Kingdom of Heokam or Kingdom of Chiang Hung () was a political entity of Tai Lue people centered on the city of Chiang Hung or modern Jinghong the capital of Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture. The kingdom, in the most powerful state in the 13th century, covered a large area of northern highlands before being overwhelmed by neighboring powers such as Yuan dynasty, Lanna kingdom, and Burmese Empire. In the late 18th century, the Siamese went on the immense campaign to move the majority of Tai Lue people to Lanna. Nowadays, a large number of Tai Lue people can be found in the northern provinces of Thailand. The assimilation policies of Mao Zedong in the 20th century further encouraged Tai Lue diaspora.

History

Early history

Paya Jueang () or Chao Jueang Han () was said to wage wars with the native Akha and other Tai peoples in the area and established the kingdom in favor of Tai Lue people at Chiang Hung or Heo Kam on Mekong in 1180. In the early 13th century, King Inmueng greatly expanded Heokam territories. The tributaries of Heokam kingdom includes Kengtung, Ngoen Yang, Thaeng (modern Dien Bien Phu – the capital of Tai Dam people), and Xieng Thong (Luang Prabang), making Heokam the sole leader of Tai kingdoms in the north. The Tai Lue people then began scattering throughout Heokam’s area of influence.

However, Heokam then fell to the Mongol invasions in 1292 and became a tributary of Yuan dynasty. The Mongols granted the title Chao Saenwi Fa () and the surname of Dao to the Kings of Chiang Hung. The power vacuum in the area was filled by newly-formed Lanna kingdom evolving from Ngoen Yang state. Mangrai the Great of Lanna put Chiang Hung under Lanna tributary. The Ming dynasty recorded the kingdom in the name of Cheli (). However, Lanna authority weakened in the early 16th century and Heokam enjoyed a brief period of autonomy until Lanna was conquered by Burmese Toungoo dynasty in 1558. The Burmese under Bayinnaung had already put the area under its control and Chiang Hung became a Burmese tributary. The Burmese divided Heokam into twelve pans (administration units), therefore giving the name Sipsong Panna (i.e. Twelve thousand fields). Sipsong Panna served as the battlegrounds between Burma and the Qing dynasty.

Heokam faced three centuries of Burmese rule. In efforts to recover the manpower taken by Burma, Buddha Yodfa Chulalok ordered Prince Adthavorapaño of Nan to invade Kengtung and Chiang Hung to gather the Tai peoples there into Nan and other Lanna cities. Today, Nan hosts the largest Tai Lue community in Thailand. Also King Kawila of Chiangmai invaded Chiang Hung to get the people. The Tai Lue people and culture therefore surged into Lanna.

Dynastic struggle

A dynastic struggle in 1847 brought chaos to Chiang Hung. Siamese chronicles have the details about the event:

King Mahawan of Chiang Hung died in 1847, to be succeeded by his son Prince Sarawan. However, Mahawan's uncle Prince Mahakhanan took the throne. Prince Sarawan fled to Dali in dismay and sought supports from Qing dynasty. Sarawan returned and killed Mahakhanan, Mahakhanan's son, Prince Nokam, went to Ava to gain supports from Pagan Min. The Burmese invaded and took Chiang Hung - culminating a large Tai Lue emigration into Lanna. Prince Nokam was then crowned but was later killed by his own nobles. Ava then re-installed Sarawan as the king.

Sarawan's brother, Oalnawudh, fled to Luang Prabang and proceeded to Bangkok in 1852. The Siamese nobles then saw this as an opportunity to gain control over Shan states and Chiang Hung and planned to take Kengtung on the way to Chiang Hung. The Siamese invaded the north but were unable to penetrate the mountainous highlands. In 1855, another attempt was made to march to Chiang Hung but yet failed.

Later history and legacy

Chiang Hung then came under the suzerainty of Qing dynasty for about a century. After the Chinese Empire was overthrown by the revolution, the kingdom status of Chiang Hung technically ended. In 1953, the armies of People's Republic of China seized Chiang Hung. Some royal members fled to northern Thailand. The modern descendants royal family of Chiang Hung still bear the surname Dao.