My Kings & I King Mengrai was a great and the first king who built Chiang Mai, so many people respect the King and very proud on him.

Three Kings Monument

Lanna or Lannathai is the given name of a prosperous self ruling kingdom, once the power base of the whole of Northern Thailand as well as parts of present day Burma (Myanmar) & Laos.  The title means "Land of a million rice fields".

The rich culture and history owe much to the influence of Burma and, to a certain extent Laos.  Still found in northern temples is the script of Lanna, which is probably the original Thai script and thought to be based on Mon.  A similar script is still in use today by the Shan people.

Lanna is completely different from other provinces of Thailand in cuisine, culture and custom.  It is generally acknowledged, throughout Thailand, that the Northern women are the most beautiful and people friendliest and politest in the country.  The charm and gentleness of the Northerners seldom fail to impress even the most demanding of visitors.

The history of modern Thailand begins 5,000 years ago.  The ancestors of today's Thai people lived in areas of Southern China.  Through various migration streams they worked their way south to Thailand, Burma and Lao.  They entered today's Thailand at Chiang Saen (Yonokanagakom) on the southern banks of the Mae Khong River; this gateway to Siam is known to have been a kingdom as early as 773 A.D.

The mighty Lanna kingdom was founded by King Mengrai (1259 - 1317).  He also brought a newly found unity to the North and annexed the Mon held territory south of Chiang Mai including their capital Lampoon (Hari Punchai).  After the town fell he went in search for a new area to build a city.  He found a well-watered meadow, stocked with game and other wild animals beside a huge mountain plentiful of waterfalls.  Two of his friends were invited, King Ngarm Muang of Payao and King Rama Kampeng of Sukothai, to inspect the site and assist in construction to which they agreed. Each king made a small slit in his wrist and allowed the blood to spill into a silver goblet.  When full they drank the contents vowing everlasting support and co-operation.  (There was no war between the three kingdoms during the reign of these kings.)  A monument to these three kings was built and can be located in the centre of Chiang Mai's old city.  The town was built in 1296 and named Nopburi Sri Nakorn Ping Chiang Mai which was later shortened to Chiang Mai.

Mengrai however did not live in Chiangmai, preferring his own town of Chiang Rai, the then capital of Lanna.  Chiangmai did not become capital until 1345. His role was that of conqueror.  A powerful man, it is perhaps fitting that he died after being struck by lightning in his 80th year.  A shrine was built at the market where he fell and is found in the centre of Chiang Mai's old city, close to the three kings statue.
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