Bun Laphan Ratsadany

Bun Laphan Ratsadany (Nhouy Ratsadany, full title Somdet Brhat Chao Buvanarabarna Rajadhanaya Negara Champasakti ; * 1874 in Champasak (then Bassac ), Principality of Champasak (now Laos); † in November 1945 ibid) was the last ruler of the under Siamese , later under French The principality of Champasak in the south of today's Laos .

Bun Laphan Ratsadany was the eldest son of Kham Souk , his predecessor as Prince of Champasak, which as a vassal state was part of the dominion of Siam. He was trained with the Royal Page Corps in Bangkok and followed this after his death on July 28, 1900 by order of King Rama V as vassal prince of Champasak ( Chao Mueang Nakhon Champasakti ). In 1893, however, Siam was forced by France to give up its territories east of the Mekong . The principality of Champasak was divided into two parts: while the larger eastern part came under French rule, the smaller part with the capital remained Siamese. At the request of the prince to reunite his territory, France again put Siam under pressure in 1904 to surrender the remaining territory. As a result, France incorporated the principality into French Indochina . Unlike the northern Laotian kingdom of Luang Prabang , which remained under the French protectorate, the French dissolved the Principality of Champasak with effect from November 22, 1904. In its place they established the province of Bassac with the newly built capital Pakse (from 1908). Bun Laphan Ratsadany, however, retained his titles, salutations and medals for life. He was appointed governor of the new province on October 14, 1905. On December 21, 1934, the French urged him to resign on grounds of age.

During the Franco-Thai War 1940/41 Thailand was able to win back Champasak and put Bun Laphan Ratsadany back on March 11, 1941 in his previous rights as provincial governor. At the mediation of Japan , France gave up its territory and its troops withdrew from Champasak and other areas of Southeast Asia on May 9, 1941. After the defeat of Japan (and its ally Thailand), his eldest son, Prince Boun Oum , invited the French colonial troops to reoccupy Pakse on September 14, 1945.

Bun Laphan Ratsadany was married several times:

1. Mom Sudhi na Champasakti, a non-noble woman with no offspring
2. Princess ( Chao Heuane Nhing ) Thungaguni (Thong Khun), a daughter of his paternal uncle ( Chao Raja Baktinaya ), † 1909 in Champasak
3. Princess ( Chao Heuane Nhin ) Yim (1909), daughter of his paternal uncle ( Chao Raja Baktinaya ), † 1910 in Champasak
4. Mom Nyin na Champasakti, a non-noble woman with no offspring
5. Mom Chandra Samudhi na Champasakti (Chan Samuth, mid-1911), daughter of a high official in Champasak, who had nine children
6. Princess ( Chao Heuane Nhing ) Sudhi Saramuni na Champasakti (Suth Samone), who had four children († 1960 in Bangkok)
7. Mom Anuyani na Champasakti (Nuane), a non-noble woman who had ten children
8. Mom Ajuni na Champasakti (Chum), a non-noblewoman who had two children

Bun Laphan Ratsadany died of cancer in Champasak in November 1945, leaving ten sons and sixteen daughters. His eldest son Boun Oum succeeded him as titular prince of Champasak. However, he renounced his claim to the throne in favor of the king Sisavang Vong of Luang Prabang in northern Laos, who thereby became head of a united kingdom of Laos as a member of the Union française . Boun Oum later led the right wing in the Lao civil war .

See also

• List of rulers of Laos

literature

• Christopher Buyers website on the history of Laos (last accessed 29 May 2010)