Kingdom of Laos

Laos, 1953–1975. Draft, not yet reviewed

The country was governed as a constitutional monarchy beginning with its independence on 22 October 1953. In the years that followed, three groups, led by the so-called Three Princes, contended for power: the neutralists under Prince Souvanna Phouma, the right-wing party under Prince Boun Oum of Champassak, and the left-wing, North Vietnamese-backed Pathet Lao under Prince Souphanouvong and future Prime Minister Kaysone Phomvihane. It survived until 2 December 1975, when its last king, Sisavang Vatthana, surrendered the throne to the Pathet Lao during the civil war in Laos, who abolished the monarchy in favour of a Marxist–Leninist state called the Lao People's Democratic Republic.

Seat of power: Vientiane

Rulers

Sisavang Vong

King of Laos, 1904–1959

He was the last ruler of the Lao Kingdom of Luang Prabang and the founding king of the Kingdom of Laos. He was 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.

Portrait of Sisavang Vong: Unidentified author of the publication (photographers, designers, etc. not credited). Booklet on the leaders, flags a..., CC BY-SA 4.0, file

Sisavang Vatthana

King of Laos, 1959–1975

He was the last king of the Kingdom of Laos. He ruled from 1959 after his father's death until his forced abdication in 1975. His rule ended with the takeover by the Pathet Lao in 1975, after which he and his family were sent to a re-education camp by the new government.

Portrait of Sisavang Vatthana: Unknown authorUnknown author, CC BY-SA 3.0 nl, file

Culture

It is also called Patuxai Arch or the Arc de Triomphe of Vientiane as it resembles the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. However, it is Laotian in design, decorated with mythological creatures.
Following the Franco-Lao Treaty of 1953, which gave Laos independence, the Royal Lao Government took control of the country.
The First Government of National Unity was established in 1958 under Prince Souvanna Phouma, but collapsed after two months.

Picture

The Patuxai is a war monument in downtown Vientiane, built between 1957 and 1968 and dedicated to those who fought in the struggle for independence from France.

Image: Stefan Fussan, CC-BY-SA-3.0, file

Sources

Text adapted from the Wikipedia articles listed as sources, CC BY-SA 4.0.