Chaiyaphum History

Chaiyaphum is an old city dating back to the time when the Khmer Empire was the pinnacle of its power. The city was a lesser city of the empire. Some of the sites from those That Kut Chok.

When Ayutthaya was the capital, Chaiyaphum appeared on a map during the reign of King Narai the Great as a city under the administration of Nakhon Ratchasima. However, people later moved out to find new homes and left the city deserted. Chaiyaphum then reappeared during the time of king Rama ll. in the Rattanakosin Era. In 1817, Lae, a nobleman in Chao Anuwong’s ( Lord of Vientiane) court. took his family and friends across the Makhong River to settle at Ban Nong Nam Khun ( Nong E Chan) which is in the area of Amphoe Sung Noen in Nakhon Ratchasima now. In 1819, when too many people has migrated there, Lae moved everyone to a new location at Non Nam Om, Ban Chi Long . All through that time, Lae continued to provide offerings to Chao Anuwong to show his loyalty. At first it was rice but was later given gold when it was dug up at Khao Phraya Fo. As a result, Lae was promoted to Khun Phakdi Chumphon. Lae moved his settlement once again in 1822 because of drought to Nong Pla Thao and Nong Lot, which combined was called Ban Luang, and turned to display loyalty Nakhon Ratchasima Province and provided offerings to King Rama lll instead, and proclaimed the city free from Chao Anuwong forever. King Rama lll rewarded Khun Phakdi Chumphon by making Ban Luang Chaiyaphum City and promoting him to Phraya Phakdi Chumphon and made him the city’s first lord.

Chao Anuwong organized a rebellion against King Rama lll and formed troops to attack Bangkok. He lied to cities along his route that he was rounding up military support to help Bangkok fight the British. Nakhon Ratchasima was subsequently overtaken in 1826. When the secret was out that Chao Anuwong and his troops were rebels, he gathered all the people of Nakhon Ratchasima to take them back to Vientiane. While at Thung Samrit, the captives under the leadership of Khunying Mo, the wife of Nakhon Ratchasima’s lord, fought back with the support of Phiraya Phakdi Chumpon and lords of nearby cities until they defeated Chao Anuwong.

Nonetheless, a remnant of Chao Anuwongs forces retreated from Nakhon Ratchasima and captured Chaiyaphum. After failing to persuade Phraya Phakdi Chumphon to join the rebellion, the invaders killed him under a big tamarind tree at Nong Pla thao. A shrine built by the city’s citizens is a tribute to this man is 3 km. from the provincial hall. The shrine is in the shape of a Thai pavilion and has a statue of Phraya Phakdi Chumphon which is highly revered.