Page "Taksin" Paragraph 25

The Burmese failure to take Phichai formed a prelude to Taksin's second-expedition to Chaing Mai.

In 1773, a Burmese army which threatened Phichai was drawn into an ambush and was heavily routed.

Phraya Phichai, the Phichai Governor, engaged the Burmese in a hand to hand fight until his two long swords were broken, and thus won the name of " Broken Sword.

" When a Thai army under the command of Chao Phraya Chakri and Chao Phraya Surasih reached Lampang, Phraya Chaban and Phraya Kawila, the two leading officials who had deserted the Burmese joined him in laying siege to Chaing Mai and soon King Taksin arrived on the spot.

The city fell to the Thai armies in January 1775, but the Burmese Governor and the commander managed to escape with their families.

Before his departure for Thonburi, the King conferred honours and distinction on those who had contributed to success of his campaign.

Phraya Chaban was made Governor of Chaing Mai with the title of Phraya Wichienprakarn, while Phraya Kawila and Phraya Waiwongsa governed Lampang and Lamphun respectively.

Chao Phraya Chakri was directed to prolong his stay in order to assist them in the pacification of the north, which included the Laotian states.

However, the Burmese King considered that as the Laotian states constituted his base for the maintenance of Burmese power in the territory further east, namely, Luang Prabang and Vientiane, Chiang Mai must be taken back, and so a Burmese army of 6, 000 men was sent there to carry out its mission in 1776.

The Burmese entered the city, but were forced out by a Thai army under Chao Phraya Surasih which had marched to its relief.

Chaing Mai had suffered from the recent campaigns so badly that its population was greatly reduced and impoverished, and in the event of a new Burmese attack, it could not defend itself.

For these reasons, King Taksin abandoned the city and its remaining inhabitants were transplanted to Lampang.

Chiang Mai thus became a deserted city and remained so for fifteen years.

Over the next few years, Taksin managed to gain control over Chiang Mai, and put Cambodia under the vassalage of Siam by 1779 after repeated military campaigns.