Souligna Vongsa

Souligna Vongsa

 

Died 1694. King of the Laotian state of Lan Xang from 1637 to 1694.

Souligna Vongsa unified all the principalities of the middle Mekong River valley and part of the upper Menam River valley. He consolidated the unification by concluding treaties with the neighboring states of Ayutthaya, Ava, and Dai Viet, all of which recognized the boundaries of Lan Xang. Under Souligna Vongsa, the Lan Xang economy and culture developed rapidly, towns grew, and Buddhism reached its apogee. In 1707, soon after Souligna Vongsa died, Lan Xang broke up into a series of smaller states.