Monarchy of Cambodia

King of Cambodia
ព្រះមហាក្សត្រនៃកម្ពុជា
Incumbent
Norodom Sihamoni
since 29 October 2004
Details
StyleHis Majesty
First monarchQueen Soma
Formation50 CE; 1,973–1,974 years ago
Abolition18 March 1970 – 24 September 1993
Residence
AppointerRoyal Council of the Throne
Websitenorodomsihamoni.org

The Monarchy of Cambodia is 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 50 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)

Order Monarch Name in foreign texts Reign
1 Queen Soma Chinese Call: Liǔyè
(traditional Khmer call: Neang Neak)
68 – later 1st century
2 Kaundinya I Chinese Call: Hùntián
(traditional Khmer call: Preah Tong)
later 1st century
3 Native name unknown Hun Pan-huang later 2nd century – 198
4 Native name unknown Hun Pan-pan 198–201
5 Srei Meara Fan Shiman [zh] 201–225
6 Native name unknown Fan Jinsheng [zh] 225
7 Native name unknown Fan Zhan [zh] 225–244
8 Native name unknown Fan Chang [zh] 244
9 Native name unknown Fan Xun [zh] 244–289
Unknown rulers: 289–c.357
10 Candana Tiānzhú Zhāntán c.357
Unknown rulers: c.357–410
11 Kaundinya II Qiáochénrú 410–434
12 Srindravarman [ru] Chílítuóbámó 434–435
Unknown rulers: 435–484
13 Jayavarman Kaundinya Shéyébámó 484–514
14 Queen Kulaprabhavati Chinese name unknown 514–517
15 Rudravarman Liútuóbámó 514–550
Unknown rulers: 550–627

Source:[25][26]

Chenla (550–802)

Order Monarch Personal name Reign
1 Srutavarman Srutavarman 550–555
2 Sreshthavarman Sreshthavarman 555–560
3 Vīravarman Viravarman 560–575
4 Queen Kambuja-raja-lakshmi Kambujarajalakshmi 575–580
5 Bhavavarman I Bhavavarman 580–600
6 Mahendravarman Chet Sen 600–616
7 Isanavarman I Isanavarman 616–635
8 Bhavavarman II Bhavavarman 639–657
9 Jayavarman I Jayavarman 657–681
10 Queen Jayadevi Jayadevi c.681–713
Female successors of Upper Chenla (Land Chenla)
11 Queen Indrani Indrani c.713–760
12 Queen Nṛpatendradevī Nrpatendradevi c.760–780
13 Queen Jayendrabhā Jayendrabha c.780–802
14 Queen Jyeṣṭhāryā Jyestharya c.802–803
Male successors of Lower Chenla (Water Chenla)
11 Pushkaraksha [fr] Pushkaraksha c.713–730
12 Shambhuvarman [fr] Shambhuvarman c.730–760
13 Rajendravarman I [fr] Rajendravarman c.760–770
14 Mahipativarman Mahipativarman c.770–780
15 Jayavarman II Jayavarman c.780–802

Source:[25][26]

Khmer Empire (802–1431)

Order Monarch Personal name Reign
1 Jayavarman II Jayavarman 802–850
2 Jayavarman III Jayavarthon 850–877
3 Indravarman I Indravarman 877–889
4 Yasovarman I Yasovarthon 889–910
5 Harshavarman I Harshavarman 910–923
6 Ishanavarman II Isanavarman 923–928
7 Jayavarman IV Jayavarman 928–941
8 Harshavarman II Harshavarman 941–944
9 Rajendravarman II Rajedravarman 944–968
10 Jayavarman V Jayavarman 968–1001
11 Udayadityavarman I Udayadityavarman 1001–1002
12 Jayavirahvarman Jayavirahvarman 1002–1006
13 Suryavarman I Suryavarman 1006–1050
14 Udayadityavarman II Udayadityavarman 1050–1066
15 Harshavarman III Harshavarman 1066–1080
16 Nripatindravarman Nripatindravarman 1080–1113
17 Jayavarman VI Jayavarman 1080–1107
18 Dharanindravarman I Dharanindravarman 1107–1113
19 Suryavarman II Suryavarman 1113–1150
20 Dharanindravarman II Dharanindravarman 1150–1156
21 Yasovarman II Yasovarman 1156–1165
22 Tribhuvanadityavarman Tribhuvanadityavarman 1165–1177
Cham invasion by Jaya Indravarman: 1177–1181
23 Jayavarman VII Jayavarthon 1181–1218
24 Indravarman II Indrakumara 1218–1243
The first major Thai kingdom was created in Sukhothai, an area formerly ruled by Lavo in vassalage to Angkor: 1238
25 Jayavarman VIII Jayavarman 1243–1295
26 Indravarman III Srei Indravama 1295–1308
27 Indrajayavarman Srei Jayavama 1308–1327
28 Jayavarman IX Jayavama Borommesvarah 1327–1336
29 Trasak Paem Ponhea Chey 1336–1340
30 Nippean Bat Ponhea Kreak 1340–1346
31 Sithean Reachea Sidhanta Raja 1346–1347
32 Lompong Reachea Trasak Peam 1347–1352
Uthong dynasty of Ayutthaya invasion: 1352–1357
33 Basat Bakrasat 1356–1359
34 Soryavong Soryavong 1357–1363
35 Borom Reachea I Barom Reamea 1363–1373
36 Thomma Saok Kaeo Fa 1373–1393
Uthong dynasty of Ayutthaya invasion: 1393 (5 months)
37 In Reachea Nakhonin 1394–1421
38 Ponhea Prek Ponhea Prek 1421
39 Borom Reachea II Ponhea Yat 1421–1431
Ayutthaya invasion and fall of Angkor: 1431

Middle period (1431–1863)

Chaktomuk era (1431–1525)

Name Portrait Personal Name Reign
Borom Reachea II
បរមរាជាទី២
[1] Ponhea Yat
ពញាយ៉ាត
1431–1463
Noreay Reameathiptei
នរាយ រាមាធិបតី
Narayanaraja
នរាយណ៍រាជាទី១ទ
1463–1469
Reachea Reameathiptei
រាជា រាមាធិបតី
Sri Raja
ស្រីរាជា
1469–1475
Srei Soriyotei
ស្រីសុរិយោទ័យទី២
Rajadhiraja 1472–1475
Thommo Reachea I
ធម្មោ រាជា ទី១
Dhammarajadhiraja 1476–1504
Srei Sukonthor
ស្រីសុគន្ធធោ
Damkhat Sukonthor 1504–1512

Longvek era (1525–1594)

Name Portrait Personal Name Reign
Srei Chettha
ស្រីជេដ្ឋា
Sdach Korn
ស្ដេចកន
1512–1521
Civil war: Srei Chettha and Chan Reachea war: 1516–1525
Chan Reachea
ចន្ទរាជា
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
Ayutthaya invasion and fall of Longvek: 1591–1594

Srei Santhor era (1594–1620)

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 era (1620–1863)

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]
Kaev Hua 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]
Queen Tey
ទៃ
1687 Mother[27]
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
Queen Ang Mey
អង្គម៉ី
Ksat Trey 1835–1840, 1844–1846 Daughter
Hariraksa Rama Issaradhipati (Harireak Reamea Issarathiptei)
ហរិរក្សរាមាឥស្សរាធិបតី
Ang Duong
អង្គដួង
1848–1860 Uncle
Norodom Prohmbarirak
នរោត្ដម ព្រហ្មបរិរក្ស
Ang Voddey
អង្គវតី
19 October 1860

11 August 1863
Son

Modern period (1863–present)

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[28]
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
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
Queen Sisowath Kossamak
ស៊ីសុវត្ថិ កុសុមៈ
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
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
(20 years, 42 days)
Norodom 14 May 1953
Phnom Penh
Living
Age: 71 years, 195 days
Son

Royal symbols

See also

Notes

  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.[29][30]

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. ^ ""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. ^ a b Sharan, Mahesh Kumar (2003). Studies In Sanskrit Inscriptions Of Ancient Cambodia. Abhinav Publications. pp. 27–28, 33–34. ISBN 978-81-7017-006-8.
  26. ^ a b Jacobsen, Trudy (2008). Lost Goddesses: The Denial of Female Power in Cambodian History. NIAS Press. pp. 22–23, 27–30. ISBN 978-87-7694-001-0.
  27. ^ 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.
  28. ^ "Constitution of Cambodia 1947" (PDF). 6 May 1947. Archived (PDF) from the original on 27 July 2021. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  29. ^ "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.
  30. ^ 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.