Sisavang Vatthana facts for kids

{{Infobox royalty | name = Sisavang Vatthana | succession = King of Laos | image = Savang Vatthana 1959.jpg | caption = Sisavang Vatthana on 3 November 1959, shortly after his accession upon the death of his father on 29 October. | reign = 29 October 1959 – 2 December 1975 | coronation = | reg-type = Prime Ministers

| regent =

| predecessor = Sisavang Vong | successor = Monarchy abolished;
Prince Souphanouvong as President | heir = | spouse = Queen Khamphoui | issue = Crown Prince Vong Savang
Princess Savivanh Savang
Princess Thala Savang
Prince Sisavang Savang
Prince Sauryavong Savang | title = | royal house = Khun Lo Dynasty | royal anthem = | father = Sisavang Vong | mother = Kham-Oun I | birth_date = (1907-11-13)13 November 1907 | birth_place = Luang Phrabang, French Laos | death_date = 13 May 1978(1978-05-13) (aged 70) | death_place = Sam Neua, Laos | religion = Theravada Buddhism

|}

Sisavang Vatthana (born November 13, 1907 – died May 13, 1978) was the last king of the Kingdom of Laos. He ruled from 1959 after his father passed away. His time as king ended in 1975 when the Pathet Lao group took control of the country. After this, he and his family were sent to a special camp by the new government. He also served briefly as the Prime Minister of Laos in 1951.

Contents

• Early Life of King Sisavang Vatthana

• Education and Family Life

Prime Minister of Laos
In office 15 October 1951 – 21 November 1951
Monarch	Sisavang Vong
Preceded by	Phoui Sananikone
Succeeded by	Souvanna Phouma
Signature

• Becoming King of Laos

• Challenges and Civil War

• End of His Reign

• Life in Captivity and Passing

• His Children
• See also

Early Life of King Sisavang Vatthana

Prince Savang Vatthana was born on November 13, 1907. His birthplace was the Royal Palace in Luang Phrabang. He was the son of King Sisavang Vong and Queen Kham-Oun I. He was the second of five children in his family.

Education and Family Life

When he was 10 years old, Prince Savang went to study in France. He attended a school in Montpellier and then a university in Paris. This university trained French diplomats. After ten years overseas, he had forgotten how to speak Lao. When he returned, he needed help from a palace official to learn it again.

On August 7, 1930, he married Queen Khamphoui. They had five children together. Their children were Crown Prince Vong Savang, Prince Sisavang Savang, Prince Sauryavong Savang, Princess Savivanh Savang, and Princess Thala Savang. The family enjoyed playing tennis together. They also liked to watch big tennis games when they traveled. The prince was a very religious person. He was a strong follower of Theravada Buddhism. He took his role as protector of the state religion very seriously.

French General Salan and Prince Savang in Luang Prabang, 4 May 1953

During World War II, he represented his father to the Japanese forces. His father sent him to the Japanese headquarters in Saigon. There, he strongly protested against the Japanese actions. This was when they invaded Laos and forced it to declare independence from France.

Becoming King of Laos

In 1951, Savang worked as the Prime Minister. When his father became ill on August 20, 1959, Savang was named Regent. This meant he would rule in his father's place. On October 29, 1959, he became king after his father passed away. However, he was never officially crowned. He wanted to wait until the civil war in Laos ended.

Challenges and Civil War

The king was very involved in politics. He tried to make Laos stable after a lot of political trouble. This trouble started with the Geneva Conference in July 1954. This meeting gave Laos full independence. But it did not decide who would rule the country. Because of this, three princes argued over who should be Prime Minister.

Prince Souvanna Phouma was a neutral leader. He worked from Vientiane. The Soviet Union supported his claim. Prince Boun Oum was from the south. He was pro-United States. The US recognized him as Prime Minister. In the north, Prince Souphanouvong led the leftist Pathet Lao movement. He had support from North Vietnam and the Communists. To avoid arguments, everyone dealt with the pro-Western king.

In 1961, most of the National Assembly voted Boun Oum into power. The king left Luang Prabang and visited the capital. He gave his blessing to the new government. In 1962, the king formed a government with different groups. But it quickly fell apart.

In March 1963, the king and his Prime Minister, Souvanna Phouma, visited 13 countries. These countries had signed the Geneva Conference. This conference promised to keep Laos "neutral." The king's trip was a "diplomatic mission." He started in the USSR, where he received gifts. Then he met US President John F. Kennedy in Washington, D.C..

In 1964, there were many changes in power. This led to the Pathet Lao on one side. On the other side were the neutral and pro-Western groups. From this point, the Pathet Lao refused to join any government. They also refused national elections. This is when the Laotian Civil War began.

End of His Reign

On August 23, 1975, Pathet Lao forces entered Vientiane. This was the last city they captured. The government led by Phouma lost its power. On December 2, King Vatthana was forced to give up his throne by the Pathet Lao. This ended the monarchy, which had lasted 600 years. He was given a title called "Supreme Advisor to the President." But this position had no real power.

Life in Captivity and Passing

King Vatthana refused to leave Laos. In 1976, he gave the royal palace to the Lao Government. It was turned into a museum. He moved to a private home nearby. Later, he was placed under house arrest. In March 1977, the Communist leaders were worried. They feared Vatthana might escape and lead a resistance. So, they arrested him. They also arrested the Queen, Crown Prince Vong Savang, Prince Sisavang, and his brothers. They were sent to a northern province called Viengxai. He was taken to Xam Neua and held in "Camp Number One." This camp held important officials from the old government.

While in the camp, he and other royal family members could move freely. They could walk around their areas during the day. Members of the politburo, including Sopuhanouvong, often visited them. Vatthana was the oldest prisoner in the camp. He turned 70 during his time there. The average age of prisoners was around 55.

In 1978, the government said that Vatthana, Queen Khamphoui, and Crown Prince Vong Savang had died from malaria. Other reports said they suffered from hard work and not enough food. Some recent information suggests the King died in mid-March 1980. However, according to Kaysone Phomvihane, Vatthana died in 1984, when he was 77 years old. After the deaths of Vatthana and the Crown Prince, the King's youngest son, Sauryavong Savang, became the head of the Laotian royal family. He acted as a regent for his nephew, Crown Prince Soulivong Savang. Sauryavong Savang passed away in Paris in 2018.

His Children

Here are the children of Savang Vatthana and Queen Khumphoui:

See also

In Spanish: Sisavang Vatthana para niños

• King Sisavang Vong
• Monarchs of Laos
• Pathet Lao
• Kingdom of Laos
• Soth Phetrasy
• Laotian Royal Family