Souphanouvong
Encyclopedia
Prince Souphanouvong was, along with his half-brother Prince Souvanna Phouma
and Prince Boun Oum
of Champasak
, one of the “Three Princes
” who represented respectively the communist (pro-Vietnam), neutralist, and royalist political factions in Laos
. He was the figurehead President of Laos
from December 1975 to August 1991.
Souphanouvong was one of the sons of Prince Bounkhong
, the last vice-king of Luang Prabang
. Unlike his half-brothers, Souvanna Phouma
and Phetsarath, whose mothers were of royal birth, his mother was a commoner, Mom Kham Ouane.
Educated in France
and Vietnam
, he eventually became a supporter of Ho Chi Minh
and joined the Indochinese communist movement. In August 1950, Souphanouvong convened the first congress of the Lao Freedom Front (Neo Lao Issara) — more generally known as the Pathet Lao
- which served as the vehicle for the communist
challenge to French rule.
Nicknamed “The Red Prince”, he became the figurehead leader of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party
, and upon its successful seizure of power in 1975, he became the first President of the Lao People's Democratic Republic, a position which he held until his retirement in 1986. After 1986, Phoumi Vongvichit
Succeeded as president, Kaysone Phomvihane
succeeded as president in 1991.
In 1991, he became an Advisor of Party's Central Committee. Souphanouvong died on the 12th of January 1995 at the age of 86.
He is said to have been the most talented of Bounkhong
’s sons, mastering eight languages, including Greek and Latin. He worked on the ports of Le Havre
before taking his engineering degree from the École Nationale des Ponts et Chaussées
.
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Souvanna Phouma
Prince Souvanna Phouma was the leader of the neutralist faction and prime minister of the Kingdom of Laos several times, from 1951–1952, 1956–1958, 1960 and 1962-1975.-Early life:...
and Prince Boun Oum
Boun Oum
Prince Boun Oum was the son of King Ratsadanay, and was the hereditary prince of Champassack and also Prime Minister of Laos.-Early life:...
of Champasak
Champasak
Champasak may refer to* Champasak Province* Champasak * Kingdom of Champasak* Na Champassak family...
, one of the “Three Princes
Three Princes
The Three Princes were Boun Oum, Souvanna Phouma and Souphanouvong who represented respectively the royalist, neutralist and leftist factions in the Kingdom of Laos in the post-WWII period. The trio were named by King Savang Vatthana to form a coalition government following the independence of...
” who represented respectively the communist (pro-Vietnam), neutralist, and royalist political factions in Laos
Laos
Laos Lao: ສາທາລະນະລັດ ປະຊາທິປະໄຕ ປະຊາຊົນລາວ Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao, officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic, is a landlocked country in Southeast Asia, bordered by Burma and China to the northwest, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the south and Thailand to the west...
. He was the figurehead President of Laos
President of Laos
The President of Laos is the head of state of the People's Democratic Republic of Laos.The office of the President was created in 1975, after the takeover of the country by the Pathet Lao, which abolished the monarchy. A member of the deposed royal family, Prince Souphanouvong, was the first...
from December 1975 to August 1991.
Souphanouvong was one of the sons of Prince Bounkhong
Bounkhong
Prince Bounkhong, the son of Prince Souvanna Phomma, was the last uparaja of Luang Phrabang. He was granted the title of Chao Ratsaphakhinay in 1884. From 1911 to 1920, he was a member of the Government Council of French Indochina....
, the last vice-king of Luang Prabang
Luang Prabang
Luang Prabang, or Louangphrabang , is a city located in north central Laos, where the Nam Khan river meets the Mekong River about north of Vientiane. It is the capital of Luang Prabang Province...
. Unlike his half-brothers, Souvanna Phouma
Souvanna Phouma
Prince Souvanna Phouma was the leader of the neutralist faction and prime minister of the Kingdom of Laos several times, from 1951–1952, 1956–1958, 1960 and 1962-1975.-Early life:...
and Phetsarath, whose mothers were of royal birth, his mother was a commoner, Mom Kham Ouane.
Educated in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
, he eventually became a supporter of Ho Chi Minh
Ho Chi Minh
Hồ Chí Minh , born Nguyễn Sinh Cung and also known as Nguyễn Ái Quốc, was a Vietnamese Marxist-Leninist revolutionary leader who was prime minister and president of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam...
and joined the Indochinese communist movement. In August 1950, Souphanouvong convened the first congress of the Lao Freedom Front (Neo Lao Issara) — more generally known as the Pathet Lao
Pathet Lao
The Pathet Lao was a communist political movement and organization in Laos, formed in the mid-20th century. The group was ultimately successful in assuming political power after the Laotian Civil War. The Pathet Lao were always closely associated with Vietnamese communists...
- which served as the vehicle for the communist
Communism
Communism is a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of a classless, moneyless, revolutionary and stateless socialist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production...
challenge to French rule.
Nicknamed “The Red Prince”, he became the figurehead leader of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party
Lao People's Revolutionary Party
The Lao People's Revolutionary Party is a communist political party that has governed Laos since 1975. The policy-making organs are the politburo and the central committee. A party congress, which elects members to the politburo and central committee, is held every five years...
, and upon its successful seizure of power in 1975, he became the first President of the Lao People's Democratic Republic, a position which he held until his retirement in 1986. After 1986, Phoumi Vongvichit
Phoumi Vongvichit
Phoumi Vongvichit was a leading figure of the Pathet Lao and an elder statesman of the Lao People's Democratic Republic....
Succeeded as president, Kaysone Phomvihane
Kaysone Phomvihane
Kaysone Phomvihane was the leader of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party from 1955, though Souphanouvong served in a figurehead role...
succeeded as president in 1991.
In 1991, he became an Advisor of Party's Central Committee. Souphanouvong died on the 12th of January 1995 at the age of 86.
He is said to have been the most talented of Bounkhong
Bounkhong
Prince Bounkhong, the son of Prince Souvanna Phomma, was the last uparaja of Luang Phrabang. He was granted the title of Chao Ratsaphakhinay in 1884. From 1911 to 1920, he was a member of the Government Council of French Indochina....
’s sons, mastering eight languages, including Greek and Latin. He worked on the ports of Le Havre
Le Havre
Le Havre is a city in the Seine-Maritime department of the Haute-Normandie region in France. It is situated in north-western France, on the right bank of the mouth of the river Seine on the English Channel. Le Havre is the most populous commune in the Haute-Normandie region, although the total...
before taking his engineering degree from the École Nationale des Ponts et Chaussées
École Nationale des Ponts et Chaussées
Founded in 1747, the École nationale des ponts et chaussées , often referred to as les Ponts, is the world's oldest civil engineering school...
.
External links
- Souphanouvong, "Red Prince" of Laos, dies aged 86
- Souphanouvong's photo
- New York Times' obituary
- Independent's obituary
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