Kingdom of Luang Phrabang

Last updated
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

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of Laos</span> Aspect of Southeast Asian history

Evidence of modern human presence in the northern and central highlands of Indochina, which constitute the territories of the modern Laotian nation-state, dates back to the Lower Paleolithic. These earliest human migrants are Australo-Melanesians—associated with the Hoabinhian culture—and have populated the highlands and the interior, less accessible regions of Laos and all of Southeast Asia to this day. The subsequent Austroasiatic and Austronesian marine migration waves affected landlocked Laos only marginally, and direct Chinese and Indian cultural contact had a greater impact on the country.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lan Xang</span> Kingdom in Southeast Asia from 1353 to 1707

Lan Xang or Lancang was a Lao kingdom that held the area of present-day Laos from 1353 to 1707. For three and a half centuries, Lan Xang was one of the largest kingdoms in Southeast Asia. The kingdom is the basis for Laos's national historic and cultural identity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sisavang Vong</span> King of Laos

King Sisavangvong, known by his courtesy name Sisavangvong, was the last ruler of the Lao Kingdom of Luang Prabang and the founding king of the Kingdom of Laos. Born Prince Khao on 14 July 1885, he ascended the throne at the age of 18 following the death of his father. In keeping with Lao tradition, he took the courtesy name Sisavangvong.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Luang Prabang</span> District and municipality in Laos

Luang Phabang, or Louangphabang, commonly transliterated into Western languages from the pre-1975 Lao spelling ຫຼວງພຣະບາງ as Luang Prabang, literally meaning "Royal Buddha Image", is a city in north central Laos, consisting of 58 adjacent villages, of which 33 comprise the UNESCO Town of Luang Prabang World Heritage Site. It was listed in 1995 for unique and "remarkably" well preserved architectural, religious and cultural heritage, a blend of the rural and urban developments over several centuries, including the French colonial influences during the 19th and 20th centuries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Phetsarath Ratanavongsa</span> Laotian prime minister and prince

Prince Phetsarath Ratanavongsa (Somdej Chao Maha Uparaja Petsaraj Ratanavongsa was the 1st Prime Minister of Luang Phrabang in French Laos from 21 August 1941 to 10 October 1945, and Head of State of Laos between 12 October 1945 and 4 April 1946.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sisavang Vatthana</span> Last monarch of the Kingdom of Laos (reigned 1959–1975)

Sisavang Vatthana or sometimes Savang Vatthana was the last king of the Kingdom of Laos and the 6th Prime Minister of Laos serving from 29 October to 21 November 1951. He ruled from 1959 after his father's death until his forced abdication in 1975. His rule ended with the takeover by the Pathet Lao in 1975, after which he and his family were sent to a re-education camp by the new government.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Muang Phuan</span> Former historical principality of the Xiang Khouang Plateau

Muang Phuan or Xieng Khouang, also known historically to the Vietnamese as Trấn Ninh, was a historical principality on the Xiang Khouang Plateau, which constitutes the modern territory of Xiangkhouang Province, Laos.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zakarine</span> King of Luang Phrabang

KingZakarine was the king of Luang Prabang from 1895 to 1904.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royal Palace, Luang Prabang</span> Palace in Laos

The Royal Palace in Luang Prabang, Laos, was built in 1904 during the French colonial era for King Sisavang Vong and his family. The site for the palace was chosen so that official visitors to Luang Prabang could disembark from their river voyages directly below the palace and be received there. After Sisavang's death, the crown prince Savang Vatthana and his family were the last to occupy the grounds. In 1975, the monarchy was overthrown by the communists, and the royal family were taken to re-education camps. The palace was then converted into a national museum.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">French protectorate of Laos</span> 1893–1953 French protectorate in Southeast Asia

The French protectorate of Laos was a French protectorate in Southeast Asia of what is today Laos between 1893 and 1953—with a brief interregnum as a Japanese puppet state in 1945—which constituted part of French Indochina. It was established over the Siamese vassal, the Kingdom of Luang Phrabang, following the Franco-Siamese crisis of 1893. It was integrated into French Indochina and in the following years further Siamese vassals, the Principality of Phuan and Kingdom of Champasak, were annexed into it in 1899 and 1904, respectively.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oun Kham</span> King of Luang Prabang

Oun Kham was King of Luang Prabang during 1868-1887 and a second time between 1889 and 1895. The last two years of his reign ended with the establishment of a French protectorate over Laos. When unable to hold off outlaw Chinese Black Flag Army forces, he sought assistance from Rattanakosin for help. When the Siamese army left in 1887, the band of the White Tai pirate Deo Van Tri had overwhelmed Luang Prabang, which made Oun Kham seek refuge at Pak Lay. On 7 June 1887 the Lao royal capital was seized and sacked; the elderly ruler barely escaped with his life. Between his two ruling periods he was exiled in Bangkok where he gave assistance to Auguste Pavie.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lao Issara</span> Laotian anti-French movement (1945–49)

The Lao Issara was an anti-French, nationalist movement formed on 12 October 1945 by Prince Phetsarath. This short-lived movement emerged after the Japanese defeat in World War II and became the government of Laos before the return of the French. It aimed to prevent the French from restoring their control over Laos. The group disbanded in 1949.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kingdom of Vientiane</span> Former country in Southeast Asia

The Kingdom of Vientiane was formed in 1707 as a result of the split of the Kingdom of Lan Xang. The kingdom was a Burmese vassal from 1765 to 1779. It then became a Siamese vassal until 1828 when it was annexed by Siam.

Chao Kingkitsarat, also known as Kitsarat or Kitsarath, was the king of Luang Phrabang.

Surinyavong II was the king of Luang Phrabang from 1771 to 1788.

Chao Anurutha was the king of Luang Phrabang from 1792 to 1819.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lao–Siamese War (1778–1779)</span> Military conflict

Lao–Siamese War or the Siamese Invasion of Laos (1778–1779) is the military conflict between Thonburi Kingdom of Siam and the Lao kingdoms of Vientiane and Champasak. The war resulted in all three Lao kingdoms of Luang Phrabang, Vientiane and Champasak becoming Siamese tributary vassal kingdoms under Siamese suzerainty and domination in Thonburi and the subsequent Rattanakosin Period.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kingdom of Luang Prabang (Japanese puppet state)</span> Short-lived puppet state of Imperial Japan, c. 1945

The Kingdom of Luang Prabang was a short-lived puppet state of Imperial Japan, which existed from 9 March 1945 to 12 October 1945.

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.

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.