Singhanavati

Sinhanavati Kingdom was on the Kok River, which descends from the mountain in Fang District (Chiang Mai Province), and runs into the Kong River east of Chiang Saen District (Chiang Rai Province), from which the city itself was at a distance of about 3 kilometres (1.9 mi). The city was submerged below Chiang Saen Lake due to an earthquake.

The Golden Triangle in Amphoe Chiangsaen

Due to a disaster, Samantaraja of Pataliputra obliged all his people to follow him to the region of Bodhisaanluang. He built the city of Indrapath which he surrounded with a stone wall. His daughter married Kuruvamsa, the grandson of Samantaraja's minister, who built the nearby city of Kururath.

When the king of Bodhisaanluang learned of the new settlements in his territory, he declared war against them, but eventually he was defeated.

Kuruvamsa reigned and promoted both cities, Kururath–Indrapath as the capital of the new kingdom. Three other kings succeeded him: Sirivamsa, Indravamsa, and Indrapathom.[1]

Kok River in Amphoe Mae Ai, Chiang Mai

Around 757 CE, Khun Saiphong, one of the sons of Khun Borom of Tai-desa, obliged his people to follow him from northern Myanmar across the Salween to this region. The title Khun before his name marks his status as a ruler of a fortified town and its surrounding villages, together called a mueang.[3] After his period of rule ended, there was no successor. Therefore, his uncle, Sinhanavati came in 773 CE and built the city named Nagabundhu-Singhanavatinagorn, due to the support given him by the Naga. The new city was located near to the submerged Suvarnagomgum City, and forty-five other kings succeeded him.

Singhanavati Kingdom subjugated Umongasela City, which was then ruled by the Khmer, and other nearby states to extend its territory. Sometimes it was defeated, for example in the reign of Pra-ong Pung the royal seat was removed to the nearby city of Paan-gum, a city on the Sai River (Chiang Rai's northernmost district), but it eventually restored its independence.

The last king of Singhanavati Kingdom was named Phramahajaijana. In his reign, Singhanavatinagorn was submerged in Chiang Saen Lake due to an earthquake.[4]

The survivors went east to inhabit Wieng–Prueksha, led by Khun Lung. For 93 years, they selected their ruler from among the leaders of their 14 villages to rule the region. After this period, the record mentions the development of high land communities, led by Lavachakaraj,[5] which later were the beginning of the Lanna Kingdom and continued through the founding of Chiang Mai City at the end of the 13th century.[6]

La Loubere's record 1693

Simon de la Loubère's record refers to the first king, named Pathomsuriyadhep (Singhanavati). The chief place where he kept his court was called Jayaprakaan Mahanagorn (Nagabundhu-Singhanavatinagorn, Chiang Rai Province), and he began to reign in 1300. Ten other kings succeeded him, the last of whom, named Dipayasoondorndhep, removed his royal seat to the city of Dhatu Nagornluang (Nan) which he had built, the location of which is also uncertain. The 22nd king after him, whose name was Boromjayasiri, obliged all his people in 1188 to follow him to Nakhon Thai (Pitshanulok). But this prince did not always reside at Nakhon Thai, for he came, built, and inhabited the city of Pipeli (Petchaburi). Four other kings succeeded him; of which Ramadhiboti, the last of the four, began to build the city of Thailand (Ayudhya) in 1351, and there established his court.[7]