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Laos
Index
Period Description
ca. 2,000-500 A.D. Early pottery and bronze culture,
middle Mekong Valley.
First century B.C.- Early mandala (see Glossary)
fifth century formed in middle Mekong Valley.
Mid-sixth century Zhenla established, centered on
Champasak.
Early eighth century Zhenla divided into "Water Zhenla"
and "Land Zhenla."
717 First tributary mission from Land
Zhenla to Tang China.
Eighth-twelfth centuries Mon mandala of central Mekong
region fall under Khmer domination;
Theravada Buddhism spread by Mon
monks.
Tenth-twelfth centuries Muang Sua (Louangphrabang), renamed
Xieng Dong Xieng Tong;
mandala infiltrated by Lao
descending the Nam Ou.
Twelfth century Candapuri mandala in
Vientiane region absorbed within
Khmer Empire.
1271-72 Panya Lang rules Xieng Dong Xieng
Thong.
1279 Tai mandala of Sukhotai
founded by King Ramkhamhaeng; Xieng
Dong Xieng Thong and Muang Vieng
Chan Vieng Kham (Vientiane) briefly
incorporated into Sukhotai
mandala.
1353-73 Reign of Fa Ngum, king of Lan Xang;
beginning of recorded Laotian
history.
1373-1547 Successors of Fa Ngum continue to
organize Lan Xang; Phetsarath (r.
1520-47) involves Lan Xang in
battles against Burma and Siam
lasting two centuries.
1574-78 Lan Xang reduced by Burma to vassal
state.
1603 Lan Xang renounces tributary ties to
Burma.
1621-1713 Succession struggles for throne of
Lan Xang result in accession of King
Souligna Vongsa (r. 1633-90); his
death engenders succession struggle
among his nephews, culminating in
division of Lan Xang into kingdoms
of Louangphrabang and Vientiane;
south further divides into Kingdom
of Champasak in 1713.
Eighteenth century Lao states of Louangphrabang,
Vientiane, and Champasak try to
maintain independence from Burma and
Siam but eventually come under
Siamese control.
1772 Suryavong seizes throne of
Louangphrabang.
1778 Beginning of Siamese domination of
Champasak, Vientiane, and
Louangphrabang.
1867-87 Mekong expedition of Doudart de
Lagrée and Francis Garnier arrives
in Louangphrabang, 1867; Siam
contends with France, which
established protectorate over
Vietnam, to extend influence in
Indochina; France eventually
installs Auguste Pavie in
Louangphrabang as first vice consul,
February 1887.
1890 French colonial rule begins, lasts
until 1953.
May 1893 French military occupation of Lao
territories east of the Mekong.
July 1893 "Paknam incident" gives France
excuse to demand cession of east
bank territories.
October 1893 Treaty concluded on October 3, 1893,
between the Government of the French
Republic and the Government of His
Majesty the King of Siam formalizes
Siamese acceptance of French seizure
of east bank territories.
1895 Laos, as French protectorate,
divided into Upper Laos and Lower
Laos.
January 15, 1896 Anglo-French Convention defines
British and French spheres of
influence in mainland Southeast
Asia.
April 19, 1899 Laos reorganized under
résident supérieur in
Vientiane.
1902-07 France pacifies unrest in Bolovens
Plateau; Sisavang Vong becomes king
(r. 1904-59); annexation of Laotian
territories completed by treaties
with Siam (1904, 1907), acquiring
borders of contemporary Laos.
1925-26 Further treaties and agreements
finalize border questions and
establish permanent Franco-Siamese
High Commission of the Mekong.
June 5, 1930 Laos designated French colony by
French Legislative Council.
1931-32 Louangphrabang confirmed as
protectorate of France.
1940-45 August 30, 1940, Matsuoka-Henry Pact
ending Franco-Thai War gives all Lao
territories west of the Mekong to
Thailand; May 9, 1941, Peace
Convention between France and
Thailand; August 29, 1941, Treaty of
Protectorate between France and the
Kingdom of Louangphrabang; Laos
occupied by Japan, March 9, 1945;
Laos "independent"; after surrender
of Japan, Sisavang Vong proclaims
continuation of Laos as a French
protectorate; Lao Issara (see Glossary) activists seize power in
Vientiane, Savannakhét, andother
Laotian towns, establish provisional
government.
1946 Sisavang Vong deposed; French begin
reoccupation of Laos, March;
Sisavang Vong reinstated as king by
Lao Issara government; French retake
Vientiane, and Lao Issara government
flees to Thailand; Franco-Lao modus
vivendi establishes unity of Kingdom
of Laos; Thailand returns former
Laotian territories of Xaignabouri
and Champasak to Laos.
1947 Constitution promulgated, making
Laos a constitutional monarchy;
elections held for National
Assembly; Prince Souvannarath forms
government of Kingdom of Laos.
1949 Kaysone Phomvihan forms Latsavong
detachment, armed forces of Pathet
Lao, the genesis of Lao People's
Liberation Army (LPLA); Franco-Lao
General Convention grants Laos
limited self-government within
French Union; Lao Issara government-
in-exile dissolves, and members
return to Laos or join newly formed
Pathet Lao on Vietnam border.
February 1950 United States and Britain recognize
Laos as an Associated State in
French Union.
August 1950 Pathet Lao form "resistance
government."
February 1951 Indochinese Communist Party
dissolves; separate parties
established in Laos, Cambodia, and
Vietnam.
October 22, 1953 Franco-Lao Treaty of Amity and
Association transfers remaining
French powers to Royal Lao
Government (RLG)--while retaining
control of military affairs--and
completes independence of Laos.
May-July 1954 Laos participates in Geneva
Conference on Indochina; under
armistice agreements signed by
French and Viet Minh on July 20,
Viet Minh agree to withdraw from
Laos, and Phôngsali and Houaphan
provinces are designated regroupment
areas for Pathet Lao; RLG pledges to
integrate Pathet Lao fighters;
International Control Commission
established to implement agreements.
March 1955 Phak Pasason Lao (Lao People's Party
--LPP) established; first congress
held.
December 14, 1955 Laos admitted to the United Nations.
1956-57 Negotiations between RLG and Pathet
Lao.
January 1956 Pathet Lao congress establishes Lao
Patriotic Front (LPF).
September 1956 Constitution amended to allow
formation of coalition government.
November 1957 First coalition government formed.
May 1958 LPF and allies win partial elections
for National Assembly.
July 1958 Souvanna Phouma government resigns
following cabinet crisis caused by
rightists.
August 1958 Rightist government of Phoui
Sananikone formed, excluding LPF.
July-August 1959 Fighting breaks out in northern
Laos; UN subcommittee investigates
charges of North Vietnam's
involvement; LPF deputies arrested.
October 1959 King Sisavang Vong dies; Savang
Vatthana succeeds to the throne,
rules until 1975.
January 1960 Kou Abhay forms provisional
government following coup attempt by
army.
April 1960 Elections for National Assembly
believed rigged.
August 9, 1960 Kong Le carries out successful
Neutralist coup d'état against
rightist government of Prince
Somsanith; General Phoumi Nosavan
forms countercoup committee in
Savannakhét and declares martial
law; Kong Le hands over power to
Souvanna Phouma's third government.
December 1960 Phoumi Nosavan captures Vientiane;
Soviet airlift begins to Kong Le and
Pathet Lao troops.
January 1961 Souvanna Phouma government
recognized by communist bloc; Prince
Boun Oum's Vientiane government
recognized by West; heavy fighting
breaks out; North Vietnamese troops
involved.
May 1961-June 1962 Second Geneva Conference on Laos;
agreements among Neutralist, Pathet
Lao, and rightist factions prepare
way for second coalition government.
July 1962 Declaration on the Neutrality of
Laos and its Protocol signed in
Geneva.
1963-May 1964 Laos increasingly linked with
developments in Vietnam; North
Vietnamese troops fail to withdraw;
Ho Chi Minh Trail expanded; second
coalition government collapses;
Pathet Lao offensive against
Neutralists on Plain of Jars
succeeds; International Control
Commission proves ineffective;
bombing by United States begins.
1968-74 Fighting escalates between Pathet
Lao's LPLA and Royal Lao Army; Hmong
under Vang Pao resist Pathet Lao -
North Vietnamese advances; Second
Party Congress held, 1972; LPP
renamed Lao People's Revolutionary
Party (LPRP); RLG and Pathet Lao
begin negotiations for cease-fire in
1972, resulting in Vientiane
Agreement signed in February 1973;
cease-fire proclaimed, bombing by
United States ends; protocol forming
third coalition government signed
September 1973; government takes
office by royal decree April 1974 as
Provisional Government of National
Union.
August 1974-November 1975 Fighting resumes; Vang Pao flees to
Thailand; senior rightist ministers
and generals leave for Thailand;
LPLA "liberates" provincial
capitals; reeducation centers or
"seminar camps" opened;
"Revolutionary Administration" takes
power in Vientiane; elections held
for local people's councils.
December 1975 Provisional Government of National
Union dissolved; King Savang
Vatthana abdicates; Lao People's
Democratic Republic (LPDR)
proclaimed; Souphanouvong becomes
first president (in power until
1991); Kaysone Phomvihan, first
prime minister.
May 1976 LPRP Central Committee passes Third
Resolution, guidelines for
establishing the socialist
revolution.
July 1977 Twenty-Five-Year Lao-Vietnamese
Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation
signed.
February 1979 Lao Front for National Construction
established; replaces LPF.
January 1978 Interim three-year economic
development plan begins.
January 1981 First Five-Year plan begins.
April 1982 Third LPRP Congress held.
May 1984 Constitution drafting committee
named.
March 1985 First national population census
taken.
January 1986 Second Five-Year Plan begins.
November 1986 Fourth LPRP Congress held; Kaysone
Phomvihan general secretary LPRP;
New Economic Mechanism formalizes
reforms.
1988 First elections since 1975 held; at
district level in June, provincial
level in November.
1989 National elections held in March;
delegates elected to first Supreme
People's Assembly; opening session
held May-June; last Vietnamese
troops reportedly leave Laos.
April 1990 LPRP approves draft constitution for
discussion.
March 1991 Fifth LPRP Congress held,
Secretariat abolished; Kaysone
Phomvihan chairman, LPRP;
Souphanouvong retires.
August 1991 New constitution endorsed by Supreme
People's Assembly and adopted;
Kaysone Phomvihan becomes president
of LPDR; Khamtai Siphandon, prime
minister.
1992 Kaysone dies in November; replaced
as president by Nouhak Phomsavan;
Khamtai becomes chairman, LPRP, and
prime minister, LPDR; elections to
National Assembly (renamed from
Supreme People's Assembly) held in
December.
1993 Nouhak and Khamtai reelected as
president and prime minister in
February; Council of Ministers
reorganized.
1994 Phoumi Vongvichit, former acting
president and high-ranking party
figure, dies in January.
Data as of July 1994
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