Princess Khamwaen was a daughter of King
Bunsan of
Vientiane and his wife the Princess of
Nong Bua Lamphu. She was also known as Khieu Khom, likely referred to Princess Dhayasuvani who taken captive in 1779 when
Siamese stormed Vientiane and took the
Emerald Buddha. However,
Nang Khieu Khom in
Sila Viravong's history was called
Phra Chao Nang Keo Yot Fa Kalyansikasatri (Princess Kalyanlani Sri Kasatriyi), referred to another daughter of King Bunsan. She was also taken prisoner around the year of 1778–1793. In 1779, King
Taksin of
Thonburi sent his general,
Somdet Chao Phraya Maha Kasatseuk, to conquer the Vientiane kingdom. The city did fell and King Bunsan fled into the jungles. Princess Khamwaen was then captured and deported to Thonburi with her whole family including her brothers Prince
Nanthasan, Prince
Inthavong, and Prince
Anouvong. When the
Somdet Chao Phraya ordered the destruction of Nong Bua Lamphu, Princess Khamwaen pledged to her husband to change his mind. She was then revered by the inhabitants of Nong Bua Lamphu as Thau Khieu Khom. Princess Khamwaen became Maha Kasatseuk's favorite concubine at Thonburi and the target of
Lady Nak’s anger – the general's principal wife. On one occasion, Lady Nak hit Khamwaen with a wood stick. Hurt, Khamwaen went to the general for help. This led to the alienation between the
Somdet Chao Phraya and his wife. The
Somdet Chao Phraya crowned himself king in 1782 as Rama I and founded Bangkok. Princess Khamwaen became
Chao Chom Waen.
Chao Chom Waen became effectively the first Palace Matron () of the Ratanakosin period, overseeing the court ladies and royal children. She was known for her strictness in governing the royal princes and princesses that she earned the epithet Khun Sua, the Lady Tiger (). She was also known for her bravery in coping with the royal temper and suggesting harsh things. The
Chao Chom also became the governess of
Princess Kunthon – a daughter of Rama I with his
Laotian concubine
Chao Chom Manda Thongsuk (daughter of Prince Inthavong, as well as Khamwaen's niece) after her mother's death. Rama I died in 1809. His son Prince Isarasundhorn succeeded as
Rama II and made his biological mother, Lady Nak, the Queen Mother. Therefore, the
Chao Chom decided to leave the
Grand Palace with Princess Kunthon. Princess Kunthon later became a princess consort to Rama II. ==References==