The Lao Royal Family was the ruling family of the
Kingdom of Laos
The Kingdom of Laos was a landlocked country in Southeast Asia at the heart of the Indochinese Peninsula. It was bordered by Burma and China to the northwest, North Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the southeast, and Thailand to the west and ...
from 1904 to 1975 and the group of close relatives of the monarch of the Kingdom of Laos. King
Sisavang Vong
King Sisavangvong ( lo, ພຣະບາທສົມເດັຈພຣະເຈົ້າມະຫາຊີວິຕສີສວ່າງວົງສ໌, 14 July 1885 – 29 October 1959) Born Prince Khao , was one of the last kings of Luang Praban ...
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
The Lao People's Democratic Republic is the modern state derived from the final Kingdom of Laos. The political source of Lao history and cultural identity is the Tai kingdom of Lan Xang, which during its apogee emerged as one of the largest kin ...
, 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 are now based in France, where they work to achieve a change of government in Laos.
Downfall
In 1975, the
Pathet Lao
The Pathet Lao ( lo, ປະເທດລາວ, translit=Pa thēt Lāo, translation=Lao Nation), officially the Lao People's Liberation Army, was a communist political movement and organization in Laos, formed in the mid-20th century. The gro ...
, led by another royal,
Souphanouvong
Prince Souphanouvong (13 July 1909 – 9 January 1995; ), nicknamed the Red Prince, 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 (p ...
, 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 it is believed that they died , although there has been no official confirmation either way. In 1980 Prince
Soulivong Savang
Crown Prince Soulivong Savang ( lo, ເຈົ້າຟ້າຊາຍມົງກຸດຣາຊະກຸມາຣ ສຸລິວົງສ໌ ສະຫວ່າງ; born 8 May 1963), grandson of the last King of Laos Savang Vatthana, is the prete ...
, became Head of the Royal House of Laos as Prince
Sauryavong Savang
Prince Sauryavong Savang (22 January 1937 – 2 January 2018) was the youngest son of King Savang Vatthana of Laos. In 1965, he married Princess Dalavan and they had four children, Sthira Sauryavong, Dayavant Sauryavong, Balavant Sauryavong, and K ...
was acting
regent
A regent (from Latin : ruling, governing) is a person appointed to govern a state '' pro tempore'' (Latin: 'for the time being') because the monarch is a minor, absent, incapacitated or unable to discharge the powers and duties of the monarchy ...
for his nephew,
Vong Savang
Vong Savang ( lo, ເຈົ້າຟ້າຊາຍມົງກຸດຣາຊະກຸມາຣວົງສະຫວ່າງ; 27 September 1931 – 2 May 1978) was the Crown Prince to throne of the Kingdom of Laos. After the Laotian Civil War in ...
.
Royal family
Members of the Royal family include:
The King and Queen (''who are now deceased''):
* King
Savang Vatthana
Sisavang Vatthana ( lo, ພຣະບາທສົມເດັຈພຣະເຈົ້າມະຫາຊີວິຕສີສວ່າງວັດທະນາ) or sometimes Savang Vatthana (full title: Samdach Brhat Chao Mavattaha Sri Vitha Lan X ...
(1907-1977 or 1984)
* Queen
Khamphoui
Khamphoui ( lo, ພຣະອັຄຣະມະເຫສີເຈົ້າຍິງຄຳຜຸຍ/ພຣະນາງຄຳຜຸຍ; 12 July 1912 – 1982?) was the Queen of Laos by marriage to Sisavang Vatthana, the second (and last) King of La ...
(1909-1982)
''Their Children and Grandchildren''
* Crown Prince
Vong Savang
Vong Savang ( lo, ເຈົ້າຟ້າຊາຍມົງກຸດຣາຊະກຸມາຣວົງສະຫວ່າງ; 27 September 1931 – 2 May 1978) was the Crown Prince to throne of the Kingdom of Laos. After the Laotian Civil War in ...
(1931-1979) and Crown Princess Mahneelai Panya (1939-)
** Prince
Soulivong Savang
Crown Prince Soulivong Savang ( lo, ເຈົ້າຟ້າຊາຍມົງກຸດຣາຊະກຸມາຣ ສຸລິວົງສ໌ ສະຫວ່າງ; born 8 May 1963), grandson of the last King of Laos Savang Vatthana, is the prete ...
(1963-) and Princess Chandrasukra
** Prince
Thayavong Savang
Prince Thanyavong Savang ( lo, ເຈົ້າທັນວົງ ສະຫວ່າງ, born 17 April 1964) is a surviving member of the now deposed royal family of the Kingdom of Laos. He was born at the Royal Palace, Luang Prabang, Laos. His f ...
(1965-) and Princess Malika Khammao (1977-)
** Princess Manisophana Savang (1965-) and Prince Saya Khamphhan Panya (1963-)
** Princess Sawee Nahlee Savang (1967-) and Santi Inthavong (1961-)
** Prince Kiranvong Savang (1969-)
** Princess Manilama Savang (1977-)
** Prince Anouratha Varman Savang (1979-)
* Princess
Savivanh Savang
Princess Savivanh Savang Manivong (1933 – 4 January 2007, Nice) 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 Lao ...
(1933-2007) and Prince Sisumang Manivong (1927-)
* Prince
Sisavang (1935-1978) and Princess Mekham Ratsami (1940-)
** Prince Sayantha Sisavang (1969-)
** Prince Bouneya Sisavang (1971-)
** Prince Sathienna Sisavang
** Prince Sui Sisavang
** Princess Samiya Sisavang
** Princess Lolita Sisavang
* Princess Thala Savang (1935-2006) and Prince Sisouphanouvong Sisaleumsak (1930-)
* Prince
Sauryavong Savang
Prince Sauryavong Savang (22 January 1937 – 2 January 2018) was the youngest son of King Savang Vatthana of Laos. In 1965, he married Princess Dalavan and they had four children, Sthira Sauryavong, Dayavant Sauryavong, Balavant Sauryavong, and K ...
(1937-2018) and Princess Dalavan (1944-)
** Prince Southira Sauryavong Savang (1967-)
** Prince Dayavant Sauryavong Savang (1969-)
** Prince Balavant Sauryavong Savang (1972-)
** Princess Krishnajina Sauryavong Savang (1974-)
** Princess Mariana Gilnaji Savang (2001-)
Royal styles and titles
The sovereign of the
Kingdom of Laos
The Kingdom of Laos was a landlocked country in Southeast Asia at the heart of the Indochinese Peninsula. It was bordered by Burma and China to the northwest, North Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the southeast, and Thailand to the west and ...
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
King Sisavangvong ( lo, ພຣະບາທສົມເດັຈພຣະເຈົ້າມະຫາຊີວິຕສີສວ່າງວົງສ໌, 14 July 1885 – 29 October 1959) Born Prince Khao , was one of the last kings of Luang Praban ...
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
Prince Phetsarath Ratanavongsa (''Somdej Chao Maha Uparaja Petsaraj Ratanavongsa ''( lo, ສົມເດັຈເຈົ້າ ມຫາ ອຸປຣາຊ ເພັຊຣາຊ ຣັຕນວົງສາ) (19 January 1890 – 14 October 1959 ...
, the position was abolished.
The
Crown Prince
A crown prince or hereditary prince is the heir apparent to the throne in a royal or imperial monarchy. The female form of the title is crown princess, which may refer either to an heiress apparent or, especially in earlier times, to the wif ...
and
Crown Princess
A crown prince or hereditary prince is the heir apparent to the throne in a royal or imperial monarchy. The female form of the title is crown princess, which may refer either to an heiress apparent or, especially in earlier times, to the wife ...
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
Royal Highness is a style used to address or refer to some members of royal families, usually princes or princesses. Monarchs and their consorts are usually styled ''Majesty''.
When used as a direct form of address, spoken or written, it takes ...
.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 Princesses 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 would be styled as ''Sadu Chao Jaya'', with the style of
His Highness
Highness (abbreviation HH, oral address Your Highness) is a formal style (manner of address), style used to address (in grammatical person, second person) or refer to (in grammatical person, third person) certain members of a reigning or formerl ...
, 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
*
List of monarchs of Laos
The Lao People's Democratic Republic is the modern state derived from the final Kingdom of Laos. The political source of Lao history and cultural identity is the Tai kingdom of Lan Xang, which during its apogee emerged as one of the largest king ...
*
Royal Lao Government in Exile
The Royal Lao Government in Exile (RLGE) is a Laotian government in exile opposed to the Lao People's Democratic Republic. It purports to seek to institute a constitutional monarchy in Laos that ensures freedom, justice, peace, and prosperity for ...
References
{{Reflist
External links
The Association of the Envoys Extraordinary of the Royal Lao Government in Exile Worldwide, AEERLGE
History of Laos
Tai history
Asian royal families