Sam Fang Kaen

Sam Fang Kaen ( Thai สาม ฝั่ง แกน , other spelling: Samfangkaen, also: Sam Phraya Fang Kaen; * 1389 in Chiang Mai ; † in the 15th century) was the 8th king of the Mengrai dynasty of Lan Na in between 1401 and 1441 the northern region of today's Thailand .

Live and act

Sam Fang Kaen succeeded his father Saen Mueang Ma in 1401 with the help of his uncle Mun Lok on the throne of Lan Na, who was then made Chao Simoen (the title for the ruler of Phayao ). Sam Fang Kaen's older brother, Thao Yikumkam, was ruler in Chiang Rai and tried to overthrow him with the support of Sukhothai , but this attempt did not succeed.

Lan Na had paid no tribute to the Ho in Yunnan since the rule of Kue Na . Thereupon these attacked Lan Na, surrounded the city of Chiang Saen in 1404/05 and thus forced Sam Fang Kaen to raise troops from Chiang Mai , Fang , Chiang Rai , Chiang Khong and Phayao and to oppose them. After defeating the Ho, he pursued them as far as Sipsong Panna (today: Xishuangbanna ). Sam Fang Kaen then had the village of Mueang Yong Huai built north of Chiang Saen in order to be prepared against further attacks from the north.

In the years that followed, Sam Fang Kaen received peace for a long time and was hailed as a wise ruler. He resided in Chiang Mai and not in Chiang Rai like his predecessors. He named his eldest son Maha Uparat .

Wat Chedi Luang was completed during his reign . His mother visited the construction site every day to see for herself that the work was progressing. Since she had her residence in Ban Suan He (also: Ban Suan Rae), southwest of the city, the king had a new city gate, the Suan-He-Gate, built into the city wall for her. Some historians believe that this refers to the Pratu Suan Prung (Suan Prung Gate) in the southwest of the city.

In 1434, a chedi in Chiang Rai is said to have been struck by lightning during a thunderstorm. A Buddha statue was discovered in the ruins . When it was set up in the temple's viharn, it was noticed that a green sheen penetrated through a crack. When the stucco was removed, a statue made of green jade emerged, the now highly venerated Emerald Buddha . King Sam Fang Kaen wanted to take him to his capital Chiang Mai by an elephant, but the stubborn animal chose the route to Lampang , where the statue was then kept for the next 32 years in Wat Phra Kaeo Don Thao.

In 1441/2 he was finally ousted from the throne by his son Thao Lok during his absence and then deported to Fang. A little later (1443), however, on the advice of Mun Lok, he was forced to return to the Golden Palace in Chiang Mai. Nothing is known about his further fate.

literature

• Sarassawadee Ongsakul: History of Lan Na. 2nd edition. Silkworm Books, Chiang Mai 2005, ISBN 974-957584-9 .

Individual evidence

1. ↑ David K. Wyatt , Aroonrut Wichienkeeo: The Chiang Mai Chronicle. 2nd edition. Silkworm Books, Chiang Mai 1998, ISBN 974-7100-62-2 , p. 71.
2. ↑ Carol Stratton: Buddhist Sculpture of Northern Thailand. Silkworm Books et al., Chiang Mai et al. 2004, ISBN 1-932476-09-1 , also on Google Books .