French protectorate of Laos was a French protectorate forming part of the French Colonial

Empire in Southeast Asia. It consisted of much of the territory of the former kingdom of Lan
Xang and was part of French Indochina from 1893 until it was granted self-rule within the French
Union in 1946. The Franco-Lao Treaty of 1953 establishing Laos as an independent member of
theFrench Union.[1] Under the Geneva Conference following France's withdrawal from Indochina after
the First Indochina War, Laos was granted independence in 1954.
Contents
[hide]

1Establishment of a protectorate

2Administrative reorganisation

3Colonialism in Laos

4Revolts

5Laos during World War II

6Japanese occupation of Laos

7Independence

8Conflict

9See also

10References

11Sources

12External links

Establishment of a protectorate[edit]

A French government official and Lao children in Luang phrabang, 1887

After the acquirement of Cambodia in 1863, French explorers led byErnest Doudart de Lagre went
on several expeditions along theMekong River to find possible trade relations for the territories
ofFrench Cambodia and Cochinchina (modern-day Southern Vietnam) to the south. In 1885, a
French consulate was established in Luang Prabang, which along with the royal province
of Vientiane, was a vassal kingdom to Siam (modern-day Thailand). Siam, led by
king Chulalongkorn, soon feared that France was planning to annexe Luang Prabang and signed a
treaty with the French on 7 May 1886 which recognised Siam's suzerainty over the Lao kingdoms.[2]
By the end of 1886, Auguste Pavie was named vice-consul to Luang Prabang and was in charge of
expeditions occurring in Laotian territory, with the possibility of turning Laos into a French territory. In
1888, Chinese forces known as the Black Flags declared war on Siam and its vassal state of Luang
Prabang by sacking the city. Pavie and French forces later intervened and evacuated the Lao royal
family to safety. Additional French troops from Hanoi later arrived to expel the Black Flags from
Luang Prabang. Following his return to the city, King Oun Kham requested a French protectorate
over his kingdom. Pavie later sent Oun Kham's request to the French government in Paris. The bill
designating Luang Prabang a protectorate of France was signed on 27 March 1889 between both
sides despite a Siamese protest.[3]
After an ultimatum was given by Pavie, now resident minister to Siam in Bangkok,[4]in August
1892[citation needed] to the Siamese government, both countries went to war in 1893, culminating in
the Paknam incidentwhen France, contrary to promises it ha