Soulivong Savang (; born 8 May 1963), grandson of the last King of Laos

Savang Vatthana Sisavang Vatthana () or sometimes Savang Vatthana (full title: ''Samdach Brhat Chao Mavattaha Sri Vitha Lan Xang Hom Khao Phra Rajanachakra Lao Phengdara Parama Sidha Khattiya Suriya Varman Brhat Maha Sri Savangsa Vadhana''; 13 November 1907 � ...

, is the

pretender A pretender is someone who claims to be the rightful ruler of a country although not recognized as such by the current government. The term may often be used to either refer to a descendant of a deposed monarchy or a claim that is not legitimat ...

to the Lao throne.

Laos Laos, officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic (LPDR), is the only landlocked country in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by Myanmar and China to the northwest, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the southeast, and Thailand to the west and ...

was a monarchy until 1975, when the communist

Pathet Lao The Pathet Lao (), officially the Lao People's Liberation Army, was a communist political movement and political organization, organization in Laos, formed in the mid-20th century. The group ultimately gained control over the entire country of ...

seized control of the nation, causing Savang Vatthana to abdicate his throne. Soulivong Savang lives in exile in Paris.

Biography

Soulivong Khantharinh was born on 8 May 1963 at the Royal Palace in

Luang Prabang Luang Prabang (Lao language, Lao: wikt:ຫຼວງພະບາງ, ຫຼວງພະບາງ, pronounced ), historically known as Xieng Thong (ຊຽງທອງ) and alternatively spelled Luang Phabang or Louangphabang, is the capital of Lu ...

to Crown Prince

Vong Savang Vong Savang (; 27 September 1931 – 2 May 1978) was the Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Laos. After the Laotian Civil War in 1975, he and his family were arrested by the Pathet Lao and sent to re-education camps, where they died. Early life He wa ...

and Crown Princess Mahneelai of the

Kingdom of Laos The Kingdom of Laos was the form of government in Laos from 1947 to 1975. Located in Southeast Asia at the heart of the Indochinese Peninsula, it was bordered by Burma and China to the northwest, North Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the sou ...

. After the communist revolution, some members of the royal family were placed in re-education camps where they reportedly died, although Prince

Souphanouvong Prince Souphanouvong (13 July 1909 – 9 January 1995; ), nicknamed the Red Prince, was along with his half-brother Prince Souvanna Phouma and Prince Boun Oum of Champasak (town), Champasak, one of the "Three Princes of the Kingdom of Laos, Three ...

later became President of the newly established republic. Prince Khantharinh escaped from captivity in

with his younger brother Prince Thayavong Savang in 1981, arriving in France as refugees.

Education

Soulivong Savang attended the University of

Clermont-Ferrand Clermont-Ferrand (, , ; or simply ; ) is a city and Communes of France, commune of France, in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes regions of France, region, with a population of 147,284 (2020). Its metropolitan area () had 504,157 inhabitants at the 2018 ...

in France and also obtained a law degree.

Political aspirations

He has been working to restore democracy as well as "social and charitable reforms" to Laos. "The restoration of the monarchy would be up to the Lao people", he said. His uncle Prince Sauryavong Savang was regarded as head of the Laotian royal family and acted as

regent In a monarchy, a regent () is a person appointed to govern a state because the actual monarch is a minor, absent, incapacitated or unable to discharge their powers and duties, or the throne is vacant and a new monarch has not yet been dete ...

to his nephew.Exiled Laotian Prince Seeks a New Role
13.8.2000 A Royal Lao Government in Exile exists. On 19 September 1997, Soulivong Khantharinh and his Uncle Prince Sauryavong Khantharinh initiated a Royal Lao Conference in

Seattle Seattle ( ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Washington and in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. With a population of 780,995 in 2024, it is the 18th-most populous city in the United States. The city is the cou ...

, United States. Over five hundred Lao exiles and representatives of the Hmong, Kmu, Mien, Thaidam and all ethnic minority community attended. This conference established the Lao Representative Abroad Council. On 19 September 1999, a second conference was held in Montreal, Canada, to follow up the progress of LRAC work and focus on non-profit organizations to support the local and worldwide community through community development, social services, education and job development, promoting cultural activity. Soulivong capitalized on the rise in royalist sentiment in neighbouring Thailand. The Laotian exile community – 100,000 in France, 40,000 in Australia and half a million in the United States – has been fractured ethnically between Lao and Hmong. The crown prince said he tells both groups that a constitutional monarchy is their best hope of unity.

Personal life

On 10 November 2007, the Prince married Princess Chansouk Soukthala. The ceremony, which took place in Canada, was attended by 800 guests. The bride, Princess Chansouk, is a daughter of the former military Prosecutor Prince Tanh Soukthala and Princess Bounchanh Soukthala.Over 800 Celebrated the Royal Wedding of HRH Prince Soulivong Savang, Grandson of Laos' Former King.
lao.voanews.com, 15.11.2007

Ancestry

References

External links

Exiled Laos Prince Appeals to US
by ''

Washington Post ''The Washington Post'', locally known as ''The'' ''Post'' and, informally, ''WaPo'' or ''WP'', is an American daily newspaper published in Washington, D.C., the national capital. It is the most widely circulated newspaper in the Washington m ...

''
Former Royal Laos Flag & Laos National Anthem
at

Bowdoin College Bowdoin College ( ) is a Private college, private liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts college in Brunswick, Maine. It was chartered in 1794. The main Bowdoin campus is located near Casco Bay and the Androscoggin River. In a ...

Political turmoil comes to one of the most isolated communist ruled countries in Southeast AsiaPress release of the Lao Royal FamilyLAOS: ROYALTY Kingdom Come?
* ttp://lao.football.free.fr/010916/index.htm Laos Royals pay respects to September 11, 2001 Victims(Photos)
Welcoming speech of Crown Prince Soulivong Savang
(French) {{DEFAULTSORT:Savang, Soulivong 1963 births Living people Heirs apparent who never acceded Laotian royalty Pretenders Laotian exiles Exiled royalty Laotian anti-communists