 Chiang
Mai city finally became the Lanna Tai capital in 1345, and
it remained and flourished as a major religious, cultural
and trading Center for many years. However, the good relations
between the Lanna Tai Kingdom and the southern Thais did not
last. Less than a century after Chiang Mai's founding, the
Sukhothai period ended and Ayutthaya replaced it as the capital
of Siam. This new kingdom had its own expansion agenda, including
designs on its northern neighbor.
During
the 14th century, Ayutthaya's approach to the Lanna
Tai Kingdom was characterized by repeated attempts to degrade
it to a principality, rather than accepting it as an equal
Thai kingdom. There was fierce competition and sometimes open
warfare between the two.
The
reign of King Tilorokarat (1442-1488) was perhaps the most
powerful period of this kingdoms history. So influential was
he that the 8th world Buddhist Council was held in Chiang
Mai in 1455. But by the end of the 15th century,
Lanna Tai's power began to wane and it was repeatedly attacked
by Lao and Burma whose troops and puppet lords occupied the
area on many occasions, introducing their own food, buildings,
costume and culture.
For
more than two hundred years, from 1556 to 1774, it was occupied
by the Burmese and actually became a Burmese vassal state,
just as the Shan states to the west of Lanna Tai had been.
Given its position in between Thai and Burmese spheres of
influence, Chiang Mai was not only repeatedly subdued by either
one of the two, but on occasion was all but totally destroyed.
The true loyalties of the locals, however, were to themselves
and they willingly sided with both the Burmese or Thai armies
at different periods.
In
1775 Chiang Mai became an integral part of Thailand when the
city was conquered and annexed (or liberated depending on
interpretation) by King Taksin. But for the next fifteen years
from 1776 to 1791, Chiang Mai was actually deserted as the
result of successive wars and the city of Lampang was made
the temporary capital.
Sporadic
warfare followed for several generations and Chiang Mai swayed
between Burmese and Central Thai control with intermittent
spells of self-government. After several more skirmishes with
the Burmese, it was finally Rama I of the present Chakri Dynasty
who re-established Chiang Mai city. The Thai commander, Kavila,
was given the title "Prince of Chiang Mai" for his valiant
efforts. Chiang Mai has remained a part of Thailand (Siam)
ever since - despite frequent Burmese raids.
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