Turning Points in History

Pre-historic Time
Stone tools of about 15,000-3,000 years old were found scattered around the areas from the mouth of the Kok River to the mouth of the Ruak River in Amphoe Chiang Saen.

The beginning of the Buddhist Era (around BC 543).

Prince Singhanawat Kuman led his bands of followers southwards from Nakhon Thai-Thet in Yunnan , to establish the Kingdom of Yonok-Nakkhaphan in the region formerly called Lawa-Nathi where the Sai met the Mekong river. He named the town Singhanawat Nakhon which was later changed to “Yonok Nakhon Chai Buri Si Chang Saen”. A long line of 45 monarchs governed the kingdom.

638
A city called Hiran Nakhon Ngoen Yang was built at Chiang Saen. It was politically divided according to the size of paddy-field possession into phanna (thousand fields), muen-na (ten thousand fields), saen-na (hundred thousand fields), and lanna (million fields). Lanna is still used to refer to this kingdom. The kingdom of Ngoen Yang became politically powerful during the reign of its 19 th ruler, Khun Chueang, who extended his sovereignty to Chiang Rung in Sip Song Pan Na, Lan Chang and also Vietnam .

1262
The first king of the new House of Mang Rai called Phraya Mang Rai, son of Phraya Lao Meng of Hiran Nakhon Ngoen Yang (presently Chiang Saen), decided to avoid Mongol's attack and moved the capital to a new site at Doi Chom Thong. He named the new capital “Chiang Rai”, meaning the city of Phraya Mang Rai.

1264
Haripunchai (or Lamphun) fell into Phraya Mang Rai's protection.

1289
Phraya Mang Rai won the war with Ang-wa and Phu Kam (Pagu). He brought some craftsmen from Phu Kam (Pagu) to Chiang Saen. Several historic remains in Chiang Saen still bear the legacy of the Paguan artistic style. For example, the stucco design on the main pagoda at Wat Pa Sak resulted from such artistic contributions.

1296
Phraya Mang Rai decided to move his capital to the bank of the Ping River . He called the new city “Nopburi Si Nakhon Phing Chiang Mai”. Chiang Rai was then left to be ruled by his son and had since become a tributary state of Chiang Mai.

1558
Lanna with its capital of Chiang Mai fell into the decisive hands of King Burengnong of Burma . Chiang Rai was thus under Burmese sovereignty for more than 200 years.

1804
During the reign of King Rama I of Rattanakosin, Prince Gawila of Chiang Mai led a successful uprising against its Burmese sovereign. After that, he came to seek protection from the Thai King in Bangkok . Chiang Mai, therefore, became a tributary state of Bangkok since then. Gawila attacked Chiang Saen and depopulated the entire city.

1843
During the reign of King Rama III, Chiang Rai was re-established as Chiang Mai's satellite state. Settlers from nearby towns began to populate the city.

1900
During the reign of King Rama V, Chiang Rai, Wiang Pa Pao, Phayao, Dok Kham Tai, Mae Suai and Chiang Kham were united and classified as the fourth-priority state under the charge of Phayap Country (or Monton Phayap).

1990
The time of decision to open their doors to foreigners of Laos , Myanmar ( Burma ), and China . Chiang Rai, thus, has become the center of the upper Mekong economic co-operation plan among the four countries. There are plans to develop multi-channel transportation links from Chiang Rai to the southwest of China , eastern Myanmar , and western Laos .

Present
Chiang Rai still maintains its quiet characteristics of the city while the city is gradually developed through projects led by both government and private sectors which underlies the cooperation among GMS (Great Mekong Sub-region) countries including China, Thailand, Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam. The GMS collaboration will definitely bring more developments to this area in the years to come.

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