Anouvong

Chao Anouvong (; ; ), or regnal name Xaiya Setthathirath V (; ; ), (1767 – 1829), led the Lao rebellion (1826–28) against Siam as the last monarch of the Kingdom of Vientiane. Anouvong succeeded the throne in 1805 upon the death of his brother, Chao Inthavong (; ), Xaiya Setthathirath IV, who had succeeded their father, Ong Bun or Phrachao Siribounyasan (; ) Xaiya Setthathirath III. Anou was known by his father's regnal number until recently discovered records disclosed that his father and brother had the same regnal name.

==Reign== thumbnail|In 1804, Anouvong was appointed by Bangkok as ruler of Vientiane after the death of his elder brother, Inthavong. Illustrated by Hem Vejakorn (c.1969). thumbnail|Wat Si Saket, [[Vientiane. Completed by King Anouvong in 1824.]] In 1779, following the fall of Vientiane to the army of Taksin of the Thonburi Kingdom, the city was looted but was spared destruction. However, the Emerald Buddha and several other important Buddha images were taken to Thonburi, and the sons and daughter of Ong Bun or King Siribounyasan were taken as hostages, along with several thousand Lao families, who were resettled in Saraburi, north of the Thai capital. Siribounyasan had three sons, who were all to succeed him as king of Vientiane – Nanthasen, Inthavong, and Anouvong.