Kingdom of Laos: Map & History
The Kingdom of Laos was the former government of Laos from 1947 to 1975.
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The Kingdom of Laos was the former government of Laos from 1947 to 1975. Located 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 southwest. The country was governed as a constitutional monarchy beginning with its independence on 22 October 1953. It survived until 2 December 1975, when its last king, Sisavang Vatthana, surrendered the throne to the Pathet Lao during the civil war in Laos, who abolished the monarchy in favour of a Marxist–Leninist state called the Lao People's Democratic Republic.
Modern Countries Once Part of Kingdom of Laos
At its mapped extent, Kingdom of Laos covered territory in 1 present-day country. The period shown is when the mapped borders include that country, and the note says how much of it.
Largest Present-Day Cities in Its Territory
Each opens on the live map inside Kingdom of Laos's borders of that time.
Derived by testing mapped cities against this polity's dated territorial polygons, so the list is indicative and follows the borders in the source dataset.
Kingdom of Laos in Depth
History
The Kingdom of Laos was officially proclaimed when the new Constitution was promulgated in 1947, as part of the colonial French Union, and obtained full independence in 1953. The monarchy lasted until 2 December 1975, when the last king Sisavang Vatthana abdicated the throne to the Pathet Lao, who abolished the kingdom and proclaimed Laos as a communist state.
Government
Following the Franco-Lao Treaty of 1953, which gave Laos independence, the Royal Lao Government took control of the country. This treaty established a constitutional monarchy, with Sisavang Vong as King and Prince Souvanna Phouma as Prime Minister.
Many attempts were made by the Three Princes and King Sisavang Vatthana to establish a coalition government. The First Government of National Unity was established in 1958 under Prince Souvanna Phouma, but collapsed after two months. The Prime Minister, who under the constitution appointed his ministers and received advice from the King, made a deal with his brother Prince Souphanouvong.
Military
The Kingdom of Laos was divided into five military regions. The Royal Lao Armed Forces were responsible for the defense of the country, comprising three branches of service: the Royal Lao Army, the Royal Lao Navy, and the Royal Lao Air Force, which was under the control of the Ministry of Defence in Vientiane.
The United States supplied the Royal Lao Navy with twenty river patrol boats and sixteen amphibious landing craft. Between 1962 and 1971, the United States provided Laos with an estimated US$500 million in military assistance.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Kingdom of Laos (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Kingdom of Laos: Key Facts
| Capital | Luang Prabang |
|---|---|
| Official language | Lao |
| Form of government | constitutional monarchy |
| Currency | Lao kip |
| Founded | 1947 |
| Dissolved | 1975 |
Facts from Wikidata Q870055 (CC0).
Kingdom of Laos Timeline
Key historical inflections from foundation to peak territorial expansion
Expansion to peak recorded area of 229,137 km² in 1961 CE.
Kingdom of Laos: Frequently Asked Questions
When did the Kingdom of Laos exist?
The Kingdom of Laos is dated to 1956 CE – 1975 CE, in the Industrial era.
What was the capital of the Kingdom of Laos?
The capital of the Kingdom of Laos was Vientiane (administrative), Luang Phabang (royal).
How large was the Kingdom of Laos at its peak?
At its peak in 1961 the Kingdom of Laos covered about 229,137 km².
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