Pha Mueang (full name Pho Khun Pha Mueang, ; late 12th century – mid 13th century) was a Thai nobleman and general who was the Lord of Rad and played a significant role in the founding of the

Sukhothai Kingdom The Sukhothai Kingdom was a post-classical Siamese kingdom (Mandala (political model), ''maṇḍala'') in Mainland Southeast Asia surrounding the ancient capital city of Sukhothai Historical Park, Sukhothai in present-day north-central Thaila ...

Origin

Pha Mueang is said to be a descendant of Nam Thum, a hero whose name is mentioned in the legends of many

Tai peoples Tai peoples are the populations who speak (or formerly spoke) the Tai languages. There are a total of about 93 million people of Tai ancestry worldwide, with the largest ethnic groups being Dai people, Dai, Thai people, Thai, Isan people, Isan, ...

. Pha Mueang's ultimate origin is described by his grandfather in the so-called "

Ram Khamhaeng Ramkhamhaeng (, ) or commonly known as Pho Khun Ramkhamhaeng Maharat (, ) was the third king of the Phra Ruang Dynasty, ruling the Sukhothai Kingdom (a historical kingdom of Thailand) from 1279 to 1298, during its most prosperous era. He is c ...

": he is the ruler of a city-state called Mueang Rat (เจ้าเมืองราด). The location of Mueang Rat is disputed. Many believe that it could be found in the valley of the Pasak. Therefore, the inhabitants of the Phetchabun district Lom Sak built a large statue of Pha Mueang (อนุสาวรีย์พ่อขุนผาเมือง). The historian Alexander Brown Griswold, however, is of the opinion that Mueang Rat must have been located in the valley of the

Nan River The Nan River (, , ; , ) is a river in Thailand. It is one of the most important tributaries of the Chao Phraya River. Geography The Nan River originates in the Luang Prabang Range, Nan Province. The provinces along the river after Nan Prov ...

near

Uttaradit The original name of Mueang district, Uttaradit, was Bang Pho. This district was under the control of Phi Chai District. Later, it was established as Uttaradit Province and Bang Pho District became the capital district. It was changed to Mueang ...

due to geographical characteristics. The "God of Sri Mueang Sodharapura" (God: ผีฟ้า, corresponding to Skt Deva raja), the king of Angkor, bestowed the titles of "Sri Indraditya" together with the "sword of victory" (Preah Khan Chey Srey, , ) upon Pha Mueang and he additionally received the "Kamrateng An Pha Mueang" or "กมรเตง อัญ ผาเมือง"". At the same time he was given Preah Neang Sukhara Mahadevi, a "daughter" of King

Jayavarman VII Jayavarman VII (), known posthumously as Mahaparamasaugata (, c. 1122–1218), was king of the Khmer Empire. He was the son of King Dharanindravarman II (r. 1150–1160) and Queen Sri Jayarajacudamani. He was the first king devoted to Buddhism, ...

of the Yaśodharapura. An "oath of loyalty" to Angkor was probably demanded as well.

Bang Klang Hao

Little is known of the history of Bang Klang Hao (full name: Pho Khun Bang Hao, พ่อขุนบางกลางหาว). He was a friend and ally of Pha Mueang. Bang Klang Hao was ruler of the city-state Mueang Bang Yang (เจ้าเมืองบางยาง), its location also unknown. Griswold suspected it was located somewhere between Mueang Rat and Mueang Si Satchanalai, possibly even at today's Ban Yang, which is situated about seven kilometres south of New Sukhothai.

Liberation from the Khmer rule

After

died in 1220, the power of Angkor dwindled in the northwestern regions. The commander Khom Samat Klon Lamphong (ขอมสมาดโขลญลำพง) held an outpost of the

Khmer Empire The Khmer Empire was an empire in Southeast Asia, centered on Hydraulic empire, hydraulic cities in what is now northern Cambodia. Known as Kambuja (; ) by its inhabitants, it grew out of the former civilization of Chenla and lasted from 802 t ...

in Sukhothai. In "Inscription II" it is described that at some point, probably around 1238–1240, Pha Mueang marched his army united with Bang Klang Hao towards Sukhothai. In the ensuing battle at the gates of the city, Bang Klang Hao fought against Khom Samat Klon Lamphong, both from the back of their

war elephant A war elephant is an elephant that is Animal training, trained and guided by humans for combat purposes. Historically, the war elephant's main use was to charge (warfare), charge the enemy, break their ranks, and instill terror and fear. Elep ...

s: "The bold Klon Lamphong was completely defeated". After the defeat of the Khmer troops, Pha Mueang entrusted the government of Sukhothai to Bang Klang Hao. He then retired with his men to Si Satchanalai. A little later Bang Klang Hao was ordained by Pha Mueang as "Chao Mueang Sukhothai" (ruler of Sukhothai, เจ้าเมืองสุโขทัย). Here Pha Mueang transferred his title "Sri Indraditya" to his comrades in arms. The new king of Sukhothai also received the "sword of victory" as a sign of his success and the

palladium Palladium is a chemical element; it has symbol Pd and atomic number 46. It is a rare and lustrous silvery-white metal discovered in 1802 by the English chemist William Hyde Wollaston. He named it after the asteroid Pallas (formally 2 Pallas), ...

of the New Kingdom. Sri Indraditya is now regarded as the founder of the Phra Ruang Dynasty, the Kingdom of Sukhothai.

Consorts

* Preah Neang Sukharadevi, daughter of the king

. Appointed to the Queen Consorts. * Phra Nang Naovarongdevi, consorts had married before marriage with Preah Neang Sukharadevi. In the local legend of Lom Kao District, Phetchabun Province.

In Media

* ''Nang Sueang'' — a thai TV drama in 1992 Portrayed by Sirakupt Methani. * ''Phra Ruang Rise Of The Empire'' — a 2025 movies film Portrayed by Pongsakorn mettarikanon.https://www.komchadluek.net/entertainment/movies/601672

Origin

Bang Klang Hao

Liberation from the Khmer rule

Consorts

In Media

References

Further reading