Si Inthrathit

Origin

Bang Klang Hao was born to Sirisudhārājadevī (สิริสุธาราชเทวี), a queen consort of Candraraja,^{[3]: 15 [5]} who relocated the seat from Kamphaeng Phet to Sukhothai.^[3] The Ayutthaya Testimonies delineates his dynasty as the descendants of King Phatumsuriyawong,^[3] whom certain historians have identified with the Khmer monarch Suryavarman II.^[6] However, such an assumption appears chronologically inconsistent when juxtaposed with the genealogical account of an early Siamese royal line that ruled Xiū Luó Fēn, situated in the Phraek Si Racha region. The first monarch of this lineage, Visnuraja, who likewise claimed descent from King Phatumsuriyawong,^{[3]: 37–8} is recorded to have been born in 950 CE.^[a]

Political legacy

In the late 12th century, the Angkorian Empire expanded northward under the Mahidharapura dynasty, reasserting its authority over Lavo and extending control into the central basin.^[7] By 1180 CE, the domain of Phraek Si Racha region had come under a royal house that may have been connected to Angkor and was later re-established as Chen Li Fu.^{[8]: 18 [9]} During this period, Candraraja, a descendant of the Phrak Si Racha line and father of Si Inthrathit, ruled at Kamphaeng Phet before transferring the royal seat to Sukhothai.^[3]: 11

Initially, Candraraja continued to pay tribute to Indaprasthanagara,^{[3]: 15–6} a polity that early scholars have attempted to identify with Angkor,^{[10]: 8 : 1–3} although the Ayutthaya Testimonies place it to the east of Sankhaburi.^[3]: 5–6 Under the direction of Si Inthrathit, however, these payments were discontinued,^{[3]: 15–6} perhaps as a response to increasingly burdensome taxation.^[11] This led to armed conflict between Sukhothai and Indaprasthanagara, in which Si Inthrathit commanded the Sukhothai forces to victory. The outcome ended approximately two decades of Indaprasthanagara domination and marked the restoration of Sukhothai's independence.^{[3]: 15–6}

Following this triumph, Si Intharathit was appointed to govern Mueang Bang Yang, located in the present-day Nakhon Thai district,^[12] which had previously served as the power base of his kinsman, Pra Poa Noome Thele Seri.^[13] During his tenure there, Si Intharathit was potentially supported by Tai Yuan refugees who had fled to the region following the fall of Yonok.^[14]: 30 He also married Nang Sueang [th], a Tai Lueang (ไทเลือง) princess and daughter of Sri Naw Nam Thum, the ruler of Mueang Rat (เมืองราด), situated in either modern Lom Sak district, to the east of Mueang Bang Yang,^[15] or at the ancient Mueang Thung Yang [th] in modern Uttaradit province.^{[16]: 54–9} This Tai Lueang polity subsequently expanded its sphere of influence into Mueang Chaliang, which had been under the mixed Monic–Chinese Haripuñjaya dynasty, during the waning reign of Rajadhiraj II in the early 13th century.^{[17]: 15–6 [18]}

After consolidating control over Mueang Chaliang, the Tai Lueang monarchs, led by Sri Naw Nam Thum and his son Pha Mueang, extended their dominion southward toward Sukhothai in 1219,^{[19]: 4 [20]} overthrowing the Mon ruler E Daeng Phloeng.^[21]: 115 However, the remnants of the older Monic aristocracy, led by Khom Sabat Khlon Lamphong, staged a successful revolt, reclaiming control of Sukhothai.^[22] In response, a coalition of Siamese forces led by a local chieftain, Bang Klang Hao—later known as Si Intharathit—recaptured the city and re-established it as an autonomous Siamese polity in 1238. Si Intharathit was militarily aided by his brother-in-law, Pha Mueang, a son of Sri Naw Nam Thum.^{[23]: 195–196} Pha Mueang was given Mueang Chaliang following this event.^[24]

Pho Khun Bang Klang Hao was then declared king at Sukhothai, taking a regnal name of Sanskrit origin, Si Inthrathit, translated from Adityan Indra.^[25] His skill and bravery greatly impressed the people of the kingdom, who thus conferred him the title Phra Ruang (glorious prince). This title was given to all subsequent rulers of Sukhothai, thus giving rise to the first Thai royal dynasty of Phra Ruang.^[26]

Si Inthrathit and his queen, Sueang, had three sons. The eldest died at a young age, and the second was named Ban Mueang. His third son defeated a Khmer prince on elephants in mounted combat; he named this youngest son Ram Khamhaeng (Rama the Bold) in tribute to the feat.^[27] Si Inthrathit died around 1270, and was succeeded by his son Ban Mueang.^[11]