Sisavang Vatthana

His son, crown prince Vong Savang, was captured by the communist government along with his parents. Prince Sauryavong Savang escaped the arrest by swimming to Thailand, via the Mekong River.

Princess Savivanh Savang Manivong, her daughter, took refuge in France during the imprisonment of her family. Nothing much is known about the other children, Prince Sisavang Savang, and Princess Thala Savang.

Sisavang Vatthana was born to King Sisavang Vong and Queen Kham-Oun I, on November 13, 1907, in the Kingdom of Laos, at the Royal Palace of Luang Prabang. He had four siblings, Princess Khampheng, Princess Sammathi, Prince Souphantharangsri, and Prince Sayasack.

The young prince, attended elementary school at Montpellier in France, and then graduated from the 'École Libre des Sciences Politiques' in Paris, studying subjects like history, diplomacy and science. After completing his education, he returned to Laos, but had to be taught his native tongue all over again, since he had forgotten how to speak it.

When the World War II took place, Sisavang was sent to Saigon, Japan, where he vehemently condemned their invasion of Laos and urged them to grant his Kingdom freedom from France.

In 1951, Vatthana was appointed as the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Laos, serving in the capacity till his father fell ill, and the Prince was appointed as the acting head-of-state.

After his father's death in 1959, he became the King, though he was never formally coronated. During his rule, he travelled to several foreign nations, as the ambassador of Laos.

In 1961, Prince Boun Oum, belonging to the Champassak province of Laos, was elected the Prime minister by the 'National Assembly' members. However, King Vatthana urged the three Princes Oum, Souphanouvong and Souvanna Phouma to establish a coalition government.

The three princes were figureheads of the royalist, leftist and neutralist lobbies of the Kingdom, and the coalition was formed the following year in 1962.

The last King of Laos is famous for having served as an international diplomat for his country, seeing to it that the nation received its independence from Japan and France.