View source for Sisavang Vong

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{short description|King of Laos}}{{refimprove|date=September 2023}}
{{Infobox monarch
| name         = Sisavangvong
| title        = Rey De Laos
| image        = Sisavang Vong roi de Luang Prahang.jpg
| caption      = 
| succession   = [[List of monarchs of Laos|King of]] [[Kingdom of Laos|Laos]]
| reign        = 23 April 1946 – 29 October 1959
| coronation   = 
| predecessor  = ''Position created''
| successor    = [[Sisavang Vatthana]]
| succession1  = [[List of monarchs of Laos|King of Luang Prabang]]
| reign1       = 28 April 1904 – 20 October 1945
| predecessor1 = [[Zakarine]]
| successor1   = ''As [[List of monarchs of Laos|King]] of [[Kingdom of Laos|Laos]]''
| coronation1  = 4 March 1905
| birth_date   = {{birth date|1885|7|14|df=y}}
| birth_place  = [[Luang Prabang]], [[Kingdom of Luang Prabang]]
| death_date   = {{death date and age|1959|10|29|1885|7|14|df=y}}
| death_place  = [[Luang Prabang]], [[Kingdom of Laos|Laos]]
| buried       = 
| spouses      = Princess [[Kham-Oun I]] <br /> Princess Khamphane <br /> Princess Khamla <br /> Princess Khamboua <br /> Princess Khamtip <br/> Princess Khamtouane <br /> Princess Kamaduni <br /> Princess Indrakama <br />Princess Kamuni <br /> Princess Chansy
| issue        = [[Sisavang Vatthana]]
| royal house  = [[Khun Lo]]
| father       = [[Zakarine]]
| mother       = [[Thongsy]]
}}

'''King Sisavangvong''' ({{langx|lo|ພຣະບາທສົມເດັຈພຣະເຈົ້າມະຫາຊີວິຕສີສວ່າງວົງສ໌}}; born '''Prince Khao''' {{Nihongo|2=ຂາວ}} 14 July 1885 – 29 October 1959), known by his courtesy name Sisavangvong, was the last ruler of the Lao [[Kingdom of Luang Phrabang|Kingdom of Luang Prabang]] and the founding king of the [[Kingdom of Laos]]. Born Prince Khao on 14 July 1885, he ascended the throne at the age of 18 following the death of his father. In keeping with Lao tradition, he took the courtesy name '''Sisavangvong'''.

Born in the Golden Palace of Luang Prabang during his father's reign under French colonial authority, Prince Khao extended his rule over other Lao kingdoms and built a new royal palace during his reign over Luang Prabang. He briefly ruled as king of the Japanese puppet state of Luang Prabang in late 1945, but was dethroned by the Lao Issara for his pro-French stance. He was later reinstated as monarch by the French in 1946, marking the first time in almost 250 years that a Lao monarch ruled the whole of Laos.

==Early life==
[[File:Sisavang Vong - 1951.jpg|thumb|left|Sisavang Vong on a Laotian Postage Stamp (1951).]]
Born on 14 July 1885, Prince Khao was the eldest surviving son of King [[Zakarine|Zakarinth]] and Queen Consort Thong-sy. He was born in the Golden Palace during his father's reign. During his childhood, Khao studied at the Lycée Chasseloup-Laubat in [[Saigon]], and later at the [[Colonial School, Paris|École Coloniale]].{{fact|date=August 2023}} He eventually returned to ascend the throne.

== Ascension ==
Prince Khao became heir apparent on 15 April 1904 following the death of his father on 26 March 1904. He ascended the throne at the Old Royal Palace in Luang Prabang and was crowned King Sisavangvong on 4 March 1905.{{fact|date=August 2023}}

== Early reign ==
In the early years of his reign, Sisavang Vong's residence, the [[Royal Palace, Luang Prabang|Royal Palace of Luang Prabang]], was built by the French. He managed to unite several provinces under his authority, including [[Houaphan]] in 1931, Houakhong, [[Xiangkhouang Province|Xiengkhouang]] and [[Vientiane]] in 1942, and [[Champasak Province|Champassak]] and Sayboury in 1946.

Throughout his reign, Sisavang Vong consistently supported the French administration in Laos. In 1945, he refused to collaborate with Lao nationalists, which led to his removal from power when the [[Lao Issara]] declared the nation's independence. In April 1946, the French regained control and restored him as king, marking the first time in nearly 250 years that a Lao monarch ruled the entire region now known as Laos.

Sisavang Vong's reign lasted 55 years, during which he ruled over Luang Prabang and Laos.{{citation needed|date=February 2022}} When he fell ill, he appointed his son, Crown Prince [[Savang Vatthana]], as regent. His son succeeded him after his death in 1959.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1959/10/30/archives/king-of-laos-dies-in-palace-at-74-ruler-in-southeast-asi-since-1905.html KING OF LAOS DIES IN PALACE' AT 74; Ruler in Southeast Asi, Since 1905... - Free Preview - The New York Times<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Sisavang Vong was cremated and buried at Vat That Luang (Luang Prabang) in 1961. His funeral procession included a royal funeral carriage, a 12 metre high wooden hearse decorated with a carved seven-headed snake. Many dignitaries attended the state funeral, including Prince [[Bhanubandhu Yugala]], who represented Thailand.

[[Sisavangvong University]] was founded in his honour, but was closed in 1975 when the communist regime took control of Laos. Notably, statues of Sisavang Vong remain in Luang Prabang and Vientiane, surviving the communist revolution. These statues show him giving the people a constitution, symbolising his role in achieving independence from the [[French Union]].

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

Wives:
* [[Kham-Oun I|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 Kham-Oun II|Princess Kamuni]], daughter of Prince Ko and Princess Duangbadani
* [[Princess Khamphoui]], the daughter of his half-brother
* Chansy (1900–1984), a commoner

==Honours==
*Grand Cross of the [[Royal Order of Cambodia]]&nbsp;– 1905
*Grand Cross of the [[Order of the Dragon of Annam]]&nbsp;– 1905
*Decoration of the Golden Gong, 1st Class of Annam
*Grand Cross of the [[Legion d'Honneur]] of [[France]]&nbsp;– 1927 (Commander&nbsp;– 1905)
*Grand Officer of the [[Order of the Black Star|Order of the Black Star of Benin of France]]&nbsp;– 1935
*Grand Officer of the [[Order of the Crown (Belgium)|Order of the Crown]] of Belgium&nbsp;– 1935
*Officer of the [[Order of Arts and Letters]] of France&nbsp;– 1949
*[[Croix de guerre des théâtres d'opérations extérieures|Croix de Guerre]] with Palm of France&nbsp;– 1949
*Knight of the [[Order of the Royal House of Chakri]] of Thailand&nbsp;– 1955
*Grand Cross of the National [[Order of Merit of Vietnam]]&nbsp;– 1955

==See also==
*[[Monarchs of Laos]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-hou|[[Monarchs of Laos|Luang Prabang]]|14 July|1885|29 October|1959}}
{{s-reg}}
{{succession box|title=[[King of Laos]]|before=[[Zakarine]]|after=''Independence from France''<br><small>[[Phetsarath Rattanavongsa]] as de facto head of state</small> |years='''28 April 1904 &ndash; 20 October 1945'''}}
{{succession box|title=[[King of Laos]]|before=''Independence from France''<br><small>[[Phetsarath Rattanavongsa]]</small> |after=[[Sisavang Vatthana]]|years='''23 April 1946 &ndash; 29 October 1959'''}}
{{s-end}}
{{Monarchs of Laos}}
{{LaosPres}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Vong, Sisavang}}
[[Category:1885 births]]
[[Category:1959 deaths]]
[[Category:Monarchs of Laos]]
[[Category:People from Luang Prabang]]
<!-- Orders and honours -->
[[Category:Grand Officers of the Order of the Crown (Belgium)]]
[[Category:Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour]]
[[Category:Knights Grand Cross of the Royal Order of Cambodia]]
[[Category:Officiers of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Croix de guerre des théâtres d'opérations extérieures]]
[[Category:Laotian anti-communists]]
[[Category:19th-century Laotian people]]