Chakkaphat Phaen Phaeo (also Sai Tia Kaphut or Xainyachakkaphat) (1415–1481) reigned as King of

Lan Xang existed as a unified kingdom from 1353 to 1707. For three and a half centuries, Lan Xang was one of the largest kingdoms in Southeast Asia. The meaning of the kingdom's name alludes to the power of the kingship and formidable war machine of the ea ...

from 1442 to 1480, succeeding the '' Maha Devi'' after an

interregnum An interregnum (plural interregna or interregnums) is a period of discontinuity or "gap" in a government, organization, or social order. Archetypally, it was the period of time between the reign of one monarch and the next (coming from Latin '' ...

of several years. He was born in 1415 as Prince Vong Buri, the youngest son of King Samsenthai by Queen Nan Keo Yot Fa daughter of King Intharacha of Ayutthaya. When he came of age he was appointed as Governor of

Vientiane Vientiane ( , ; lo, ວຽງຈັນ, ''Viangchan'', ) is the capital and largest city of Laos. Vientiane is divided administratively into 9 cities with a total area of only approx. 3,920 square kilometres and is located on the banks of ...

. He was invited to ascend the throne several times during the succession dispute orchestrated by the ''Maha Devi'', but refused. The Council of Ministers finally persuaded him to become king in 1441, after they had failed to find any other candidate. He still refused to be crowned and avoided the ceremony for many years. Finally bowing to custom in 1456, he was formally coroneted and assumed the reign name and title of ''Samdach Brhat-Anya Chao Sanaka Chakrapati Raja Phen-Phaeo Bhaya Jayadiya Kabuddha''. The

regnal name A regnal name, or regnant name or reign name, is the name used by monarchs and popes during their reigns and, subsequently, historically. Since ancient times, some monarchs have chosen to use a different name from their original name when they ac ...

is significant because it translates in Pali to '' cakkavattin,'' meaning "Universal Buddhist Monarch." Vong Buri, and the court, were claiming enough political and religious power to unify the kingdom, and warn surrounding kingdoms, despite the upheaval caused by the '' Maha Devi'' and

in Lan Xang from 1428-1442.

The White Elephant War with Vietnam

In 1448 during the disorder of the ''Maha Devi'',

Muang Phuan Meuang Phuan ( Lao: ເມືອງພວນ; Country of Phuan) or Xieng Khouang (Lao: ຊຽງຂວາງ), also known historically to the Vietnamese as Trấn Ninh ( Hán Việt: 鎮寧; lit. "securement of peace"), was a historical principa ...

and some area along the Black River became annexed by the

Đại Việt Đại Việt (, ; literally Great Việt), often known as Annam ( vi, An Nam, Chữ Hán: 安南), was a monarchy in eastern Mainland Southeast Asia from the 10th century AD to the early 19th century, centered around the region of present-day H ...

and several skirmishes took place against

Lan Na The Lan Na Kingdom ( nod, , , "Kingdom of a Million Rice Fields"; th, อาณาจักรล้านนา, , ), also known as Lannathai, and most commonly called Lanna or Lanna Kingdom, was an Indianized state centered in present-day ...

along the

Nan River The Nan River ( th, แม่น้ำน่าน, , ) is a river in Thailand. It is one of the most important tributaries of the Chao Phraya River. Geography The Nan River originates in the Luang Prabang Range, Nan Province. The province ...

. In 1471 King Lê Thánh Tông of the Đại Việt destroyed the Champa. Also in 1471, Muang Phuan revolted and several Vietnamese were killed. By 1478 preparations were being made for a full-scale invasion of Lan Xang, in retribution for the rebellion in Muang Phuan and more importantly for supporting the

Ming Empire The Ming dynasty (), officially the Great Ming, was an imperial dynasty of China, ruling from 1368 to 1644 following the collapse of the Mongol-led Yuan dynasty. The Ming dynasty was the last orthodox dynasty of China ruled by the Han peop ...

in 1421. Around the same time a

white elephant A white elephant is a possession that its owner cannot dispose of, and whose cost, particularly that of maintenance, is out of proportion to its usefulness. In modern usage, it is a metaphor used to describe an object, construction project, sch ...

had been captured and brought to King Chakkaphat. The elephant being a potent symbol of kingship was common throughout Southeast Asia, and

Lê Thánh Tông Lê Thánh Tông (黎聖宗; 25 August 1442 – 3 March 1497), personal name Lê Hạo, temple name Thánh Tông, courtesy name Tư Thành, was an emperor of Đại Việt, reigning from 1460 to 1497, the fifth and the longest-reigning empe ...

requested the animal's hair to be brought as a gift to the Đại Việt court. The request was seen as an affront, and according to legend a box filled with dung was sent instead. The pretext having been set, a massive Viet force marched in five columns to subdue Muang Phuan, and was met with a Lan Xang force of 200,000 infantry and 2,000 elephant cavalry in support which was led by the crown prince and three supporting generals. The Đại Việt won a hard fought victory and continued north to threaten Muang Sua. King Chakkaphat and the court fled south toward

along the

Mekong The Mekong or Mekong River is a trans-boundary river in East Asia and Southeast Asia. It is the world's twelfth longest river and the third longest in Asia. Its estimated length is , and it drains an area of , discharging of water annual ...

. The Đại Việt took the capital of

Luang Prabang Luang Phabang, ( Lao: ຫລວງພະບາງ/ ຫຼວງພະບາງ) or ''Louangphabang'' (pronounced ), commonly transliterated into Western languages from the pre-1975 Lao spelling ຫຼວງພຣະບາງ (ຣ = silent r) ...

, and then divided their forces to create a

pincer attack The pincer movement, or double envelopment, is a military maneuver in which forces simultaneously attack both flanks (sides) of an enemy formation. This classic maneuver holds an important foothold throughout the history of warfare. The pin ...

. One branch continued west taking Sipsong Panna and threatening Lanna and another force headed south along the

toward

. King Tilok and Lanna preemptively destroyed the northern army, and the forces around

rallied under King Chakkaphat's younger son Prince Thaen Kham. The combined forces destroyed the Đại Việt army, which fled in the direction of Muang Phuan. Although numbering only about 4,000 the Đại Việt took one last attempt at revenge and leveled the Muang Phuan capital before retreating. Prince Thaen Kham, then offered to restore his father Chakkphat to the throne, but he refused and abdicated in favor of his son who was crowned as Souvanna Banlang (The Golden Chair) in 1479. Chakkaphat died at Muang Xieng Khane in 1481, having had issue nine sons and seven daughters. The Đại Việt would never invade the unified Lan Xang for the next 200 years, and Lan Na became a close ally to Lan Xang.

Family

*Father:

Samsenethai ) } Samsenethai( lo, ສາມແສນໄທ) also called Oun Huan( lo, ອຸ່ນເຮືອນ) was the second king of Lan Xang in Laos. He succeeded his father, Fa Ngum. He ruled from 1372 until 1417. The origin of the name Samsenethai is ...

- King of Lan Xang (1372-1417) *Mother: Princess Nang Keava Yudhi Fa (Nang Keo Yot Fa) - a daughter of King Intharacha of Ayutthaya *Consorts and their Respective Issue: **''by unknown women'' #Prince Kuni Kaeva (Kone Keo) - (d.1478) # Prince Dungakama (Theng Kham) (Souvanna Banlang) - King of Lan Xang (r.1479-1486) #Prince Nahavara (Nhuan) #Prince Kumara Nahawangsa (Khuan-Nha-Ong) #Prince Suwangsa (Suang) # Prince Thiangalankara (Tieng Lakon) (La Sen Thai Puvanart) - King of Lan Xang (r.1485-1495) # Prince Laksana Vijaya Kumara (Louxé Phe Sai) (Visunharat) - King of Lan Xang (r.1500-1520) #Prince Nahawangsapara (Nhuang Pha) #Prince Deva (Thepha) - Governor of Muang Khua #Princess Mun Na - married ~1501 with Prince Jaya (Sai), Governor of Muang Phum-Neua #Princess Piri (Phen). married ~1501 with Thao Kon Kham, Governor of Muang Kabong (1501-1524) son of the Governor of Pakhouie-Luang #Princess Sri Daya (Sithai) #Princess Indrapati (Inhphat) #Princess Kanya (Khan) #Princess Muktiyi (Muk) #Princess Gau (Khao) #Princess Dhammara (Thammara). #Princess Dharmagama (Ton-Kham)

Citations

References

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External links

{{authority control 1415 births 1481 deaths Kings of Lan Xang 15th-century Laotian people 15th-century monarchs in Asia Laotian Theravada Buddhists