page_title: Monthon
section_title: North
hierarchical_section_title: Monthon / List of monthons / North
caption_attribution_description: English: Map of Thailand (Siam) with the provincial boundaries as of 1915 and the Monthon colorcoded
context_page_description: Monthon were administrative subdivisions of Thailand at the beginning of the 20th century. The Thai word monthon is a translation of the word mandala, in its sense of a type of political formation. The monthon were created as a part of the Thesaphiban bureaucratic administrative system, introduced by Prince Damrong Rajanubhab which, together with the monthon, established step-by-step today's present provinces, districts, and communes throughout Thailand. Each monthon was led by a royal commissioner called Thesaphiban, later renamed to Samuhathesaphiban. The system was officially adopted by the 1897 Local Administration Act, after some monthon had been established and administrative details were sorted out.
context_section_description: Phayap (Thai: มณฑลพายัพ): Sanskrit Northwest. or Monthon Lao Chiang (Thai: มณฑลลาวเฉียง). In 1899, this northwestern monthon was described in Thai as monthon fai tawan tok chiang nuea (มณฑลฝ่ายตะวันตกเฉียงเหนือ; literally "northwest-side circle"). In 1900, this was shortened to the Sanskrit for "northwest". The actual administrative reform was established gradually between 1907 and 1915, succeeding the previous high commissionership. It covered the northern principalities of former Lan Na, the provinces Chiang Mai, Lamphun, Mae Hong Son, Lampang, Chiang Rai, Nan, and Phrae.
  Maharat (Thai: มณฑลมหาราษฎร์): Monthon Maharat was created in 1915, when Monthon Phayap was split into two halves. It covered the eastern part of former Phayap, i.e., the provinces Chiang Rai, Nan, Lampang, and Phrae.
  Nakhon Sawan (Thai: มณฑลนครสวรรค์): Monthon Nakhon Sawan was created in 1895, and was thus among the first created. It covered the provinces of Nakhon Sawan, Chai Nat, Kamphaeng Phet, Manorom, Phayuha Khiri, Sankhaburi, Tak, Uthai Thani. In 1932 the monthon was incorporated into Monthon Ayutthaya.
  Phitsanulok (Thai: มณฑลพิษณุโลก): Monthon Phitsanulok was established in 1894. It covered the provinces Phitsanulok, Phichai, Phichit, Sukhothai, Sawankhalok.
  Phetchabun (Thai: มณฑลเพชรบูรณ์): Monthon Phetchabun was split off from Monthon Nakhon Ratchasima in 1899. It consisted of the two provinces Lom Sak and Phetchabun, which were later merged. It then became the only monthon covering a single province. It was temporarily included into Monthon Pitsanulok from 1903-1907, before it was finally abolished in 1915 and incorporated into Monthon Phitsanulok.
caption: Map of Thailand 1915
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