Lao history from 1353 to the end of the nineteenth century is story of periods of growth and stability followed by periods of decline and disunity. The first period of growth and stability came with the famous King Fa Ngum, who unified the land into the " kingdom of million elephants" or lan xang. After Fa Ngum's death, his son, Samsenthai became king for 43 years. When Samsenthai died in 1417, the kingdom of Lan Xang became weak and experienced war and division for a century