Laotian Royal Family
Encyclopedia
The Lao Royal Family was the ruling family of the Kingdom of Laos
from 1904 to 1975 and the group of close relatives of the monarch of the Kingdom of Laos. King Sisavang Vong
was the founder of the modern family, consisting of a number of persons in the Lao Royal Dynasty of the Khun Lo, who are related to the King of Laos, who are entitled to royal titles, and some of whom performed various official engagements on behalf of the Royal Family and ceremonial duties of State when the Kingdom existed. The Lao Royals base themselves in France, where they work to achieve a change of government in Laos.
, led by another royal, Souphanouvong
, overthrew the Royal Government and arrested many members of the Royal family. The King, The Queen, Crown Prince and the King's brothers were taken to a remote location to a re-education camp, where they died. In 1980, H.R.H. Prince Soulivong Savang
, became Head of the Royal House of Laos as Prince Sauryavong Savang was acting regent
for his nephew, Vong Savang
.
The King and Queen (who are now deceased):
Their Children and Grandchildren
is styled as Samdach Brhat Chao Maha Sri Vitha Lan Xang Hom Khao Phra Rajanachakra Lao Parama Sidha Khattiya Suriya Varman Brhat Maha Sri, while the consort of the sovereign is styled as Mahadevi or Samdach Brhat Rajini Akkhara Maha Sri.
The Kings of Laos could marry a various amount of wives (King Sisavang Vong
married 15) and only women of royal birth could have the title Samdach Brhat Rajini Ekka Akkhara Maha Sri, if the king had more than one wife. If she was a commoner, her title was Mom.When there was a Vice-King, they would be styled as the Uparaja, but since 1959, on the death of Prince Phetsarath Rattanavongsa
, the position was abolished.
The Crown Prince
and Crown Princess had the title of Anga Mahkuta Raja Kumara. If the sovereign has any sons, he will be given the style Anga Sadet Chao Fa Jaya and if any daughters, she will be styled as Anga Sadet Chao Fa Nying. If the Crown Prince has as a son he would be titled as Anga Sadet Chao Rajadhanadha, with the style of His Royal Highness.The daughters of the Heir Apparent would be styled as Anga Sadet Chao Nying Rajadhanadha, with the style of Her Royal Highness added to their title.
The Princes are titled as Chao and Princess's are titled as Chao Nying. In the southern provinces, they were titled as Chao Nang. If a prince marries a commoner, they would have the title Mom.
The other grandsons of the sovereign will be granted the title Sadet Chao and granddaughters of the sovereign would be styled as Sadet Chao Nying.
The other descendants of former sovereigns, in the male line, they would be styled as Sadu Chao Jaya, with the style of His Highness, while female descendants of former sovereigns, in the male line Sadu Chao Nying with the style of Her Highness.
Other titles conferred on senior Princes of the Royal House, included the following, in order of precedence:
1. Samdach Chao Maha Upayuvaraja
2. Samdach Chao Maha Uparaja
3. Chao Raja Varman
4. Chao Raja Putra
5. Chao Raja Mabanda Varman
6. Chao Raja Mabanda
7. Chao Raja Baktinaya
Kingdom of Laos
The Kingdom of Laos was a sovereign state from 1953 until December 1975, when Pathet Lao overthrew the government and created the Lao People's Democratic Republic. Given self-rule in 1949 as part of a federation with the rest of French Indochina, the 1953 Franco-Lao Treaty finally established a...
from 1904 to 1975 and the group of close relatives of the monarch of the Kingdom of Laos. King Sisavang Vong
Sisavang Vong
Sisavang Phoulivong , was king of Kingdom of Luang Phrabang and later Kingdom of Laos from 28 April 1904 until his death on 20 October 1959.-Early life:...
was the founder of the modern family, consisting of a number of persons in the Lao Royal Dynasty of the Khun Lo, who are related to the King of Laos, who are entitled to royal titles, and some of whom performed various official engagements on behalf of the Royal Family and ceremonial duties of State when the Kingdom existed. The Lao Royals base themselves in France, where they work to achieve a change of government in Laos.
Downfall
In 1975, the Pathet LaoPathet Lao
The Pathet Lao was a communist political movement and organization in Laos, formed in the mid-20th century. The group was ultimately successful in assuming political power after the Laotian Civil War. The Pathet Lao were always closely associated with Vietnamese communists...
, led by another royal, Souphanouvong
Souphanouvong
Prince Souphanouvong was, along with his half-brother Prince Souvanna Phouma and Prince Boun Oum of Champasak, one of the “Three Princes” who represented respectively the communist , neutralist, and royalist political factions in Laos...
, overthrew the Royal Government and arrested many members of the Royal family. The King, The Queen, Crown Prince and the King's brothers were taken to a remote location to a re-education camp, where they died. In 1980, H.R.H. Prince Soulivong Savang
Soulivong Savang
Crown Prince Soulivong Savang , grandson of the last King of Laos Savang Vatthana, is the pretender to the Lao throne. Laos was a monarchy until 1975, when the communist Pathet Lao seized control of the nation, causing Savang Vatthana to abdicate his throne...
, became Head of the Royal House of Laos as Prince Sauryavong Savang was acting regent
Regent
A regent, from the Latin regens "one who reigns", is a person selected to act as head of state because the ruler is a minor, not present, or debilitated. Currently there are only two ruling Regencies in the world, sovereign Liechtenstein and the Malaysian constitutive state of Terengganu...
for his nephew, Vong Savang
Vong Savang
Crown Prince Vong Savang was born on September 27, 1931, at the Royal Palace Luang Prabang, Laos. His father was King Savang Vatthana and mother was Queen Khamphoui. He died at the hands of the communists in a so-called "seminar camp" in Laos on May 2, 1978...
.
The Royal Family
Members of the Royal family include:The King and Queen (who are now deceased):
- H.M. King Savang VatthanaSavang VatthanaSavang or Sisavang Vatthana was the last king of the Kingdom of Laos. He ruled from 1959 after his father's death, until his forced abdication in 1975...
(1907-1978 or 1984) - H.M. Queen KhamphouiKhamphouiQueen Khamphoui was born in Luang Phrabang, Laos on July 12, 1912. She is reported to have died in a re-education camp near Sop Hao on December 12, 1981. On August 7, 1930, she married King Savang Vatthana and they had seven children, Crown Prince Vong Savang, Prince Sisavang, Prince Savang, Prince...
(1912-1981?)
Their Children and Grandchildren
- H.R.H. Crown Prince Vong SavangVong SavangCrown Prince Vong Savang was born on September 27, 1931, at the Royal Palace Luang Prabang, Laos. His father was King Savang Vatthana and mother was Queen Khamphoui. He died at the hands of the communists in a so-called "seminar camp" in Laos on May 2, 1978...
(1931-1980?) and Crown Princess Mahneelai (1941-)- H.R.H. Prince Soulivong SavangSoulivong SavangCrown Prince Soulivong Savang , grandson of the last King of Laos Savang Vatthana, is the pretender to the Lao throne. Laos was a monarchy until 1975, when the communist Pathet Lao seized control of the nation, causing Savang Vatthana to abdicate his throne...
(1963-) and H.H. Princess Chandrasukra - H.R.H. Prince Thayavong Savang (1964-) and H.H. Princess Malika Khammao (1976-)
- H.R.H. Prince Kiranvong Savang (1969-)
- H.R.H. Prince Anouratha Varman Savang (1978-)
- H.R.H. Princess Manisophana Savang (1965-) and H.R.H. Prince Saya Khamphhan Panya (1963-)
- H.R.H. Princess Sawee Nahlee Savang (1967-) and Santi Inthavong (1960-)
- H.R.H. Princess Manilama Savang (1976-)
- H.R.H. Prince Soulivong Savang
- H.R.H. Princess Savivanh SavangSavivanh SavangPrincess Savivanh Savang Manivong was the daughter of King Savang Vatthana and Queen Khamphoui. She was educated in Luang Prabang, France, and England, the princess served in the court of her father, the King of Laos, until the fall of the monarchy to communist forces in 1975...
(1933-2007) and H.R.H. Prince Sisumang Manivong (1932-) - H.R.H. Prince Sisavang (1935-1978) and H.R.H. Princess Mekham Ratsami (1942-)
- H.R.H. Prince Sayantha Sisavang (1969-)
- H.R.H. Prince Bouneya Sisavang (1971-)
- H.R.H. Prince Sathienna Sisavang
- H.R.H. Prince Sui Sisavang
- H.R.H. Princess Samiya Sisavang
- H.R.H. Princess Lolita Sisavang
- H.R.H. Princess Thala Savang (1935-2006) and H.R.H. Prince Sisouphanouvong Sisaleumsak (1931-)
- H.R.H. Prince Savang
- H.R.H. Prince Sauryavong SavangSauryavong SavangPrince Sauryavong Savang is the youngest son of King Savang Vatthana of Laos. In 1965, he married Princess Dalavan and they have four children, Sthira Sauryavong, Dayavant Sauryavong, Balavant Sauryavong, and Krishnajina Sauryavong....
(1937-) and H.R.H. Princess Dalavan (1946-)- H.R.H. Prince Southira Sauryavong Savang (1967-)
- H.R.H. Prince Dayavant Sauryavong Savang (1969-)
- H.R.H. Prince Balavant Sauryavong Savang (1970-)
- H.R.H. Princess Krishnajina Sauryavong Savang. (1968-)
Royal styles and titles
The sovereign of the Kingdom of LaosKingdom of Laos
The Kingdom of Laos was a sovereign state from 1953 until December 1975, when Pathet Lao overthrew the government and created the Lao People's Democratic Republic. Given self-rule in 1949 as part of a federation with the rest of French Indochina, the 1953 Franco-Lao Treaty finally established a...
is styled as Samdach Brhat Chao Maha Sri Vitha Lan Xang Hom Khao Phra Rajanachakra Lao Parama Sidha Khattiya Suriya Varman Brhat Maha Sri, while the consort of the sovereign is styled as Mahadevi or Samdach Brhat Rajini Akkhara Maha Sri.
The Kings of Laos could marry a various amount of wives (King Sisavang Vong
Sisavang Vong
Sisavang Phoulivong , was king of Kingdom of Luang Phrabang and later Kingdom of Laos from 28 April 1904 until his death on 20 October 1959.-Early life:...
married 15) and only women of royal birth could have the title Samdach Brhat Rajini Ekka Akkhara Maha Sri, if the king had more than one wife. If she was a commoner, her title was Mom.When there was a Vice-King, they would be styled as the Uparaja, but since 1959, on the death of Prince Phetsarath Rattanavongsa
Phetsarath Rattanavongsa
Prince Phetsarath Rattanavongsa was prime minister of Laos from 1942 to 1945, and was the first and last vice-king of the Kingdom of Laos.-Early life:Phetsarath was born on 19 January 1890 in Luang Prabang, the second son of...
, the position was abolished.
The Crown Prince
Crown Prince
A crown prince or crown princess is the heir or heiress apparent to the throne in a royal or imperial monarchy. The wife of a crown prince is also titled crown princess....
and Crown Princess had the title of Anga Mahkuta Raja Kumara. If the sovereign has any sons, he will be given the style Anga Sadet Chao Fa Jaya and if any daughters, she will be styled as Anga Sadet Chao Fa Nying. If the Crown Prince has as a son he would be titled as Anga Sadet Chao Rajadhanadha, with the style of His Royal Highness.The daughters of the Heir Apparent would be styled as Anga Sadet Chao Nying Rajadhanadha, with the style of Her Royal Highness added to their title.
The Princes are titled as Chao and Princess's are titled as Chao Nying. In the southern provinces, they were titled as Chao Nang. If a prince marries a commoner, they would have the title Mom.
The other grandsons of the sovereign will be granted the title Sadet Chao and granddaughters of the sovereign would be styled as Sadet Chao Nying.
The other descendants of former sovereigns, in the male line, they would be styled as Sadu Chao Jaya, with the style of His Highness, while female descendants of former sovereigns, in the male line Sadu Chao Nying with the style of Her Highness.
Other titles conferred on senior Princes of the Royal House, included the following, in order of precedence:
1. Samdach Chao Maha Upayuvaraja
2. Samdach Chao Maha Uparaja
3. Chao Raja Varman
4. Chao Raja Putra
5. Chao Raja Mabanda Varman
6. Chao Raja Mabanda
7. Chao Raja Baktinaya
See also
- Monarchs of Laos
- King Sisavang VongSisavang VongSisavang Phoulivong , was king of Kingdom of Luang Phrabang and later Kingdom of Laos from 28 April 1904 until his death on 20 October 1959.-Early life:...
- Prince SouphanouvongSouphanouvongPrince Souphanouvong was, along with his half-brother Prince Souvanna Phouma and Prince Boun Oum of Champasak, one of the “Three Princes” who represented respectively the communist , neutralist, and royalist political factions in Laos...
- Prince Souvanna PhoumaSouvanna PhoumaPrince Souvanna Phouma was the leader of the neutralist faction and prime minister of the Kingdom of Laos several times, from 1951–1952, 1956–1958, 1960 and 1962-1975.-Early life:...
- Royal familyRoyal familyA royal family is the extended family of a king or queen regnant. The term imperial family appropriately describes the extended family of an emperor or empress, while the terms "ducal family", "grand ducal family" or "princely family" are more appropriate to describe the relatives of a reigning...