Monarchy of Cambodia

For heads of state, see List of heads of state of Cambodia.

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).

King of Cambodia
ព្រះមហាក្សត្រនៃកម្ពុជា
Royal Standard
Incumbent
Norodom Sihamoni since 14 October 2004
Details
Style	His Majesty
First monarch	Queen Soma
Formation	50 CE; 1,973–1,974 years ago
Abolition	18 March 1970 – 24 September 1993
Residence	Khemarin Palace (official) Royal Residence (secondary)
Appointer	Royal Council of the Throne
Website	norodomsihamoni.org

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:

• Appointing the prime minister and the Cabinet.^[3]
• Convening over the opening of the two legislative bodies, the National Assembly of Cambodia and the Senate of Cambodia.^[4][5]
• Serving as the supreme commander of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces.^[6]
• Meeting with the prime minister on a semi-monthly basis in which the king is briefed on matters of state.^[7]
• Signing the royal code/decree that gives effect to laws enacted by the legislature and proposals by the cabinet.^[8]
• Acting as "supreme arbiter" to enable the functioning of state institutions.^[9]
• Receiving credentials from ambassadors.^[10]
• Possessing the power of commutation and pardon.^[11]
• Presiding over the Supreme Council of the Magistracy.^[12][13]
• Appointing a fixed number of members to serve on state institutions such as the Senate and the Constitutional Council.^[14][15]
• Awarding of national honours.^[16]

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

• Sage Kambu Swayambhuva

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		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[lower-alpha 1]
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[lower-alpha 2]
Kaev Hua II ព្រះកែវហ៊្វាទី២		Ang Chee អង្គជី	1673–1674	Cousin[lower-alpha 3]
Batom Reachea III បទុមរាជាទី៣		Ang Nan	1674	[lower-alpha 4]
Chey Chettha IV ជ័យជេដ្ឋា ទី៤		Ang Sor	1675–1695, 1696–1699, 1700–1702 and 1703–1706	[lower-alpha 5]
Queen Tey ទៃ			1687	Mother[27]
Outey I ឧទ័យទី១		Ang Yong អង្គយ៉ង	1695–1696	Cousin once removed[lower-alpha 6]
Parama Ramadhipati (Barom Reameathiptei) បរម រាមាធិបតី		Ang Em	1699–1700 and 1710–1722	[lower-alpha 7]
Dhammaraja III (Thommo Reachea III) សេដ្ឋា ទី២		Ang Tham	1702–1703, 1706–1709 and 1736–1747	[lower-alpha 8]
Satha II សេដ្ឋា ទី២		Ang Chey អង្គជ័យ	1722–1736 and 1749	[lower-alpha 9]
Dhammaraja IV (Thommo Reachea IV) ស្រីធម្មរាជា		Ang Em អង្គឯម	1747	[lower-alpha 10]
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[lower-alpha 11]
Ream Reachea ព្រះរាមរាជា		Ang Non II អង្គនន់ទី ២	1775–1779	Cousin once removed[lower-alpha 12]
Narayanaraja III (Neareay Reachea III) នារាយណ៍រាជាទី ៣ ។		Ang Eng អង្គអេង	1779–1782, 1794–1796	Cousin twice removed[lower-alpha 13]
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)

French protectorate of Cambodia (1863–1953)

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

First Kingdom of Cambodia (1953–1970)

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)[lower-alpha 14]		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)

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, 21 days)		Norodom	14 May 1953 Phnom Penh	Living Age: 71 years, 174 days	Son

Royal symbols

• 
  Royal Standard of the King of Cambodia (until 1970)
• 
  Royal Standard of the King of Cambodia (1993–present)
• 
  Royal arms of Cambodia

See also

• Monarchy portal
• Cambodia portal

• Monarchs' family tree
• List of heads of state of Cambodia
• Prime Minister of Cambodia
  • List of prime ministers of Cambodia
• Devaraja
• Abolition of monarchy

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. 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. 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.

External links

• "$1 million royal gift for Kantha Bopha" in Khmer Times Archived 12 September 2019 at the Wayback Machine
• "Cambodia marks beginning of farming season with royal ploughing ceremony" in Xinhuanet
• "Cambodian king, PM wrap up annual Water Festival" in Xinhuanet
• "The Constitution of the Kingdom of Cambodia" (PDF). World Intellectual Property Organization. Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 February 2020. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
• "President Xi meets Cambodian king in Beijing" in GB Times Archived 12 May 2019 at the Wayback Machine