Page 107 - A History of Siam

A HISTORT OF SIAM
105
Hardly had King P'rajai returned back home when
Prince Mekut'i of the Prince
Mttang Nai, supported by
of Yawnghwe, invaded Chiengmai territory. As we
have seen, Prince Mekut'i was a candidate for the
throne of which was then held the
Chiengmai, being by
party in power, on behalf of Prince Jai Jett'a of Luang
P'rabang.
The Muang Nai and Yawnghwe armies were driven
out by the Princess Regent. Later, a Luang P'rabang
force arrived to assist in holding the city for Prince
Jai Jett'a.
determined a second
King P'rajai upon expedition
to the north. 1 The Governor of P'itsanulok was sent
ahead with a force. The advisers of the Princess
strong
Regent of Chiengmai hotly debated the question as to
whether martial resistance should be made to the Siamese,
or whether should be received as allies. The
they
Princess her vote in favour of the latter
gave casting
course. Envoys were sent out to receive the Governor
of P'itsanulok, who pitched his camp near Lamp'un.
At dead of the Siamese
night, however, suddenly
burst into Lamp'un, and burnt down a great part of
the
city.
The next arrived with his
day King P'rajai army,
and the Siamese advanced to Chiengmai. The destruction
of Lamp'un caused the Princess Regent of Chiengmai
to determine on resistance. A fierce attack was made on
the but after three the Siamese
city, days' fighting
failed to decided to
capture it. King P'rajai retire,
which he did, after destroying some temples and a large
number of houses near Chiengmai. A Lao army pursued
the Siamese and defeated them at Wat Chiengkrung

1
It is probable that the Princess Regent had applied to King P'rajai for aid
against Prince Mekut'i.