Anouvong

Anouvong was the last king of Vientiane, ruling 1805-1828. In 1827 he declared war to Siam to get back independence, but after successfully attacking Nakhon Ratchasima his army was defeated, and in return the siamese troops attacked and totally destroyed Vientiane.

Modern Lao nationalist movements turned him into a hero mostly to create anti-Siamese sentiments, even though his strategic and tactical mistakes and hot temper led to the destructive holocaust of Vientiane and a permanent division of the Lao nation.