40 Facts About Kawila

Kawila, known as Phra Boromrachathibodi, was the Northern Thai ruler of the Chiangmai Kingdom and the founder of the Chetton dynasty.

Kawila had a great role in the transfer of Lanna from Burmese rule to Siamese domination and the rebuilding of Chiangmai as the center of Lanna.

Kawila was a son of Chaikeaw who was a son of Thipchang.

Kawila was the eldest among seven male siblings, who were later known as Chao Chetton or the Seven Princes, all of whom would later become influential figures in subsequent Lanna history.

Kawila allied with Phaya Chaban in resistance against Burmese rule.

Kawila was committed to the liberation from Burmese rule, thus initiating the "Feun Man" movement.

Kawila devised a plan to overthrow the Burmese in Lampang.

Kawila sent his younger brother Khamsom to lead an army to the south, pretending to fight Thonburi armies.

Khamsom stated that Kawila was acting on his own and his family as a whole was not involved.

Kawila greeted King Taksin and Chaophraya Chakri and led them to Chiangmai.

Kawila had to take a small force to rescue his father on his way to Burma.

Kawila arrested Withoon and sent him to Thonburi, where Withoon died in prison.

However, those defeated Siamese officials informed the Thonburi court that Kawila was in rebellion.

However, Kawila defied Taksin by refusing to go to Thonburi.

Only when Kawila beseeched the king that he would stage attacks on Burmese-held Chiangsaen to compensate his guilts that Kawila was released and allowed to return to Lampang.

Kawila was on his campaign to attack Chiangsaen when he learned of the regime change, in which King Rama I ascended the throne and established the Rattanakosin Kingdom in 1782.

Kawila then took his younger brothers to visit the new king at Bangkok in 1782.

Kawila was tasked with the restoration of Chiangmai as the center of Lanna and forefront citadel against Burmese invasions.

However, due to overall population decline in Lanna in the aftermath of continuous warfare, Kawila was unable to gather enough population to reestablish Chiangmai right away.

Kawila took his position at Pasang, about forty kilometers to the south of Chiangmai instead as an entrepot to accumulate people and resources to proceed to Chiangmai.

Kawila sent Phutthawong to engage with the Burmese at Yuam to the west but was defeated by the Burmese.

Kawila was in critical situation and again requested aid from Bangkok.

Prince Sura Singhanat of the Front Palace, brother-in-law of Kawila, personally led the Bangkokian army of around 50,000 to 60,000 men to the north to relieve the siege of Lampang in 1788.

King Rama I and Prince Sura Singhanat urged Kawila to take position in Chiangmai.

Kawila entered Chiangmai through the northern Changphueak Gate with a Lawa man with a dog and carrying a rattan pack in front of him.

Kawila then spent a night laying in front of Wat Chiang Man before entering the palace the next morning.

Kawila then informed the Bangkok court about the incoming Burmese.

Kawila then pursued the policy of "picking vegetables into baskets, putting people into towns" or forced resettlements of people from other towns to accumulate manpower.

Kawila then sent his younger brother Thammalangka to seize Mong Hsat in 1802 and Chom Hong was captured.

The ailing Prince Sura Singhanat commanded Kawila to send troops to attack and take the Burmese-held Chiangsaen.

In 1800, Kawila named his new Chiangmai city as Rattana Tingsa Aphinawaburi, meaning the great new city that was the jeweled abode of Indra.

King Rama granted Kawila the seven-tiered white umbrella, signifying the honor equal to the Siamese Crown Prince.

Prince Sura Singhanat had commanded Kawila to take Chiangsaen to end the Burmese rule over Lanna.

The conglomeration of Tai Lue or Tai Yong people from Mongyawng at Lamphun led to the restoration of Lamphun in 1806 and establishment of Lamphun as the new princely seat in 1814, in which Khamfan, another younger brother of Kawila, became the prince of Lamphun.

Kawila promoted the revival of many traditional Lan Na cultural practices, including music, dance, literature and craftsmanship, as well as distinctive regional Buddhist ceremonies.

Bangkok court commanded Kawila to bring the Mon refugees from Chiang Mai to Bangkok.

Kawila left Chiang Mai in June 1815 but his eldest son Noi Suriyawong fell ill and died at Tak.

Kawila left Bangkok in September 1815 to return to Chiang Mai.

Kawila died at Chiang Mai on January 17,1816 and was succeeded as the ruler of Chiang Mai by his brother Thammalangka.

Kawila took a lady with the name of Nocha as his consort.