Resistance Background Lan Na (Thailand's history, preferably called
Chiang Mai) was in apparent rebellion against the Burmese royal court during 1761–1763, when it was state-independent and under the reign of Phraya Chantha () and the support of the military of the Ayutthaya Kingdom. According to the allegation of the Burmese King's
lèse-majesté, King
Naungdawgyi, the King of Burma deployed troops of 50,000 men and appointed General
Ne Myo Thihapate as commander-in-chief to criminalize Chiang Mai.
Chiang Mai defeated by Burmese troops In January 1762, Phraya Chantha of Chiang Mai wrote a royal letter with a
tribute presented to King
Ekkathat, the King of Siam, informing him of an invasion from Burma and requesting that Chiang Mai become a tributary state of Siam and for Siamese troops to fight against the Burmese troops. Many of
The Royal Chronicles of Siam stated that Chaophraya Phitsanulok (Rueang) triumphed over Ne Myo Thihapate's troops at Sukhothai, and Phitsanulok became a shelter for Ayutthaya courtiers and the Siamese Royal family of the
Ban Phlu Luang Dynasty. This became known as Chaophraya Phitsanulok (Rueang)'s gathering in 1767–1769 (), the largest gathering in interim Thonburi.
A battle between Ne Myo Thihapate and Governor of Phitsanulok During the encampment of Phitsanulok troops at Wat Phu Khao Thong, Chaophraya Phitsanulok (Rueang) requested royal permission to return to Phitsanilok to incinerate his mother's remains by informing King Ekkathat through Phraya Phonladep (). The King granted him permission and he left his three subordinates, Luang Mahatthai (), Luang Kosa () and Luang Thepsena (), in charge of his troops. Prince and historian
Damrong Rajanubhab pointed out that it was impossible that the governor of Phitsanulok could be allowed to return to Phitsanilok city during the Burmese-Siamese war. Later, King Ekkathat appointed Chaophraya Phitsanulok (Rueang) to suppress Burmese troops commanded by
Ne Myo Thihapate marching from the northern of the Ayutthaya Kingdom. The
Royal Chronicle of the Kingdom of Ayutthaya said : {{Blockquote (Translation): "A chief advisor of northern city further informed official news that Burmese troops had been marched from the north, the Supreme Chancellor of Krom Mahatthai informed King Ekkathat, the King immediately stated a royal order to Chaophraya Phitsanulok (Rueang) to deploy Siamese troops and attack Burmese reinforcements."
Burmese History side In August 1765, Gen.
Ne Myo Thihapate marched the Burmese troop of 40,000 men from
Lampang to the south. His march was sporadically interrupted by Siamese troops. Consequently, Ne Myo Thihapate successfully seized all of the major northern cities and camped at Phitsanilok. The
Royal Chronicle of Myanmar, composed in 1913 A.D. by Prince Narathip Praphanphong said : {{Blockquote (Translation): "Northern Burmese reinforcements marched the troops off from Lampang. In the middle of August, Ne Myo Thihapate gathered over 40,000 Burmese troops, mostly from Shan and Laos. The marching along the way to south was very delayed due to Siamese troops' obstruction. At last, all Siamese troops of northern cities were surrendered, and Burmese troops reinforced additionally from Laos. Ne Myo Thihapate, then encamped at Phitsanulok." And
Yodayar Naing Mawgun () by Letwe Nawrahta , translated by Soe Thuzar Myint, said in Second Part, Stanza 11 that : {{Blockquote
Siamese History side On August 22, 1765, Gen.
Ne Myo Thihapate marched 40,000 Burmese troops south from
Lampang and successfully seized the northern cities; Pichai (), Sawan Lok () and Sukhothai (). Phraya Sukhothai (), governor of Sukhothai, intercepted Burmese troops, and
Ne Myo Thihapate encamped at Sukhothai city. Chaophraya Phitsanulok (Rueang) and the chief advisor of the northern city arranged the reinforcements and marched immediately to Sukhothai. The Siamese reinforcement expeditionary troops, commanded by the governor of Phitsanulok, engaged
Ne Myo Thihapate's Burmese troops in November 1765. In
Yodaya Naing Mawgun by Letwe Nawrahta said : {{Blockquote And
The Royal Chronicle of Myanmar, composed in 1913 by Prince Narathip Praphanphong, said : {{Blockquote (Translation): "The tremendous troops of Ne Myo Thihapate marched down along
Chao Phraya River, the tremendous troops of Siam engaged with Burmese troops, resulting in massive dispersal and deaths among Ne Myo Thihapate's troops."
Chaofa Chit's Rebellion in Phitsanulok During the battle of Burmese and Siamese troops at Sukhothai, another group of Phitsanulok subsidiary troops, which were still encamped at Wat Phu Khao Thong, was commanded by three subordinates of governor of Phitsanulok: Luang Mahatthai, Luang Kosa, and Luang Depsena. Prince Chit () was imprisoned in Ayutthaya Grand Place. Luang Kosa fled from Phitsanulok's troop to assist him. Prince Chit then bribed the prison officials and fled with Luang Kosa, H.S.H. Chim and his aides to Phisanulok. The
Royal Chronicle of the Kingdom of Ayutthaya said : {{Blockquote (Translation): "Chaophraya Phitsanulok also marched reinforcements to engage Burmese troops at Sukhothai. Prince Chit, son of Prince Dum, was awaiting to get executed same as both Prince Abhai, and Prince Parames, where their mother; Princess Dep, was daughter of King
Thai Sa, and sister of Princess Nim, and Princess Sangwan, since King
Borommakot was viceroy of Siam. Prince Chit was imprisoned in the Royal Palace, whilst Luang Kosa, soldier of Phitsanulok, was intrigued to help Prince Chit. They gathered at Wat Phu Khao Thong where Phitsanulok's troops were still encamped, then fled to Phitsanulok city with their slaves." In December 1765, Chaophraya Phitsanulok (Rueang) triumphed over Ne Myo Thihapate's troops. The Burmese troops dispersed back toward Nakhon Sawan. The governor of Phitsanulok encamped in Sukhothai, near the border of Phitsanulok where the combat still went on. King
Ekkathat acknowledged Prince Chit's jailbreak and appointed officials to follow them, but they failed to catch them. fled to Phitsanulok. In 1767, Chaofa Chit (), also known as H.R.H. Prince Chit, The Prince of Krommakhun Surindarasongkram () and his allies imprisoned at Ayutthaya Royal Palace, escaped by bribing officials with supportive nobleman Luang Kosa (), the Governor of Phitsanulok's adjutant, then fled immediately to Phitsanulok with H.S.H. Chim (), Chaofa Chit's daughter. Consequently, he was executed and was the father of King
Rama I, and who, being the grand primogenitor of the
Chakri dynasty (), fled to Phitsanulok with his wife, Bunma (), his son, La () and his aides, due to the Governor of Phitsanulok (Rueang) was his intimately familiar friend in his early life since he was in the service of Krom Mahatthai. Thao Songkandan, the royal maid (), was conferred as the royal mother during the reign of King Taksin () and was sheltered with her family at Phitsanulok. According to the
testimonials of Chen mo, Wen Shao and Lin Zhengchun, Zhao wang ji () is Krommamun
Thepphiphit or Prince Khag (), son of King
Borommakot, the most formidable opponent of King Taksin, also fled to Phitsanulok under protection of Fu shi lu wang [the Governor of Phitsanulok (Rueang)] before he captured
Nakhon Ratchasima and proclaimed himself as a leader of Phimai's gathering. Zhao wang ji sheltered himself under the protection of a local chief of Fu shi lu wang. Zhao wang ji is Kroma Mun Thepphiphit, who is a son of King
Borommakot. Nithi points out that Kroma Mun Thepphiphit was the most formidable opponent of King
Taksin… ...Zhao wang ji, who is a half elder brother of the King of Siam [King Ekathat] is around fifty years old. He is the son of the Siamese old King and a woman of the Baitou race. After the second fall of Ayutthaya, there were five powerful aspirants—independent for the position consequently—where the governor of Phitsanulok (Rueang) controlled lower northern Siam, Phitsanulok, and a portion of Nakhon Sawan. Because of these large numbers of courtiers, perhaps they may have encouraged him in his royal proclamation During the mid-year, Chaophraya Phitsanulok (Rueang) royally proclaimed himself as King Ruang (), King of Siam on his dynastic connection, and also raised Phitsanulok city and a portion of Nakhon Sawan, totaling 7 counties, as the new capital of
Ayutthaya Kingdom. The city was renamed Krung Phra Phitsanulok Rajthani Sri Ayudhya Mahanakon (). of Chaophraya Chakri (Thongdi), Thong Khwan, Yim and Yam, son of Luang Raksena (Jamras) (), also received titles. Thong Khwan was Nai Chamnan (), as staff officer, and both Yim and Yam were clerks in military affairs. The coronation of Chao Phitsanulok was done according to the procedures of the King of Ayutthaya, except a parade procession around the city was postponed. King Ruang resided at
Chan Royal Palace in Phitsanulok until he died in November, 1768. Whilst King Ruang stayed at Phitsanulok, he was involved in skirmishes for at least six months of his reign, particularly with Chao Phra Fang, known as the Priest King King Ruang of Phitsanulok wrote a royal letter in 1767, sealed with his Chinese name; Fu Shi Lu () or Fu Shi Lu Wang and also asked Qianlong Emperor for approval of their status as King of Siam from Qianlong Emperor with Chinese imperial seal. Whilst King Taksin sough approval from the Chinese emperor, he started seeking to purge the remaining princes of the
Ban Phlu Luang Dynasty. Viceroy Li Shiyao secretly investigated some political asylums with the governor of Ha Tian in order to find the princes of Siam that still lived and to report the situation of Ha Tian to the Chinese emperor.
Qianlong Emperor discovered two living princes: Prince Chui () and Prince Sisang (), descendants of the Siam Dynasty, who had fled to
Ha Tien and sheltered themselves there after the burning of Ayutthaya. While Prince Chui sheltered himself at Ha Tien,
Qianlong Emperor recognized his status as legitimate King of Siam. Later, Prince Chui gathered troops in Ha Tien to seize King Taksin. Prince Sisang died at Ha Tien before being captured and Prince Chui was captured and killed by King Taksin in Siam during the interim
Siamese–Vietnamese War (1771–1773). He [Taksin] thus left the chieu khoa Lien to hold Ha Tien and returned to Siam by dap [battleship] with his main force, the captive Mac family and Chieu Chuy [Prince Chui]. The last-named was killed in Siam. There is no evidence that King Ruang was approved as the legitimate King of Siam despite the fact that he was a descendant of one royal member of the
Ban Phlu Luang Dynasty, whilst King Ruang played a role in supporting the remaining royal descendants. == Chaophraya Phitsanulok's gathering ==