Phayu

Phayu (Northern Thai: ᨻᩕ᩠ᨿᩣᨹᩣᨿᩪ, Phāyu: Thai: พญาผายู) was a monarch of Lan Na who reigned from 1337^[1]/1345^[2] to 1355^[1]/1367.^[2] He was the son of Khamfu and was originally known as Chao Phayu. He ascended the throne following the death of his father, who, according to legend, died after being bitten by a mermaid or a crocodile. According to the Sip-Ha Rajawong Chronicle, the account of his accession is recorded as follows:

Key Information

Phayu ᨻᩕ᩠ᨿᩣᨹᩣᨿᩪ
King of Lan Na
Phraya in Chiang Mai
Reign	1337/1345–1355/1367
Predecessor	Khamfu
Successor	Kue Na
Born	1298
Died	1355/1367
Spouse	Chitradevi
Issue	Kue Na Thao Maha Phrom
Dynasty	Mangrai
Father	Khamfu
Religion	Theravada Buddhism
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"At that time, Chao Pho Thao Phayu was 28 years old. All the ministers and royal officials held a coronation ceremony and made him Phraya in Chiang Mai in the year of the Chicken, the 707th year of the Chula Sakarat^[3]"

After ascending the throne, he relocated the capital from Chiang Saen, where his father had moved it, back to Chiang Mai.

According to tradition, Phayu was a righteous ruler who upheld the Dasavidha-rājadhamma. His reign was marked by peace and prosperity, and Buddhism flourished under his rule. He died in 1355 at the age of 57. The ministers then unanimously invited Thao Kue Na, his son, who had been governing Chiang Saen, to succeed him as king.