Kings of Luang Prabang

The Luang Prabang Phraya dynasty claimed descent from Phraya Lang who ascended the throne in 1271. Below is a reverse timeline of all the kings of Luang Prabang back as far as the founding of this dynasty.

Sisavang Vatthana (r.1959 - 1975)

Sisavang Vatthana (1907 - c.1979) studied law and political science in France and in 1930 became Secretary General of
the Kingdom of Luang Prabang. In 1945 when the Free Lao Government was briefly established Sisavang Vathhana joined the Free French forces to assist in re-establishing the French Protectorate. He became King of Laos in November 1959 after the death of his father. As a constitutional monarch he gave support to the government's "Neutralist" position for many years. He postponed his formal coronation to wait for a time when Laos would be at peace, but as events turned out his formal coronation was never held. He was forced to abdicate on 1st December 1975,then being appointed as Supreme Advisor to the President of the LPDR. The position was in reality meaningless. In March 1977 he was arrested together with the Queen and Crown Prince and sent to a prison camp in Vieng Xay where it is believed he died c.1979. The Lao government has never officially acknowledged or explained his death.

Sisavang Vong (r.1904 - 1959)

Sisavang Vong (1885 - 1959) was the first Lao monarch to be educated in France, studying at École Coloniale in Paris before ascending to the Luang Prabang throne in April 1904. After the Japanese seized control of French Indochina in March 1945 he proclaimed Laos as an independent nation but just four month later when Japan was defeated at the end of World War II he tried to rescind this proclamation and return Laos to the status of a French Protectorate. As a result of this he was briefly arrested by the Free Lao movement led by his cousin Prince Phetsarath. By April 1946 the French had re-established their control of Laos by force and Sisavang Vong was restored as the King of Laos. Sisavang Vong died in 1959 six years after his country gained full independence. His remains are interred in the chedi in front of Vat That Luang. A large statue of Sisavang Vong stands in front of the old Royal Palace (Now the National Museum of Luang Prabang). An identical statue stands in front of Vat Si Muang in Vientiane. Both statues were gifts from the Soviet Union in the 1960's.

Sakkalin (r.1892 - 1904)

Sakkalin (a.k.a Kham Souk) was born 16 July 1840. In 1887 when the Chinese Haw sacked Luang Prabang he fled to Bangkok together with his father, King Oun Kham. On returning to the city the following year he was appointed regent before being crowned King on 14 July 1892 (This date is based on James McCarthy's eye-witness account. Other sources say 1894 or 1896). He died on 25 March 1904 and his remains are interred in a small chedi inside the cave at Vat Tham Sakkalin, directly across the Mekong river from Luang Prabang town.

Oun Kham (r.1868 - 1903)

Oun Kham, born 5 June 1811, was a son of King Manthaturath and a younger brother to his two predecessors on the throne. For most of his reign Luang Prabang was a vassal of Bangkok. When Luang Prabang was sacked by Chinese Haw rebels in June 1887, Oun Kham was rescued by one of Auguste Pavie's interpreters. Pavie later said that Oun Kham had at this time requested French protection for his kingdom. The kingdom formally became a French protectorate in 1893, two years before Oun Kham's death. His remains are interred in the chedi behind Vat Chomphet which stands prominently on a hill directly across the Mekong River from Luang Prabang.

Chantharath (r.1850 - 1871)

Chantharath, born 1799, was a son of King Manthaturath and a younger brother to his predecessor on the throne. He succeeded to the throne in 1850 after the death of his elder brother. Luang Prabang was a vassal of Bangkok during this period but like his predecessor Chantharath was able to exploit Bangkok's interests in the region to the benefit of his own kingdom. He also encouraged diplomatic relations with China as a counter to Siam. In 1851 a diplomatic embassy from Yunnan visited Luang Prabang and Chatharath had Vat Siphoutthabat built in honour of the visit. His remains are interred in the stupa there. Throughout his reign Luang Prabang's territory was troubled by Chinese Haw rebels which Siam assisted in suppressing.

Sukkhasoem (r.1839 - 1850)

Sukkhasoem, born 1797, was the eldest son of King Manthaturath. After the failed rebellion against Siam by Vientiane's Chao Anou in 1827, Sukkhasoem was taken to Bangkok by the Siamese where he was held until 1838. Although nominally a hostage of the Siamese, during this period he was able to establish personal relationships with the Bangkok court of Rama III and understand its operation. This knowledge probably proved invaluable after he was crowned king in 1839, allowing him to exploit Bangkok's interests in the region to the benefit of his own kingdom.

Manthaturath (r.1817 - 1836)

Manthaturath was born in 1772, the eldest son of King Anurutha. In 1788 the Siamese attacked and subdued Luang Prabang after which Manthaturath together with his father was held as a hostage in Bangkok for three years. They were only released after the intervention of a Chinese envoy. With Bangkok's permission Manthaturath ascended the throne after his father's death in 1816. In 1824 when the Siamese King Rama II died in Bangkok, King Manthaturath crucially travelled to Bangkok to prostrate himself in front of the new king Rama III before ordaining as a monk at Wat Phra Keo to pay his respects to the deceased Rama II. He stayed in Bangkok for a further two years and on his departure Rama III made a speech declaring Manthaturath to be "a loyal person...honest and steadfast". King Manthaturath rebuffed an invitation from Vientiane's Chao Anou to attack Siam together. When Chao Anou launched his attack on the Korat plateau in 1827 King Manthaturath provided military assistance to the Siamese against Vientiane. But with Vientiane eliminated Siam came into direct conflict with Vietnam. King Manthaturath assisted the Siamese in this conflict far from Bangkok and in so doing expanded Luang Prabang's control over Xieng Khouang and Sip Song Chautai. Manthaturath died in 1836. His remains are interred in the main chedi behind Vat That Luang.

Anurutha (r.1795 - 1816)

Anurutha was born in 1737, the fourth son of King Inthasom. In 1768 he was appointed as Uphalat or Vice-King. In 1788 Siam invaded Luang Prabang and for the next four years Anurutha was held hostage in Bangkok. The Siamese appointed him as king in 1791 but his position was challenged by Ong Manhku, the only son of Anurutha's elder brother King Sotika Koummane. Ong Manhku's claim to the throne was supported by China and Vietnam but in the end he was defeated and he fled into exile. Shortly after Vientiane attacked Luang Prabang with Bangkok's blessing, it being suspected that Anurutha was colluding with the Burmese. Anurutha once again found himself as a hostage in Bangkok, finally being allowed to return to Luang Prabang in 1795. He died in 1816, his remains being interred in the large chedi at the foot of Mount Phou Si facing the old Royal Palace (Luang Prabang National Museum)

Suliyavong II (r.1771 - 1791)

Suliyavong II was the seventh son of King Inthasom, but his date of birth is uncertain. In 1765 Burma attacked Luang Prabang and Suliyavong II was held as a hostage in Burma for three years. He escaped in 1768 to the Sip Song Panna region where he raised an army and himself attacked Luang Prabang, deposing his elder brother King Sotika Koumanne, who was ruling as a Burmese vassal. Suliyavong II immediately laid siege to Vientiane whose ruler he blamed for instigating the earlier Burmese attack on Luang Prabang. But Burma came to the assistance of Vientiane and after a fifteen day siege, Luang Prabang again fell to the Burmese and Suliyavong II was forced to accept his place as a vassal ruler. In 1776 the Siamese under King Taksin pushed the Burmese out of Chiang Mai and this allowed Luang Prabang to also free itself from Burmese suzerainty. Suliyavong II unsuccessfully attempted to get the Siamese to attack Vientiane for allegedly conspiring with the Burmese. However in 1779 King Taksin did send his armies to attack Vientiane and Suliyavong II was quick to send troops to assist. Despite this show of support Suliyavong II was forced to accept Siamese suzerainty. In 1788 he was summoned to Bangkok by King Rama I where he was held as a hostage until his death in 1791. For three years Siamese commissioners administered Luang Prabang.

Sotika Koummane (r.1750 - 1771)

Sotika Koummane was the second son of King Inthasom and succeeded to the throne in 1750 after the death of his elder brother. His date of birth is uncertain. He was forced to submit to the Burmese in 1765 and ruled as a vassal until deposed in 1771 by his younger brother Suliyavong II.

Inthaphom (r.1749 - 1750)

Despite being the eighth son of King Inthasom, Inthaphom was elevated to the throne after his success in battle defeating the Vietnamese. After just eight months he abdicated in favour of his elder brother. Inthaphom died in 1776.

Inthasom (r.1723 - 1749)

Inthasom was the son of Prince Ratsabut who had been King Souliya Vongsa's only son but was nevertheless executed for adultery. Inthasom failed in a bid to become king on the death of his brother King Kingkitsarath in 1713. He was instead appointed as Uparat or Viceroy whilst his cousin became king. In 1723 Inthasom usurped the throne and ruled as king for a further 26 years.

Ong Kham (r.1713 - 1723)

Ong Kham was a prince in Sipsong Panna and a cousin of King Kingkitsarath. Kingkitsarath and Ong Kham seized Luang Prabang in 1707 and Kingkitsarath became king. Ong Kham succeeded Kingkitsarath on his death in 1713. He was initially challenged by Kingkitsarath's younger brother Inthasom who then accepted the position of Upalat or Viceroy in order to avoid bloodshed. But in 1723 Ong Kham was deposed by Inthasom whilst Ong Kham had been away from the city on a hunting trip. Ong Kham fled to Chiang Mai where in 1727 he was offered the throne by the nobility there because of his success in opposing the Burmese. He ruled Lan Na until his death in 1769.

Kingkitsarath (r.1707 - 1713)

Kingkitsarath was the son of Prince Ratsabut who had been King Souliya Vongsa's only son but was nevertheless executed for adultery. He was raised by his uncle, the ruler of Chiang Rung in Sipsong Panna. With his cousin Ong Kham he raised an army and successfully seized Luang Prabang which was at that time ruled from Vientiane by King Setthathirath II. They then marched on Vientiane who turned to Ayutthaya for assistance. The Siamese sent an army north which resolved the situation by partitioning the ancient Lan Xang kingdom. King Setthathirath II remained the ruler of Vientiane (Champasak in the south would break away in 1713) whilst Kingkitsarath became the first king of an independent Luang Prabang.

Setthathirath II (r.1698 - 1707)

Also known as Xai Ong Ve, Setthathirath II was a nephew of Souliya Vongsa whose father, an elder brother of Souliya Vongsa, had been exiled to Vietnam. On the death of Souliya Vongsa the Vietnamese emperor helped install Setthathirat II as a vassal ruler on the Lan Xang throne, deposing King Nantharat in the process. In 1705 Setthathirat II had the Prabang Buddha image moved from Luang Prabang to Vientiane, thereby ensuring he had little support from the people of Luang Prabang. In 1707 Kingkitsarath captured Luang Prabang and installed himself as king of the northern kingdom.

Nantharat (r.1695 - 1698)

Nantharat was a cousin of Souliya Vongsa and governor of Sikhottabong who seized the throne in 1695 from the usurper Tian Thala. However he in turn was deposed and executed by Xai Ong Ve, Setthathirat II in 1698.

Tian Thala (r.1695)

Tian Thala had been a senior noble with the title Phya Muang Chandra under King Souliya Vongsa, but was not part of the royal blood line. It appears that he took advantage of the unclear succession after Souliya Vongsa died and seized the throne himself. In an attempt to legitimise his position he married a daughter of Souliya Vongsa. Nevertheless he was unpopular and after just six months he was deposed by Nantharat.

Souliya Vongsa (r.1638 - 1695)

Born in 1618 Souliya Vongsa ascended to the Lan Xang throne in Vientiane in 1638. After many years of instability his 57 year reign restored peace and prosperity for the Lan Xang kingdom. During his reign the first European visitors arrived in Vientiane. His success was partly attributed to his fair but firm application of the law to all his subjects. When his only son was found guilty of adultery he was not spared the death penalty which had the unfortunate consequence of creating a succession crisis after Souliya Vongsa's passing in 1695. The unclear succession led directly to the division of Lan Xang into three seperate kingdoms.

Vixai and Tone Kham (r. 1633 - 1638)

The chronicles are unclear about this period when these two sons of Voravongsa are both mentioned as the ruler. Possibly they ruled jointly to avoid a succession conflict.

Mone Keo (r. 1627 - 1633)

The eldest son of Voravongsa succeeded to the throne on his fathers death. He is succeeded by his two brothers about six years later but the exact date is not known.

Bandith Phothisarath II (r. 1623 - 1627)

Also known as Phothisan, he was a grandson of Saen Soulintha and hence not of royal descent.

Oupayuvarath (r. 1622 - 1623)

Oupayuvatarath was either a son or a grandson of Saen Soulintha and hence not of royal descent.

Voravongsa II (r. 1596 - 1622)

Also known as Thammikarath, he was a nephew of Setthathirath. The exact date of Voravongsa II's ascension appears to be uncertain being variously recorded as 1596, 1598 or 1603. There was possibly a period when a person named Vorapita acted as regent prior to Voravongsa II's ascension.

Nokaeo Kuman (r. 1591 - 1596)

A son of Setthathirath he cam e to the throne after an eight year inter-regnum period caused by the Burmese invasion.

Nakhon Noi (r. 1582 - 1583)

A son of Saen Soulintha and hence not of royal descent.

Saen Soulintha (Re-instated) (r. 1580 - 1582)

Voravongsa I (r. 1575 - 1579)

A son of Phothisarath

Saen Soulintha (r. 1571 - 1575)

After the mysterious disappearance of Setthathirath, Saen Soulintha, who was not of royal descent, was crowned King of Lan Xang.

Setthathirath (r. 1550 - 1571)

Appointed by his father Phothisarath to the Lan Na throne (Chiang Mai) in 1547 he became ruler of Lan Xang on the death of his father in 1550. He returned to Xieng Thong with some reluctance and soon after lost his position as King of Lan Na. As King of Lan Xang he decided to move his capital south to Vientiane and c.1563 donated his palace grounds for the building of Vat Xieng Thong, considered today to be the most beautiful temple in Laos. He also changed the name of the city to Luang Prabang, to denote its exalted status as the residence of the Prabang Buddha. He disappeared in mysterious circumstances (The chronicles are silent on the matter) whilst on a military campaign in the south, resulting in another period of instability.

Phothisarath (r. 1520 - 1550)

The eldest son of Visoun, Phothisarath was also a very devout Buddhist. Under his reign several of the towns most famous temples were built. But his piety also led to intolerance and in 1527 he issued a famous edict banning spirit worship throughout Lan Xang. Although this led to the destruction of many shrines used for making offering to the local phi it demonstrably failed to eradicate spirit worship from Luang Prabang.

Visoun (r. 1501 - 1520)

Third son of Chakkaphat, Visoun was a pious Buddhist who's first act on becoming king was to bring the Prabang Buddha up from Vientiane to reside in his capital at Vat Visounarat which he built, no doubt at considerable cost, especially for this purpose.

Som Phou (r. 1496 - 1501)

Son of La Saen Tai

La Saen Tai (r. 1486 - 1496)

Son of Chakkaphat

Souvanna Banlong (r. 1479 - 1486)

A son of Chakkaphat he became king after successfully wresting Xieng Thong back from the Vietnamese occupiers in 1479. He offered the throne back to his father who instead abdicated having suffered the shame of fleeing from the enemy.

Chakkaphat Phaen Phaeo (r. 1442 - 1479)

Chakkaphat, a son of Sam Saen Tai, came to the throne after an inter-regnum period of about three years following the chaos of the Maha Thevi period. He is the first ruler to take a Buddhist name (The Lao form of the Pali word cakkavattin which refers to a just and rightous king) showing the increasing influence of Buddhism probably coming from Lan Na. After ruling well for 23 years he abandoned his throne when the Vietnamese attached Xieng Thong because of a dispute of a white elephant.

Maha Thevi (r. 1438 - 1439)

The only female ruler of Lan Xang, historians are unclear whether Maha Thevi was the wife, sister or daughter of Chao Sam Sen Tai or possibly the aged second queen of Chao Fa Ngum from Ayutthaya. She appears to have been the power behind a period of great instability on the throne which culminated in her taking the throne herself. There is considerable uncertainty around the dates of her rule and the dates of the rulers during her period of dominance from 1428 until 1439 (Even who were the rulers is uncertain) .

Kham Koet (r. 1436 - 1438)

Not of royal descent

Khai Bua Ban (r. 1435 - 1436)

Luxai (r. 1434)

Reigned for only six months

Kham Temsa (r. 1433)

Reigned for only five months

Khon Kham (r. 1431- 1432)

A son of Sam Sen Tai. Possibly reigned for eighteen months.

Yukhon (r. 1430)

A son of Lan Kham Daeng. Ruled for eight months.

Kham Teun (r. 1429)

A son of Sam Sen Tai. Possibly reigned for five months.

Phommatat (r. 1428)

A son of Lan Kham Daeng. Ruled for ten months.

Lan Kham Daeng (r. 1416 - 1428)

Lan Kham Daeng was the eldest son of Sam Saen Tai and continued the prosperous period that his father had established. After his death in 1428 his remains were interred at Vat Manorom. Subsequently there was a period of great instability on the throne which lasted until the death of Maha Thevi in 1439.

Sam Saen Tai (r. 1373 - 1416)

The eldest son of Fa Ngum, Chao Oun Hueun ascended to the throne after his father was deposed by the discontented nobles. Around 1389 he ordered a census of his army thereby learning that he had 400,000 Khmer/Mon troops and 300,000 Lao troops. This led to his regnal name of Sam Saen Tai, "the 300,000 Tai". His reign was generally peaceful and prosperous.

Fa Ngum (r. 1353 - 1373)

Fa Ngum is remembered as the founder of Lan Xang. He was born in 1316 at Xieng Dong Xieng Thong, the son of Fa Ngiao, a.k.a. Chao Phi Fa, who was exiled from the kingdom because of transgressions with the king's concubines when Fa Ngum was three years old. Other stories say Fa Ngum was exiled because he had been born with 33 teeth fully formed, which was seen as a bad omen. Either way, he grew up in Angkor under the care of King Jayavarman Paramesvara and married a Khmer princess Kaeo Keng Nya. In 1349 Fa Ngum headed north at the head of a Khmer army to reclaim the throne of Lan Xang. On the way his army and entourage grew in size as they subjugated smaller towns. He avoided conflict with the powerful meuang of Vientiane but instead made an alliance with the King of Xieng Khouang and then with the Vietnamese, claiming territory as far east as Sam Neua and Meuang Thene (Dien Bien Phu). By 1353 he was ready to take on Xieng Thong, which he took after three battles. Now King of Xieng Thong Fa Ngum declared that his kingdom would hence forth be known as Lan Xang, Land of a Million Elephants, a statement to the world about the power of his army. He carried on with his military campaigns in Chiang Saen, Chiang Hung and Sipsongpanna. Finally in 1356 Fa Ngum faced the army of Vientiane and in an epic battle involving hundreds of war elephants and tens of thousands of men, Vientiane was defeated. Lan Xang was now the dominant Lao kingdom.
After the death of his queen Kaeo Keng Nya in1368 Fa Ngum appears to have lost interest in ruling leaving day-to-day management of affairs to his ministers. This appears to have resulted in corruption and a decay in law and order. Fa Ngum chose to lead further military campaigns to expand his kingdom. In 1373 he was deposed and exiled to Meuang Nan where he died two years later.

Note : The earlier dates of the dynasty are from the Luang Prabang chronicles. These primary sources are not like modern historical records and are often unclear and contradictory. At many points dates and sometimes even names of rulers are uncertain. For a list of different possible dates of rulers see Simms [1999] Pg 217 and also Stuart-Fox [1998] Pg 147.

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