Lan Chang

The earliest kingdom of Laos, founded in 1353, the establishment of an eastern branch of the Thai people in a territory which belonged to the declining Khmer empire of Angkor. The kingdom was formed by the union of the principalities of Muang Chawa (present-day Luang Prabang) and Wian Chan (present-day Vientiane). It flourished until it was split into two separate kingdoms, Vien Chang and Luang Prabang, in the 18th century. Conflict with its Myanmar (Burmese) and Thai (Siamese) neighbors forced the kingdom's rulers to transfer the capital from Luang Prabang to Vientiane in 1563, but the kingdom maintained its power and was at the height of its glory in the 17th century.

[Lan Xang]. The earliest kingdom of Laos, founded in 1353. This was the establishment of an eastern branch of the Thai people in a territory which belonged to the by then declining Khmer empire of Angkor. The kingdom was formed by the union of the principalities of Muang Chawa (present-day Luang Prabang) and Wian Chan (present-day Vientiane). It was undoubtedly favoured by the weakening of the state of Sukhothai, and included Thai and Khmer elements in its cultural basis.