Savang Vatthana
King Savang Vatthana (
November 13,
1907 -
May 13 (
?),
1978) was the last
king of the
Kingdom of Laos.
He was born in
Louang Phrabang,
Laos, the son of King
Sisavang Vong and Queen
Kham-Oun I.
On August 7,
1930, he married Queen
Khamphoui and they had seven children, Crown Prince
Vong Savang, Prince
Sisavang Savang, Prince Savang , Prince
Sauryavong Savang, Princess
Savivanh Savang, and Princess
Thala Savang.
In
1951, he served as Prime Minister, and when his father became ill on August 20, 1959, he was assigned
Regent.
On October 29,
1959, he informally ascended the throne upon the death of his father. He was, however, never officially crowned and anointed king, deferring his coronation until the cessation of civil war, which did not arrive before his forced abdication on December 2,
1975, after the
communist revolution. In about 1978, he died in an
internment camp in northern Laos, along with Queen
Khamphoui and Crown Prince
Vong Savang.
Upon the news of the deaths of King Savang Vattana and Crown Prince Vong Savang, the King's youngest son
Sauryavong Savang became the head of the Laotian royal family, acting as
regent to his nephew Crown Prince
Soulivong Savang.
* "I will be with my people to face this problem together to the end regardless of what will happen to me."
* "Alas, I am destined to be the last king of Laos."
*
Laos - "Seminar Camps" And The Death Of King Savang Vatthana*
Photographs of Royal Family of Laos*
Biography of King Sauryavong Savang (French)
