Kingdom of Laos Cabinet


Minister of Economy and Planning
In office 23 March 1962 – June 1974
Monarch	Sisavang Vatthana
Prime Minister	Souvanna Phouma
Deputy	Khamfeuane Tounalom
Preceded by	Ngone Sananikone
Succeeded by	Position abolished
Vice Prime Minister of Laos
In office 6 March 1967 – June 1974 Serving with Leuam Insixiengmay
Monarch	Sisavang Vatthana
Prime Minister	Souvanna Phouma
Preceded by	Ngone Sananikone
Succeeded by	Position abolished
In office 23 March 1962 – 22 May 1963 Serving with Phoumi Nosavan
Monarch	Sisavang Vatthana
Prime Minister	Souvanna Phouma
Succeeded by	Position abolished
Minister of Planning, Reconstruction, and Rural Development
In office 18 November 1957 – 23 July 1958
Monarch	Sisavang Vong
Prime Minister	Souvanna Phouma
Preceded by	Leuam Insixiengmay
Succeeded by	Phoui Sananikone
Minister of Construction and Rural Development
In office 21 March 1956 – 23 July 1957
Monarch	Sisavang Vong
Prime Minister	Souvanna Phouma
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	Phoui Sananikone
President of the Laos National Assembly
In office May 1958 – July 1959
Succeeded by	Pheng Phongsavan
Member of the National Assembly
In office May 1958 – Unknown
Succeeded by

Lao Issara Government

Minister of Defence and Military Affairs
In office 15 April 1946 – August 1946
Prime Minister	Khammao Vilay
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	Tiao Kindavong
Minister of Defence and Telecommunications
In office 12 October 1945 – 15 April 1946
Prime Minister	Khammao Vilay
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	Thongdee Sounthonevichit

Personal details

Born

13 July 1909
Palace Sisouvanna, Xieng Dong, Luang-Prabang, French Laos

Died

9 January 1995 (aged 85)
Vientiane, Laos

Citizenship

Laotian
French

Nationality

Laotian

Political party

Lao People's Revolutionary Party

Other political
affiliations

Lao Front for National Development

Spouse

Nguyen Thi Ky Nam

(m. 1938)

Relations

Lao Royal Family

Parents

Princess Khamouane
Prince Bounkhong

Relatives

Souvanna Phomma
Phetsarath Ratanavongsa
Souvanna Phouma

Education

Lycée Albert Sarraut, Hanoi

Alma mater

École nationale des ponts et chaussées

Occupation

Politician
Revolutionary
Statesman

Awards

See list

Nickname

Red Prince

Military service

Allegiance

Pathet Lao

Commands

Commander

Battles/wars

Indochina Wars
• August Revolution
• Laotian Civil War

Prince Souphanouvong (born July 13, 1909 – died January 9, 1995) was an important leader in Laos. He was known as the Red Prince. He was one of three important princes who led different groups in Laos. His half-brother, Prince Souvanna Phouma, led a neutral group. Prince Boun Oum led a royalist group. Souphanouvong led the communist group. He later became the first President of Laos in December 1975 and served until 1991.

Early Life and Education
Fighting for Independence
Later Life and Family
Honours and Awards
Images for kids
See also

Early Life and Education

Souphanouvong was born in Luang Prabang, a city in Laos. His father was Prince Bounkhong, who was a high-ranking official called a viceroy. A viceroy is like a governor who rules a country or province as the king's representative. Souphanouvong's mother was not from a royal family.

He went to school in Hanoi, Vietnam. Then, he studied engineering in Paris, France. He learned how to build bridges and roads. After finishing his studies in 1937, he returned to Southeast Asia. He worked as a civil engineer until 1945, helping to build roads and bridges in Vietnam and Laos.

Fighting for Independence

Joining the Anti-Colonial Movement

Souphanouvong (left) with Viet Minh leader Ho Chi Minh (center) and former emperor of Vietnam Bảo Đại

After World War II, Laos was still under French rule. Souphanouvong wanted Laos to be free. He met with Ho Chi Minh, a leader from Vietnam, who also wanted his country to be independent. Souphanouvong joined a group called Lao Issara. This group wanted to free Laos from French control.

He became a leader in the Lao Issara movement. He was a foreign minister and a commander of their army. Souphanouvong believed that Laos should work with Vietnam to fight against the French. In 1945, he signed an agreement for the Lao Issara and Viet Minh to help each other.

In 1946, Souphanouvong and his forces lost a battle against the French. He was hurt and had to leave Laos. He lived in Bangkok, Thailand, for three years. In 1949, he left his role as foreign minister because of disagreements about working with the Viet Minh.

Leading the Pathet Lao

Souphanouvong in 1974

In 1950, Souphanouvong started a new group called the Pathet Lao. This group also wanted to free Laos from French rule. The Pathet Lao was supported by North Vietnam. Souphanouvong became the president of the Pathet Lao. This is how he got the nickname "The Red Prince."

Even though he was a leader, another politician named Kaysone Phomvihane was the main leader of the Pathet Lao. Souphanouvong was more of a public figure for the group.

Souphanouvong joined the Lao People's Party in 1955. This party later became the Lao People's Revolutionary Party. He also became the chairman of the Lao Patriotic Front in 1956. This group included different organizations like worker and farmer groups.

From 1957 to 1958, Souphanouvong was a minister in the government. He worked on planning and rebuilding the country. In 1958, he was elected as a member of the National Assembly of Laos. He received the most votes of any candidate.

However, the government later changed. Souphanouvong and other Pathet Lao leaders were arrested in 1959. But in 1960, they managed to escape. Souphanouvong continued to work for peace. He helped with talks that led to an agreement in 1962 to make Laos a neutral country.

In a new government, Souphanouvong became Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Planning. But after a political leader was killed in 1963, Souphanouvong left the government. He went back to the Pathet Lao base.

He continued to try and bring different groups together to end the Laotian Civil War. This war deeply affected him, as his oldest son was killed during it. In the early 1970s, he was involved in more talks. These talks led to another government where he helped guide policies.

President of the Lao People's Democratic Republic

In 1975, the Pathet Lao successfully took control of Laos. Souphanouvong became the first President of the Lao People's Democratic Republic. He held this important position until 1991. After 1986, Phoumi Vongvichit took over some of his duties, but Souphanouvong remained the official president. Kaysone Phomvihane became president after him in 1991. Souphanouvong also served as the President of the Supreme People's Assembly from 1975 to 1988.

In 1991, he became an adviser to the Party's Central Committee.

Later Life and Family

Souphanouvong was married to Le Thi Ky Nam, a woman from Vietnam. They had ten children together. Souphanouvong was very smart and could speak eight different languages, including Greek and Latin.

He passed away on January 9, 1995, in Vientiane, the capital of Laos. He died from heart disease. After his death, the government of Laos declared five days of mourning to honor him.

Today, Souphanouvong is remembered as a hero in Laos. He is celebrated for his role in the revolution, for helping Laos gain independence, and for working to keep peace. His remains were moved to a national cemetery in Vientiane in 2012.

Honours and Awards

Souphanouvong received many awards from different countries:

Laos:
- Gold Medal of the Nation
People's Republic of Bulgaria:
- Order of the Balkan Mountains
Cuba:
- Order of José Martí
- Order of Playa Girón
Czechoslovakia:
- First Class of the Order of the White Lion
- Order of Klement Gottwald (1989)
Mongolian People's Republic:
- Order of Sukhbaatar
Soviet Union:
- Order of the October Revolution
- Order of Friendship of Peoples
- Medal "For Strengthening of Brotherhood in Arms"
Vietnam:
- Order of Ho Chi Minh