Laos has an epic history. Since the time of the Nanzhao kingdom in the seventh century, to 1975 when the communist party took over power, Laos has been a state of wars and of warriors.

Laos built with blood from the battlefields, oiled by the sweat of enemies and sustained by political and administrative intrigues sprinkled with spiritual Buddhism.

The Lao people have shared roots with the Thais. Occupying the southeast, Laos was part of the Nanzhao kingdom of the present day Yunnan, China.

The kingdom was famous for its control of important trade routes, especially the southern silk route. Many things originated in the Nanzhao kingdom that have influenced the modern day Indochina. The term ’Kien’ meant the ten prefectures of Nanzhao. Name places like Keng (Kengtung) and Xieng (Xieng Khouang) were later derived from it.

The organization of army personnel into units of 100, 1000 and 10,000, that was later found in Indochina, was started by the Nan—Chao army. Another likely title of Nanzhao origin is ’Chao’, which means prince.

The Lao legend of the creation of the world was associated with Khum Borom who gave Luang Phrabang (then Muang Sua) to his son Khum Lo.

Khun Lo conquered Muang Sua when the king of Nanzhao was busy fighting elsewhere. It was to the credit of Khum Lo that a dynasty of 15 rulers, who reigned for almost a century, was established.

Khun Lo conquered Muang Sua when the king of Nanzhao was busy fighting elsewhere. It was to the credit of Khum Lo that a dynasty of 15 rulers, who reigned for almost a century, was established.

The northward expansion of the Khmer Empire under Indravarman I (who reigned for twelve years 877—889) was stretched to the upper Mekong to the territories of Sipsong Panna.

This is likely to have happened after the occupation of Muang Sua by the Nanzhao. The Khmers established an outpost at Sayfong close to Ventientiane. This afforded the ruler of Sayfong, Chanthaphanit to move northwards to Muang Sua where he was acknowledged peacefully as their ruler following the departure of the Nanzhao princes.

Muang Sua became known by the Thai name Xieng Dong Xieng Thong during the long rule of Chanthaphanit and his son. As was typical of dynasties, Chanthaphanit became involved in the problems of some of the principalities and as a result of this Khum Chuang expanded his land and ruled from 1128 to 1169.

At the time that Theravada Budhism was replaced by Mahayana Budhism, Muang Sua was ruled by Sri Sattanak, a kingdom asssociated with the naga: mystical water dragon believed to have dug the Mekong river bed.

Muang Sua was next ruled by Jayawarman VII (from 1185 to 1191) of Khmer. Recent research shows that the Mongol named the province Yunnan when they made it their own after destroying Nanzhao in 1253.

During this period, Muang Sua became sovereign and was ruled by princes bearing the paya (lord) title.

The kingdom of a million elephants (Lan Xang) was established in 1353. The kingdom became wealthy and powerful and extended to north eastern region of today’s Thailand and Stung Treng of Cambodia.

In the 17th century, Lan Xang became involved in conflicts with its neighbours. This helped Siam be able to take over what was Laos in the 18th century. France came in from its colony in Vietnam and integrated all of Laos into the French Empire. Later, The Franco—Siamese Treaty in 1907 agreed on the present day Lao boundary with Thailand.