History of Isan - Siam

Siam

This new power vacuum was filled by the newly founded Siamese kingdoms, Thonburi and Bangkok, following the fall of Ayutthaya to the Burmese. Isan area and Laos were divided into a series of muang with varying degrees of autonomy, but each paying tribute to Siam.

With the rise of King Taksin, Siam began, perhaps for the first time, expanding its 'direct' control to the region. Siam forces invaded and took control of Luang Prabang and Vientiane kingdoms. Isan region were brought under more severe control of Siam.

During late 18th century to early 19th century, there was also struggle between the three Lao kingdoms of Luang Prabang, Vientiane and the newly founded Champassak. In 1718, a Lao emigration in the company of an official in the service of King Nokasad of Champasak, founded Muang Suwannaphum as the first recorded population of Lao in the Chi River valley — indeed anywhere in the interior of the plateau. The 'losers' and 'dissidents' began migrating or taking refuge into the area of Isan. Most of them recognized the superior status of Siam, in accord with what 20th century scholars later described as the Mandala (Southeast Asian history) system. Under this system, Muang leaders were granted something equivalent to European 'fiefdom' and Thai feudal titles as 'governor', having full right of ruling over their towns. Thus, they eventually became the subjects of Siamese royal court in Bangkok. New towns were founded such as Chaiyaphum, Udon Thani, Khon Kaen and Ubon Ratchathani, along with many minor towns such as Han Chai Cham Na.

In 1827, King Anouvong (or Chao Anu) of Vientiane rebelled against Siam. After a successful attack on the stronghold of Korat, he was defeated and died in a cage; the victor then brought his army to rest in Yasothon where he raised a memorial. The defeat of Anu's revolt was followed by forced migrations from defeated Lao kingdoms to Isan, further increasing the dominance of Lao culture in the region but weakening the muang of modern-day Laos. According to traditional rule, the governors of these new towns were semi-autonomous. They had right to rule, to tax their own subject, part of which might be transferred to Bangkok periodically. If time of war, these local rulers had a duty to send troops to defend Siam.

Following defeat in the Franco-Siamese War, Siam ceded Luang Prabang and Champasak to France in 1893 and 1904. Isan became the kingdom's north-east frontier as the 'buffer zone' between French Indochina and Siam, with Siam becoming a 'buffer zone' between Briton and France with the Entente cordiale. Thus began the process of annexation of Isan area into the modern Siamese nation.

Prince Damrong Rajanubhab as the new Minister of Interior (1892,) introduced the Monthon administration system known as thesaphiban (เทศาภิบาล - literally, control over territory) - officially adopted by the 1897 Local Administration Act, which transferred much power from the traditional provincial governors drawn from the local nobility to the newly established monthon commissioners and civil servants (รองอำมาตย์ - court support) appointed by Bangkok. In 1902, local revolts broke out in Isan, often led by charismatic religious leaders called Phu Me Boon ผู้มีบุญ) or Phi Bun ผีบุญ Holy man). One of the most serious of these rebellions (Prakot Kan Pi Bun ปรากฏการณ์ผีบุญ) recalled the resistance toThonburi authority by the monk Chao Phra Faang, 1768–1770. A former monk and Phu Mi Bun in the Ubon Ratchathani area headed a millenarian sect inspired by his predictions of 'apocalyptic' vision. His apocalyptic prophecy created panic among almost all of the Isan people until the Bangkok government eventually crushed it.

From the 20th century onwards, Siam gradually consolidated its control over Isan through a programme of "Thaification". The introduction of a national school system in the 1920s replaced instruction by monks in the Isan Lao language with teaching in the Thai language only. Radio and television, when they began, also broadcast in Thai. They included (and still do) twice daily broadcasts of the national anthem.

Even after the Revolution in 1932, which the democratic rule started, Isan had been ignored from newly 'democratic' Thai government. Most of the region was underdeveloped. Apparently new or necessary infrastructure were hardly built. Albeit the biggest part of Thailand, until now, there are still only two railways in the region and most of modern paved roads were built in the 1960s and 1970s.