Kingdom of Luang Phrabang

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Kingdom of Luang Phrabang
ພຣະຣາຊອານາຈັກຫລວງພະບາງ (Lao)
Phra Ratsa Anachak Luang Phabang
1707–1947
Flag of the Kingdom of Luang Phrabang (1707-1893).svg
Flag
Laos - Division territoriala vers 1750 (vuege).png
The Kingdom of Luang Phrabang and its neighbors in the 18th century
StatusVassal of Siam (1778–1893)
Part of the French protectorate of Laos (1893–1947)
Capital Luang Prabang
Common languages Lao
Religion
Theravada Buddhism
Government Absolute monarchy
• 1707–1713
Kitsarat (first)
• 1868–1895
Oun Kham
• 1904–1945/46
Sisavang Vong (last)
History 
• Dissolution of Lan Xang
1707
•  Haw wars
1865–1890
13 July – 3 October 1893
1893
• Formation of the Kingdom of Laos
1947
Currency Lat, Hoi, Phot Duang
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Blank.png Kingdom of Lan Xang
1893:
French protectorate of Laos 		Flag of Laos (1893-1952).svg
1947:
Kingdom of Laos 		Flag of Laos (1952-1975).svg
Today part of Laos
Thailand
Vietnam
China

The Kingdom of Luang Phrabang, also called Kingdom of Luang Prabang was formed in 1707 as a result of the split of the Kingdom of Lan Xang. When the kingdom split, Muang Phuan became a tributary state of Luang Prabang. Over the years the monarchy weakened even more, and was forced to become a vassal various times to the Burmese and the Siamese monarchies.

A French consulate was established in the capital of Luang Prabang in 1885. The kingdom was at this time a Siamese vassal, who feared French plans of annexing of Luang Prabang. A treaty was signed on 7 May 1886 between Siam and France recognizing Siamese suzerainty over Luang Prabang and neighboring Lao kingdoms. [1] France conducted expeditions in the region, searching for the possibility of establishing French territory there. A particularly destructive attack during the Haw wars by the Chinese Black Flag Army in 1887 saw King Oun Kham request French protection. This was accepted and signed on 27 March 1889, against Siamese protest. [2]

France and Siam went to war in 1893, culminating in the Paknam incident when France, contrary to promises it had made to Great Britain, entered Bangkok with warships. Siam was forced to accept the French ultimatum, to cede the lands east of the Mekong including its islands. The French Protectorate of Laos was officially established, with the administrative capital moved from Luang Prabang to Vientiane. However, Luang Prabang remained the seat of the royal family, whose power was reduced to figureheads while the actual power was transferred over to French officials including the vice consulate and Resident-General. [3] In January 1896, France and the United Kingdom signed an accord recognizing the border between French Laos and British Burma. Under French protection, the Kingdom of Luang Prabang became the principal kingdom of French Laos. On 11 May 1947, the Kingdoms of Luang Prabang, Vientiane, and Champassak were reorganized into the Kingdom of Laos, with the King of Luang Prabang, Sisavang Vong, becoming King of Laos. In 1954, the Kingdom of Laos gained full independence from France.

Kings of Luang Phrabang

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References

  1. ↑ Carine Hahn, Le Laos, Karthala, 1999, pp. 60–64
  2. ↑ Carine Hahn, Le Laos, Karthala, 1999, pp. 66–67
  3. ↑ Carine Hahn, Le Laos, Karthala, 1999, pp. 67–68
  4. ↑ Thant Myint-U (2006). The River of Lost Footsteps--Histories of Burma. Farrar, Straus and Giroux. pp. 98–99. ISBN   978-0-374-16342-6.
  5. 1 2 Tarling, Nicholas (1999). The Cambridge history of South East Asia: From c. 1500 to c. 1800. Vol. 1. Cambridge University Press. p. 238. ISBN   978-0-521-66370-0. ISBN   0-521-66370-9.

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