Anouvong: Lao Rebel Leader, Hero, and King

The 19th century was a tumultuous period for the Kingdom of Laos. In the early 1800s, the domain was divided into three separate kingdoms, each ruled by its own sovereigns, and each effectively being vassal states of the neighboring Siamese. In 1827, King Anouvong of the Kingdom of Vientiane gathered his fellow countrymen, leading an impressive rebellion against Bangkok after decades of humiliating treatment by the oppressors.

The king succeeded in restoring a sense of national pride and unity among the three kingdoms. He may not have lived to see his ultimate dream of a free and independent Laos, but his legacy lives on. He is considered one of the most revered national heroes of the country to this day. His reforms included modernizing the military, improving education, establishing Buddhist places of worship, and developing infrastructure.

This article explains the complicated history of Laos leading up to Anouvong’s revolt. It also discusses how he hoped to involve the British and Vietnamese, and what he ultimately left behind for the country.

Precursor and Lao History Before Anouvong

Laos is a landlocked country in Southeast Asia that has a rich history and culture. It is believed to have been inhabited for over 10,000 years, with ancient settlements dating back to the Bronze Age. The first unified kingdom of Laos was the Lan Xang Kingdom, which was established in 1353 by Fa Ngum, embracing all of present-day Laos and northeast Thailand, and parts of Vietnam, and its main points were the power of the kingship and its formidable war machine. The kingdom of Lan Xang is considered to be the precursor to the current country of Laos. Its national, historical, and cultural identity is based on the traditions and myths of the kingdom’s origins.

The breakup of the three-and-a-half century-old kingdom in 1707 can be attributed to a combination of internal and external factors. Internally, the kingdom was plagued by a series of weak rulers and a lack of strong leadership, leading to a lack of unity and diminishing power. Furthermore, the kingdom also suffered from a series of devastating civil wars that further weakened it.

Externally, the Lan Xang kingdom was caught in the middle of a power struggle between two other dominant powers in the region – the Ayutthaya kingdom (modern-day Thailand, occupied by the Burmese during multiple periods of Lan Xang’s existence) to the west and the Dai Viet (modern-day Vietnam) to the east. Both powers were vying for control of the surrounding areas, and their competition caused much disruption and political instability in the region. 

The neighboring nations also had a significant advantage, as they gained riches and amassed wealth due to maritime trade with European nations, Northeast Asia, and the Middle East. Lan Xang, a landlocked kingdom, was heavily dependent on cross-border trade passing through the lower Mekong, or what is now Cambodia and Southern Vietnam. This eventually led to the collapse of the Lan Xang kingdom in 1707, and Lan Xang fell into a period of chaos. It was forced to split the kingdom into three separate entities – the Kingdoms of Luang Prabang, Vientiane, and Champasak.

The kingdom of Vientiane prospered for around half a century after it became the playground of neighboring powers. It was a Burmese vassal state from 1765 to 1824, and until 1828, effectively under Siamese control.

Prince Anouvong Coming into the Picture

Born in 1805, Chao Anouvong was a Laotian prince at the time. As a young prince, he was educated in Buddhist teachings, and he had a strong belief in his country’s independence. At the age of 20, in Siam-controlled Vientiane, Anouvong’s rebellion plans started to take shape. His strategy consisted of three key points.

The first was to respond to the immediate crisis caused by popular discontent over humiliating census practices by Siam, such as the forced tattooing of the Lao people.

The second was to relocate ethnic Lao on the Khorat Plateau, back to the Kingdom of Vientiane, waging a Scorched Earth Policy (burning everything that could be useful to the enemy to the ground) to slow the inevitable Siamese pursuit.

The last point was to gather foreign support. Anouvong intended to seek a diplomatic victory by gaining support from Vietnam, China, or Britain.

Anouvong may have believed that the Southeast Asian balance of power was shifting away from Siam. The presence of the British in nearby Burma, the growing influence of Vietnam in the Cambodian provinces, and regional dissatisfaction in the Lao areas all suggested that Siamese power was waning. The British arrived in Siam in 1826 to finalize the Burney Treaty. The presence of the British fleet may have led Anouvong to believe that an invasion was imminent. His most serious miscalculation, however, was the disparity in military power between Siam and Laos. Siam had been purchasing large quantities of modern firearms and ammunition from Britain when Britain had a military surplus from the recently concluded Napoleonic Wars.

Anouvong, King and Rebel Leader

Anouvong’s first rebellion attack began in December 1826, with an army of 10,000 men marching toward Siam’s Kalasin, following the path of the much-despised tattooing officials. Anouvong led a second larger force even further south, towards Nakhon Ratchasima, halfway between Vientiane and Bangkok, and was able to take the city through a ruse. Anouvong’s army sent a contingent to Lomsak and Chaiyaphum before heading to Saraburi to bring the Lao families there back to Vientiane. A fourth army was dispatched to take Ubon, led by Anouvong’s son Nyô, King of Champasak. All of these armies moved in the shadow of a web of misinformation and false dispatches warning of impending attacks on Siam by neighboring powers.

The civilians who occupied the roads and passes slowed Anouvong’s planned guerrilla-like retreat. Lao commanders also took their time looking for Thai officials responsible for tattooing, forcing those apprehended to march north as prisoners. Anouvong squandered a month searching for the governor of Nakhon Ratchasima, a key figure in the tattooing and population transfers.

Siam quickly organized a massive counter-offensive and sent two armies, one to retake Nakhon Ratchasima and the other to Lomsak. Siamese strength and modern weapons outmatched Anouvong’s expectations, and his armies marched back to Vientiane. They defended the city for five days while Anouvong fled for his life toward the Vietnamese border.

The Siamese eventually sacked Vientiane, alongside its palaces, and destroyed the city’s defenses, but he spared the monasteries and much of the city. Following the takeover of Vientiane, the rulers of Chiang Mai, Lampang, Lamphun, Nan, Phrae, and the kingdom of Luang Phrabang all reaffirmed their loyalty to Siam.

Anouvong eventually returned, accompanied by approximately 1000 soldiers and 100 Vietnamese observers. This small force was only meant to negotiate a peace treaty with Siam. He did, however, learn that a nine-spire stupa had been erected as a victory monument at a temple in Yasothon (a former Lao town that belongs to Thailand to this day). He became enraged as a result, and he crossed the Mekong and attacked the 300 Thai defenders, killing all but about 40. The king of Siam, Rama III, now enraged, ordered to completely destroy the Lao capital, as well as capture Anouvong at any cost.

Anouvong, who became the Last King of Vientiane, had a vision of restoring the Lao kingdom to its former glory and liberating his people from the Siamese. He was known for his courage and determination, and he managed to unite the Laotians against their oppressors. Despite early successes, Anouvong’s reign was short-lived. His enemies were wary of his ambitions and the Siamese succeeded in capturing the king. Anouvong was executed in Bangkok in 1828.

Anouvong Today

Although his death was tragic for the Laotians, Anouvong’s legacy lives on. He is remembered by the Laotians as a symbol of their struggle for independence, and his story continues to inspire future generations. Anouvong is celebrated as a national hero and a reminder of the Lao people’s capacity to resist foreign dominance.

Anouvong’s last rebellion was a major event in Laos’ history. It is a reminder of the country’s resilience and determination to remain independent. Though the rebellion ultimately failed, it was an invaluable reminder of the importance of unity and sovereignty. Anouvong’s courage and patriotism are still admired in Laos. His legacy will live on in the hearts of the Lao people.