Lan Xang
Laos, 1354–1707. Draft, not yet reviewed
Lan Xang was a Lao kingdom that held the area of present-day Laos. For three and a half centuries, Lan Xang was one of the largest kingdoms in Southeast Asia. Its capital was Luang Prabang until 1560 and Vientiane thereafter. Lan Xang was invaded by Burma in the sixteenth century and partitioned in 1707 into the kingdoms of Luang Prabang, Vientiane and Champasak.
Seat of power: Luang Prabang
Rulers
Fa Ngum
king of Lan Xang, 1353–1372
He was the founder of the Lao kingdom of Lan Xang in 1353. He was born in Muang Sua, a Lao principality located on the site of present-day Luang Prabang.
Portrait of Fa Ngum: en:User:Adam Carr, Public domain, file
Samsènethaï
king of Lan Xang, 1372–1416
He was the second king of Lan Xang in Laos and succeeded his father, Fa Ngum. Wat Manorom, Wat Oubôsôt, and Wat Xiang Kham were built in Samsenethai's reign.
Lan Kham Deng
king of Lan Xang, 1416–1428
He was the third king of the Lao state of Lan Xang and the oldest son of Samsenethai.
Chakkaphat Phaen Phaeo
king of Lan Xang, 1442–1480
He reigned as King of Lan Xang, succeeding the Maha Devi after an interregnum of several years.
Suvanna Ban Lang
king of Lan Xang, 1479–1486
His reign was marked as a period of peace and reconstruction, following a massive invasion by the Đại Việt forces of Emperor Lê Thánh Tông.
La Sen Thai
king of Lan Xang, 1485–1495
He succeeded his older brother King Souvanna Banlang. He enjoyed peaceful relations with his neighbours in Vietnam led by Lê Thánh Tông and cultivated good relations with the Ayutthaya Kingdom.
Sompou
king of Lan Xang, 1496–1501
He reigned under the regency of his uncle, Prince Laksana Vijaya Kumara, until he came of age and died unexpectedly in 1501.
Visunarat
king of Lan Xang, 1501–1520
His reign was prosperous and peaceful with a large number of shrines and monuments being constructed.
Portrait of Visunarat: Louis Delaporte (Life time: 1842-1925), Public domain, file
Photisarath
king of Lan Xang, 1520–1547
He is considered to be the most devout of the Lao kings. He banned spirit worship and built temples upon the sites of spirit shrines.
Portrait of Photisarath: Kittipong khunnen, CC BY-SA 3.0, file
Setthathirath
king of Lan Xang, 1548–1571
He is considered one of the great leaders in Lao history. Setthathirath was a prolific builder and erected many Buddhist monuments including Wat Xieng Thong in Luang Prabang, Haw Phra Kaew, Wat Ong Teu Mahawihan and the Pha That Luang in Vientiane.
Portrait of Setthathirath: Alcyon, CC BY-SA 3.0, file
No Koe Kuman
king of Lan Xang, 1591–1596
He was released from captivity by King Nanda Bayin of the Toungoo Dynasty and returned to Vientiane. He declared his state's independence from the Burmese in 1593, but suffered several attacks from them throughout his reign.
Voravongse II
king of Lan Xang, 1596–1621
He succeeded his cousin in 1596, and reigned under the regency of his father until he was captured by rebels and proclaimed king in 1599. In 1621, he was deposed by his son, and killed on his orders.
Mom Kaeo
king of Lan Xang, 1627–1633
His reign was filled with quarrels and rebellions between various claimants to the throne. He died in 1633 being succeeded by his son Tone Kham.
Sourigna Vongsa
king of Lan Xang, 1638–1694
He was the king of Lan Xang whose reign is considered the golden age of Laos. King Souligna Vongsa reigned for 57 years during which Laos experienced The Golden Age with regard to territory, prestige and power.
Portrait of Sourigna Vongsa: Vila Phounvongsa, CC BY-SA 4.0, file
Setthathirath II
king of Lan Xang, 1698–1707
He spent most of his early years as a prince of the royal house in exile at Huế. In 1698 Setthathirath II attacked Vientiane, the capital of Lan Xang.
Culture
- Theravada Buddhism was the state religion, and the Phra Bang was adopted as the kingdom's palladium.
- The Mekong River carried the kingdom's trade and defined its political geography, and authority was exercised through mueang bound to the king rather than through a centrally administered territory.
- The kingdom's name alludes to the power of the king, his ties to Laotian Buddhism, and his army's countless war elephants.
Picture
Pha That Luang is a gold-covered Buddhist stupa in Vientiane, the capital city of Laos.
Image: Coalfruit1012, CC0, file
Sources
Text adapted from the Wikipedia articles listed as sources, CC BY-SA 4.0.