Fa Ngum - Early Life

Early Life

Fa Ngoum or Fa Ngum was born in Muang Xwa, a Lao principality located on the site of present-day Luang Prabang, and founded the Lan Xang Hôm Khao (better known as Lan Xang) kingdom in Laos in 1353. Fa Ngoum (born 1316—died 1374)was a grandson of Souvanna Khamphong, titled Phagna Khampong, ruler of Muang Xwa and grandfather of Fa Ngoum, banished Fa Ngoum and his father, Chao Fa Ngiao, to the Khmer kingdom of Angkor in the 1320s due to his father's indiscretion with one of the grandfather's wives. Fa Ngoum subsequently married a Khmer princess Princess Kèo Kèngkanya. With the support of Angkor, Fa Ngoum returned to Muang Xwa with a 10,000 man army to gain control and consolidate his kingdom. Princess Kèo Kèngkanya later died from plague, while he was campaigning North against the Mongols. In 1316–1374, Fa Ngoum founded the kingdom of Lan Xang Hôm Khao—"land of one million elephants and a white parasol." The elephant symbolized military power since most battles were fought using elephants, and the white parasol symbolized royalty, particularly a Buddhist monarch. Fa Ngoum further legitimized his rule by enshrining the Prabang Buddha image as the spiritual protector of the kingdom in Viang Chan Viang Kham (present-day Vientiane). He made Xiang Dong Xiang Thong (later renamed Luang Prabang) his capital. Fa Ngoum is credited with introducing the Theravada Buddhism to the region when the Khmer monks who accompanied the image of the Prabang Buddha established a monastery in Lan Xang. Political turmoil ensued, and Fa Ngoum's son Oun Huan (Sam Sèn Thai, 1356–1417) succeeded the throne in 1368.