Lan Xang - Later Years

Later Years

Beginning in 1694 during the Maunder Minimum (also known as the prolonged sunspot minimum) roughly spanning 1645 to 1715, a series of rival princes fought for the throne, and in 1707, the country split into three kingdoms: Luang Prabang, Vientiane, and Champasak. Vientiane made several attempts to unite the Lao Kingdoms that were prevented by Siamese intervention, resulting in the three splintered Kingdoms paying tribute to Siam. Vientiane also had a tributary relationship with the Vietnamese court at Hué, a relationship that, in the wake of the failed Laotian Rebellion for independence (1826–1829) of Anouvong, the last king of Vientiane, became a casus belli for the Siamese–Vietnamese War (1831–1834).