Singhanavati

"Yonok" redirects here. For current settlement in Chiang Saen District, see Yonok Subdistrict.

Singhanavati (Thai: สิงหนวัติ; RTGS: Singhanawat) was a Tai semi-legendary kingdom based along the Kok River in the Chiang Rai Basin in northern Thailand,^[1] existed from 691 BCE to 638 CE.^[1]: 7 It was centered in Yonok Nahaphan (Chiang Saen District, Chiang Rai) and then moved to Wieng–Prueksha [th] (Fang District) after the old capital was submerged below Chiang Saen Lake due to an earthquake in 545.^[2][3][4]

Kingdom of Singhanavati
691 BCE–638 CE
Capital	Yonok Nahaphan (691 BCE–545 CE) Wieng–Prueksha [th] (545–638)
Common languages	Old Thai
Religion	Theravada Buddhism Mahayana Buddhism
Government	Chiefdom
Historical era	Middle Ages
• Formation	691 BCE
• Fall of Yonok	545 CE
• Incorporated to Ngoenyang	638 CE
• Disestablished	638 CE
Preceded by Succeeded by Souvannakhomkham Ngoenyang

The kingdom evolved into the Ngoenyang Kindom in 638 and then Lan Na in 1292.

History

Early settlements

There is evidence of human habitation in present-day Chiang Saen district in the Neolithic age but no other contemporary evidence to connect them with the pre-historic period and the modern northern settlements.^[1]: 13 Few prehistoric artifacts were found to be linked with the ancient Haripuñjaya Kingdom, but further historical and archaeological study had additionally been needed to illustrate.^[1]: 14

Before the establishment of Singhanavati, the area was previously occupied by Austroasiatic peoples,^[5] especially the Khmu people.^[6] The preexisting principal city-state located on the right bank of the Mekong River opposite to the present-day Chiang Saen was believed to be another legendary kingdom, Souvannakhomkham (สุวรรณโคมคำ), which its descendant later moved to Umongasela (อุโมงคเสลา) in the present-day Fang after Souvannakhomkham was submerged into the Mekong River.^{[5]: 187, 283 [7]}

Singhanavati Kingdom: 691 BCE–545 CE

According to the legend of Singhanavati, the city of Yonok Nagaphan was established near the submerged Souvannakhomkham by Prince Singhanavati who immigrant from southern China in 691 BCE, 148 years before the death of Buddha,^[1]: 8 which was the transition of the late Bronze Age to the Iron Age.^[1]: 9 This migration legend was supported by a bronze drum found in the wetland near Chiang Saen that was probably the submerged Yonok city; the artifacts were also discovered scattered along the river basins from southern China, Mekong valley, and northwestern Vietnam.^[1]: 9 However, in the 2009 archaeological excavations performed by the Fine Arts Department of Thailand, no ancient structures dating before 545 CE were found in the area, ^[1]: 9 which was considered the period when the city was submerged below the Chiang Saen Lake due to an earthquake.^[2][3][8] Formerly, most historians suggested that the city of Yonok Nagaphan was probably established in 545 CE and fell around 1107–1109.^[2][3][8] This due to the complicated era systems mentioned in the chronicles which comprised three systems: the Boran era (lit. 'Ancient era'; probably the Añjana's Era), the Buddhist Era, and the Shaka era, but the given years in the chronicles were not directly specified.^[6] After the chronicle that gave more details than the preexisting was found in the Wat Ban Rong Bong in 2022, it was concluded that the events mentioned in the legend of Singhanavati happened before 638 CE and all historical records related to the legend were then revised.^[6]

The Singhanavati Kingdom subjugated the preexisting Umongasela, and other nearby states to extend its territory. However, during the reign of Pangkharat [th] in the mid-4th century, the seat at Yonok was forcibly lost to King Khom from Umongasela. Pangkharat fled to Vieng Si Tuang (เวียงศรีทวง; present-day Wiang Phang Kham, Mae Sai district) but had to send tributes to Yonok annually until his son, Phrom (361–438), took back Yonok in 377 and expelled Khom from Umongasela.^[9][10][11] Phrom also led the army went to suppress the King Khom troops as far as the territory of Chakangrao in the south,^[9] along with establishing a new town in 396 to be an outpost to prevent enemy invasion in the old Umongasela area and renamed it Chai Prakan.^[12] While the throne at the capital Yonok was given to his older brother, Thukkitakuman [th].^[13] His son Chaiyasiri, continued to rule Chai Prakan;^[14] however, after the fall of Yonok, Chayasiri, along with many of his subjects, moved south to settle in the present-day Nakhon Thai, Phitsanulok Province. According to Simon de la Loubère, Chaiyasiri is said to have built the city of Pipeli [th] in Phetchaburi Province.

Before the reign of Pangkharat [th], which is considered its peak, the influenced area reached present-day Yunnan in the north and the upper Chao Phraya River valley in the south, while the east met the Annamite Range and the Salween River in the west.^[15]

The fourteen chiefdoms and formation of Ngoenyang: 545–638 CE

The last king of the Singhanavati Kingdom was Thukkitakuman [th]. During his reign, Yonok was submerged into the Chiang Saen Lake because of an earthquake in 545.^[16] The survivors, led by Khun Lung, went east to settle at Wieng–Prueksha [th] and the remaining principalities, which consisted of fourteen chiefdoms, formed the chamber to select new rulers. The chiefdoms lasted for 93 years with the said elective monarchy. After this period, the records mention the development of high land communities at Doi Tung led by Lavachakkaraj [th],^[17] who later became the ruler of Wieng–Prueksha [th] in 638. Lavachakkaraj also renamed the city of Wieng–Prueksha to Hiran which is considered the beginning of the Ngoenyang Kingdom and continued through the founding of the Lan Na Kingdom at the end of the 13th century.^[18]

During this period, in the south of Wieng–Prueksha [th], another principality Haripuñjaya was founded in the Ping River valley in 629 by the legendary Suthep, who has then invited Monic princess, Camadevi, from the southern kingdom of Lavo to rule the city in 662; thus Lavo began expanding its influence in the north.

Singhanavati and the Chao Phraya basin states relations

Simon de la Loubère's record refers to the first king, named Phra Pathom Suriyathep Norathai Suvarna Bophit (Thai: พระปฐมสุริยเทพนรไทยสุวรรณบพิตร, Pra Poat honne sourittep-pennaratui sonanne bopitra). The chief place where he kept his court was called Chai Buri Mahanakhon (Thai: ไชยบุรีมหานคร, Tchai pappe Mahanacon), and his reign began in 1300. Ten other kings succeeded him, the last of whom was named Phaya Sunthorathet Mahathepparat (Thai: พญาสุนทรเทศมหาเทพราช, Ipoja sanne Thora Thesma Teperat), removed his royal seat to the city of That Nakhon Luang (Thai: ธาตุนครหลวง, Tasco Nacora Louang; but Diplomatic guide referred to Yasothonpura Nakhon Luang (Thai: ยโศธรปุระนครหลวง, Yassouttora Nacoora Louang^[19]: 127)) which he had built but the location is uncertain. The 22nd king after him, whose name was Phra Phanom Chaiyasiri (Thai: พระพนมไชยศิริ, Pra Poa Noome Thele seri), obliged all his people in 1188 to follow him to Nakhon Thai (Locontai; but "Diplomatic guide" referred to Sukhothai (Thai: ศุโขทัย, Soucouttae^[19]: 127)). This prince did not always reside at Nakhon Thai, but instead, he built and inhabited the city of Phetburi (Pipeli). Four other kings succeeded him; of which Ramadhiboti (Rhamatilondi), the last of the four, began to build the city of Ayothaya in 1351, and there he established his court. “By which it appears, that they allow to the City of Ayutthaya the Antiquity of 338 years. The King Regent is the twenty fifth from Ramadhiboti, and this year 1689, is the 56th or 57th year of his age. Thus do they reckon 52 Kings in the space of 934 years, but not all of the same Blood.”^{[20][21][19][22]}

Rulers

References

1. (PDF). Fine Arts Department of Thailand. 2023. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 January 2024. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
2. "เมืองโยนก นครในตำนานล้านนา" (in Thai). Fine Arts Department of Thailand. 2022. Archived from the original on 18 January 2024. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
3. ""รอยเลื่อนแม่จัน" กับ "โยนกเชียงแสน" ตำนานที่อาจมีอายุมากกว่า 1,800 ปี" (in Thai). Manager Daily. 24 April 2020. Archived from the original on 18 January 2024.
4. Wood, Spencer H.; Wood, Layle R.; Ziegler, Alan D. (2 November 2015). "Natural degradation of earthworks, trenches, walls and moats, Northern Thailand". Journal of Field Archaeology. 40 (6): 675–694. doi:10.1080/00934690.2015.1103645. ISSN 0093-4690. S2CID 32414373.
5. Chayphet Sayarath (23 September 2014). (PDF) (in French). Paris-Est Sup University Group. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 January 2024. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
6. พิเศษ เจียจันทร์พงษ์ (28 January 2022). "พระเจ้าพรหมมหาราช ในตำนานล้านนา นัยสำคัญของกษัตริย์สืบสายทางธรรม VS สายเลือด". www.silpa-mag.com (in Thai). Archived from the original on 23 January 2024. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
7. โรม บุนนาค (9 May 2022). "อาณาจักรโบราณที่สาบสูญก่อนมีประเทศไทย! "สุวรรณโคมคำ" กำเนิดจากแม่ลูกถูกลอยแพ!!" (in Thai). Manager Daily. Archived from the original on 19 January 2024.
8. Wood, Spencer H.; Wood, Layle R.; Ziegler, Alan D. (2 November 2015). "Natural degradation of earthworks, trenches, walls and moats, Northern Thailand". Journal of Field Archaeology. 40 (6): 675–694. doi:10.1080/00934690.2015.1103645. ISSN 0093-4690. S2CID 32414373.
9. สงบ สุริยินทร์ (30 December 2022). "เมืองลพบุรีเป็นของไทยเมื่อใด?". www.silpa-mag.com (in Thai). Archived from the original on 25 December 2023. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
10. โรม บุนนาค (7 April 2023). "๒ มหาราชของคนไทยก่อนเกิดประเทศไทย! ๒ เมืองหลวงเป็นอำเภอและจังหวัดในปัจจุบัน!!" (in Thai). Manager Daily. Archived from the original on 19 January 2024. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
11. "ประวัติของจังหวัดเชียงราย" [History of Chiang Rai Province] (in Thai). Chiang Rai Provincial Administrative Organization. 2024. Archived from the original on 21 January 2024. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
12. "ประวัติเมืองเก่าไชยปราการ" (in Thai). Chai Prakan Municipality. Archived from the original on 23 January 2024. Retrieved 23 January 2024. Note: Years mentioned in the source was revised following the revision of the Singhanavati legend in 2022.
13. Pralongchoeng, Kilen (29 January 2019). "ช้างพระเจ้าพรหม" [King Phrom's elephant]. Thai Rath (in Thai). Archived from the original on 23 January 2024. Retrieved 11 September 2021. Note: Years mentioned in the source was revised following the revision of the Singhanavati legend in 2022.
14. Rak-Yom (23 July 2017). ""พระฝาง" ไชยปราการ ศรัทธายิ่งยุคพระเจ้าพรหมมหาราช" ["Fang Buddha" of Chai Prakan, great faith in the era of King Phrom the Great]. Thai Rath (in Thai). Archived from the original on 23 January 2024. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
15. "ตำนานสิงหนวัติ" (in Thai). Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning [th] of Thailand. Archived from the original on 23 January 2024. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
16. The chronicle of Yonok-nagabundhu
17. The chronicle of Hiranyanagorn-ngernyang
18. The chronicle of Chiang Mai
19. Smithies, Michael; Na Pombejra, Dhiravat (2002). "Instructions Given to the Siamese Envoys Sent to Portugal, 1684" (PDF). Journal of the Siam Society. 90. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
20. de La Loubère, Simon (1693). "CHAP. III. Concerning the History and Origine of the Siameses.". A New Historical Relation of the Kingdom of Siam. Translated by A.P.
21. Thanothai Sukthit (26 September 2020). "พงศาวดารกรุงศรีอยุธยา ส่งถวายพระเจ้าหลุยส์ที่ 14 อยู่ที่ไหน?". Art & Culture (in Thai). Retrieved 22 March 2021.
22. de La Loubère, Simon (1967). "บทที่สาม: ว่าด้วยประวัติศาสตร์และต้นกำเนิดของชนชาวสยาม". จดหมายเหตุ ลา ลูแบร์ ราชอาณาจักรสยาม. Translated by Santa T. Komolabutra. pp. 41–42.