Nanthasen


Nanthasen, also known as Chao Nan, was the 6th king of the Kingdom of Vientiane. He ruled from 1781 to 1795.
Nanthasen was the eldest son of his father Ong Bun. In 1778, King Taksin of Siam decided to invade three Lao kingdoms because they were pro-Burmese, and the Burmese King considered Lao kingdoms as his base to expand further east. A Siamese army under Somdej Chao Phya Mahakasatsuek invaded Vientiane. Nanthasen was appointed the commander-in-chief to fight against Siam. Vientiane was defeated, Ong Bun fled into jungle. Nanthasen was captured by Siamese army and taken to Thonburi together with his brothers. Emerald Buddha and Phra Bang were also taken to Thonburi. Vientiane became Siam dependency.
In 1781, Nanthasen was allowed to return to Vientiane as king. Phra Bang also returned to Vientiane. However, his younger brother Inthavong was crowned the oupahat by Siam, and left in Bangkok as hostage.
During Nanthasen's reign, Vientiane also invaded Muang Phuan, and captured its capital Xieng Khouang. In 1791, Nanthasen convinced Rama I that King Anurutha of Luang Prabang was secretly meeting with the Burmese and plotting a rebellion against Siam. He was permitted to attack Luang Prabang, and captured the city in 1792.
After the Battle of Ngọc Hồi-Đống Đa, a Vietnamese Lê prince, Lê Duy Chỉ, fled to Tuyên Quang and Cao Bằng, to fight against Tây Sơn dynasty. Chỉ devised a plan to unite Vientiane and Muang Phuan in a revolt of Tây Sơn dynasty. In 1791, Vientiane was invaded by Tây Sơn dynasty, Nanthasen had to flee. Finally, he reached an accommodation with Tây Sơn dynasty.
In January 1795, Nanthasen accused of plotting a rebellion with the Lao governor of Nakhon Phanom, allegedly having made diplomatic overtures to Tây Sơn. He was deposed and taken to Bangkok as a prisoner. He died there in June or July 1795, childless. His younger brother Inthavong succeeded.