King Anouvong (Chao Anou)

Who was king Anouvong?

King Anouvong He was the king of Laos, born in 1767 and died in Bangkok, Thailand in 1829, at age 62. He came to throne from 1805 to 1828, during his rule the country was Siamese tributaries and many parts of the country was occupied by Siam.

During his reign, his goal was to unite the country and bring back peace and stability to the people. Since his army was smaller and weaker than Siam he had to be Siam's ally to fight Burmese's army in hope that one day Siam will return the occupied land back to Laos.

In 1825, returning from the funeral of Buddha Loetla Nabhalai (Thai King) in Bangkok, King Anouvong asked Siamese to returned the occupied land to Laos but Siamese refused. He, then returned to Vientiane and rallied up his strong army in preparation to fight and capture back the lost territories.

Newly Erected Chao Anouvong Satatue

His army crossed the Mekong river defeating major Bangkok's vassal principalities along the route, until he captured Korat, the main defensive stronghold of Bangkok in the northeast. His army moved heading down to Saraburi, approaching the capital Bangkok. However, the Korat captives rebelled under the supervision of the lady Mo(Ya Mo), wife of a ruling noble of Korat had killed many of his strong soldiers.

As Siam began to move its counter-striking troops, Chao Anouvong then decided to return to Vientiane after subsequently being defeated by Thai forces. Prince Jessadabodindra sent his brother Maha Sakdi Polsep the Front Palace and Phraya Rajsupawadi to defeat the armies of Chao Anouvong in Issan. Chao Anouvong was defeated to Siam army and fled to Vietnam. The Siamese captured Vientiane and ordered the evacuation of the city. Hundred of thousands of Lao people was sent to Bangkok and work as a slave.

In 1827, Prince Jessadabodindra ordered the total destruction of Vientiane. King Anouvong returned to Laos with Vietnamese army. Rajsupawadi led the Siamese to fight and the fighting occurred mostly at Nongkai region. Chao Anouvong was defeated again and, after an attempt to escape, he was captured. Vientiane was burned to the ground, ending her 200-year prosperity, and ceded to be a kingdom. Chao Anouvong was sent to Bangkok and King Rama III of Thailand imprisoned him in an iron cage and he died few days later in 1829.

In 2010 the government of Lao's People Democratic Republic after 35 years came into power, erected the statue of Chao Anouvong in Vientiane. The erection ceremony was attended by the President, Mr. Chounmaly Sayasone, high ranking Lao's officials, governments and private organizations, Buddhist monks and people around the country.

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