Lavo Kingdom

Kingdom of Lavo
450–1388
1000–1100 Light Blue: Lavo Kingdom Red: Khmer Empire Green: Hariphunchai Light Green: Srivijaya Yellow: Champa Blue: Đại Việt Pink: Pagan Kingdom
Capital		Lavo (until 1087) Ayutthaya (1087–1388)
Languages		Mon language
Religion		Hinduism Theravada Buddhism Mahayana Buddhism
Government		Monarchy
Historical era		Middle Ages
•	Formation	450
•	Annexed into Ayutthaya Kingdom	1388
Preceded by Succeeded by Dvaravati Hariphunchai Ayutthaya Kingdom

The Kingdom of Lavo was a political entity (mandala) on the left bank of the Chao Phraya River in the Upper Chao Phraya valley from the end of Dvaravati civilization, around the 7th century, until 1388. The original center of Lavo civilization was Lavo (modern Lopburi), but the capital shifted southward to Ayutthaya around the 11th century, whereupon the state became the Ayutthaya Kingdom according to recent historical analysis.

The legendary first king of Lavo, Phraya Kalavarnadit, was said to have established the city around 450 CE as one of the Dvaravati city-states. Kalavarnadit established a new era called the Chulasakaraj, which was the era used by the Siamese and the Burmese until the 19th century.

Isanavarman I of the Chenla Kingdom expanded Khmer influence to the Chao Phraya valley through his campaigns around the 7th century. Dvaravati cities that fell under Khmer hegemony became Lavo, while the Western cities were spared from Khmer hegemony and formed Suvarnabhumi. Lavo was the center from which Khmer authority ruled over the Dvaravati.

The only native language found during early Lavo times is the Mon language. However, there is debate whether Mon was the sole ethnicity of Lavo. Some historians point out that Lavo was composed of mixed Mon and Lawa people (a Palaungic-speaking people), with the Mons forming the ruling class. It is also hypothesized that the migration of Tai peoples into Chao Phraya valley occurred during the time of the Lavo kingdom.

Theravada Buddhism remained a major belief in Lavo although Hinduism and Mahayana Buddhism from the Khmer Empire wielded considerable influence. Around the late 7th century, Lavo expanded to the north. In the Northern Thai Chronicles, including the Cāmadevivaṃsa, Camadevi, the first ruler of the Mon kingdom of Hariphunchai, was said to be a daughter of a Lavo king.