Monarchy of Cambodia explained

Royal Title:King
Realm:Cambodia
Native Name:Central Khmer: ព្រះមហាក្សត្រនៃកម្ពុជា
Coatofarms:Royal Standard of the King of Cambodia.svgborder
Incumbent:Norodom Sihamoni
Incumbentsince:14 October 2004
His/Her:His
Date:68 CE; years ago
Abolition:18 March 1970 – 24 September 1993

The monarchy of Cambodia refers to the constitutional monarchy of the Kingdom of Cambodia. The King of Cambodia (Central 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

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

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

Ancient period (68–1431)

Funan (68–627)

OrderMonarchName in foreign textsReign
1Queen SomaLiǔyè
(traditional Khmer call: Neang Neak)
68 – later 1st century
2Hùntián
(traditional Khmer call: Preah Tong)
later 1st century
3Hun Pan-huang Hùnpánkuànglater 2nd century – 198
4Pan-Pan Hùnpánpán198–201
5Srei Meara Fàn Shīmàn201–225
6Unknown Fàn Jīnshēng225
7Unknown Fàn Zhān225–244
8Unknown Fàn Chāng244
9Unknown Fàn Xún244–289
Interregnum: 289 – 4th century
10 CandanaTiānzhú Zhāntán4th century – 410
11Qiáochénrú410–434
12SrindravarmanChílítuóbámó434–435
13Unknown Unknown435–438?
14Unknown Unknown438?–484
15Jayavarman KaundinyaShéyébámó484–514
16Queen KulaprabhavatiUnknown514–517
17Liútuóbámó514–550
FunanChenla War: 550–627
Unknown550–600
MhenteractvarmanUnknown600–615
NteractvarmanUnknown615–627

Chenla (550–802)

OrderMonarchPersonal nameReign
18SrutavarmanSrutavarman550–555
19SreshthavarmanSreshthavarman555–560
20VīravarmanViravarman560–575
21Queen Kambuja-raja-lakshmiKambujarajalakshmi575–580
22Bhavavarman IBhavavarman 580–600
23MahendravarmanChet Sen 600–616
24Isanavarman IIsanavarman616–635
25Bhavavarman IIBhavavarman639–657
26Jayavarman IJayavarman657–681
27Queen JayadeviJayadevi681–713
28Nripatindravarman INripatindravarman713–716
Female successors of Upper Chenla (Land Chenla)[25]
29Queen IndraniIndranic.716–760
30Queen NṛpatendradevīNrpatendradevic.760–780
31Queen JayendrabhāJayendrabhac.780–802
32Queen JyeṣṭhāryāJyestharyac.802–803
Male successors of Lower Chenla (Water Chenla)[26]
29Pushkarakshac.716–730
30Shambhuvarmanc.730–760
31Rajendravarmanc.760–770
32MahipativarmanMahipativarmanc.770–780
33Jayavarman IIJayavarmanc.780–802

Khmer Empire (802–1431)

OrderMonarchPersonal nameReign
33Jayavarman IIJayavarman 802–850
34Jayavarman IIIJayavarthon 850–877
35Indravarman IIndravarman 877–889
36Yasovarman IYasovarthon 889–910
37Harshavarman IHarshavarman 910–923
38Ishanavarman IIIsanavarman 923–928
39Jayavarman IVJayavarman 928–941
40Harshavarman IIHarshavarman 941–944
41Rajendravarman IIRajedravarman944–968
42Jayavarman VJayavarman 968–1001
43Udayadityavarman IUdayadityavarman 1001–1002
44JayavirahvarmanJayavirahvarman 1002–1006
45Suryavarman ISuryavarman1006–1050
46Udayadityavarman IIUdayadityavarman1050–1066
47Harshavarman IIIHarshavarman 1066–1080
48Nripatindravarman IINripatindravarman1080–1113
49Jayavarman VIJayavarman1080–1107
50Dharanindravarman IDharanindravarman1107–1113
51Suryavarman IISuryavarman1113–1150
52Dharanindravarman IIDharanindravarman1150–1156
53Yasovarman IIYasovarman1156–1165
54TribhuvanadityavarmanTribhuvanadityavarman1165–1177
Cham invasion by Jaya Indravarman: 1177–1181
55Jayavarman VIIJayavarthon1181–1218
56Indravarman IIIndrakumara1218–1243
The first major Thai kingdom was created in Sukhothai, an area formerly ruled by Lavo in vassalage to Angkor: 1238
57Jayavarman VIIIJayavarman1243–1295
58Indravarman IIISrei Indravama1295–1308
59IndrajayavarmanSrei Jayavama1308–1327
60Jayavarman IXJayavama Borommesvarah1327–1336
61Trasak PaemPonhea Chey 1336–1340
62Nippean BatPonhea Kreak 1340–1346
63Sithean ReacheaSidhanta Raja 1346–1347
64Lompong ReacheaTrasak Peam1347–1352
Uthong dynasty of Ayutthaya invasion: 1352–1357
65BasatBakrasat1356–1359
66SoryavongSoryavong1357–1363
67Borom Reachea IBarom Reamea1363–1373
68Thomma SaokKaeo Fa1373–1393
Uthong dynasty of Ayutthaya invasion: 1393 (5 months)
69In ReacheaNakhonin1394–1421
70Ponhea PrekPonhea Prek1421
71Borom Reachea IIPonhea Yat1421–1431
Ayutthaya invasion and fall of Angkor: 1431

Middle period (1431–1863)

Chaktomuk period (1431–1525)

width=15%Name!width=105pxPortrait!width=15% Personal Name!Reign
Borom Reachea II
Central Khmer: បរមរាជាទី២
Ponhea Yat
Central Khmer: ពញាយ៉ាត
1431–1463
Noreay Reameathiptei
Central Khmer: នរាយ រាមាធិបតី
Narayanaraja
Central Khmer: នរាយណ៍រាជាទី១ទ
1463–1469
Reachea Reameathiptei
Central Khmer: រាជា រាមាធិបតី
Sri Raja
Central Khmer: ស្រីរាជា
1469–1475
Srei Soriyotei
Central Khmer: ស្រីសុរិយោទ័យទី២
Rajadhiraja 1472–1475
Thommo Reachea I
Central Khmer: ធម្មោ រាជា ទី១
Dhammarajadhiraja 1476–1504
Srei Sukonthor
Central Khmer: ស្រីសុគន្ធធោ
Damkhat Sukonthor 1504–1512

Longvek period (1525–1594)

width=15%Name!width=105pxPortrait!width=15% Personal Name!Reign
Srei Chettha
Central Khmer: ស្រីជេដ្ឋា
Sdach Korn
Central Khmer: ស្ដេចកន
1512–1521
Civil war: Srei Chettha and Chan Reachea war: 1516–1525
Chan Reachea
Central Khmer: ចន្ទរាជា
Ponhea Chan
Central Khmer: ពញាចន្ទ
1516–1566
Barom Reachea I
Central Khmer: បរមរាជាទី១
Satha Mahindharaja 1566–1576
Satha I
Central Khmer: សត្ថាទី១
Barom Reachea IV
Central Khmer: បរមរាជា
1576–1584
Chey Chettha I
Central Khmer: ជ័យជេដ្ឋាទី១
Chey Chettha
Central Khmer: ជ័យជេដ្ឋា
1584–1594
Ayutthaya invasion and fall of Longvek: 1591–1594

Srei Santhor period (1594–1620)

width=15%Name!width=105pxPortrait!width=15% Personal Name!Reign
Preah Ram I
Central Khmer: ព្រះរាម ទី១
Reamea Cheung Prey
Central Khmer: រាមាជើងព្រៃ
1594–1596
Preah Ram II
Central Khmer: ព្រះរាម ទី២
Keo Ban On1596–1597
Paramaraja II (Barom Reachea II)
Central Khmer: បរមរាជា ទី២
Ponhea Ton
Central Khmer: ពញាតន់
1597–1599
Paramaraja III (Barom Reachea III)
Central Khmer: បរមរាជា ទី៣
Ponhea An
Central Khmer: ពញាអន
1599–1600
Kaev Hua I
Central Khmer: កែវហ៊្វាទី១
Ponhea Nhom
Central Khmer: ពញាញោម
1600–1603
Paramaraja IV (Barom Reachea IV)
Central Khmer: បរមរាជា ទី៤
Srei Soriyopor
Central Khmer: ស្រីសុរិយោពណ៌
1603–1618

Oudong period (1620–1863)

width=15%Name!width=105pxPortrait!width=15% Personal Name!ReignRelationship to predecessor
Chey Chettha II
Central Khmer: ជ័យជេដ្ឋាទី២
1618–1628Son
Dhammaraja II (Thommo Reachea II)
Central Khmer: ស្រីធម្មរាជាទី២
Ponhea To
Central Khmer: ពញាតូ
1628–1631Son
Ang Tong Reachea
Central Khmer: អង្គទងរាជា
Ponhea Nou
Central Khmer: ពញានូ
1631–1640Brother
Padumaraja (Batom Reachea)
Central Khmer: បទុមរាជា
Ang Non
Central Khmer: អង្គនន់
1640–1642Cousin
Ramadhipati (Reameathiptei I)
Central Khmer: រាមាធិបតីទី១
Ponhea Chan
Central Khmer: ពញាចន្ទ
1642–1658Cousin
Paramaraja V (Barom Reachea V)
Central Khmer: បុរមរាជា ទី៥
Ang So
Central Khmer: អង្គសូរ
1658–1672Cousin
Chey Chettha III
Central Khmer: ជ័យជេដ្ឋា ទី៣
1672–1673Nephew
Kaev Hua II
Central Khmer: ព្រះកែវហ៊្វាទី២
Ang Chee
Central Khmer: អង្គជី
1673–1674Cousin
Batom Reachea III
Central Khmer: បទុមរាជាទី៣
Ang Nan 1674
Chey Chettha IV
Central Khmer: ជ័យជេដ្ឋា ទី៤
Ang Sor 1675–1695, 1696–1699, 1700–1702 and 1703–1706
Queen TeyUnknown1687Mother[27]
Outey I
Central Khmer: ឧទ័យទី១
Ang Yong
Central Khmer: អង្គយ៉ង
1695–1696Cousin once removed
Parama Ramadhipati (Barom Reameathiptei)
Central Khmer: បរម រាមាធិបតី
Ang Em1699–1700 and 1710–1722
Dhammaraja III (Thommo Reachea III)
Central Khmer: សេដ្ឋា ទី២
Ang Tham 1702–1703, 1706–1709 and 1736–1747
Satha II
Central Khmer: សេដ្ឋា ទី២
Ang Chey
Central Khmer: អង្គជ័យ
1722–1736 and 1749
Dhammaraja IV (Thommo Reachea IV)
Central Khmer: ស្រីធម្មរាជា
Ang Em
Central Khmer: អង្គឯម
1747
Ramadhipati III (Reameathiptei III)
Central Khmer: រាមាធិបតីទី៣
Ang Tong
Central Khmer: អង្គទង
1748–1749, 1755–1758Brother-in-law
Chey Chettha V
Central Khmer: ជ័យជេដ្ឋា ទី៥
Ang Snguon
Central Khmer: អង្គស្ងួន
1749–1755Brother-in-law
Udayaraja II (Outey Reachea II)
Central Khmer: ឧទ័យរាជា ទី២
Ang Ton
Central Khmer: អង្គតន់
1758–1775Cousin twice removed
Ream Reachea
Central Khmer: ព្រះរាមរាជា
Ang Non II
Central Khmer: អង្គនន់ទី ២
1775–1779Cousin once removed
Narayanaraja III (Neareay Reachea III)
Central Khmer: នារាយណ៍រាជាទី ៣ ។
Ang Eng
Central Khmer: អង្គអេង
1779–1782, 1794–1796Cousin twice removed
Regency, Ang Chan being a minor: 1796–1806
Udayaraja III (Outey Reachea III)
Central Khmer: ឧទ័យរាជា ទី៣
Ang Chan II
Central Khmer: អង្គចន្ទ
1806–1834Son
Queen Ang Mey
Central Khmer: អង្គម៉ី
Ksat Trey 1835–1840, 1844–1846Daughter
Hariraksa Rama Issaradhipati (Harireak Reamea Issarathiptei)
Central Khmer: ហរិរក្សរាមាឥស្សរាធិបតី
Ang Duong
Central Khmer: អង្គដួង
1848–1860Uncle
Norodom Prohmbarirak
Central Khmer: នរោត្ដម ព្រហ្មបរិរក្ស
Ang Voddey
Central Khmer: អង្គវតី
19 October 1860

11 August 1863
Son

Modern period (1863–present)

French protectorate of Cambodia (1863–1953)

width=15%Name!width=105pxPortrait!HouseBirth!DeathRelationship to predecessor
Norodom Prohmbarirak
Central Khmer: នរោត្ដម ព្រហ្មបរិរក្ស
11 August 1863

24 April 1904
Norodom3 February 1834
Angkor Borei
24 April 1904
Phnom Penh
Aged:
Son
Sisowath Chamchakrapong
Central Khmer: ស៊ីសុវត្ថិ ចមចក្រពង្ស
27 April 1904

9 August 1927
Sisowath7 September 1840
Mongkol Borey
9 August 1927
Phnom Penh
Aged:
Half-brother
Sisowath Monivong
Central Khmer: ស៊ីសុវត្ថិ មុនីវង្ស
9 August 1927

23 April 1941
Sisowath27 December 1875
Phnom Penh
23 April 1941
Kampot
Aged:
Son
Norodom Sihanouk[28]
Central Khmer: នរោត្តម សីហនុ
24 April 1941

2 March 1955
Norodom31 October 1922
Phnom Penh
15 October 2012
Beijing
Aged:
Maternal grandson

First Kingdom of Cambodia (1953–1970)

width=15%Name!width=105pxPortrait!HouseBirth!DeathRelationship to predecessor
Norodom Suramarit
Central Khmer: នរោត្តម សុរាម្រិត
3 March 1955

3 April 1960
Norodom6 March 1896
Phnom Penh
3 April 1960
Phnom Penh
Aged:
Father
Sisowath Kossamak
Central Khmer: ស៊ីសុវត្ថិ កុសុមៈ
20 June 1960

9 October 1970
Sisowath

Norodom
9 April 1904
Phnom Penh
27 April 1975
Beijing
Aged:
Consort

Second Kingdom of Cambodia (1993–present)

width=15%Name!width=105pxPortrait!HouseBirth!DeathRelationship to predecessor
Norodom Sihanouk
Central Khmer: នរោត្តម សីហនុ
24 September 1993

7 October 2004
Norodom31 October 1922
Phnom Penh
15 October 2012
Beijing
Aged:
Son
Norodom Sihamoni
Central Khmer: នរោត្តម សីហមុនី
14 October 2004

present
Norodom14 May 1953
Phnom Penh
Living
Age:
Son

See also

External links

Notes and References

  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. Web site: "President Xi meets Cambodian king in Beijing" in GB Times . 25 October 2018 . 12 May 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190512165741/https://gbtimes.com/president-xi-meets-cambodian-king-in-beijing . dead .
  21. Web site: Cambodia's Monarchy: The search for the successor. Julio A.. Jeldres. The Phnom Penh Post. 2 April 1999. 21 June 2020. 2 August 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200802221927/https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/cambodias-monarchy-search-successor. live.
  22. News: Cambodian Prince Ranariddh's body arrives home from France. The Star. 5 December 2021. 28 July 2023.
  23. News: Reign of the quiet king. The Phnom Penh Post. 29 October 2014. 8 September 2021.
  24. News: Hun Sen made Privy Council President. Khmer Times. 23 August 2023. 26 August 2023.
  25. Book: Jacobsen, Trudy . Lost Goddesses: The Denial of Female Power in Cambodian History . 2008 . NIAS Press . 978-87-7694-001-0 . 27–30 . en.
  26. Book: Sharan, Mahesh Kumar . Studies In Sanskrit Inscriptions Of Ancient Cambodia . Abhinav Publications . 2003 . 978-81-7017-006-8 . 34. en.
  27. Book: Jacobsen, Trudy . Lost Goddesses: The Denial of Female Power in Cambodian History . 2008 . NIAS Press . 978-87-7694-001-0 . 87. en. 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..
  28. Web site: Constitution of Cambodia 1947. 6 May 1947. 27 July 2021. 27 July 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210727022800/https://media.bloomsburyprofessional.com/rep/files/cambodia-constitution-1947x.pdf. live.