Haw wars

Haw Wars

Siamese army during Haw wars in 1875
Date1865–1890
Location
Northern Laos, western Vietnam, northern Thailand
Result Siamese victory
Belligerents
Haw rebels (Red flag and Striped flag bands)

Siam


Co-belligerents:
France
Commanders and leaders
Đèo Văn Trị (minor commander)
Unknown
Chulalongkorn
Surasakmontri
Oun Kham
Auguste Pavie
Strength
The exact number is unknown 20000-40000

The Haw Wars (Thai: สงครามปราบฮ่อ) were triggered by southern Chinese paramilitary refugee gangs invading parts of Northern Thailand, Laos and Tonkin from 1865–1890. Forces invading Lao domains were ill-disciplined and freely demolished Buddhist temples. Not knowing these were remnants of secret societies, the invaders were wrongly called Haw (Lao: ຫໍ້; Thai: ฮ่อ; Chinese: Hao). Forces sent by King Rama V successfully fought the various groups, the last of which eventually disbanded in 1890.