Chiang Mai owes her existence to the Ping River. The river provided the route along which the power of the city could be extended beyond the wall of mountains that surrounded the valley; it was a channel for trade from China [See "Trade Links with China"] and Burma to the Gulf of Siam. The wide, fertile valley was able to support a large number of people, the basis of political power in the feudal kingdom of Lanna (the million fields).
History of Lanna (Chiang Mai)
The Ping River Valley was long a trading route between Yunnan and the Chao Phraya basin.
Evidence from archeological remains has shown that early inhabitants used iron tools in the valley at least two thousand years ago. These early people, who came to be known as the Lawa, were later supplanted by the Mon of the Dvaravati period (6- 10th centuries). Drawn by trade along the river, the Mon chose the wide, fertile valley to found Haripunchai (Lamphun), in the eighth century. It was the first city-state with a "high culture" in the valley.
The rich valley also attracted King Mangrai, a powerful Tai leader, who captured Haripunchai and then founded his "new capital" - Chiang Mai - in 1296.
He chose a site typical for a Tai city - at the foot of a mountain that provided both water and timber.
Chiang Mai was the capital of the kingdom of Lanna (the kingdom of a million fields), which enjoyed a golden age throughout the 15th century. During this age the powerful inland kingdom came to control most of what now constitutes northern Thailand, north-western Laos, the eastern Shan states of Burma and Xishuangbanna in southern Yunnan. The religion of the kingdom -Theravada Buddhism - gave rise to a cultural wealth whose influence was to be felt beyond the kingdom's boundaries down the centuries.
However, Lanna was caught between the Burmese, united under King Bayinnaung of Pegu, and the Siamese Thai of Ayutthaya. Lanna fought several times against Ayutthaya in the 14th and 15th centuries, draining the strength of the kingdom. Weakened by internal struggles for the throne and by oppression, the city fell to the Burmese forces of King Bayinnaung in 1558.
For over two centuries (1558-1774) Chiang Mai was under Burmese control. The fortunes of the city declined for the Burmese exploited the city-state for military purposes in their wars with Ayutthaya. Rebellion brought suppression.
Eventually northern Thai forces allied with the Siamese drove the Burmese out, but the city was so weak that it was totally abandoned.
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