Mengri (1259 - 1317). He also brought a newly found unity to the North and annexed the Mon held territory south of Chiang Mai including their capital Lampoon (Hari Punchai). After the town fell he went in search for a new area to build a city. He found a well-watered meadow, stocked with game and other wild animals beside a huge mountain plentiful of waterfalls. Two of his friends were invited, King Ngarm Muang of Payao and King Rama Kampeng of Sukothai, to inspect the site and assist in construction to which they agreed. Each king made a small slit in his wrist and allowed the blood to spill into a silver goblet. When full they drank the contents vowing everlasting support and co-operation. (There was no war between the three kingdoms during the reign of these kings.) A monument to these three kings was built and can be located in the centre of Chiang Mai's old city. The town was built in 1296 and named Nopburi Sri Nakorn Ping Chiang Mai which was later shortened to Chiang Mai.

Lanna's power began to wane by the end of the 15th century and was repeatedly attacked by Lao and Burma whose troops and puppet lords occupied the area on many occasions. They introduced their own styles of food, buildings, costume and culture. Chiang Mai swayed between Burmese and Central Thai control with intermittent spells of self-government; The Burmese occupied the Lanna region from 1556 until it was finally annexed by Central Thailand in the late 18th century. However their loyalties of the locals were to themselves and they sided with Thai or Burmese armies at different periods.Today Northern Thailand (Lanna kingdom) is part of the Kingdom of Thailand and ruled from Bangkok.