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Southeast Asia · Konbaung, Chakri and the colonial century

Kingdom of Champasak

Kingdom (independent 1713–1778; Siamese vassal 1778–1904) · 1713–1904

Champasak (Bassac) was the youngest of the three Lao successor kingdoms, created in 1713 when the southern tier of the fragmenting Lan Xang kingdom seceded under King Nokasad, a grandson of Sourigna Vongsa, the last great king of Lan Xang. It was sited on the left (eastern) bank of the Mekong, with the related principalities of Attapeu and Stung Treng forming part of its mandala.

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Type
Kingdom (independent 1713–1778; Siamese vassal 1778–1904)
Existed
1713–1904
Shown on the map
1709–1894
Peak area
42k km² (dataset)
Region
Southeast Asia

Origins & foundation

Champasak (Bassac) was the youngest of the three Lao successor kingdoms, created in 1713 when the southern tier of the fragmenting Lan Xang kingdom seceded under King Nokasad, a grandson of Sourigna Vongsa, the last great king of Lan Xang. It was sited on the left (eastern) bank of the Mekong, with the related principalities of Attapeu and Stung Treng forming part of its mandala. In 1718 an official of Nokasad founded Muang Suwannaphum, the first recorded Lao settlement in the interior of the Khorat Plateau's Chi valley, beginning Lao repopulation of the plateau.

Political history & notable rulers

Nokasad (1713–1737) was followed by Sayakumane (1737–1791). A conflict with Vientiane arose around 1766 when the Vientiane dignitary Vorarad-Vongsa's failed rebellion drove him into Champasak's protection. In 1777–78 King Taksin of Thonburi sent armies into Laos; Champasak submitted without major resistance, its king was taken to Bangkok, and from 1778 it was a Siamese dependency, with kings confirmed by Siam and owing tribute. After the Chao Anouvong rebellion (1826–1828) Siam tightened control, and from 1829 effectively annexed the kingdom while continuing to confirm local rulers. The last king, Ratsadanay, ruled 1900–1904.

Economy, culture & religion

Champasak was Theravada Buddhist and Lao-speaking, using lat, hoi and phot duang (bullet) money. In the early 19th century it sat on a prosperous trade route funnelling cardamom, wax, resin, skins, horns and slaves from the east bank down to Ubon, Khorat and Bangkok. Its palladium, the Phra Phuttha Butsayarat image, was removed to Bangkok by the Siamese and remains in the Grand Palace.

Peak & territorial extent

At its widest the kingdom controlled the southern Lao Mekong bank, the Bolaven Plateau and influence over Stung Treng and parts of the Khorat Plateau (approx. 42,000 km² in the dataset).

Decline & end

After the Franco-Siamese crisis of 1893 the left bank fell under French rule; in 1904 the kingdom's capital and remaining territory were transferred to the French protectorate, Champasak losing Stung Treng to French Cambodia while the House of Na Champasak kept only titular honours.

Legacy & modern connections

The Bolaven Plateau "Holy Man's Rebellion" (1901–1902) under Ong Keo and Ong Kommandam was an early anti-colonial rising. The House of Champasak survived: Prince Boun Oum na Champasak became Inspector-General of Laos and a leading royalist politician until 1975, dying in French exile in 1980.

Common questions

What was the Kingdom of Champasak?
Champasak (Bassac) was the youngest of the three Lao successor kingdoms, created in 1713 when the southern tier of the fragmenting Lan Xang kingdom seceded under King Nokasad, a grandson of Sourigna Vongsa, the last great king of Lan Xang. It was sited on the left (eastern) bank of the Mekong, with the related principalities of Attapeu and Stung Treng forming part of its mandala.
When did the Kingdom of Champasak exist?
The Kingdom of Champasak existed 1713–1904. On this map it is drawn 1709–1894.
How large was the Kingdom of Champasak at its height?
At its widest the kingdom controlled the southern Lao Mekong bank, the Bolaven Plateau and influence over Stung Treng and parts of the Khorat Plateau (approx. 42,000 km² in the dataset).
Who ruled the Kingdom of Champasak?
Nokasad (1713–1737) was followed by Sayakumane (1737–1791). A conflict with Vientiane arose around 1766 when the Vientiane dignitary Vorarad-Vongsa's failed rebellion drove him into Champasak's protection.
How did the Kingdom of Champasak end?
After the Franco-Siamese crisis of 1893 the left bank fell under French rule; in 1904 the kingdom's capital and remaining territory were transferred to the French protectorate, Champasak losing Stung Treng to French Cambodia while the House of Na Champasak kept only titular honours.
What did the economy and culture of the Kingdom of Champasak rest on?
Champasak was Theravada Buddhist and Lao-speaking, using lat, hoi and phot duang (bullet) money. In the early 19th century it sat on a prosperous trade route funnelling cardamom, wax, resin, skins, horns and slaves from the east bank down to Ubon, Khorat and Bangkok.
Why does the Kingdom of Champasak still matter?
The Bolaven Plateau "Holy Man's Rebellion" (1901–1902) under Ong Keo and Ong Kommandam was an early anti-colonial rising. The House of Champasak survived: Prince Boun Oum na Champasak became Inspector-General of Laos and a leading royalist politician until 1975, dying in French exile in 1980.

Sources

Every source below was consulted while writing this entry.

This entry was written from the sources above and last updated .

This entry was researched and drafted with AI from the sources above, and has not been reviewed by a historian. How entries are made

Text available under CC BY-SA 4.0: reuse it with a credit to The World Through Time and a link to this page. Passages drawing on the Wikipedia articles listed above are also licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 by their contributors.

Border geometry for the map itself comes from Cliopatria v0.12 (Seshat Global History Databank, CC-BY-4.0).

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