Khamphoui
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 | |
| Tenure | 29 October 1959 – 2 December 1975 |
| Born | 12 July 1912 Luang Phrabang |
| Died | 1982 Sop Hao, Laos |
| Spouse | Sisavang Vatthana |
| Issue | Crown Prince Vong Savang Princess Savivanh Savang Princess Thala Savang Prince Sisavang Savang Prince Sauryavong Savang |
| Father | Chao Krum Mahasenapati |
| Mother | Khamoune |
Early life
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
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.[2] She was arrested in 1977 along with the former King and her family, and sent to a Communist 're-education camp'.[3] After their arrest, the former Royal Palace was made in to a museum, and the former king and queen were stated to have been taken away to "work in the fields".[4]
She reportedly died in 1982[5] in a Communist 're-education camp' in northern Laos along with her husband and their son Crown Prince Vong Savang, probably around Sop Hao.[6]
Honours
Dame Grand Cross of the Order of Chula Chom Klao
References
- Jane Hamilton-Merritt: Tragic Mountains: The Hmong, the Americans, and the Secret Wars for Laos
- Goodwin, Alan: The Missing Monarch, p. 15
- Goodwin, Alan: The Missing Monarch, p. 15
- Goodwin, Alan: The Missing Monarch, p. 15
- Osborne, Milton (20 September 2003). "Bamboo Palace".
External links