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Uttaradit province

Uttaradit
อุตรดิตถ์
Province
Phraya Phichai Dap Hak Monument, in front of Uttaradit City Hall
Phraya Phichai Dap Hak Monument, in front of Uttaradit City Hall
Official seal of Uttaradit
Seal
Map of Thailand highlighting Uttaradit Province
Map of Thailand highlighting Uttaradit Province
Country  Thailand
Capital Uttaradit town
Government
 • Governor Phiphat Ekphaphan (since October 2016)
Area
 • Total 7,838.6 km2 (3,026.5 sq mi)
Area rank Ranked 25th
Population (2014)
 • Total 460,400
 • Rank Ranked 54th
 • Density 59/km2 (150/sq mi)
 • Density rank Ranked 68th
Time zone ICT (UTC+7)
ISO 3166 code TH-53

Uttaradit (Thai: อุตรดิตถ์, pronounced [ʔùt.tā.rā.dìt]) is one of the northern provinces (changwat) of Thailand. Neighboring provinces are (from south clockwise) Phitsanulok, Sukhothai, Phrae and Nan. To the east it borders Xaignabouli of Laos. Uttaradit is 488 km north of Bangkok, and 238 km southeast of Chiang Mai.

Uttaradit means the "port of the north" or "northern landing", as it was formerly a trade center on the Nan River.

In the Sukhothai era several city states (Mueang) subject to the king were in the area of the modern province. Mueang Fang was in modern-day Mueang Uttaradit district, Mueang Thung Yang in Laplae, and Mueang Ta Chuchok in Tron district.

During the Ayutthaya kingdom, Mueang Phichai was one of the 16 main Mueang of the Thai kingdom. In the reign of King Naresuan, the ruler of Phichai rebelled, joined by the ruler of Sawankhalok. Their revolt was suppressed and the inhabitants of both cities were forced to move south to Phitsanulok.

Following the fall of the city of Ayutthaya to the Burmese in 1767, Phichai was the site of several battles against the invaders. The ruler of Phichai succeeded in driving back the Burmese and was awarded the title - the "Lord of Pichai with a Broken Sword", as he had broken one of his swords in fierce hand-to-hand combat with the enemy.

In the reign of King Rama III Mueang Phichai controlled several Mueang of northern Siam like Nan or Phrae, and even Luang Prabang and Vientiane. At the point where the Nan river became shallow a port was established. As this town grew in importance as an important trade point, in 1887 it was made a Mueang subordinate of Phichai. 1899 the center of Phichai was moved to this new location, which was renamed to Uttaradit in 1915.


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Wikipedia

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