The Kingdom of Hiran or the Kingdom of Ngoenyang (Thai: อาณาจักรหิรัญเงินยาง listen) was an early mueang or kingdom of the Northern Thai people from the 7th through 13th centuries AD and was originally centered on Hiran, formerly Vieng Preuksa, in modern-day Thailand near today's Mae Sai District in Chiang Rai, and later on Ngoenyang or Chiang Saen. Ngoenyang was the successor to the mueang of Singhanavati. King Mangrai, the 17th king of Ngoenyang, went on to found Lanna.[1]

Hiran Ngoenyang Chiangsaen
หิรัญเงินยางเชียงแสน
638–1292
CapitalHiran (to about 850)
Ngoenyang (from about 850 onwards)
Common languagesNorthern Thai language
Religion
Theravada Buddhism
GovernmentMonarchy
King 
• 638–?
Phraya Lavachakkaraj
• 1123–1166
Phanya Coeng
• 1262–1292
Mangrai
Historical eraMiddle Ages
• Installation of Lavachakkaraj
638
• Capture of Hariphunchai
1292
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Singhanavati
Lanna
Wat Phra That Doi Pu Khao [th], built by the Kings of Hiran

In contrast to most contemporary Tai states, Ngoenyang was mentioned in local chronicles, which provide some information about its history.

In 545 AD, an earthquake destroyed the city of Naknakorn and thus the mueang of Singhanavati. Survivors gathered together, and an elective monarchy was established there. The mueang was named Vieng Prueksa, as prueksa means "to counsel".

After 93 years of elective monarchy, Phraya Kalavarnadishraj of the Lavo Kingdom forced the Vieng Prueksa to accept Phraya Lavachakkaraj as their king in 638 AD. Lavachakkaraj renamed the mueang Hiran.

Lavachakka is hypothesized to have been a tribal chief in the area who gained the support of the Lavo Kingdom. The Lavachakkaraj or "Lao dynasty" would go on to rule the area for 700 years.

Lao Kiang, the ninth king of Hiran, founded the city of Ngoenyang (modern Chiang Saen) around 850 AD, moved the capital there, and thus became the first King of Ngoenyang. The territorial claims of Ngoenyang extended from Chiang Saen in the west through parts of modern Laos north of Luang Prabang to Thaeng (modern Điện Biên Phủ, Vietnam). Ngoenyang fell under the dominion of the Lu mueang Chiang Hung in the north around 1250 AD and remained within that orbit until the Mongol invasions again shifted power in the area.

The religion of Ngoenyang kingdom was heavily influenced by the Theravada Buddhism of the Hariphunchai kingdom to the south. Around 1250, Rao meng the 16th king of Ngoenyang founded Chiangrai and his son, Mangrai, moved the capital to Chiang Rai when he was crowned as the king of Ngoenyang in 1262. In 1281, Mangrai invaded Hariphunchai and captured the capital (modern Lamphun).

List of Rulers of Hiran Kingdom Age edit

 
Lavachakkaraj
  • 1. Phraya Lavachakkaraj
  • 2. Lao Khao Kaew Mah Mueng
  • 3. Lao Sao
  • 4. Lao Tang
  • 5. Lao Ghrom
  • 6. Lao Lheaw
  • 7. Lao Gab
  • 8. Lao Kim

List of Rulers of NgeonYang Kingdom Age edit

References edit

  1. ^ "ตามหาเมืองเงินยาง ตอน 3". www.finearts.go.th (in Thai). Archived from the original on 3 November 2023. Retrieved 10 November 2023.