Phayao Kingdom: Map & History

History

Before Chomtham, the Phayao Chronicle mentions the polity of Old Phukamyao, centred around a city called Sakkawanrajathani, also called Mattharaj Pahurita or Singharaj (not to be confused with Singhanvati), ruled by Suthasom and Anuraj. After their death, the kingdom was left without a ruler for 3 years, and thus local nobility began exerting power over smaller cities within Phukamyao.

In the chronicle traditions that Chris Baker and Pasuk Phongpaichit summarise, one stream of Tai settlement branches south from the Mekong down the Ing River, founds Phayao, and then moves on to Chaliang.

News of Sakkawanrajathani’s empty throne reached the kingdom of Ngoenyang, ruled by Lao Ngoenrueang.

Geography

Phayao Kingdom covers parts of what is now Chiang Rai, Phayao, Lampang, Phrae and Nan province in Thailand and Khop district in Laos. The kingdom sits mostly in the Yonok basin, covering the Ing, Kok, Wang, Yom, Nan, and Khop river basin, surrounded by various mountains of the Phi Phan Nam Range. The Phayao Chronicle described the kingdom's administration being divided into two regions, Mueang Phayao (core region), and Hua Mueang Nok (periphery).

The Hua Mueang Nok (outer cities) were previously part of Old Phukamyao and later reconquered by Chomtham.