Person

Phetsarath Ratanavongsa

1890–1959 · 20th century · Also known as Prince Phetsarath

Prince Phetsarath Ratanavongsa was a Lao nationalist leader and viceroy of the Kingdom of Luang Prabang. After the Japanese surrender in 1945 he declared the unification and independence of Laos and led the Lao Issara movement, going into exile in Thailand when the French returned in 1946. He came back to Laos in 1957 and is remembered as a father of Lao independence.

Phetsarath Ratanavongsa
Image: Unknown author · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Mentioned in 1 state history

Lao Issara

See also

Cite this entry
APA
The Epoch Institute. (2026). Phetsarath Ratanavongsa. In The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/phetsarath-ratanavongsa
MLA
“Phetsarath Ratanavongsa.” The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/phetsarath-ratanavongsa. Accessed .
Chicago
The Epoch Institute. “Phetsarath Ratanavongsa.” The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/phetsarath-ratanavongsa.
Harvard
The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘Phetsarath Ratanavongsa’, The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/phetsarath-ratanavongsa (Accessed: ).

Last reviewed October 2026Random entry ↻