Lanna Kingdom

Quick Facts: Who was Lanna Kingdom?

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Lanna Kingdom

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Ancient kingdom in Northern Thailand, flourishing from the 13th to the late 18th centuries.

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2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

The Lanna Kingdom, also spelled Lan Na, was a kingdom centered in present-day Northern Thailand which existed from the 13th to 18th centuries. The cultural development of the Northern Thai people began earlier, in the kingdoms that preceded it. Lanna grew out of Ngoenyang and by the 15th century was strong enough to fight the Ayutthaya Kingdom on equal terms. It weakened thereafter and became a vassal state of the Toungoo dynasty in 1558. A succession of vassal kings followed, some of them with considerable autonomy.

Career & Major Achievements

Burmese control slackened and then tightened again as the Konbaung dynasty extended its reach. In 1775 the Lanna chiefs left Burmese allegiance for Siam, which brought on the Burmese–Siamese War (1775–76). Burmese control ended with the retreat of that force, and Siam under Taksin of the Thonburi Kingdom took Lanna in 1776. From then on, Lanna became a vassal state of Siam under the succeeding Chakri dynasty. Throughout the latter half of the 1800s, the Siamese state dismantled Lanna independence, absorbing it into the emerging Siamese nation-state.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Beginning in 1874, the Siamese state reorganized Lanna Kingdom as Monthon Phayap, brought under the direct control of Siam. The thesaphiban system introduced in 1899 brought it under central administration. By 1909, when Siam settled its borders with the British and the French, Lanna had ceased to exist as a separate polity. The Lanna kingdom is known by a number of exonyms in neighboring languages. In Burmese chronicles and sources, it is called Zinme Pyi (Burmese: ဇင်းမယ်ပြည်, pronounced [zɪ́ɰ̃mɛ̀ pjì]), Zinme being a Burmese language transcription of Chiang Mai; or Yun Pyi (ယွန်းပြည်, [jʊ́ɰ̃ pjì]), Yun being the Burmese term for the ethnic Tai Yuan from northern Thailand.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1558: 1558 Milestone — It weakened thereafter and became a vassal state of the Toungoo dynasty in 1558.
2. 1775: 1775 Milestone — In 1775 the Lanna chiefs left Burmese allegiance for Siam, which brought on the Burmese–Siamese War (1775–76).
3. 1776: 1776 Milestone — Burmese control ended with the retreat of that force, and Siam under Taksin of the Thonburi Kingdom took Lanna in 1776.
4. 1874: 1874 Milestone — Beginning in 1874, the Siamese state reorganized Lanna Kingdom as Monthon Phayap, brought under the direct control of Siam.
5. 1899: 1899 Milestone — The thesaphiban system introduced in 1899 brought it under central administration.
6. 1909: 1909 Milestone — By 1909, when Siam settled its borders with the British and the French, Lanna had ceased to exist as a separate polity.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Lanna Kingdom

True or False: “Did the Lanna Kingdom cease to exist as a separate political entity before the year 1900?”

Answer (TRUE ⭕): The kingdom ceased existing as a separate polity by 1909 after Siam settled its borders with the British and the French.

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