Page 82 - A History of Siam

A HISTORT OF SIAM
78
Ram was treated as a harmless
King Raja nonentity,
and was to live in retirement until his death.
permitted
I was the son of one of the
King Int'araja younger
brothers of King Boromoraja I, and had succeeded his
father as Governor of
Sup'an.
On the the new overwhelmed
attaining throne, King
with honours the Minister whose action had brought
about his elevation. He him one of his
gave daughters
in and invested him with *all kinds of
marriage, gold
ornaments and of rank.
insignia
In Sen Ma of died. His
141 1 King MUang Chiengmai
two sons, Prince Yi Kumkam and Prince Fang Ken,
fought for the succession, and the unsuccessful candidate,
to Siam for
in this case Prince Yi Kumkam, appealed
aid. An commanded the vassal T'am-
army, by King
III of was to
maraja Suk'ot'ai, despatched Chiengmai
to Prince Yi Kumkam on the throne.
place
The Siamese first invested
P'ayao, but failed to take it.
This attack on as the first
P'ayao is interesting, affording
mention in the annals of the use of cannon.
Chiengmai
It is said that the Siamese erected a mound
twenty-four
in order to shoot into the The
yards high city. people
of therefore melted down the brass tiles on one of
P'ayao
their temples and made a five-inch cannon, wherewith
they destroyed the Siamese fort.
The Siamese abandoned the of and went
siege P'ayao
on to After there for some
Chiengrai. resting time, they
advanced on Chiengmai. The siege of Chiengmai lasted
for some time. the of
Finally young King Chiengmai
suggested that the matter in dispute should be submitted
to trial combat. Each side was to choose a
by single
if the Siamese
champion ; champion won, King Fang
Ken would abdicate in favour of his brother ; if the Lao
champion were the victor, Prince Yi Kumkam would