Sisavang Vatthana - Abdication and Death

Abdication and Death

On August 23, 1975, Pathet Lao forces entered Vientiane, the last city to be captured and the Phouma Government became effectively powerless for the next few months. On 2 December, Sisavang Vatthana was forced to abdicate the throne after the Pathet Lao decided to abolish the 600 year old monarchy and he was appointed to the meaningless position of "Supreme Advisor to the President". He refused to leave the country and in 1976 he "handed" the royal palace to the Lao Government, turning it into a museum and moving to a nearby private residence. In March 1977, fearing he may escape house arrest to lead a resistance, he was arrested along with the Queen, Crown Prince Vong Savang, Prince Sisavang, and his brothers Princes Souphantharangsri and Thongsouk and sent them to the northern province of Viengxai. He was put into an internment camp in Sam Neua called "Camp Number One", where all the important political prisoners were held. During his time in the camp, the royal family was allowed to move freely around in their compounds during the day as well as often visited by members of the politburo and Sopuhanouvong himself, He was the oldest prisoner in the camp, turning 70 during the earlier months of imprisonment, the average age being around 55.

About 1978, it was reported that he, along with Queen Khamphoui and Crown Prince Vong Savang, had died from malaria. More accurate accounts suggest that the King died in mid-March, 1980. Upon the news of the deaths of King Savang Vatthana and Crown Prince Vong Savang, the King's youngest son Sauryavong Savang became the head of the Laotian royal family, acting as regent to his nephew Crown Prince Soulivong Savang. However, according to Kaysone Phomvihane, Vatthana died in 1984, at the age of 77.