 Over
the thirty years after the initial founding of Chiang Rai
his realm indeed grew to a size of what one may consider a
true kingdom. This development was aided (and probably would
not have been possible) without King Mengrai's close alliance
and friendship with the rulers of Phayo and Sukhothai to the
south.
It
is said that King Mengrai, King Ramkhamhaeng of Sukhothai
and King Ngam Muang of Phayo made a small slit in their wrist
and allowed the blood to spill into a silver goblet. When
full they drank the contents vowing everlasting support, friendship
and co-operation. In fact, there was no war between the three
kingdoms during their respective reigns. A monument to these
three kings was built and can be seen today in the Center
of Chiang Mai's old city.
In
1291 King Mengrai went in search of an exceptional area to
build a new city - which would later become the capital of
the Lanna Tai kingdom. He found a well-watered meadow, stocked
with game and other wild animals beside a huge mountain with
an abundance of waterfalls. He invited King Ramkhamhaeng and
King Ngam Muang to help select a site for the new city and
assist in the construction. They decided on a fertile plain
between Doi Suthep Mountain and the bank of the Ping River.
It is said that the location was chosen after the auspicious
sighting of a white deer, and a family of five white mice,
scurrying down a hole beneath a holy Bodhi tree.
With
the help of over 90,000 laborers, King Mengrai completely
fortified the fertile valley area. A stout rectangular shaped
brick wall measuring some 1.6 km wide and 2 km long was constructed
and the whole area was surrounded with a deep moat. In 1296,
the new city was completed and named "Nophaburi Si Nakhorn
Ping Chiang Mai". In later years it would be shortened to
Chiang Mai or "New City". Parts of the city wall are still
intact today and the area within it is often called the "old
city".
King
Mengrai went on to expand his kingdom to both sides of the
Ping River and later his Lanna Tai kingdom expanded to cover
much of Northern Thailand. However, he did not actually live
in Chiang Mai, preferring his own hometown of Chiang Rai,
which was still considered the capital of Lanna Tai.
King
Mengrai's role was that of conqueror and powerful man. It
is perhaps fitting that he died after being struck by lightning
in 1317. A shrine was built at the market where he fell and
is also found today in the Center of Chiang Mai's old city,
close to the three kings statue.
Other
Northern Kings met with more unusual fates such as King Kampoo
who, in 1345, was eaten by a crocodile while taking a bath
and King Muong Keo who passed away after eating a dish of
raw horsemeat. Another would be king was trampled to death
attempting to rope wild elephants.
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