Kaew Nawarat

Kaew Nawarat
Prince Ruler of Chiang Mai
Reign	23 January 1910 – 3 June 1939
Predecessor	Intavaroros
Successor	Title dissolved
Heir apparent	Wongtawan
Born	29 September 1862 Kingdom of Chiang Mai
Died	3 June 1939 (age 77) Chiang Mai, Siam
Spouse	Chamari na Chiengmai
Issue	4 sons and 2 daughters
House	Chet Ton Dynasty
Father	Inthawichayanon
Mother	Mom Buakeaw
Signature

Major General Prince Kaew Nawarat (Thai: เจ้าแก้วนวรัฐ; (Northern Thai: ) RTGS: Chao Kaeo Nawarat; Birth name: Kaew na Chiangmai) (29 September 1862 – 3 June 1939) was the 36th and last King of Lanna and Prince Ruler of Chiang Mai, reigning from 1910 to 1939 (Thai calendar 2454-2482). He succeeded Intavaroros Suriyavongse (1897–1910). His seat was within Lanna's capital Chiang Mai, but he never held any true administrative power. With him ended the reign of the Seven Princes Dynasty.

Nawarat was born September 29, 1862, at the royal residence of Chiang Mai (คุ้มหลวงนครเชียงใหม่) as the 6th son of Phra Chao Intavichyanon, 7th ruling prince of Chiang Mai and Mae Chao Kew.

In 1877, when he was 15 years old and his father still ruled Chiang Mai, Nawarat was appointed as Vice minister of treasury. That same year, he brought 300 Chiang Mai and Lamphun families to Chiang Saen. In 1882, he became the Minister of treasury, responsible for bringing the royal tribute to King Rama V in Bangkok in 1886. He became the Minister of interior in 1899.

When he was 22 years old, he married Mae Chao Jammary, daughter of Chao Rajapakinai Panfar. After that he married Chaoying Fai, Mom Buakew, and Mom Sae. He had 4 sons and 2 daughters with his wives; with Mae Chao Jammary:

1. Sukkasem na Chiengmai
2. Buathip na Chiengmai
3. Wongtawan na Chiengmai

And with Mom Kew:

1. Prince Pong in
2. Princess Siriprakay
3. Prince Inthanon

In 1909, Nawarat became acting ruling Prince of Chiang Mai. Following his brother's death in 1911, he officially took the throne. His duties included commanding Northern soldiers to quash rebels, building roads in Chiang Mai and another province, and being special guard of the King as Major General of Royal Thai Army.

In 1914, Chao Dara Rasmi, the Princess consort of Chulalongkorn, who played a large role in the merger of Lanna with the Kingdom of Thailand, returned to Chiang Mai. The king gave her a residence at the Chedi Ngam Palace. In 1923 he built the current South Building as a wedding gift to his daughter Chao Siriprakai Na Chiengmai. King Rama VII and Queen Rambhai Barni stayed in this building during 1926 on a royal visit to Chiang Mai.

In 1933 Princess Phra Raja Jaya Chao Dara Rasmi died and the king oversaw her coffin lying in state at the Chedi Ngarm Palace (where it remained from December 9, 1933 to April 23, 1934).

In 1934 he replaced the old teak house with the building that houses the current U.S. Consulate General at Chiang Mai.

In 1938, the king's daughter, the princess Chao Siriprakai Na Chiengmai, died.

Nawarat became sick in early 1938, but he went to Bangkok when King Ananda Mahidol came back to Bangkok. He became sick again in March 1938. Upon his death in 1939, the throne of the Lanna Kings, who had reigned over a Kingdom that was founded in the same period as Sukhothai and which existed for several centuries more, was abolished and replaced with a governors seat, which was appointed from Bangkok.

His coffin lay in state at the Chedi Ngarm Royal Villa from June 3 to July 23, 1939.

• photo of the Prince Ruler: [1]
• another photo of the Prince Ruler: [2]
• the Prince Ruler's coffin: [3]