Mangrai dynasty

The Mangrai dynasty (Northern Thai: ᩁᩣᨩᩅᩫᨦ᩠ᩈ᩼ᨾᩘᩁᩣ᩠ᨿ) was the dynasty that ruled Lan Na Kingdom for over 260 years, from the reign of Mangrai to Mekuti. The dynasty entered its period of decline when a Burmese spy (Upanikkhit), embedded in Chiang Mai under the orders of Bayinnaung, reported back that the city was at its weakest. Upon receiving this intelligence, Bayinnaung led the army to seize Chiang Mai in 1558 (B.E. 2101). The Burmese forces captured the city in just three days with little resistance. The reigning king of Chiang Mai at the time fled to Pa Pae Noi (Chiang Saen), according to historical records from the Ming dynasty.

Six years later, the Burmese deposed Mekuti on charges of rebellion. Bayinnaung then appointed Wisutthithewi, another member of the Mangrai Dynasty, as the queen regnant of Chiang Mai. She reigned for 14 years before dying, marking the end of the Saenphu branch or Chiang Mai branch of the Mangrai Dynasty.

However, the Mangrai royal lineage continued in Chiang Tung (Kengtung), where a descendant of Chaiyasongkhram ruled. Later, after the British conquest of Burma, the Mangrai descendants of Kengtung migrated back to Lan Na, which was then under the rule of the Chet Ton dynasty.