Chao Noi

Chao Nôy (also spelled Noy or Noi, ,?–1829), also known as Chao Southaka Souvanna Koumar , was the prince ruler of Muang Phuan from 1803 to 1831.

It proved that Nôy was an authoritarian ruler. During his reign, he increased taxes in order to spend more on his court and palace. In 1814, he brutely put down a Khmu revolt. In 1823, Noy was accused of by a half-brother of seeking independence. He was summoned to Vientiane to account for his oppressive actions during 1814, and put under house arrest for three years. After he was allowed to return to Muang Phuan, he sought a tributary relationship with Vietnam. He was granted the title Trấn Ninh Phòng ngự sử (鎮寧防禦使) by Vietnamese. Muang Phuan was put under Vietnamese protection, numerous ethnic Vietnamese colonizers came to the principality. As Vientiane was also a tributary to Vietnam, Minh Mạng summoned him to explain his actions, but he used different excuses to refuse to go. In the same time, he also refused to pay tribute to Vietnam. A Vietnamese army under marched to Muang Phuan, arrested him and took under escort to Vietnam. He was executed in Huế.

His family was forced to remain in Huế for 16 years. In 1848, they were released, his eldest son Chao Po crowned the prince ruler of Muang Phuan.

Some of his descendants, who fled when the communists came into power, are now living in France.