A city and a region steeped in tradition and history, Chiang Mai has weathered seven hundred years of fascinating history. It was King Mengrai who led the foundation of the city of Chiang Mai.This was way back in 1296 and Chiang Mai which meant "new city" became the capital of the Lannathai kingdom.
To protect the city from Burmese invasion King Mengrai built a ditch and a wall encircling the city.
The history of Chiang Mai reveals that this city was again conquered by either the Burmese or the Thais from Ayutthaya when the Lannathai kingdom declined. The city saw it dark days when the Burmese war led to crumbling of the Ayutthaya empire in April 1767. Chiang Mai was deserted by most of its inhabitants and the rest of the people also left the city. What was most amazing that Chiang Mai was deserted for fifteen long years (1776 - 1791). Lampang served as the capital in that period.
An important year in the history of Chiang Mai was in 1774 when it became officially a part of Siam in 1774. The credit for this goes to the Thai King Taksin who took over the city from the Burmese. After this Chiang Mai showed growth in trade,economy and there were cultural development as well. Gradually Chiang Mai resumed its present stature of being the unofficial capital of the Northern Thailand. The city ranks second to Bangkok.
The later history of Chiang Mai saw the British teak companies in Burma taking concessions in the north of Thailand at the end of the century. This led to frequent strife with the Prince who considered it appropriate to lease the same concession to two different people. The ongoing troubles with the missionaries and the teak companies coupled with fears of British and French invasions along the borders ultimately forced the Bangkok Government to take a stronghold of Chiang Mai and the rest of the north in the 1890's. The power and position of the Prince was taken over by the government and the last hereditary ruler died in 1939. The year 1921 saw the railway intruding in the mountains and Chiang Mai was incorporated in Siam, or Thailand as it was known later in 1949.
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