Monarchy of Cambodia

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King of Cambodia
ព្រះមហាក្សត្រកម្ពុជា
Incumbent
Norodom Sihamoni
since 14 October 2004
Details
StyleHis Majesty
First monarchQueen Soma
Formation68 CE; 1,955–1,956 years ago
Abolition18 March 1970 – 24 September 1993
ResidenceKhemarin Palace
(official)
The Royal Residence
(secondary)
AppointerRoyal Council of the Throne
Websitenorodomsihamoni.org

The monarchy of Cambodia refers to the constitutional monarchy of the Kingdom of Cambodia. The King of Cambodia (Khmer: ព្រះមហាក្សត្រកម្ពុជា) is the head of state and head of the ruling Royal House of Norodom. In the contemporary period, the king's power has been limited to that of a symbolic figurehead. The monarchy had been in existence since at least 68 AD except during its abolition from 1970 to 1993. Since 1993, the king of Cambodia has been an elected monarch, making Cambodia one of the few elective monarchies of the world. The king is elected for life by the Royal Council of the Throne, which consists of several senior political and religious figures. Candidates are chosen from among male descendants of King Ang Duong who are at least 30 years old, from the two royal houses of Cambodia (the House of Norodom and the House of Sisowath).

Role[edit]

Cambodia's constitution, promulgated in 1993, stipulated the king's role as a mainly ceremonial one. It declared that the king "shall reign, but not govern"[1] as well as being the "symbol of national unity and continuity".[2]

The king performs important functions of state as required by the constitution. This includes but is not limited to:

The king also fulfils other roles not explicitly mentioned in the constitution in his capacity as head of state, for example, presiding over events of national significance[17] including religious ceremonies and traditions integral to the Khmer nation,[18] supporting humanitarian and philanthropic causes,[19] and representing Cambodia abroad when undertaking official visits overseas.[20] Although there have been female rulers in the past, the 1993 constitution currently forbids women from succeeding to the throne.[21]

Ministry of the Royal Palace[edit]

The Ministry of the Royal Palace, currently overseen by Minister Kong Sam Ol in conjunction with the Supreme Privy Advisory Council, formerly headed by the King's half-brother Prince Norodom Ranariddh and now headed by former Prime Minister Hun Sen assists and advises the king accordingly in carrying out his duties as monarch.[22][23][24]

Mythological history[edit]

Early period (68–1431)[edit]

Funan (68–627)[edit]

Order Monarch Names in Foreign Texts Reign
1 Queen Soma Liǔyè
(Traditional Khmer Call: Neang Neak)
68 – later 1st century
2 Kaundinya I Hùntián
(Traditional Khmer Call: Preah Tong)
later 1st century
3 Unknown Unknown later 2nd century
4 Hun Pan-huang Hùnpánkuàng later 2nd century – 198
5 Pan-Pan Hùnpánpán 198–201
6 Srei Meara Fàn Shīmàn or Fàn Shīwàn 201–225
7 Unknown Fàn Jīnshēng 225
8 Unknown Fàn Zhān 225–244
9 Unknown Fàn Chāng 244
10 Unknown Fàn Xún 244–289
11 Interregum Interregum 289 – 4th century
12 Candana Tiānzhú Zhāntán 4th century –410
13 Kaundinya II Qiáochénrú 410–434
14 Srindravarman I Chílítuóbámó 434–435
15 Unknown Unknown 435–438?
16 Unknown Unknown 438?–484
17 Jayavarman Kaundinya Shéyébámó 484–514
Queen Kulaprabhavati Unknown 514–517
18 Rudravarman Liútuóbámó 514–550
FunanChenla War: 550–627
19 Pvirakvarman I Unknown 550–600
20 Mhenteractvarman I Unknown 600–615
21 Nteractvarman I Unknown 615–627

Chenla (550–802)[edit]

Order Monarch Personal Name Reign
Shruta Varman 550–555
Shreshtha Varman II 555–560
Vīravarman 560–575
Queen Kambuja-raja-lakshmi 575–580
22 Bhavavarman I Bhavavarman 580–600
23 Mohendravarman Chet Sen 600–616
24 Isanavarman I Isanavarman 616–635
25 Bhavavarman II Bhavavarman 639–657
26 Jayavarman I Jayavarman 657–681
27 Queen Jayadevi Jayadevi 681–713
Rulers of Chenla after the separation of Water and Land

Khmer Empire (802–1431)[edit]

Order Monarch Personal Name Reign
28 Jayavarman II Jayavarman 802–850
29 Jayavarman III Jayavarthon 850–877
30 Indravarman I Indravarman 877–889
31 Yasovarman I Yasovarthon 889–910
32 Harshavarman I Harshavarman 910–923
33 Ishanavarman II Isanavarman 923–928
34 Jayavarman IV Jayavarman 928–941
35 Harshavarman II Harshavarman 941–944
36 Rajendravarman I Rajedravarman 944–968
37 Jayavarman V Jayavarman 968–1001
38 Udayadityavarman I Udayadityavarman 1001–1002
39 Jayavirahvarman Jayavirahvarman 1002–1006
40 Suryavarman I Suryavarman 1006–1050
41 Udayadityavarman II Udayadityavarman 1050–1066
42 Harshavarman III Harshavarman 1066–1080
43 Nripatindravarman Nripatindravarman 1080–1113
44 Jayavarman VI Jayavarman 1080–1107
45 Dharanindravarman I Dharanindravarman 1107–1113
46 Suryavarman II Suryavarman 1113–1150
47 Dharanindravarman II Dharanindravarman 1150–1156
48 Yasovarman II Yasovarman 1156–1165
49 Tribhuvanadityavarman Tribhuvanadityavarman 1165–1177
Cham Invasion: 1177–1181
50 Jayavarman VII Jayavathon 1181–1218
51 Indravarman II Indravarman 1218–1243
The first major Thai kingdom was created in 1238 during the reign of Indravarman by Pho Khun Si Intharathit in Sukhothai, an area formerly ruled by Lavo in vassalage to Angkor.
52 Jayavarman VIII Jayavarman 1243–1295
53 Indravarman III Srei Indravarman 1295–1308
54 Indrajayavarman Srei Jayavarman 1308–1327
55 Jayavarman IX Jayavama Borommesvarah / Jayavarman Parameshwara 1327–1336
56 Trasak Paem Ponhea Chey 1336–1340
57 Nippean Bat Ponhea Kreak 1340–1346
58 Sithean Reachea Sidhanta Raja 1346–1347
59 Lompong Reachea Trosok Peam or Ponhea Chey or Sri Lampang Paramaraja 1347–1352
Uthong dynasty of Ayutthaya Invasion: 1352–1357
60 Basat Bakrasat 1356–1359
61 Soryavong Soryavong 1357–1363
62 Borom Reachea I Barom Reamea 1363–1373
63 Thomma Saok Kaeo Fa 1373–1393
Uthong dynasty of Ayutthaya Invasion: 1393 (5 months)
64 In Reachea Nakhonin 1394–1421
65 Ponhea Prek Unknown name 1421
66 Borom Reachea II Ponhea Yat 1421–1431

Middle Period (1431–1863)[edit]

Chaktomuk period (1431–1525)[edit]

Name Portrait Personal Name Reign
Borom Reachea II
ពញាយ៉ាត
Ponhea Yat
ពញាយ៉ាត
1431–1463
Noreay Reameathiptei
នរាយ រាមាធិបតី
Narayanaraja
នរាយណ៍រាជាទី១ទ
1463–1469
Reachea Reameathiptei
រាជា រាមាធិបតី
Sri Raja
ស្រីរាជា
1469–1475
Srei Soriyotei II
ស្រីសុរិយោទ័យទី២
Rajadhiraja 1472–1475
Thommo Reachea I
ធម្មោ រាជា ទី១
Dhammarajadhiraja 1476–1504
Srei Sukonthor
ស្រីសុគន្ធធោ
Damkhat Sukonthor 1504–1512
Civil War: Chan Reachea and Sdech Kan war: 1516–1525

Longvek period (1525–1594)[edit]

Name Portrait Personal Name Reign
Srei Chettha
ស្រីជេដ្ឋា
Sdach Korn
ស្ដេចកន
1512–1521
Ang Chan I
អង្គចន្ទទី១
Ponhea Chan
ពញាចន្ទ
1516–1566
Barom Reachea I
បរមរាជាទី១
Satha Mahindharaja 1566–1576
Satha I
សត្ថាទី១
Barom Reachea IV
បរមរាជា
1576–1584
Chey Chettha I
ជ័យជេដ្ឋាទី១
Chey Chettha
ជ័យជេដ្ឋា
1584–1594

Srei Santhor Era (1594–1620)[edit]

Name Portrait Personal Name Reign
Preah Ram I
ព្រះរាម ទី១
Reamea Cheung Prey
រាមាជើងព្រៃ
1594–1596
Preah Ram II
ព្រះរាម ទី២
Keo Ban On 1596–1597
Paramaraja II (Barom Reachea II)
បរមរាជា ទី២
Ponhea Ton
ពញាតន់
1597–1599
Paramaraja III (Barom Reachea III)
បរមរាជា ទី៣
Ponhea An
ពញាអន
1599–1600
Kaev Hua I
កែវហ៊្វាទី១
Ponhea Nhom
ពញាញោម
1600–1603
Paramaraja IV (Barom Reachea IV)
បរមរាជា ទី៤
Srei Soriyopor
ស្រីសុរិយោពណ៌
1603–1618

Oudong period (1620–1863)[edit]

Name Portrait Personal Name Reign Relationship to predecessor
Chey Chettha II
ជ័យជេដ្ឋាទី២
1618–1628 Son
Dhammaraja II (Thommo Reachea II)
ស្រីធម្មរាជាទី២
Ponhea To
ពញាតូ
1628–1631 Son
Ang Tong Reachea
អង្គទងរាជា
Ponhea Nou
ពញានូ
1631–1640 Brother
Padumaraja (Batom Reachea)
បទុមរាជា
Ang Non
អង្គនន់
1640–1642 Cousin[a]
Ramadhipati (Reameathiptei I)
រាមាធិបតីទី១
Ponhea Chan
ពញាចន្ទ
1642–1658 Cousin
Paramaraja V (Barom Reachea V)
បុរមរាជា ទី៥
Ang So
អង្គសូរ
1658–1672 Cousin
Chey Chettha III
ជ័យជេដ្ឋា ទី៣
1672–1673 Nephew[b]
Preah Keo II (Keo Fa II)
ព្រះកែវហ៊្វាទី២
Ang Chee
អង្គជី
1673–1674 Cousin[c]
Batom Reachea III
បទុមរាជាទី៣
Ang Nan 1674 [d]
Chey Chettha IV
ជ័យជេដ្ឋា ទី៤
Ang Sor 1675–1695, 1696–1699, 1700–1702 and 1703–1706 [e]
Tey Unknown 1687 Mother[28]
Outey I
ឧទ័យទី១
Ang Yong
អង្គយ៉ង
1695–1696 Cousin once removed[f]
Parama Ramadhipati (Barom Reameathiptei)
បរម រាមាធិបតី
Ang Em 1699–1700 and 1710–1722 [g]
Dhammaraja III (Thommo Reachea III)
សេដ្ឋា ទី២
Ang Tham 1702–1703, 1706–1709 and 1736–1747 [h]
Satha II
សេដ្ឋា ទី២
Ang Chey
អង្គជ័យ
1722–1736 and 1749 [i]
Dhammaraja IV (Thommo Reachea IV)
ស្រីធម្មរាជា
Ang Em
អង្គឯម
1747 [j]
Ramadhipati III (Reameathiptei III)
រាមាធិបតីទី៣
Ang Tong
អង្គទង
1748–1749, 1755–1758 Brother-in-law
Chey Chettha V
ជ័យជេដ្ឋា ទី៥
Ang Snguon
អង្គស្ងួន
1749–1755 Brother-in-law
Udayaraja II (Outey Reachea II)
ឧទ័យរាជា ទី២
Ang Ton
អង្គតន់
1758–1775 Cousin twice removed[k]
Ream Reachea
ព្រះរាមរាជា
Ang Non II
អង្គនន់ទី ២
1775–1779 Cousin once removed[l]
Narayanaraja III (Neareay Reachea III)
នារាយណ៍រាជាទី ៣ ។
Ang Eng
អង្គអេង
1779–1782, 1794–1796 Cousin twice removed[m]
Regency, Ang Chan being a minor: 1796–1806
Udayaraja III (Outey Reachea III)
ឧទ័យរាជា ទី៣
Ang Chan II
អង្គចន្ទ
1806–1834 Son
Ang Mey
អង្គម៉ី
Ksat Trey 1835–1840, 1844-1846 Daughter
Hariraksa Rama Issaradhipati (Harihak Reamea Issarathiptei)
ហរិរក្សរាមាឥស្សរាធិបតី
Ang Duong
អង្គដួង
1848–1860 Uncle
Norodom Prohmbarirak
នរោត្ដម ព្រហ្មបរិរក្ស
Ang Reacheavoddey
អង្គរាជាវតី
19 October 1860

11 August 1863
Son

Modern period (1863–present)[edit]

French protectorate of Cambodia (1863–1953)[edit]

Name Portrait House Birth Death Relationship to predecessor
Norodom Prohmbarirak
នរោត្ដម ព្រហ្មបរិរក្ស
11 August 1863

24 April 1904
(40 years, 257 days)
Norodom 3 February 1834
Angkor Borei
24 April 1904
Phnom Penh
Aged: 70 years, 81 days
Son
Sisowath Chamchakrapong
ស៊ីសុវត្ថិ ចមចក្រពង្ស
27 April 1904

9 August 1927
(23 years, 104 days)
Sisowath 7 September 1840
Mongkol Borey
9 August 1927
Phnom Penh
Aged: 86 years, 336 days
Half-brother
Sisowath Monivong
ស៊ីសុវត្ថិ មុនីវង្ស
9 August 1927

23 April 1941
(13 years, 257 days)
Sisowath 27 December 1875
Phnom Penh
23 April 1941
Kampot
Aged: 65 years, 117 days
Son
Norodom Sihanouk[29]
នរោត្តម សីហនុ
24 April 1941

2 March 1955
(13 years, 312 days)
Norodom 31 October 1922
Phnom Penh
15 October 2012
Beijing
Aged: 89 years, 350 days
Maternal grandson

First Kingdom of Cambodia (1953–1970)[edit]

Name Portrait House Birth Death Relationship to predecessor
Norodom Suramarit
នរោត្តម សុរាម្រិត
3 March 1955

3 April 1960
(5 years, 31 days)
Norodom 6 March 1896
Phnom Penh
3 April 1960
Phnom Penh
Aged: 64 years, 28 days
Father
Sisowath Monivong Kossamak Nearirath Sereyvathana
ស៊ីសុវត្ថិ មុនីវង្ស កុសុមៈ នារីរ័ត្ន សេរីវឌ្ឍនា
20 June 1960

9 October 1970
(10 years, 111 days)
[n]
Sisowath
(by birth)
Norodom
(by marriage)
9 April 1904
Phnom Penh
27 April 1975
Beijing
Aged: 71 years, 18 days
Consort

Second Kingdom of Cambodia (1993–present)[edit]

Name Portrait House Birth Death Relationship to predecessor
Norodom Sihanouk
នរោត្តម សីហនុ
24 September 1993

7 October 2004
(11 years, 13 days)
Norodom 31 October 1922
Phnom Penh
15 October 2012
Beijing
Aged: 89 years, 350 days
Son
Norodom Sihamoni
នរោត្តម សីហមុនី
14 October 2004

present
(19 years, 166 days)
Norodom 14 May 1953
Phnom Penh
Living
Age: 70 years, 319 days
Son

Royal symbols[edit]

See also[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Son of Outey, which was the brother to Chey Chettha II
  2. ^ Son of Batom Reachea, which was a brother to Barom Reachea V (both sons of Outey)
  3. ^ Son of Barom Reachea V
  4. ^ Grandson of Outey
  5. ^ Son of Barom Reachea V
  6. ^ Son of Preah Keo II, who was a cousin to Chey Chettha IV
  7. ^ Son of Batom Reachea III
  8. ^ Son of Chey Chettha IV
  9. ^ Son of Barom Reameathiptei
  10. ^ Son of Thommo Reachea III
  11. ^ Grandson of Ang Tong
  12. ^ Son of Chey Chettha V
  13. ^ Son Outey II
  14. ^ Queen Sisowath Kossamak was not an official monarch, but a "symbol, incarnation, and representative" of the dynasty after the death of her husband, King Norodom Suramarit. Norodom Sihanouk appointed himself chief of state whose powers equal that of a traditional monarch.[30][31]

References[edit]

  1. ^ The Constitution of the Kingdom of Cambodia, Chapter II, Article 7.
  2. ^ The Constitution of the Kingdom of Cambodia, Chapter II, Article 8.
  3. ^ The Constitution of the Kingdom of Cambodia, Chapter X, Article 119.
  4. ^ The Constitution of the Kingdom of Cambodia, Chapter VII, Article 82.
  5. ^ The Constitution of the Kingdom of Cambodia, Chapter VIII, Article 106.
  6. ^ The Constitution of the Kingdom of Cambodia, Chapter II, Article 23.
  7. ^ The Constitution of the Kingdom of Cambodia, Chapter II, Article 20.
  8. ^ The Constitution of the Kingdom of Cambodia, Chapter II, Articles 26 and 28.
  9. ^ The Constitution of the Kingdom of Cambodia, Chapter II, Article 9.
  10. ^ The Constitution of the Kingdom of Cambodia, Chapter II, Article 25.
  11. ^ The Constitution of the Kingdom of Cambodia, Chapter II, Article 27.
  12. ^ The Constitution of the Kingdom of Cambodia, Chapter II, Article 21.
  13. ^ The Constitution of the Kingdom of Cambodia, Chapter XI, Article 134.
  14. ^ The Constitution of the Kingdom of Cambodia, Chapter VIII, Article 100.
  15. ^ The Constitution of the Kingdom of Cambodia, Chapter XII, Article 137.
  16. ^ The Constitution of the Kingdom of Cambodia, Chapter II, Article 29.
  17. ^ "Cambodian king,..."
  18. ^ "Cambodia marks..."
  19. ^ "$1 million royal gift..."
  20. ^ ""President Xi meets Cambodian king in Beijing" in GB Times". Archived from the original on 12 May 2019. Retrieved 25 October 2018.
  21. ^ Jeldres, Julio A. (2 April 1999). "Cambodia's Monarchy: The search for the successor". The Phnom Penh Post. Archived from the original on 2 August 2020. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  22. ^ "Cambodian Prince Ranariddh's body arrives home from France". The Star. 5 December 2021. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  23. ^ "Reign of the quiet king". The Phnom Penh Post. 29 October 2014. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
  24. ^ "Hun Sen made Privy Council President". Khmer Times. 23 August 2023. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  25. ^ Sharan, Mahesh Kumar (2003). Studies In Sanskrit Inscriptions Of Ancient Cambodia. Abhinav Publications. p. 34. ISBN 978-81-7017-006-8.
  26. ^ Jacobsen, Trudy (2008). Lost Goddesses: The Denial of Female Power in Cambodian History. NIAS Press. pp. 27–30. ISBN 978-87-7694-001-0.
  27. ^ Sharan, Mahesh Kumar (2003). Studies In Sanskrit Inscriptions Of Ancient Cambodia. Abhinav Publications. p. 31. ISBN 978-81-7017-006-8.
  28. ^ Jacobsen, Trudy (2008). Lost Goddesses: The Denial of Female Power in Cambodian History. NIAS Press. p. 87. ISBN 978-87-7694-001-0. Jai Jettha III, who ruled five or six times between 1677 and 1702, abdicated in 1687 in favour of his mother Queen tey. She remained there for a matter of months before returning the throne to her son.
  29. ^ "Constitution of Cambodia 1947" (PDF). 6 May 1947. Archived (PDF) from the original on 27 July 2021. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  30. ^ "Cambodian Queen is Dead in Peking". The New York Times. 28 April 1975. Archived from the original on 20 August 2020. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  31. ^ Chandler, David (4 May 2018). A History of Cambodia (4th ed.). Routledge. p. 235. ISBN 978-0-429-96406-0. In 1960 Sihanouk's father, King Suramarit, died. After a series of maneuvers, Sihanouk had himself named Cambodia's chief of state with his mother, Queen Kossamak, continuing to serve as a monarch for ceremonial purposes.

External links[edit]