Sisavang Vong

Sisavang Vong on a Laotian Postage Stamp (1951).

Prince Khao was born in the Golden Palace (during his father's reign) on 14th July 1885, as the eldest surviving son of His Majesty King Zakarinth and second wife Her majesty Queen consort Thong-sy. However, in boyhood Khao was sent to study at Lycée Chasseloup-Laubat, Saigon, and l'École Coloniale, where he would return to ascend the throne.

Prince Khao was named heir apparent on the 15th of April 1904, upon his father's death on the 26^th of March 1904, Khao was to ascend the throne at the Old Royal Palace, in Luang Prabang. In which the young Prince Khao was crowned on the 4th of March 1905, as His Majesty King Sisavangvong.

During the early years of his reign, the French built a modern palace for his residence, the Royal Palace of Luang Prabang. 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. In 1945 he refused to cooperate with Lao nationalists and 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 in almost 250 years that a Lao monarch actually ruled all of what is today called Laos).

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

Upon Sisavang Vong's death in 1959, he ruled Luang Prabang and Laos for 55 years. At the time of his death, he was the longest-reigning monarch in the history of modern Laos.

When he became ill, he made his son Crown Prince Savang Vatthana regent. His son succeeded him on his death in 1959.[1] He was cremated and buried in Vat That Luang (Luang Prabang) 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.

Sisavang Vong has been described as the "playboy king". He had 10 wives and 50 children, 14 of which died in a boating accident on the Mekong River.

Wives:

• Princess Kamuni (1885–1915)

• Khamphane (1896–1983), his half-sister by his father's wife Mom La; they had no children
• Khamla, a commoner
• Khamboua, a commoner
• Khamtip, a commoner
• Princess Khamtouan of Luang Prabang, his half sister (one son)
• Princess Kamaduni of the Vang Hnaxxs family
• Mom Khamphoui, a commoner
• Princess Indrakama, a daughter of Prince Jayasena, Prince Sri Dibudinha and his wife, Pong
• Princess Kamuni, daughter of Prince Ko and Princess Duangbadani
• Princess Khamphoui, the daughter of his half-brother
• Chansy (1900–1984), a commoner

• Grand Cross of the Royal Order of Cambodia – 1905
• Grand Cross of the Order of the Dragon of Annam – 1905
• Decoration of the Golden Gong, 1st Class of Annam
• Grand Cross of the Legion d'Honneur of France – 1927 (Commander – 1905)
• Grand Officer of the Order of the Black Star of Benin of France – 1935
• Grand Officer of the Order of the Crown of Belgium – 1935
• Officer of the Order of Arts and Letters of France – 1949
• Croix de Guerre with Palm of France – 1949
• Knight of the Order of the Royal House of Chakri of Thailand – 1955
• Grand Cross of the National Order of Merit of Vietnam – 1955

• Monarchs of Laos