Sisavang Vong

King Sisavang Phoulivong
King of Laos
Reign 28 April 1904 – 20 October 1945
23 April 1946 – 29 October 1959
Predecessor Zakarine
Successor Sisavang Vatthana
Born (1885-07-14)14 July 1885
Luang Phrabang, Laos
Died 29 October 1959(1959-10-29) (aged 74)
Luang Phrabang, Laos
Spouse Princess Kham-Oun I
Khamphane
Khamla
Khamboua
Khamtip
Princess Khamtouane of Luang Prabang
Princess Kamaduni
Khamphoui
Princess Indrakama
Princess Kamuni
Princess Khamphoui
Chansy
House Luang Phrabang
Father Zakarine
Mother Thongsy

Sisavang Phoulivong (or Sisavangvong, Lao: ເຈົ້າມະຫາຊີວິດສີສະຫວ່າງວົງ) (14 July 1885 – 29 October 1959) was king of the Kingdom of Luang Phrabang and later the Kingdom of Laos from 28 April 1904 until his death on 29 October 1959.

Early life

Sisavang Vong on a Laotian Postage Stamp (1951).

He was born at Luang Phrabang on 14 July 1885. His father was Zakarine, King of Luang Phrabang and his mother was Queen Thongsy. He was educated at Lycée Chasseloup-Laubat, Saigon and l'École Coloniale, Paris. He was known as a "playboy" king. He had up to 50 children by as many as 15 wives, two of whom were his half sisters[1] and one of whom was a niece. Fourteen of the children died in the Mekong after a boating accident.

His wives included:

King of Laos

He succeeded his father as King of Luang Prabang after the death of his father, 25 March 1904. Luang Phrabang was then a French protectorate within French Indochina. He ascended the throne, at the old Royal Palace, Luang Prabang, 15 April 1904, and was crowned there, 4 March 1905. During the early years of his reign, the French built a modern palace for him, the Royal Palace of Luang Prabang for his use of residence. Under his kingdom he had united provinces Houaphan, 1931; Houakhong; Xiengkhouang and Vientiane, 1942; Champassak and Sayboury, 1946.

He was a lifelong supporter of French rule in Laos, and in 1945 he refused to cooperate with Lao nationalists and he was deposed when the Lao Issara declared the country independent. In April 1946, the French took over once again and he was reinstated as king (the first time a Lao monarch actually ruled all of what is today called Laos).

Statue of Sisavang Vong, King of Luang Phrabāng 1904-46, King of Laos 1946–59 (Grounds of the Royal Palace Museum, Luang Phrabāng)

In 1954 he celebrated his Golden Jubilee, becoming the longest-reigning king in Asia until King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand, who surpassed his reign in 2001.

When he became ill, he made his son Crown Prince Savang Vatthana regent. His son succeeded him on his death in 1959.[2] He was cremated and buried in That Luang in 1961, and during his funeral procession was transported by the royal funeral carriage, a 12-metre-high wooden hearse with a carved seven-headed serpent. Many representatives were at the state funeral including Prince Bhanubandhu Yugala, who represented Thailand.

Sisavangvong University was named in his honour, but was abolished in 1975 when the communists took power in Laos.

Because he presided over independence from the French Union, statues of him survived the communist revolution and remain in Luang Prabang and Vientiane. Both statues depict him in the act of bestowing a constitution upon the people.

Honours

See also

References

  1. ↑ laos2
  2. ↑ KING OF LAOS DIES IN PALACE' AT 74; Ruler in Southeast Asi, Since 1905... - Free Preview - The New York Times
Sisavang Vong
Born: 14 July 1885 Died: 29 October 1959
Regnal titles
Preceded by
Zakarine		 King of Laos
28 April 1904 – 20 October 1945 		Succeeded by
Independence from France
Phetsarath Rattanavongsa as de facto head of state
Preceded by
Independence from France
Phetsarath Rattanavongsa 		King of Laos
23 April 1946 – 29 October 1959 		Succeeded by
Sisavang Vatthana
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