Prince Souphanouvong
Source: Wikipedia: Souphanouvong
Statesmanship & Statesmen • Historical Archive • 🇱🇦 French Protectorate of Laos • 0 views

Prince Souphanouvong 🇱🇦

ສຸພານຸວົງ (The Red Prince)
["First President of Laos", "Pathet Lao Leader", "Civil Engineer"]
Born Jul 13, 1909 🇱🇦 Luang Prabang, French Protectorate of Laos
Passed Away Jan 09, 1995 Vientiane, Laos
Lifespan 85 years old
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"A true patriot belongs to his people, not to the velvet cushions of a palace."

Archival Overview

Royal prince of Laos known as 'The Red Prince' who renounced aristocratic privilege to lead the Pathet Lao liberation movement and became the first President of the Lao People's Democratic Republic in 1975.

Biographical Record

A royal prince of the Luang Prabang court, Souphanouvong (1909–1995) studied civil engineering at the prestigious Ecole des Ponts et Chaussees in Paris, building roads and bridges in Vietnam. Radicalized by anti-colonial movements, he broke with his half-brother Prince Souvanna Phouma to align with the Pathet Lao.

Souphanouvong survived assassination attempts and escaped from a royalist prison in Vientiane in 1960. He led the resistance throughout the Secret War (during which Laos became the most heavily bombed country per capita in history) and was inaugurated first President of Laos when the monarchy was abolished in December 1975.

Key Life Milestones

1960

Historic Escape from Phon Kheng Prison

Escaped royalist custody along with prison guards to rejoin Pathet Lao forces in the jungle.

1975

First President of the Lao PDR

Inaugurated as sovereign head of state of the Lao People's Democratic Republic.

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Final Resting Place

Perpetual Memorial
That Luang National Stupa Memorial Grounds
Vientiane, Laos
GPS: 17.9767, 102.6367
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