Suriyaphong Pharitdet (สุริยพงษ์ ผริตเดช)

Thai. Name of the ruler of Nan in the reign of King Rama V, with the title of Phra Chao. He was the 63rd ruler of the House of Luang Tin Maha Wong (หลวงติ๋นมหาวงศ์), the dynasty that ruled over the region of Nan for over 200 years, from 1726 AD to 1932 AD. He was born on 2 February 1831, and ruled Nan for 26 years, from 1892 AD until his death at the age of 87, on 5 April 1918 AD. In 1855, he became Phraya in the ruling family and in 1888 he was appointed the local Uparacha. On 18 November 1903, he was bestowed with the title Phra Chao Nakhon Nan, i.e. ‘Prince of Nan City’, by King Chulalongkorn. He was popularly known as Chao Suriya of Nan and today his statue stands in front of the National Museum in the city of Nan, i.e. the present-day provincial capital of Nan province. 回