The cultural development of the Northern Thai people had begun long before as successive kingdoms preceded Lan Na.

In 1775, Lan Na chiefs left the Burmese control to join Siam, leading to the Burmese–Siamese War (1775–76).

[1] Beginning in 1874, the Siamese state reorganized Lan Na Kingdom as Monthon Phayap, brought under the direct control of Siam.

[2] The Lan Na Kingdom effectively became centrally administered from through the Siamese thesaphiban governance system instituted in 1899.

[3][4] By 1909, Lan Na Kingdom no longer existed formally as an independent state, as Siam finalized the demarcation of its borders with the British and French.

Mangrai then expanded to the south and subjugated the Mon kingdom of Hariphunchai (centered on modern Lamphun) in 1281.

Leaving Lamphun due to heavy flooding, he drifted until settling at and building Wiang Kum Kam in 1286/7, staying there until 1292 at which time he relocated to what would become Chiang Mai.

Claimed territories of Mangrai's Lan Na include the modern northern Thai provinces (with exception of Phrae, which was under the vassalhood of Sukhothai, and Phayao and Nan), Kengtung, Mong Nai, and Chiang Hung (now Jinghong in Yunnan).

Mangrai's youngest son, ruler of Mong Nai returned to claim the throne, occupying Haripunjaya.

[citation needed] Lan Na enjoyed peace under Saenmuengma (which means ten thousand cities arrive — to pay tribute).

Lan Na faced invasions from the newly established Ming Dynasty in the reign of Sam Fang Kaen.

Tilokkarat's brother, Thau Choi, rebelled to reclaim the throne for his father and sought Ayutthayan support.

Yuttitthira urged Trilokanat to invade Pitsanulok which he had claims on, igniting the Ayutthaya-Lan Na War over the Upper Chao Phraya valley (i.e. the Kingdom of Sukhothai).

[citation needed] After Tilokkarat, Lan Na was then subjected to old-style princely struggles that prevented the kingdom from defending itself against powerful growing neighbors.

[citation needed] Facing pressures from the invaders, Chiraprapha decided to abdicate in 1546 and the nobility gave the throne to her nephew (son of her sister), Prince Chaiyasettha of Lan Xang.

The nobles then chose Mekuti, the Shan saopha of Mong Nai whose family was related to Mangrai, to be the new king of Lan Na.

After her death, Bayinnaung appointed one of his sons Nawrahta Minsaw (Noratra Minsosi), viceroy of Lan Na in January 1579.

[9][10] Burma allowed a substantial degree of autonomy for Lan Na but strictly controlled the corvée and taxation.

The resistance forces drove back the Burmese army in 1727–1728 and 1731–1732, after which Chiang Mai and Ping valley became independent.

In the early 1770s, Burma was at the peak of its military power since Bayinnaung, having defeated Siam (1765–67) and China (1765–69), the Burmese army commanders and governors became "drunk with victory".

[13] The new Burmese governor at Chiang Mai, Thado Mindin, was disrespectful to local chiefs and the people, and became extremely unpopular.

One of the local chiefs, Kawila of Lampang revolted with Siamese help, and captured the city on 15 January 1775, ending the 200-year Burmese rule.

Under Siamese suzerainty, Lan Na kingdom was divided into five smaller principalities, namely the Chiang Mai, Nan, Lampang, Lamphun, and Phrae.

The language may be written in the old Lan Na script, which somewhat resembles that of the Thai, but differs significantly in spelling rules.