Savang Vatthana

King Savang Vatthana (November 13, 1907 - June 13 (?), 1978) was the last king of the Kingdom of Laos.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

He was born in Louang Phrabang, Laos, the son of King Sisavang Vong and Queen Kham-Oun I.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

On August 7, 1930, he married Queen Khamphoui and they had seven children, Crown Prince Vong Savang, Prince Sisavang Savang, Prince Savang , Prince Sauryavong Savang, Princess Savivanh Savang, and Princess Thala Savang.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In 1951, he served as Prime Minister, and when his father became ill on August 20, 1959, he was assigned Regent.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

On October 29, 1959, he acsended the throne upon the death of his father. He abdicated on December 2, 1975, after the communist revolution. In 1978, he was killed by his Pathet Lao captors in an internment camp in northern Laos, along with Queen Khamphoui and Crown Prince Vong Savang.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Upon the news of the deaths of King Savang Vattana and Crown Prince Vong Savang, the King's youngest son Sauryavong Savang became the head of the Laotian royal family, acting as regent to his nephew Crown Prince Soulivong Savang.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

1907: 1907 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar)....

June 13: June 13 is the 164th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (165th in leap years), with 201 days remaining....

1978: 1978 was a common year starting on Sunday (the link is to a full 1978 calendar)....