 Chiang
Mai province, often referred to as the Rose of the North,
has a rich and interesting history that goes back some seven
hundred years. It was previously part of the prosperous self-ruling
kingdom of Lanna Tai, once the power base of the whole of
Northern Thailand, as well as parts of present day Myanmar
and Laos.
Its
deep-rooted culture and history owes much to the influence
of these particular countries.
Still
found in northern temples is the script of Lanna, which is
probably the original Thai script and thought to be based
on Mon. A similar script is still in use today by the Shan
people in Myanmar.
 Strangely
enough, Chiang Mai's history does not actually begin in what
is today Northern Thailand, or even Myanmar, but really in
the southern Chinese province of Yunnan, a few hundred km
to the north.
From
the mid 7th to the mid 13th century
one of the first true Thai kingdoms existed there called Nanchao.
In 1254 the Nanchao kingdom was invaded and conquered by the
infamous Mongol leader the Kublai Khan. Large numbers of Thais
were forced to migrate south, including the then Prince Mengrai
and settle in what is today known as northern Thailand. During
previous years, several different ethnic groups - including
the Lua hill tribe, had also settled this new fertile land.
 The
second half of the 13th century saw numerous new villages,
towns and principalities established, including what was later
to become Chiang Mai province. It was Prince Mengrai who unified
all the small tribes, different towns and villages into the
Anachak Lanna Tai principality (commonly translated and referred
to as the Kingdom of a Million Rice Fields) or the Lanna Tai
Kingdom.
In
1259 after his father's death, Prince Mengrai became king
and ascended the throne at Yonok Nakhon. Just three years
later he built Chiang Rai as his new capital.
 King
Mengrai was a strong independent and absolute ruler for many
years, but his realm was just the size of what would be considered
a mere principality in European history. In 1287 when the
Kublai Khan attacked the Burmese province of Pagan, King Mengrai
feared that his realm would also be threatened and formed
an alliance with Sukhothai, which was then Siam's capital.
Once
King Mengrai had secured his southern borders (through his
alliance with Sukhothai) he went on to capture the Mon kingdom
of Lamphun, thus strengthening his realm.
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