Paths to conflagration : fifty years of diplomacy and warfare in Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam, 1778-1828

A reexamination of the historical relationship between Laos and Thailand, by two preeminent Lao historians who bring to light a wealth of new source material in their evaluation of the Laotian leader, Chao Anou, and his failed revolt against Siam. This book challenges conventional Thai interpretations of that event and of the political conflicts leading up to it. TABLE OF CONTENTS DEDICATION FOREWORD ACKNOWLEDGMENTS PROLOGUE INTRODUCTION Map of Lan Na, Lan Sang, Siam, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Burma I. The Fabric of History II. The Hegemonic Crisis of the "City of Angels" III. The Realignment of the Lao as Their Power Disintegrates IV. The Alliance and the Nature of Things V. The World Superpower: Britain's Indochina Strategy VI. Many Provocations and Anou's Response Map of Lan Sang in the Eighteenth Century VII. The Opening Phases of the 1827 Campaign VIII. The Military Phase of the 1827 Campaign IX. Vietnam's Emperor Chooses Bangkok Conclusion Bibliography