Kingdom of Champasak
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The Kingdom of Champasak was, along with Luang Phrabang and Vientiane, one of the three Lao empires that emerged as a result of the collapse of Lan Xang . The kingdom, which is largely located in the south of today's Laos along the Mekong , existed as an independent country from 1713 to 1778, without ever achieving the importance of the other two Laotian states. After the conquest of Chaophraya Chakri , it was downgraded in rank to an autonomous province of Siam . When the territory was ceded to French Indochina in 1904, the empire effectively ceased to exist, but formally remained in existence until the abdication of the throne in 1946.
The capital was the city of the same name, Champasak , which was only moved to its current location in the 19th century.
The Champasak region
The name of the kingdom is derived from the Champasak region, an area on the central Mekong in what is now southern Laos. The area is named after the Cham people and their empire Champa , which is said to have extended into the region. However, it is not scientifically proven that the area was ever settled by the Cham.
Champasak experienced a heyday at the end of the 5th century, after which it came under the influence of the Khmer Empire of Angkor for a long time and only later became part of the Laotian kingdom of Lan Xang . The remote area, largely inhabited by non-Laotian ethnic groups , was of no great importance to the ruler, who resided in Luang Prabang and Vientiane , apart from a few temples. The region therefore only experienced a cultural and political bloom under Laotian rule with the emergence of the Kingdom of Champasak.
In modern Laos there is a province of Champasak , which, however, only makes up a small part of the then kingdom. At the time of its greatest expansion, Champasak comprised most of today's southern Laos, areas in northern Cambodia and significant land areas west of the Mekong, which are now part of the northeastern provinces of Thailand .
history
Emergence
Around 1700 Champasak was an important center of the Kui , an Austro-Asian ethnic group related to the Khmer . These recognized the Khmer king in Oudong (Banteay Pich) as the overlord. The community had a female head, Princess Nang Pheng (or Nang Phaen). According to legend, she was the illegitimate daughter of Princess Nang Phao of the previously relatively insignificant tribal principality of Champasak with the Lao prince Thao Pang-Kham, the alleged author of the Lao national epic Sinsai .
After the death of Sulinyavongsa , the last great king of Lan Xang , around 1690 or 1694, the Lao empire, which was composed of several interdependent principalities, fell apart. Fights broke out between various aristocrats and their supporters. In 1707, two separate kingdoms arose in Vientiane and Luang Prabang. A group of about 3000 Lao, led by the popular monk Phra Khru Phon Samet (or Phra Kou Nhot-Keo), left the Vientiane area and migrated south. When they arrived in Champasak in 1708, Nang Pheng renounced the rule in favor of Phon Samets. He was able to put an end to the unrest and gang mischief that had prevailed in Champasak, built new pagodas, and introduced administration, culture and customs based on the model of Vientiane, so that a kind of "Little Vientiane" was created. The prince-monk was very popular with the population, and sometimes even revered as a saint. However, he was aware of his non-royal lineage and entered the principality in 1713 to Princess Soumangkhala, the daughter Soulingvongses who had fled to her father's death also made Vientiane to marriage with a senior official to escape, and their son Nokasad from . Nokasad was crowned King of Champasak in 1714 under the name Soi Sri Samut (also Soi Sisamouth or Soi Si Samut ). After Luang Prabang in the north and Vientiane in the middle, Champasak in the south was the third kingdom that emerged from the remnants of Lan Xang.
Development until 1778
Under King Soi Sisamouth (Nokasad), Champasak successfully split off from the other two Laotian empires. Soi Sisamouth created a sizable empire within a short time, which included the places Don Khong , Attapeu (both of which he had newly built), Muong Manh ( Saravane province ), Muong Sri-Nakorn-Taow (today in the Thai province of Si Sa Ket ), Muong Thong ( Roi Et Province in Thailand ) and Chiang Taeng (now Stung Treng in Cambodia); in the individual places he appointed governors . In addition to the south of what is now Laos, the kingdom also included substantial parts of what is now Isan, which is now Thailand, and northern Cambodia. It was a multi-ethnic community in which Lao , Khmer , " Kha " and Kui mixed, with the Lao initially being a minority.
Soi Sisamouth's reign ended around 1737/38, his son Sayakumane ( Saya Kuman ) succeeded him as King Pothi on the throne. King Pothi had appointed his brother Tammatevo Pudisatkhattinarat as Uparat (viceroy) as early as 1728 and continued the building of the kingdom. In the course of the 18th century, the migration of Lao aristocrats, who saw no chance of participating in political power in the northern and central Laotian centers of Luang Prabang and Vientiane, continued with their respective subordinates and supporters to the previously sparsely populated areas to the south and on the Khorat plateau (today's Isan). The Lao element in the rulership of Champasak was thereby strengthened.
Around 1766, Vorarad-Vongsa , an important dignitary in the Kingdom of Vientiane, started a rebellion ( Serk-Kha-Kabote ) and tried to found his own empire on the Mekong. His plan failed, but he submitted to the King of Champasak, which led to the conflict between Champasak and Vientiane. Vorarad-Vongsa later renounced both empires and attempted to join Siam, but was killed shortly after by supporters of the King of Vientiane. As the relationship between Siam and Vientiane had already been severely disturbed by various points of contention, this led to the outbreak of war in 1778. King Taksin of Siam sent an invading army led by General Chaophraya Chakri (later King Rama I ) to the east; In addition to Vientiane, the targets of the offensive were Cambodia, which is particularly important as a supplier of rice and fish, and the Kingdom of Champasak, which was insignificant in itself but of strategic military importance because of its location between the other two targets. The first advance was directed against Champasak, the empire was occupied without major resistance. King Pothi was taken prisoner to Krung Thep ( Bangkok ). The kingdom of Vientiane was also subject to the Siamese; the capital of the same name was looted and destroyed. Luang Prabang had sided with Siam during the war, but also had to submit.
Champasak as a Siamese vassal state
As early as 1780, King Sayakumane was allowed to return to Champasak as vassal and governor of the Siamese king. The rulers, heirs to the throne, first ministers and viceroys (Uparat) of Siam had to be confirmed as a vassal state ; in addition, members of the ruling family were held hostage in Bangkok. In addition, there were the usual tribute payments (mainly the Laotian states supplied wood products, cattle and precious metals). Although the ruler of Champasak continued to rule his empire, he was severely restricted in his scope of action by the laws from Bangkok.
While the kings of the other two Laotian empires were allowed to keep their title of king, the significantly smaller Champasak of Siam was downgraded in rank, instead of king ( Chao Prathetsarat ) Sayakumane only had to call himself Chao Khong Nakhon (roughly translated: ruler of an autonomous area) . In 1791 there was a Mon uprising led by Xieng Keo ; As the insurgents approached the capital, Sayakumane died of a heart attack at the age of 81 . The city was taken by the rebels, but shortly afterwards they were defeated by newly arrived troops. Siam's successor was Fay Na (Fai-Na), who had successfully participated in the suppression of the uprising. He moved the capital to the north and ruled until his death in 1807 or 1811. He was succeeded by No Muong , the son of the old king Sayakumane, who died after only three days. Since the Siamese governor, who was supposed to confirm the succession to the throne, was already on his way back, an interregnum followed until 1813, when Manoi , a nephew of Thammathevo, was appointed ruler of Siam. Another uprising of the " Kha " followed in 1819, this time led by a monk named Sa , who is said to have had supernatural powers. Manoi fled from the insurgents to Bangkok, while Sa captured the city of Champasak and burned it down. After Siamese-Laotian troops advanced to Champasak, Sa fled to the mountains near Attapeu, but was captured shortly afterwards by Rajabud Yoh , a son of King Anouvong of Vientiane, and sent to Bangkok.
Rajabud Yoh took power in Champasak from 1819, led the reconstruction of the capital, which he had fortified with city walls, and reformed the administration. Manoi, however, stayed in Bangkok, presumably because the Siamese king doubted his loyalty, and died shortly afterwards. As an interim ruler, Rajabud Yoh, who de facto already ruled, was officially used by Siam as a reward for his achievements in 1821. He received the title of Uparat . Through his reign, Champasak was closely connected to the kingdom of Vientiane, ruled by his father Anouvong. When King Anouvong started a rebellion against Siam shortly afterwards, trying to achieve the unity and independence of Laos, Rajabud Yoh took his side and conquered some Siamese cities with an army of about 3,000 men. In the end, however, the uprising was suppressed and Vientiane and its ruling dynasty wiped out. Rajabud Yoh committed suicide while trying to escape by jumping off a pagoda. According to other sources, he died as a prisoner in Bangkok.
He was succeeded in Champasak by Huy ( Hui ), another nephew of Thammathevo. Champasak was finally relegated to an autonomous province and lost its status as a vassal state. Huy also had to pay an annual tribute of 8,000 baht . After the city of Champasak burned down around 1837, Huy had it rebuilt elsewhere. He died in 1841 at the age of 61, and Siam's order was succeeded by Uparat Nark . After ten years of reign, he died of cholera in Bangkok in 1851 ; his appointed successor, Boua, died before his official appointment. After an interregnum, Kham Nai , a son of Huy, followed in 1855/56 , but died after only two years. Another brief interregnum followed until 1862, when Kham Souk , another son of Huys, took over and ruled until 1900. He moved the capital again.
Annexation by France
Between 1867 and 1907, gunboat policies forced Siam to enter into unequal treaties with France , under which most of Laos and Cambodia fell to the French colony of Indochina .
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As a result of the brief Franco-Siamese War , the government in Bangkok had to contractually left in 1893 to all areas, i. H. east of the Mekong , making most of Laos French. Champasak, whose territory was divided on both sides of the river, was divided into two parts: the larger, eastern part fell to France, but since the capital was on the west bank, Kham Souk remained a Siamese vassal and thus ruler of the areas west of the Mekong. France created Pakxé as the new administrative capital on the east side of the Mekong. He died in 1900 and was succeeded by Nhouy Ratsadanay . Ratsadanay urged France to insist on a border correction to reunite its territory. In a further treaty with Siam, France also received some smaller areas west of the Mekong in 1904, including the city of Champasak.
Nhouy Ratsadanay decided to come to terms with the French; however, most of his family fled the colonial power to Bangkok. In contrast to the Kingdom of Luang Prabang, which became an official, semi-autonomous French protectorate for reasons of power politics , the French administration saw no benefit in a protectorate treaty with Champasak. For this reason, the Principality of Champasak was declared dissolved on November 22, 1904; the area was administered directly by the colonial administration. Through internal reclassifications of the provinces and the connection of some southern areas to French Cambodia, the former Champasak Empire disappeared from the map, leaving only the Champasak Province . Nhouy Ratsadanay was allowed to keep his title for life and became governor of Champasak Province, whose administrative center was moved to Pakse in 1908 . In 1934 he was deposed by the French.
As a result of the Franco-Thai War 1940/41 during the Second World War , Champasak came under Thai rule again briefly. Nhouy Ratsadanay was recognized by Thailand as the prince of all of Champasak, but in fact remained powerless while the area was directly annexed by Thailand.
Renunciation of the throne
In 1945 Nhouy Ratsadanay died, followed by his son Boun Oum . However, he renounced the throne in August 1946 in favor of the king of Luang Prabang in order to enable the formation of a unified kingdom of Laos . For this he received the title of " Prince of Champasak " from the Laotian king (often translated as "Prince" in German)
Boun Oum became one of the country's most important politicians in the following period. After the final independence from France, he soon sided with the United States and became one of the most important leaders of the conservative parties in the Lao Civil War . The Champasak province became a rallying point for right-wing forces.
After the victory of the communist Pathet Lao in 1975, Boun Oum, who was in France for medical treatment, never returned to Laos. He died in exile in 1980. His son Keo Champhonsak has been head of the house since then.
List of rulers of Champasak
Independent kings of Champasak:
- Soi Sisamouth (Nokasad) 1713–1737 / 38
- Sayakumane ruler since 1725, king 1737–1778 / 79
Ruler of Champasak under Siamese rule:
- Sayakumane 1780-1791
- Fay Na 1791-1807 / 11
- Nu 1811
- Interregnum until 1813
- Manoi 1813-1819
- Rajabud Yoh (Prince of Vientiane) 1819 / 1821–1826
- Huy 1826-1841
- Nark 1841-1851
- Boua 1851/1852 (died before official installation)
- Interregnum until 1855/56
- Kham Nai 1855 / 56-1858
- Interregnum until 1862
- Kham Souk 1862 / 63-1900
- Nhouy Ratsadanay 1900-1904
Heads of the Princely House since 1904:
- Nhouy Ratsadanay 1904-1945
- Boun Oum 1945–1980 ( resignation from the throne in 1946, in exile from 1975 )
- Keo Champhonsak since 1980.
Individual evidence
- ↑ Martin H. Petrich: Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos: Temples, monasteries and pagodas in the countries on the Mekong. Dumont
- ↑ Schultze: History of Laos. 1994, p. 61f.
- ↑ Volker Grabowsky : The Isan up to its Integration into the Siamese State. In: Regions and National Integration in Thailand, 1892–1992. Harrassowitz Verlag, Wiesbaden 1995, pp. 112-113.
- ^ Grabowsky: Brief history of Thailand. CH Beck, Munich 2010, ISBN 978-3-406-60129-3 , pp. 88-89.
- ^ Grabowsky: The Isan up to its Integration into the Siamese State. 1995, p. 113.
- ^ Grabowsky: Brief history of Thailand. 2010, pp. 89-90.
- ↑ Schultze: The History of Laos. 1994, pp. 56-59, 62.
- ↑ Mahā Silā Vīravong : Prince Phetsarat: A Life for Laos. P. 70.
- ↑ Arthur J. Dommen: Laos. Keystone Of Indochina. Westview Press, 1985.
- ↑ Schultze: The History of Laos. 1994, pp. 65, 67, 75f.
- ↑ Grabowsky: Introduction to Maha Sila Viravong: Prince Phetsarat. A life for Laos. Lit Verlag, Münster 2003, p. 4.
- ↑ Stuart-Fox: History of Laos, p. 29.
further reading
- Michael Schultze: The History of Laos. From the beginning to the beginning of the nineties. Communications from the Institute for Asian Studies, Hamburg 1994, ISBN 3-88910-136-4 .
- Peter Simms, Sanda Simms: The Kingdoms of Laos. Six Hundred Years of History. Curzon, Richmond 1999, ISBN 0-7007-1125-2 .
- Martin Stuart-Fox : A History of Laos. Cambridge University Press, 1997, ISBN 0-521-59746-3 .
