Monarchy of Cambodia

The monarchy of Cambodia is the constitutional monarchy of the Kingdom of Cambodia. The king of Cambodia () 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" as well as being the "symbol of national unity and continuity".

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

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 including religious ceremonies and traditions integral to the Khmer nation, supporting humanitarian and philanthropic causes, and representing Cambodia abroad when undertaking official visits overseas. Although there have been female rulers in the past, the 1993 constitution currently forbids women from succeeding to the throne.

Ministry of the Royal Palace

The Ministry of the Royal Palace, currently overseen by Minister Kuy Sophal 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.

Mythological history

Sage Kambu Swayambhuva

Ancient period (68–1431)

Funan (68–627)

{| class="wikitable"

! style="background-color:#F0DC82" width=10% | Order

! style="background-color:#F0DC82" width=20% | Monarch

! style="background-color:#F0DC82" width=25% | Name in foreign texts

! style="background-color:#F0DC82" width=20% | Reign

| align="center" | 1

| align="center" | Queen Soma

| align="center" | Chinese Call: Liǔyè (traditional Khmer call: Neang Neak)

| align="center" | 68 – later 1st century

| align="center" | 2

| align="center" | Kaundinya I

| align="center" | Chinese Call: Hùntián (traditional Khmer call: Preah Tong)

| align="center" | later 1st century

| align="center" | 3

| align="center" | Native name unknown

| align="center" | Pán Huàng

| align="center" | later 2nd century – 198

| align="center" | 4

| align="center" | Native name unknown

| align="center" | Hun Pan-pan

| align="center" | 198–201

| align="center" | 5

| align="center" | Śrīmāraña

| align="center" | Fan Shiman

| align="center" | 201–225

| align="center" | 6

| align="center" | Native name unknown

| align="center" |

| align="center" | 225

| align="center" | 7

| align="center" | Native name unknown

| align="center" |

| align="center" | 225–244

| align="center" | 8

| align="center" | Native name unknown

| align="center" |

| align="center" | 244

| align="center" | 9

| align="center" | Native name unknown

| align="center" |

| align="center" | 244–289

| colspan=4 align="center" style="background:#E6E6E6;" | Unknown rulers: 289–c.357

| align="center" | 10

| align="center" | Candana

| align="center" | Tiānzhú Zhāntán

| align="center" | c.357

| colspan=4 align="center" style="background:#E6E6E6;" | Unknown rulers: c.357–410

| align="center" | 11

| align="center" | Kaundinya II

| align="center" | Qiáochénrú

| align="center" | 410–434

| align="center" | 12

| align="center" |

| align="center" | Chílítuóbámó

| align="center" | 434–435

| colspan=4 align="center" style="background:#E6E6E6;" | Unknown rulers: 435–484

| align="center" | 13

| align="center" | Jayavarman Kaundinya

| align="center" | Shéyébámó

| align="center" | 484–514

| align="center" |14

| align="center" |Queen Kulaprabhavati

| align="center" |Chinese name unknown

| align="center" |514–517

| align="center" | 15

| align="center" | Rudravarman

| align="center" | Liútuóbámó

| align="center" | 514–550

| colspan=4 align="center" style="background:#E6E6E6;" | Unknown rulers: 550–627

Source:

Chenla (550–802)

{| class="wikitable"

! style="background-color:#F0DC82" width=10% | Order

! style="background-color:#F0DC82" width=20% | Monarch

! style="background-color:#F0DC82" width=25% | Personal name

! style="background-color:#F0DC82" width=20% | Reign

| align="center" | 1

| align="center" | Srutavarman

| align="center" | 550–555

| align="center" | 2

| align="center" | Sreshthavarman

| align="center" | 555–560

| align="center" | 3

| align="center" | Vīravarman

| align="center" | Viravarman

| align="center" | 560–575

| align="center" | 4

| align="center" | Queen Kambuja-raja-lakshmi

| align="center" | Kambujarajalakshmi

| align="center" | 575–580

| align="center" | 5

| align="center" | Bhavavarman I

| align="center" | Bhavavarman

| align="center" | 580–600

| align="center" | 6

| align="center" | Mahendravarman

| align="center" | Chet Sen

| align="center" | 600–616

| align="center" | 7

| align="center" | Isanavarman I

| align="center" | Isanavarman

| align="center" | 616–635

| align="center" | 8

| align="center" | Bhavavarman II

| align="center" | Bhavavarman

| align="center" | 639–657

| align="center" | 9

| align="center" | Jayavarman I

| align="center" | Jayavarman

| align="center" | 657–681

| align="center" | 10

| align="center" | Queen Jayadevi

| align="center" | Jayadevi

| align="center" | c.681–713

| colspan=4 align="center" style="background:#E6E6E6;" | Female successors of Sambhupura

| align="center" | 11

| align="center" | Queen Indrani

| align="center" | Indrani

| align="center" | c.713–760

| align="center" | 12

| align="center" | Queen Nṛpatendradevī

| align="center" | Nrpatendradevi

| align="center" | c.760–780

| align="center" | 13

| align="center" | Queen Jayendrabhā

| align="center" | Jayendrabha

| align="center" | c.780–802

| align="center" | 14

| align="center" | Queen Jyeṣṭhāryā

| align="center" | Jyestharya

| align="center" | c.802–803

| colspan=4 align="center" style="background:#E6E6E6;" | Male successors of

| align="center" | 11

| align="center" |

| align="center" | Pushkaraksha

| align="center" | c.713–730

| align="center" | 12

| align="center" |

| align="center" | Shambhuvarman

| align="center" | c.730–760

| align="center" | 13

| align="center" |

| align="center" | Rajendravarman

| align="center" | c.760–770

| align="center" | 14

| align="center" | Mahipativarman

| align="center" | c.770–780

| align="center" | 15

| align="center" | Jayavarman II

| align="center" | Jayavarman

| align="center" | c.780–802

Source:

|Outey I ||20px|| Ang Yong ||1695–1696

|Cousin once removed

|Parama Ramadhipati (Barom Reameathiptei) ||20px|| Ang Em||1699–1700 and 1710–1722

|Dhammaraja III (Thommo Reachea III) ||20px|| Ang Tham ||1702–1703, 1706–1709 and 1736–1747

|Satha II ||20px|| Ang Chey ||1722–1736 and 1749

|Dhammaraja IV (Thommo Reachea IV) ||20px|| Ang Em ||1747

|Ramadhipati III (Reameathiptei III) ||20px|| Ang Tong ||1748–1749, 1755–1758

|Brother-in-law

|Chey Chettha V ||20px|| Ang Snguon ||1749–1755

|Brother-in-law

|Udayaraja II (Outey Reachea II) ||20px|| Ang Ton ||1758–1775

|Cousin twice removed

|Ream Reachea ||20px|| Ang Non II ||1775–1779

|Cousin once removed

|Narayanaraja III (Neareay Reachea III) ||20px|| Ang Eng ||1779–1782, 1794–1796

|Cousin twice removed

| colspan="5" align="center" style="background:#E6E6E6;" | Regency, Outey Reachea III being a minor: 1796–1806

|Udayaraja III (Outey Reachea III) ||20px|| Ang Chan II ||1806–1834

|Son

|Queen Ang Mey ||120px|| Ksat Trey ||1835–1840, 1844–1846

|Daughter

|Hariraksa Rama Issaradhipati (Harireak Reamea Issarathiptei) ||120px|| Ang Duong ||1848–1860

|Uncle

|Norodom Prohmbarirak ||120px||Ang Voddey ||19 October 1860 – 11 August 1863

|Son

Modern period (1863–present)

French protectorate of Cambodia (1863–1953)

{|style="text-align:center; width:100%" class="wikitable"

|Norodom Prohmbarirak 11 August 1863 – 24 April 1904 ||120px||Norodom||3 February 1834 Angkor Borei||24 April 1904 Phnom Penh Aged: ||Son

|Sisowath Chamchakrapong 27 April 1904 – 9 August 1927 ||120px||Sisowath||7 September 1840 Mongkol Borey||9 August 1927 Phnom Penh Aged: ||Half-brother

|Sisowath Monivong 9 August 1927 – 23 April 1941 ||120px||Sisowath||27 December 1875 Phnom Penh||23 April 1941 Kampot Aged: ||Son

|Norodom Sihanouk 24 April 1941 – 2 March 1955 ||120px||Norodom||31 October 1922 Phnom Penh||15 October 2012 Beijing Aged: ||Maternal grandson

First Kingdom of Cambodia (1953–1970)

{|style="text-align:center; width:100%" class="wikitable"

|King Norodom Suramarit 3 March 1955 – 3 April 1960 ||120px||Norodom||6 March 1896 Phnom Penh||3 April 1960 Phnom Penh Aged: ||Father

|Queen Sisowath Kossamak 20 June 1960 – 9 October 1970 ||120px||Sisowath Norodom ||9 April 1904 Phnom Penh||27 April 1975 Beijing Aged: ||Consort

Second Kingdom of Cambodia (1993–present)

{|style="text-align:center; width:100%" class="wikitable"

|Norodom Sihanouk 24 September 1993 – 7 October 2004 ||120px||Norodom||31 October 1922 Phnom Penh||15 October 2012 Beijing Aged: ||Son

|Norodom Sihamoni 14 October 2004 – present ||120px||Norodom||14 May 1953 Phnom Penh||Living Age: ||Son

Royal symbols

File:Royal arms of Cambodia.svg|Royal Arms of Cambodia (1953–1970), restored 1993

File:Coat of arms of Cambodia (1864–1970).svg|Royal Arms of Cambodia (1864–1953), lesser arms (1953–1970)

File:Royal Standard of Cambodia (Pre-1993).svg|Royal Standard of the King of Cambodia (until 1970)

File:Royal Standard of the King of Cambodia.svg|Royal Standard of the King of Cambodia (since 1993)

</gallery>

Notes

References

External links

"$1 million royal gift for Kantha Bopha" in Khmer Times
"Cambodia marks beginning of farming season with royal ploughing ceremony" in Xinhuanet
"Cambodian king, PM wrap up annual Water Festival" in Xinhuanet
"President Xi meets Cambodian king in Beijing" in GB Times

Role

Ministry of the Royal Palace

Mythological history

Ancient period (68–1431)

Funan (68–627)

Chenla (550–802)

Modern period (1863–present)

French protectorate of Cambodia (1863–1953)

First Kingdom of Cambodia (1953–1970)

Second Kingdom of Cambodia (1993–present)

Royal symbols

See also

Notes

References

External links