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The Journal of the Royal Institute of Thailand Volume III - 2011 Volker Grabowsky 105 It should be noted that important vassal states like Chiang Mai, Nan, and Luang Prabang had their own dependencies, the rulers of which were sub-vassals (i.e. vassals of vassals) of the Siamese King. These sub-vassals had to take the oath of allegiance twice, first, to the king of Bangkok and, secondly, to the Tai ruler who was their direct suzerain. For example, Sipsong Chuthai was a dependency of Luang Prabang, Wiang Pukha and later Chiang Khaeng (on Luang Nam Tha province) dependencies of Nan. Lao historians and historians of Laos often perceive the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries as a period of decline. There is no doubt that the split-up of the Lan Sang kingdom into three separate political entities in the early eighteenth century and their later incorporation into the Siamese orbit seriously weakened the Lao domains politically. But in other respects the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries were not at all a period of decline for the Lao people. Seen from a demographic perspective, this period was one of steady expansion, indeed. The political fragmentation of Laos (Lan Xang) since the early eighteenth century helped foster the migration of the Lao southwards along the Mekong. Political dissidents, e.g. those members of ruling dynasties who felt being excluded from power, took their followers in search of land and founded their own mueang . They were the driving force for what the Tai and Lao call çthe founding of villages and townsé ( kan sang ban paeng mueang ). The destruction of Vientiane in the aftermath of the Lao-Siamese war of 1826›28 and the large-scale resettlement campaigns of the 1830s until 1850s led to significant demographic changes. In the first three decades following the conquest of Vientiane, at least 100,000 Lao were forced to leave the eastern bank of the Mekong and to resettle in territories on the western bank or in the interior of the Khorat Plateau. The famous Lao epic of the late Lan Sang period, Phuen Viang , gives testimony to these large-scale deportations, which were resisted in particular by the inhabitants of Mueang Mahasai in the valley of the Kading River. 12 This area as well as the Plain of Jars were most severely affected by Siamese resettlement campaigns. Numerous Lao migrated voluntarily into territories on the right bank after their homes on the left bank had been continuously raided and devastated. Within a few decades the demographic centre of gravity 12 Phuen wiang samai cao anu 2004: 173›185. 98-112_mac9 4/26/12, 9:10 PM 105