Before 1892

Many provinces date back to semi-independent local chiefdoms or kingdoms, which made up the Ayutthaya Kingdom. The provinces were created around a capital city (mueang), and included surrounding villages or satellite towns. The provinces were administered either by a governor, who was appointed by the king or by a local ruling family, who were descendants of the old kings and princes of that area and had been given this privilege by the central king. De facto the king did not have much choice but to choose someone from the local nobility or an economically strong man, as against these local power groups the administration would have become impossible. The governor was not paid by the king, but instead financed himself and his administration by imposing local taxes himself. Every province was required to send an annual tribute to Bangkok.

The provinces were divided into four different classes. The first-class were the border provinces. The second-class were those that once had their own princely house. Third-class were provinces that were created by splitting them from other provinces. Fourth-class were provinces near the capital. Additionally tributary states like the principalities of Lan Na, the Laotian kingdoms of Vientiane and Luang Prabang, Cambodia, or the Malay sultanate Kedah were also part of the country, but with more autonomy than the provinces. In this Mandala system the semi-independent countries sometimes were tributary to more than one country.

New provinces were created when the population of an area outgrew the administration, but also for political reasons. If a governor became too dominant in a region former satellite cities were elevated to provincial status, as was the case with Maha Sarakham province.

Reforms of the provincial administration started in the 1870s under increased pressure from the colonial states of the United Kingdom and France. Agents were sent, especially to border areas, to impose more control on the provinces or tributary states.

Administrative reform of 1892

At the end of the 19th century King Chulalongkorn reformed the central government. In 1892 the ministry, which previously had many overlapping responsibilities, was reorganized with clear missions as in Western administrations. Prince Damrong Rajanubhab became minister of the Ministry of the North (Mahatthai), originally responsible for the northern administration. When the Ministry of the South (Kalahom) was dissolved in 1894, Prince Damrong became Minister of the Interior, responsible for the provincial administration of the whole country.

Starting in 1893 the already existing commissionaireships in some parts of the country were renamed "superintendent commissioner" (khaluang Thesaphiban), and their area of responsibility was called a monthon. In strategically important areas the monthon were created first, while in other areas the provinces kept their independence a bit longer. Several smaller provinces were reduced in status to an amphoe (district) or even lower to a tambon (sub-district) and included in a neighboring province, sometimes for administrative reasons, but sometimes to remove an uncooperative governor.

In some regions rebellions broke out against the new administrative system, usually induced by the local nobility fearing their loss of power. The most notable was the Holy Man Rebellion in 1902 in Isan. It was initially a messianic doomsday sect, but it also attacked government representatives in the northeast. The provincial town Khemarat was even burned by the rebels. After a few months the rebellion was beaten back.^[9]

After 1916, the word changwat became common to use for the provinces, partly to distinguish them from the provincial capital city (mueang or amphoe mueang), but also to stress the new administrative structure of the provinces.^[10]

When Prince Damrong resigned in 1915, the whole country was divided into 19 monthon (including the area around Bangkok, which was under the responsibility of another ministry until 1922), with 72 provinces.

In December 1915 King Vajiravudh announced the creation of regions (phak), each administered by a viceroy (upparat), to cover several monthon. Until 1922 four regions were established; however, in 1925 they were dissolved again. At the same time several monthon were merged, in an attempt to streamline administration and reduce costs.

Since 1932

The monthons were dissolved when Thailand transformed from an absolute monarchy into a constitutional monarchy in 1932, making the provinces the top level administrative division again. Several smaller provinces were also abolished at that time. During World War II, several provinces around Bangkok were merged. These changes were undone after the war. Also the occupied area from French Indochina was organized into four provinces: Phra Tabong, Phibunsongkhram, Nakhon Champasak and Lan Chang. The current province of Sukhothai was at first known as Sawankhalok. It was renamed Sukhothai in 1939 (which is why the railway system goes to Sawankhalok city and not Sukhothai city). The province, Kalasin, was reestablished in 1947 after having been dissolved in 1932.

In 1972 Phra Nakhon and Thonburi provinces were merged to form the special administrative area of Bangkok, which combines the tasks of the provinces with that of a municipality, including having an elected governor.

Starting in the second half of the 20th century some provinces were newly created by splitting them off from bigger provinces. In 1975, Yasothon province was split off from Ubon Ratchathani. In 1977, Phayao province was created from districts formerly part of Chiang Rai. In 1982, Mukdahan was split off from Nakhon Phanom. In 1993 three provinces were created: Sa Kaeo (split from Prachinburi), Nong Bua Lamphu province (split from Udon Thani), and Amnat Charoen (split from Ubon Ratchathani). The newest province is Bueng Kan, which was split off from Nong Khai effective 23 March 2011.

Former provinces merged into other provinces

Lost territories

More information Territory, Capital ...

Territory	Capital	Period	Fate	Today part of
Salaween Territory	Chiang Mai	1802–1892	Karenni State and Shan State, British Burma	Kayah State and Shan State  Myanmar
Kawtaung Territory	Chumphon	1769–1864	Mergui British Burma	Thanintharyi Myanmar
Miawadi Territory	Chiang Mai	1768–1834	Thaton British Burma	Myawaddy, Kayin State  Myanmar
Sip Song Ju Tai	none	1779–1888	4e Territoire Millitaire, Son La, Lao Kay, Yen Bay, Pho Tho, Hoa Bin French Indochina	Son La, Dien Bien, Lai Chau, Phu Tho, Yen Bai, Hoa Binh  Vietnam
Chiang Khaeng (Muang Sing)	Muang Sing	1892–1893	Shan State British Burma and Haut Mekong French Indochina	Shan State  Myanmar and Luang Namtha  Laos
Luang Phrabang	Luang Phrabang	1778–1893	Luang Phrabang French Indochina	Luang Phrabang  Laos
Chiang Khouang	Chiang Khouang	1828–1893	Tran Ninh French Indochina	Xiangkhouang  Laos
Borikhan Nikhom	Borikhan Nikhom	1828–1893	Vientiane French Indochina	Bolikhamsai  Laos
Kham Kert	Kham Kert	1828–1893	Khammouane French Indochina	Bolikhamsai  Laos
Kham Meun	Kham Meun	1828–1893	Khammouane French Indochina	Khammouane  Laos
Nakhon Phanom	Nakhon Phanom	1893	Partitioned between Nakhon Phanom  Siam and Khammouane French Indochina	Nakhon Phanom  Thailand and Khammouane  Laos
Mukdahan	Mukdahan	1893	Partitioned between Mukdahan  Siam and Savannakhet French Indochina	Mukdahan  Thailand and Savannakhet  Laos
Khemmarat	Khemmarat	1893	Partitioned between Khemmarat  Siam and Salavan French Indochina	Ubon Ratchathani  Thailand and Salavan  Laos
Nakhon Champassak	Nakhon Champassak	1780–1826 1829–1904	Partitioned between Det Udom  Siam and Bassac, Attapeu, Stung Treng French Indochina	Stung Treng  Cambodia and Salavan, Attapeu  Laos
Kham Thong Luang	Kham Tong Luang	1829–1893	Salavan French Indochina	Salavan  Laos
Salawan	Salawan	1829–1893	Salavan French Indochina	Salavan  Laos
Attapeu	Attapeu	1829–1893	Attapeu French Indochina	Attapeu  Laos
Sitadon	Sitadon	1829–1893	Bassac French Indochina	Champassak  Cambodia
Saen Pang	Saen Pang	1829–1893	Stung Treng French Indochina	Stung Treng  Cambodia
Chiang Taeng	Chiang Taeng	1829–1893	Stung Treng French Indochina	Stung Treng  Cambodia
Chaiburi	Chaiburi	1893–1904	Luang Phrabang French Indochina	Sainyabuli  Laos
Khukhan	Khukhan	1907	Partitioned between Khukhan  Siam and Kampong Thom French Indochina	Sisaket  Thailand and Stung Treng, Kampong Thom  Cambodia
Sangkha	Sangkha	1907	Partitioned between Sangkha  Siam and Battambang French Indochina	Surin  Thailand and Oddar Meanchey, Banteay Meanchey  Cambodia
Siemmarat	Siemmarat	1845–1907	Siem Reap French Indochina	Siem Reap  Cambodia
Phanom Sok	Phnom Srok	1845–1907	Siem Reap, Battambang French Indochina	Siem Reap, Oddar Meanchey, Banteay Meanchey  Cambodia
Sisophon	Sisophon	1845–1907	Battambang French Indochina	Banteay Meanchey  Cambodia
Phra Tabong	Phra Tabong	1769–1907	Battambang French Indochina	Battambang, Banteay Meanchey  Cambodia
Prachankiriket[16]	Prachankiriket	1855–1904	Pursat and Kampot, French Indochina	Pursat and Koh Kong,  Cambodia
Penang	Penang	1786–1867	Penang British Malaya	Penang  Malaysia
Lan Chang	Sama Buri	1941–1946	Luang Prabang, French Indochina	Sainyabuli and Luang Prabang,  Laos
Phra Tabong	Battambang	1941–1946	Battambang, French Indochina	Battambang and Pailin,  Cambodia
Phibunsongkhram	Sisophon	1941–1946	Battambang, Siem Reap, Kompong Thom and Stung Treng, French Indochina	Banteay Meanchey, Oddar Meanchey and Siem Reap,  Cambodia
Nakhon Champassak	Champasak	1941–1946	Kompong Thom, Stung Treng and Bassac, French Indochina	Preah Vihear and Stung Treng,  Cambodia Champasak,  Laos
Syburi	Alor Setar	1821–1909 1943–1945	Kedah, British Malaya	Kedah,  Malaysia
Palit	Kangar	1839–1909 1943–1945	Perlis, British Malaya	Perlis,  Malaysia
Kalantan	Kota Bharu	1786–1909 1943–1945	Kelantan, British Malaya	Kelantan,  Malaysia
Trangkanu	Kuala Terengganu	1786 –1909 1943–1945	Terengganu, British Malaya	Terengganu,  Malaysia
Saharat Thai Doem	Chiang Tung	1943–1945	Karenni State and Shan State, British Burma	Kayah State and Shan State  Myanmar
Tanaosi	Tanaosi	until–1767	Dawei Konbaung Dynasty	Thanintharyi Myanmar

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Map of Siam in early 1893 showing provinces