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90-572: Lān Xāng Hôm Khāo is one romanization of the Lao name ລ້ານຊ້າງ ຮົ່ມຂາວ ( [lâːn sâːŋ hōm kʰǎːw] ), meaning "the Million Elephants and the White Parasol ". The kingdom's name alludes to the power of the king, his ties to Laotian Buddhism , and his army's countless war elephants . Other romanizations include Lan Sang , Lane Sang , and Lane Xang . The name Láncāng is

180-516: A Thai noble who was seeking asylum from King Chairacha of Ayutthaya for a failed rebellion. The incident resulted in a series of full-scale invasion of Lan Xang which was soundly defeated at Sala Kham in 1540. Lanna had a series of internal succession disputes throughout the 1540s. The weakened kingdom was invaded first by the Burmese and then in 1545 by Ayutthaya. Both attempted invasions were repulsed although significant damage had been done in

270-490: A Queen known only by her title as Maha Devi or as Nang Keo Phimpha "The Cruel". It is possible that from 1440 to 1442 she ruled Lan Xang as the first and only female leader, before being drowned in the Mekong in 1442 as an offering to the naga . In 1440 Vientiane revolted, but despite the years of instability the capital at Muang Sua was able to suppress the rebellion. An interregnum began in 1453 and ended in 1456 with

360-653: A campaign against the Khmer Empire . Defeating the Khmer would have greatly strengthened Lan Xang, giving it vital sea access, trade opportunities, and most importantly, European firearms which had been growing use since the early 1500s. The Khmer Chronicles record that armies from Lan Xang invaded in 1571 and 1572, during the second invasion King Barom Reacha I was slain in an elephant duel . The Khmer must have rallied and Lan Xang retreated, Setthathirath went missing near Attapeu . The Burmese and Lao Chronicles record only

450-731: A counterattack against Mahathammarachathirat in Phitsanulok. The plan would involve an overland invasion from Lan Xang with assistance from the royal navy in Ayutthaya passing up the Nan River . Mahathammarachathirat was in Burma at the time, and Maha Chakkraphat had been allowed to return to Ayutthaya as Burma was facing small rebellions in the Shan areas. The plan was discovered and reinforcements were sent to Phitsanulok. Realizing Phitsanulok

540-504: A fifty seven-year period of peace and restoration. During the period the Lan Xang sangha was at the apex of power, drawing monks and nuns for religious study from throughout Southeast Asia . Literature, art, music, court dance experienced a revival. King Sourigna Vongsa revised many of the laws of Lan Xang and established judicial courts. He also concluded a series of treaties which established both trade agreements and boundaries between

630-604: A full-scale invasion of Lan Xang in retribution for the rebellion in Muang Phuan and, more importantly, for supporting the Ming Empire in 1421. Around the same time, a white elephant had been captured and brought to King Chakkaphat. The elephant was recognized as a symbol of kingship throughout Southeast Asia and Lê Thánh Tông requested the animal's hair to be brought as a gift to the Vietnamese court. The request

720-793: A second wife to Fa Ngum. By 1357 Fa Ngum had established the mandala for the Kingdom of Lan Xang which extended from the borders of the Sipsong Panna with China south to Sambor below the Mekong rapids at Khong Island , and from the Vietnamese border along the Annamite Range to the western escarpment of the Khorat Plateau . It was thus one of the largest kingdoms in Southeast Asia. Fa Ngum again led Lan Xang to war in

810-479: A seven-headed Naga told Thattaradtha to start a new city on the east bank of the river opposite Maha Thani Si Phan Phao . The prince called this city Chanthabuly Si Sattanakhanahud ; which was said to be the predecessor of modern Vientiane. Contrary to the Phra Lak Phra Lam , most historians believe Vientiane was an early Mon settlement, which later came under the domination of the Khmer Empire . In

900-454: A vassal in Ayutthaya. The Burmese then turned north to depose King Mekuti of Lanna, who had failed to support the Burmese invasion of Ayutthaya in 1563. When Chiang Mai fell to the Burmese, a number of refugees fled to Vientiane and Lan Xang. King Setthathirath, realizing that Vientiane could not be held against a prolonged siege, ordered the city to be evacuated and stripped of supplies. When

990-535: A vassal king. In 1591 he was crowned in Vientiane , gathered an army and marched to Luang Prabang where he reunited the cities, declared Lan Xang independence and cast off any allegiance to the Toungoo Empire . King Nokeo Koumane then marched toward Muang Phuan and then to the central provinces reuniting all the former territories of Lan Xang. In 1593 King Nokeo Koumane launched an attack against Lanna and

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1080-516: A vassal of Zhenla ( Khmer Empire ), invaded Nghe An, but was repelled by the Duke; the Duke led an army chased the invaders as far as Vũ Ôn? (unattested), and then returned with captives. This name may have traced it origin to Wèndān , a supposedly kingdom located in the Khorat Plateau , mentioned by a ninth-century Chinese writer described a trade route which started at Hanoi and crossed the western mountains to Wèndān. In 1354, when Fa Ngum founded

1170-641: A youth Fa Ngum was sent to the Khmer Empire to live as a son of King Jayavarman IX , where he was given princess Keo Kang Ya. In 1343 King Souvanna Khampong died, and a succession dispute for Muang Sua took place. In 1349 Fa Ngum was granted an army known as the "Ten Thousand" to take the crown. At the time the Khmer Empire was in decline (possibly from an outbreak of the Black Death and the combined influx of Tai peoples ), both Lanna and Sukhothai had been established in what had been Khmer territory, and

1260-514: Is now the economic center of Laos. The city had a population of 840,000 as of the 2023 Census . Vientiane is the home of the most significant national monuments such as Pha That Luang , a national symbol of Laos and an icon of Buddhism in Laos . Other significant Buddhist temples can be found there as well, such as Haw Phra Kaew , which formerly housed the Emerald Buddha . "Vientiane" is

1350-709: The Bronze Age cultures in Ban Chiang (today part of Isan , Thailand ) and the Đông Sơn culture as well as Iron Age peoples near Xiangkhoang Plateau on the Plain of Jars , Funan , and Chenla (near Vat Phou in Champasak Province ). The Han dynasty 's chronicles of the southward expansion of the Han dynasty provide the first written accounts of Tai–Kadai speaking peoples or Ai Lao who inhabited

1440-639: The Buddha . The Tripitaka was transcribed from Pali to Lao , and the Lao version of the Ramayana or Pra Lak Pra Lam was also written. The earliest and continuously used Theravada temple, Wat Visoun was built in 1513 by King Visoun. Epic poems were written along with treatises on medicine, astrology and law. Lao court music was also systematized and the classical court orchestra took shape. King Visoun also sponsored several major temples or "wats" throughout

1530-517: The Chiang Mai Chronicles , Setthathirath took possession of the Emerald Buddha as his personal palladium (which would later become the palladium of Vientiane) and was given the princesses Nang Thip and Nang Tonkham as queens. The peace would not last long. In 1548, the Burmese invaded Ayutthaya but failed to take the capital; that same year Photisarath was approached by Burma with offers of an alliance. Photisarath neither accepted

1620-721: The China–Laos railway or Laos–China railway ) is a 414 kilometres (257 mi) 1,435 mm ( 4 ft  8 + 1 ⁄ 2  in ) standard gauge electrified railway in Laos , running between the capital Vientiane and the town of Boten on the border with China . The line was officially opened on 3 December 2021. Vientiane is served by Wattay International Airport with international connections to other Asian destinations such as Singapore , Hong Kong , Malaysia , Thailand , South Korea , Japan and China . Lao Airlines has regular flights to several domestic destinations in

1710-737: The Laotian Civil War . The next day, an Insurgency in Laos began in the jungle, with the Pathet Lao fighting factions of Hmong and royalists. Vientiane was the host of the 2009 Southeast Asian Games . Eighteen competitions were dropped from the previous games held in Thailand, due to Laos' landlocked borders and the lack of adequate facilities in Vientiane. Vientiane is on a bend of the Mekong River, at which point it forms

1800-677: The Nam Ou to take Muang Sua . Despite three attacks the King of Muang Sua, who was Fa Ngum's uncle, was unable to deter the size of Fa Ngum's army and committed suicide rather than be taken alive. In 1353 Fa Ngum was crowned, and named his Kingdom Lan Xang Hom Khao "The Land of a Million Elephants and the White Parasol", Fa Ngum continued his conquests to secure the areas around the Mekong by moving to take Sipsong Panna (modern Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture ) and began moving south to

1890-688: The Savannakhet region , and the Bolaven Plateau ), which was only interrupted by the Japanese invasion of Indochina. If this plan had been implemented, according to Martin Stuart-Fox , the Lao might well have lost control over their own country. During World War II , Vientiane fell with little resistance and was occupied by Japanese forces, under the command of Sako Masanori . On 9 March 1945, French paratroopers arrived and reoccupied

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1980-819: The pinyin romanization of the kingdom's Chinese name 瀾滄 , still used for the upper stretches of the Mekong in Tibet and Yunnan . Other names for the kingdom include the Chinese Nánzhǎng ( 南掌 ); the Sanskrit Srī Śatanāganayuta and the Pali Siri Satanāganahuta ; the Thai Lan Chang ( ล้านช้าง ) and Lan Chang Rom Khao ( ล้านช้างร่มขาว ); the Lanna Lan Chang ( ล้านจ๊าง ) and Lan Chang Hom Khao ( ล้านจ๊างฮ่มขาว );

2070-654: The stock exchange opened with two listed company stocks, with the cooperation of South Korea . There are regular bus services connecting Vientiane Bus Station with the rest of the country. In Vientiane, regular bus services around the city are provided by Vientiane Capital State Bus Enterprise. These buses were set up and run with the help of the Japan International Cooperation Agency. Daily non-stop bus services run between Vientiane and Nong Khai, Udon Thani, and Khon Kaen in Thailand. The First Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge , built in

2160-536: The 'walled city of the moon' as chan can also represent 'moon', although this was previously distinguished in writing as " ຈັນທຣ໌ ". Other romanisations include "Viangchan" and "Wiangchan". By the 6th century in the Chao Phraya River Valley, Mon peoples had coalesced to create the Dvaravati kingdoms . In the north, Haripunjaya ( Lamphun ) emerged as a rival power to the Dvaravati . By

2250-534: The 11th and 12th centuries, the time when the Lao and Thai people are believed to have entered Southeast Asia from Southern China , the few remaining Mon and Khmer in the area moved or assimilated into the Lao civilization, which would soon overtake the area. The earliest reference of the name Vientiane can be seen on a Vietnamese inscription of Duke Đỗ Anh Vũ , dated 1159 during the Khmer-Viet conflict. The inscription says that in 1135, Văn Đan (Vientiane),

2340-462: The 1360s against Sukhothai, in which Lan Xang was victorious in defense of their territory but gave the competing court factions and the war weary population a justification to depose Fa Ngum in favor of his son Oun Huean . Fa Ngum became an exile in Muang Nan , where he died between 1373 and 1390. In 1371, Oun Huean was crowned as King Samsenthai (King of 300,000 Tai) a carefully chosen name for

2430-481: The 1990s, crosses the river 18 kilometres downstream of the city of Nong Khai in Thailand, and is the major crossing between the two countries. The official name of the bridge was changed in 2007 by the addition of "First", after the Second Friendship Bridge linking Mukdahan in Thailand with Savannakhet in Laos was opened early in 2007. A metre gauge railway link over the first bridge

2520-647: The 8th century the Mon had pushed north to create city states, in Fa Daet (modern Kalasin , northeastern Thailand), Sri Gotapura (Sikhottabong) near modern Tha Khek , Laos, Muang Sua ( Luang Prabang ), and Chantaburi (Vientiane). In the 8th century CE, Sri Gotapura (Sikhottabong) was the strongest of these early city states, and controlled trade throughout the middle Mekong region. The city states were loosely bound politically, but were culturally similar and introduced Therevada Buddhism from Sri Lankan missionaries throughout

2610-487: The Burmese took Vientiane they were forced into the countryside for supplies, where King Setthathirath had organized guerrilla attacks and small raids to harass the Burmese troops. Facing disease, malnutrition and demoralizing guerrilla warfare, King Bayinnaung was forced to retreat in 1565 leaving Lan Xang the only remaining independent Tai kingdom. In 1567, King Mahinthrathirat approached King Setthathirath with covert plans for Ayutthaya to rebel against Burma by launching

2700-616: The French spelling derived from the Lao Viangchan /wíaŋ tɕàn/ . The name was previously written " ວຽງຈັນທນ໌ " (in Thai, เวียงจันทน์) but now usually written " ວຽງຈັນ ". In Lao, viang ( ວຽງ ) refers to a 'walled city' whereas chan ( ຈັນ , previously ຈັນທນ໌ ) derives from Sanskrit candana ( चन्दन , /t͡ɕand̪ana/ ), 'sandalwood' and can be translated as the 'walled city of sandalwood'. Some Laotians mistakenly believe it refers to

2790-721: The Lao-Khmer prince, which showed preference for the Lao-tai population he governed over the Khmer factions at court. Samenthai consolidated the gains of his father, and fought back Lanna in Chiang Saen during the 1390s. In 1402 he received formal recognition for Lan Xang from the Ming Empire in China. In 1416, at the age of sixty, Samsenthai died and was succeeded by his song Lan Kham Daeng . The Viet Chronicles record that during

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2880-681: The Phouma Government, and installed Boun Oum as prime minister. In mid-1975, Pathet Lao troops moved towards the city and Americans began evacuating the capital. On 23 August 1975, a contingent of 50 Pathet Lao women symbolically liberated the city. On 2 December 1975, the communist party of the Pathet Lao took over Vientiane, defeated the Kingdom of Laos , and renamed the country the Lao People's Democratic Republic, which ended

2970-626: The Siamese were growing in the area of the Chao Phraya River which would become the Ayutthaya Kingdom . The opportunity for the Khmer was to create a friendly buffer state in an area they could no longer effectively control with only a moderately sized military force. Fa Ngum's campaign started in southern Laos, taking the towns and cities in the region around Champasak and moving northward through Thakek and Kham Muang along

3060-582: The Taungoo Prince Tharrawaddy Min . Tharrawaddy Min sought assistance from Burma , but rebellions throughout the empire prevented any support. In desperation a request was sent to the Burmese vassal in Ayutthaya King Naresuan . King Naresuan dispatched a large army and turned on Tharrawaddy Min , forcing the Burmese to accept Ayutthaya as independent and Lanna as a vassal kingdom. King Nokeo Koumane realized he

3150-447: The alliance, nor did he support Ayutthaya which had unsuccessfully tried to invade Lan Xang only eight years earlier. In 1550 Photisarath returned to Luang Prabang, but was killed in an accident while riding an elephant in front of the fifteen international delegations which were seeking an audience. In 1548 King Setthathirath (as King of Lanna) had taken Chiang Saen as his capital. Chiang Mai still had powerful factions at court, and

3240-414: The architecture, the design incorporates typical Lao motifs including Kinnari, a mythical bird woman. Energetic visitors can climb to the top of the monument for a panoramic view of the city. Buddha Park was built in 1958 by Luang Pu Bunleua Sulilat and contains a collection of Buddhist and Hindu sculptures, scattered amongst gardens and trees. The park is 28 kilometres (17 mi) south of Vientiane at

3330-515: The areas of modern Yunnan and Guangxi , China. The Tai peoples migrated south in a series of waves beginning in the 7th century and accelerated following the Mongol conquest of Yunnan (1253–1256) into the northern reaches of what would become the kingdom of Lan Xang. The fertile northern Mekong valleys were occupied by the Dvaravati culture of the Mon people and subsequently by the Khmer , where

3420-488: The border with Thailand . The city government administers the five urban districts of the Vientiane Prefecture . Vientiane features a tropical savanna climate ( Köppen Aw ) with distinct wet and dry seasons . Vientiane’s dry season spans from November through March. April marks the onset of the wet season which in Vientiane lasts about seven months. Vientiane tends to be very hot and humid throughout

3510-489: The borders of Lanna along the Mekong . King Phayu of Lanna raised an army which Fa Ngum overwhelmed at Chiang Saen , forcing Lanna to cede some its territory and provide valuable gifts in exchange for mutual recognition. Having secured his immediate borders Fa Ngum returned to Muang Sua . In 1351 Uthong , who was married to a daughter of the Khmer King Suphanburi, founded the city of Ayutthaya . However,

3600-496: The capital of Lan Xang from Luang Prabang to Vientiane, which would remain the capital over the next two hundred and fifty years. The formal movement of the capital followed an expansive building program which included strengthening city defenses, the construction of a massive formal palace and the Haw Phra Kaew to house the Emerald Buddha , and major renovations to That Luang in Vientiane. In Luang Prabang, Wat Xieng Thong

3690-480: The city on 24 April 1945. The city became the national capital of the newly independent Lao state in 1953. As the Laotian Civil War broke out between the Royal Lao Government and the Pathet Lao , Vientiane became unstable. In August 1960, Kong Le seized the capital and insisted that Souvanna Phouma become prime minister. In mid-December, Phoumi Nosavan then seized the capital, overthrew

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3780-471: The city was rebuilt and various Buddhist temples such as Pha That Luang , Haw Phra Kaew were repaired. During French rule, the Vietnamese were encouraged to migrate to Laos, which resulted in 53% of the population of Vientiane being Vietnamese in the year 1943. As late as 1945, the French drew up an ambitious plan to move massive Vietnamese population to three key areas (i.e. the Vientiane Plain,

3870-646: The city, to terminate at Vientiane (Khamsavath) railway station , a bigger and newer station closer to the city, with connections to the Central Bus Terminal and the Laos China Railway Station. The first passenger train arrived from Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal in Bangkok on 20 July 2024. The new station has immigration facilities, offices, shops and more platforms. The Boten–Vientiane railway (sometimes referred to as

3960-416: The command of Sen Soulintha, and managed to take Chiang Saen. For his success, Sen Soulintha was given the title Luxai (Victorious) and offered one of his daughters to King Setthathirath. In 1556 Burma, under King Bayinnaung invaded Lanna. King Mekuti of Lanna surrendered Chiang Mai without a fight, but was reinstated as a Burmese vassal under military occupation. In 1560, King Setthathirath formally moved

4050-460: The commonality of these early legends can help to understand Lan Xang and its relations with neighboring kingdoms. The Nithan Khun Borum "Story of Khun Borom " was central to these origin stories and formed the introduction to the Phongsavadan or court chronicles which were read aloud during auspicious occasions and festivals. Throughout the history of Lan Xang the legitimacy of the monarchy

4140-427: The country (including several flights daily to Luang Prabang , plus a few flights weekly to other local destinations). In Thailand, Udon Thani International Airport , one of Wattay's main connections, is less than 90 km distant. The "Centre Medical de l'Ambassade de France" is available to the foreign community in Laos. The Mahosot Hospital is an important local hospital in treating and researching diseases and

4230-703: The country. He chose the Phra Bang a standing image of the Buddha in the mudra or position of "dispelling fear" to be the palladium of Lan Xang. The Phra Bang had been brought by Fa Ngum's Khmer wife Keo Kang Ya from Angkor as a gift from her father. The image is traditionally believed to have been forged in Ceylon , which was the center of the Therevada Buddhist tradition and was made of thong an alloy of gold and silver. The Phra Bang had been kept in Vientiane until that time, in part because of

4320-609: The course of the year, though temperatures in the city tend to be somewhat cooler during the dry season than the wet season. The lowest recorded temperature was 2.4 °C or 36.3 °F in January 1924, and the highest was 42.6 °C or 108.7 °F in April 2024. The capital attracts many tourists to its many temples and Buddhist monuments. A popular attraction for foreign visitors is Pha That Luang , an important national cultural monument of Laos and one of its best known stupas . It

4410-459: The court fled south toward Vientiane along the Mekong . The Vietnamese took the capital of Luang Prabang , and then divided their forces to create a pincer attack . One branch continued west, taking Sipsong Panna and threatening Lanna, and another force headed south along the Mekong toward Vientiane . A contingent of Vietnamese troops managed to reach the upper Irrawaddy River (modern-day Myanmar ). King Tilok and Lanna preemptively destroyed

4500-461: The crowning of King Chakkaphat (1456–1479). In 1448 during the disorder of the Maha Devi , Muang Phuan and some areas along the Black River were annexed by the kingdom of Đại Việt and several skirmishes took place against Lanna along the Nan River . In 1471 Emperor Lê Thánh Tông of Đại Việt invaded and destroyed the kingdom of Champa . Also in 1471, Muang Phuan revolted and several Vietnamese were killed. By 1478 preparations were being made for

4590-504: The death of the Sukhothai king Ram Khamhaeng , and internal disputes within the kingdom of Lan Na , both Vieng Chan Vieng Kham ( Vientiane ) and Muang Sua ( Luang Prabang ) were independent Lao-Tai mandalas until the founding of Lan Xang in 1353. The cultural memory of the early migrations and the mixing of Tai influence with the indigenous, Mon, and Khmer peoples were preserved in the origin myths and traditions of Lan Xang. The cultural, linguistic, and political roots which highlight

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4680-443: The divided forces, and King Setthathirath had to retreat toward Vientiane. The Burmese then focused their attack on Ayutthaya and took the city. King Setthathirath upon reaching Vientiane ordered an immediate evacuation. The Burmese took several weeks to regroup and rest having taken Ayutthaya, which allowed Setthathirath to rally his forces and plan for prolonged guerrilla warfare. The Burmese arrived in Vientiane and were able to take

4770-464: The edge of the Mekong River . Vientiane is home to one of the three bowling alleys in Laos (the other two are in Luang Prabang and Pakse ). Other sites include: The National University of Laos , one of three universities in the country, is in Vientiane. International schools include: Vientiane is the driving force behind economic change in Laos. In recent years, the city has experienced rapid economic growth from foreign investment. In 2011,

4860-431: The emissaries killed. Bayinnaung invaded Vientiane in 1574, Sen Soulintha ordered the city to be evacuated but he lacked the support of the people and the army. Vientiane fell to the Burmese. Sen Soulintha was sent as a captive to Burma along with Setthathirath's heir Prince Nokeo Koumane. A Burmese vassal, Chao Tha Heua, was left to administer Vientiane, but he would rule only four years. The First Taungoo Empire (1510–99)

4950-424: The focal point for invasion from which it was difficult to defend. The move allowed Photisarath to better administer the kingdom and to respond to the outlying provinces which bordered the Đại Việt, Ayutthaya and the growing power of Burma . In 1539 he made a pilgrimage to Sikhottabong and he also made improvements to That Phanom to reinforce Lan Xang's southern regional power. Also in 1539 Photisarath accepted

5040-438: The kingdom be brought back to order. In recognition for his assistance against Ayutthaya, and his strong familial ties to Lanna, King Photisarath was offered the throne of Lanna for his son Prince Setthathirath , who in 1547 was crowned King in Chiang Mai. Lan Xang was at the height of their political power, with Photisarath as King of Lan Xang and Setthathirath his son as King of Lanna . In the elaborate court ceremony recorded in

5130-468: The kingdom of Lan Xang , Vientiane became an important administrative city, even though it was not made the capital. King Setthathirath officially established it as the capital of Lan Xang in 1563, to avoid Burmese invasion. When Lan Xang fell apart in 1707, it became an independent Kingdom of Vientiane . In 1779, it was conquered by the Siamese general Phraya Chakri and made a vassal of Siam . When King Anouvong raised an unsuccessful rebellion, it

5220-424: The kingdom. In 1532 the period of peace ended for Lan Xang when Muang Phuan rebelled and took Photisarath two years to fully suppress. In 1533 he moved his court to Vientiane , the commercial capital of Lan Xang which was located on the floodplains of the Mekong below the capital at Luang Prabang . Vientiane was the principal city of Lan Xang, and lay at the confluence of trade routes, but that access also made it

5310-468: The letters, and in official Lao government usage. The table below shows the Lao vowel nuclei, combined with the consonant ກ. Vientiane Vientiane is the capital and largest city of Laos . Comprising the five urban districts of Vientiane Prefecture , the city is located on the banks of the Mekong , right at the border with Thailand . Vientiane was the administrative capital during French rule and, due to economic growth in recent times,

5400-489: The lightly defended city. Just as in 1565, Setthathirath began a guerrilla campaign from his base near the Nam Ngum , northeast of Vientiane. In 1570 Bayinnaung retreated, Setthathirath counterattacked and more than 30,000 were taken prisoner, along with 100 elephants, and 2,300 pieces of ivory from the retreating Burmese. In 1571, the Ayutthaya Kingdom and Lan Na were Burmese vassals. Having twice defended Lan Xang from Burmese invasions, King Setthathirath moved south to conduct

5490-569: The middle Mekong . From his position on the middle Mekong , Fa Ngum sought assistance and supply from Vientiane in attacking Muang Sua, which they refused. However, Prince Nho of Muang Phuan (Muang Phoueune) offered assistance and vassalage to Fa Ngum for assistance in a succession dispute of his own and help in securing Muang Phuan from Đại Việt . Fa Ngum agreed and quickly moved his army to take Muang Phuan and then on to take Xam Neua and several smaller towns of Đại Việt. The Vietnamese kingdom of Đại Việt , concerned with their rival Champa to

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5580-418: The northern army, and the forces around Vientiane rallied under King Chakkaphat's younger son Prince Thaen Kham. The combined forces destroyed the Vietnamese forces, which fled in the direction of Muang Phuan. Although numbering only about 4,000 men, the Vietnamese destroyed the Muang Phuan capital in one last act of vengeance before retreating. Prince Thaen Kham then offered to restore his father Chakkphat to

5670-503: The present Vietnamese name Vương quốc Lan Xang and the historical names Ai Lao ( 哀牢 ), Vạn Tượng ( 萬象 , "Ten Thousand Elephants"), and Nam Chưởng ( 南掌 ); the Khmer Lean Cheang ( លានជាង ), Lean Damri ( លានដំរី ), or Srei Satneakonhot ( ស្រីសតនាគនហុត ); and the Burmese Linzin ( လင်းဇင်း ). The geography Lan Xang would occupy had been originally settled by indigenous Austroasiatic-speaking tribes, such as Khmuic peoples and Vietic peoples which gave rise to

5760-444: The presumption that he died in battle. Setthathirath's general Sen Soulintha returned to Vientiane with the remnants of the Lan Xang expedition. He fell under immediate suspicion, and a civil war raged in Vientiane as a succession dispute took place. In 1573, he emerged as king regent but lacked support. Upon hearing reports of the unrest, Bayinnaung dispatched emissaries demanding the immediate surrender of Lan Xang. Sen Soulintha had

5850-487: The princess and sent her to his overlords in Burma; she committed suicide shortly thereafter or en route. Facing the threat of a superior Burmese force, King Chakkraphat had lost a potential alliance with Lan Xang, the northern territories of Ayutthaya and his daughter. To prevent further incursions, King Chakkraphat became a vassal of Burma and had to deliver both himself and his son Prince Ramesuan as hostages to King Bayinnaung leaving another son Prince Mahinthrathirat as

5940-416: The principal city-state in the north was known then as Muang Sua and alternately as Xieng Dong Xieng Thong "The City of Flame Trees beside the River Dong", (modern city of Luang Prabang ). With the rise of the Sukhothai Kingdom , the principal city-states of Muang Sua ( Luang Prabang ) and south to the twin cities of Vieng Chan Vieng Kham ( Vientiane ) came increasingly under Tai influence. Following

6030-448: The region. The great Laotian epic, the Phra Lak Phra Lam , claims that Prince Thattaradtha founded the city when he left the legendary Lao kingdom of Muong Inthapatha Maha Nakhone because he was denied the throne in favor of his younger brother. Thattaradtha founded a city called Maha Thani Si Phan Phao on the western banks of the Mekong River ; this city was said to have later become today's Udon Thani , Thailand . One day,

6120-420: The reign of Lan Kham Daeng in 1421 the Lam Sơn Uprising took place under Lê Lợi against the Ming , and sought Lan Xang's assistance. An army of 30,000 with 100 elephant cavalry was dispatched, but instead sided with the Chinese. The death of Lan Kham Daeng ushered in a period of uncertainty and regicide . From 1428 to 1440 seven kings ruled Lan Xang; all were killed by assassination or intrigue guided by

6210-575: The remains of the Khmer Empire were in direct conflict with the growing power of Ayutthaya and the two became rivals rather than allies. Throughout the 1350s Ayutthaya expanded over western Khmer territories and the Khorat Plateau . In 1352 Angkor was attacked by Ayutthaya in a failed attempt to take the capital. Vientiane remained independent and powerful, and the growing power of Ayutthaya threatened regional stability. In 1356 Fa Ngum marched south to take Vientiane for failing to support his earlier advance on Muang Sua . In 1357 he took Vientiane and

6300-437: The south sought a clearly defined border with the growing power of Fa Ngum. The result was to use the Annamite Range as both a cultural and territorial barrier between the two kingdoms. Continuing his conquests Fa Ngum turned toward the Sip Song Chau Tai along the Red and Black River valleys, which were heavily populated with Lao . Having secured a sizable force of Lao from each territory under his domain Fa Ngum moved down

6390-411: The spirit of a local girl, Nang Si. Legend tells that Nang Si, who was pregnant at the time, leapt to her death as a sacrifice, just as the pillar was being lowered into the hole. In front of the temple stands a statue of King Sisavang Vong . The memorial monument, Patuxai , built between 1957 and 1968, is perhaps the most prominent landmark in the city. While the Arc de Triomphe in Paris inspired

6480-505: The strength of the traditional animist beliefs in Muang Sua . The Phra Bang image was so revered that the capital city was renamed in its honor from Muang Sua to Luang Prabang . King Visoun , his son Photisarath , his grandson Setthathirath , and his great grandson Nokeo Koumane would provide Lan Xang with a succession of strong leaders who were able to preserve and restore the kingdom despite tremendous international challenges in

6570-502: The surrounding countryside. Lan Xang dispatched reinforcements to support their allies in Lanna. In response, Chairacha set out at the head of a second army in 1547 to take Chiang Mai where he was again defeated and forced into full retreat to Ayutthaya, where he died almost immediately upon his return. The succession disputes in Lanna continued, but the position of Lanna between the aggressive states of Burma and Ayutthaya necessitated that

6660-522: The surrounding kingdoms. Romanization of Lao Lao romanization systems are transcriptions of the Lao script into the Latin alphabet . The table below shows the Lao consonant letters and their transcriptions according to IPA ( International Phonetic Alphabet ,) BGN/PCGN romanization (1966 system) and LC (US ALA-LC romanization ,) as well as the transcriptions used in the Unicode names of

6750-519: The surrounding plains, and marched south to assert Lao control over the areas seized by Ayutthaya. Fa Ngum moved across the Khorat Plateau taking the major cities along the Mun and Chi Rivers and moving as far south as Roi Et . In Roi Et, Fa Ngum directly challenged Ayutthaya, which acknowledged Lan Xang's control over the Khorat Plateau . Uthong sent 100 elephants, gold, silver, over 1,000 pieces of ivory and betrothed his daughter Nang Keo Lot Fa to be

6840-472: The threats from Burma and Ayutthaya were growing. Following the untimely death of his father, King Setthathirath left Lanna leaving his wife as regent . Arriving in Lan Xang, Setthathirath was crowned as King of Lan Xang. The departure emboldened the rival factions at court, who in 1551 crowned Chao Mekuti as king of Lanna. In 1553 King Setthathirath sent an army to retake Lanna but was defeated. Again in 1555 King Setthathirath sent an army to retake Lanna at

6930-402: The throne, but he refused and abdicated in favor of his son who was crowned as Suvanna Balang (The Golden Chair) in 1479. The Vietnamese would not invade the unified Lan Xang for the next 200 years, and Lanna became a close ally to Lan Xang. Through subsequent kings Lan Xang would repair the damage of the war with Đại Việt, which led to a blossoming of culture and trade. King Visoun (1500–1520)

7020-506: The uprising. In early 1569, the city of Ayutthaya was directly under threat and Vientiane sent reinforcements. The Burmese had planned on the reinforcements however and King Setthathirath fell into a trap. After a two-day struggle the Lan Xang forces prevailed at the Pa Sak Valley near Phetchabun , at which point one of the commanding generals from Nakhon Phanom broke south toward Ayutthaya. The Burmese rallied and were able to destroy

7110-454: The years ahead. King Photisarath (1520–1550) was one of the great kings of Lan Xang, he took Nang Yot Kham Tip from Lanna as his queen as well as lesser queens from Ayutthaya, and Longvek . Photisarath was a devout Buddhist, and declared it as the state religion Lan Xang. In 1523 he requested a copy of the Tripiṭaka from King Kaeo in Lanna, and in 1527 he abolished spirit worship throughout

7200-468: Was a major patron of the arts and during his reign the classical literature of Lan Xang was first written. The Theravada Buddhist monks and monasteries became centers of learning and the sangha grew in both cultural and political power. The Nithan Khun Borom (Story of Khun Borom ) first appeared in written form, along with several transcriptions of the Jataka Tales which recall previous lives of

7290-492: Was constructed perhaps in compensation for the loss of status as the former capital of Lan Xang, and in Nakhon Phanom major renovations were made to That Phanom . In 1563, a treaty was signed between Lan Xang and Ayutthaya, which was sealed by the betrothal of Princess Thepkasattri (whose mother was Queen Suriyothai of Ayutthaya ). However, King King Maha Chakkraphat instead tried to exchange Princess Kaeo Fa, which

7380-599: Was established but faced internal rebellions. In 1580 Sen Soulintha returned as a Burmese vassal, and in 1581 Bayinnaung died with his son King Nanda Bayin in control of the Toungoo Empire. From 1583 to 1591 a civil war took place in Lan Xang. Prince Nokeo Koumane had been held in the Taungoo court for sixteen years, and by 1591 was about twenty years old. The sangha in Lan Xang sent a mission to King Nandabayin asking for Nokeo Koumane to be returned to Lan Xang as

7470-481: Was formally inaugurated on 5 March 2009, previously ending at Thanaleng Railway Station , in Dongphosy village ( Vientiane Prefecture ), 20 km east of Vientiane. As of November 2010, Lao officials plan to convert the station into a cargo rail terminal for freight trains , allowing cargo to be transported from Bangkok into Laos more cheaply than via road. The rail link has since been extended 7.5km further into

7560-414: Was immediately rejected. In the midst of the disagreement, the Burmese invaded northern Ayutthaya with the assistance of Maha Thammaracha the royal viceroy and governor of Phitsanulok . It was only then in 1564 that King Chakkraphat sent Princess Thepkasattri to Lan Xang along with a massive dowry in an attempt to buy back the broken alliance. While the procession was en route, Maha Thammaracha ambushed

7650-415: Was obliterated by Siamese armies in 1827. The city was burned to the ground and was looted of nearly all Laotian artifacts, including Buddha statues and people. Vientiane was in great disrepair, depopulated and disappearing into the forest when the French arrived. It eventually passed to French rule in 1893. It became the capital of the French protectorate of Laos in 1899. During the French colonial period,

7740-478: Was originally built in 1566 by King Setthathirath and was restored in 1953. The golden stupa is 45 metres (148 ft) tall and is believed to contain a relic of the Buddha. Another site that is also popular amongst tourists is Wat Si Muang . The temple was built on the ruins of a Khmer Hindu shrine, the remains of which can be seen behind the ordination hall. It was built in 1563 and is believed to be guarded by

7830-422: Was outnumbered by the combined strength of Ayutthaya and Lanna and called off the attack. In 1596, King Nokeo Koumane died suddenly and without an heir. Although he had united Lan Xang, and restored the kingdom to a point that it could repel an outside invasion, a succession dispute took place and a series of weak kings followed until 1637. Under the reign of King Sourigna Vongsa (1637–1694) Lan Xang experienced

7920-474: 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 of 180,000 men 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 Vietnamese forces won a hard-fought victory and continued north to threaten Muang Sua . King Chakkaphat and

8010-510: Was tied to the single dynasty of Khun Lo , the legendary king of Muang Sua and son of Khun Borom. The traditional court histories of Lan Xang begin in the Year of the Nāga 1316 (the nāga a mythical serpent of the Mekong and a protector spirit of the kingdom) with the birth of Fa Ngum . Fa Ngum's Grandfather Souvanna Khampong was king of Muang Sua and his father Chao Fa Ngiao was the crown prince. As

8100-435: Was too fortified, King Setthathirath withdrew his attack, but set up a devastating counter ambush on his retreat to Vientiane in which five pursuing Burmese generals were killed. Seizing on the weakness, King Chakkraphat ordered a second attack on Phitsanulok in which he successfully took the city, but could only briefly hold it having suffered repeated heavy losses. King Bayinnaung sent a massive invasion in 1568 in response to

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