Chao Keo Naovarat

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Major General Chao Kaew Naovarat (Thai: เจ้าแก้วนวรัฐ) or In Kaeo, also transcripted "Chao Kaew Nawarat" was the 36th and last King of Lanna and Prince of Chiang Mai, reigning 1909-1939 (Thai calendar 2454-2482). He succeeded Intawarorot Suriwong (1897-1909). His seat was within Lanna's capital Chiang Mai. He never held any true administrative power. In 1914, Chao Dara Rasmi, the Princess consort of Chulalongkorn, who had a great part within the merger of Lanna with the Kingdom of Thailand, returned to Chiang Mai. The king gave her a residence at the Chedi Ngarm Palane Sala. In 1923 he built the current South Building as a wedding gift to his daughter Chao Siriprakai Na Chiengmai. Within this building, King Rama VII and Queen Ram Pai Panni stayed during 1926 on a royal visi to Chiang Mai. In 1933 Princess Phra Raja Jaya Chao Dara Rasmi died and the king oversaw her coffin being put to lay in state at the Chedi Ngarm Palace (remained in state from December 9, 1933 to April 23, 1934).

In 1934 he built the building of the current U.S. Consulate General at Chiang Mai, which replaced the old teak house. In 1938, the king's daughter, the princess Chao Siriprakai Na Chiengmai died. Upon his death in 1939 the royalty was abolished and the throne of the Lanna Kings, who had reigned over a Kingdom that was founded in the same period as Sukhothai and which existed for several centuries more, was replaced with a governors seat, a seat which was appointed from Bangkok. The King's coffin lay in state at the Chedi Ngarm Palane Sala from June 3 to July 23 1939. With him ended the reign of the Seven Princes Dynasty.