King Savang Vatthana was the last king of Laos, reigning from 1959 until 1975. He was born on July 13, 1907, and became king after the death of his father, King Sisavang Vong. His reign was marked by political turmoil and the rise of communist forces in the country. In 1975, following the victory of the Pathet Lao and the establishment of a communist government, King Savang Vatthana was deposed. He and his family were placed under house arrest, and he later died in captivity in 1980. His reign is remembered as a significant period in Laos’s history.