Khamphoui (Lao: ພຣະອັຄຣະມະເຫສີເຈົ້າຍິງຄຳຜຸຍ/ພຣະນາງຄຳຜຸຍ; 12 July 1912 – 1982?) was the Queen of Laos by marriage to Sisavang Vatthana, the second (and last) King of Laos. She was arrested with the rest of her family and reportedly died in a re-education camp in 1982.

Khamphoui
Queen
Queen Consort of Laos
Tenure29 October 1959 – 2 December 1975
Born12 July 1912
Luang Phrabang
Died1982(1982-00-00) (aged 69–70)
Sop Hao, Laos
SpouseSisavang Vatthana
IssueCrown Prince Vong Savang
Princess Savivanh Savang
Princess Thala Savang
Prince Sisavang Savang
Prince Sauryavong Savang
FatherChao Krum Mahasenapati
MotherKhamoune

Early life

edit

She was born in Luang Phrabang, then capital city of the Kingdom of Luang Phrabang (now part of Laos) in French Indochina, on 12 July 1912.

On 7 August 1930, she married Sisavang Vatthana and they had five children: Crown Prince Vong Savang, Prince Savang, Prince Sauryavong Savang, Princess Savivanh Savang, and Princess Thala Savang. She had a happy marriage with King Sisavang Vatthana, who abolished polygamy.

Queen of Laos

edit
 
King Savang Vatthana, Queen Khamphoui , Chao Saykham (Xieng kouang governor), Prime Minister Souvanna Phouma, Gen. Vang Pao, and more others during king visit in Sam Thong, 1968.

She became Queen Consort of Laos in late October 1959. As queen, she and her husband attended public events and ceremonies. In 1963, she accompanied the king on an official state visit to the United States, where they were hosted by US President, John Kennedy.[1]

Her husband was forced to abdicate the throne on 2 December 1975. After the coup, the former royal couple lived in house arrest in the former royal palace. She was arrested in 1977 along with the former King and her family, and sent to a Communist 're-education camp'. After their arrest, the former Royal Palace was made in to a museum.

She reportedly died in 1982[2][citation needed][dead link] in a Communist 're-education camp' in northern Laos along with her husband and their son Crown Prince Vong Savang, probably around Sop Hao.[3]

Honours

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ Jane Hamilton-Merritt: Tragic Mountains: The Hmong, the Americans, and the Secret Wars for Laos
  2. ^ [1] [bare URL]
  3. ^ Osborne, Milton (20 September 2003). "Bamboo Palace".
edit