Far East Kingdoms

Kingdom of Cambodia (Colonial Cambodia) (French Protectorate)
AD 1863 - 1953

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The region of Asia which falls within South-East Asia has a long history of its own kingdoms and empires, as well as incursions by outside forces. The largely discarded term 'Indochina' refers to the intermingling of Indian and Chinese influences in the region's culture, with three modern countries having evolved within this zone in the form of Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam.

The fall of the Khmer empire dramatically reduced a state which at one time had controlled most of South-East Asia. It had hit the peak of its expansion around AD 1200, but decline set in once the Mongol invasion of India in the thirteenth century had cut off regular contact with that region. The rise of the Thai state of Sukhothai accelerated the empire's decline.

Further defeat by Lan Na in 1431 forced a move southwards for the Khmer capital. It arrived in Phnom Penh in 1434, but as a vassal of Ayutthya. The great complex at Angkor Wat was abandoned to the jungle and the seeds of modern Cambodia were sown. During the post-Angkor 'Middle Kingdom' period in Kambuja (Cambodia), territory consisted of modern Cambodia itself and a small part of southern Vietnam which was an inheritance from the Cham side of its heritage.

Ayutthya lay on its western border, while to the north was Lan Xang (now in Laos), and to the east was Champa. Its coast, which constituted its south-western boundary, ran along the Gulf of Thailand. Very little is known about Cambodian history after the fall of Angkor. Much of the time it was under the control of one of its more powerful neighbours, or was locked in civil war.

The French took control of the state in 1863, ending the 'Middle Kingdom' period and starting a 'Colonial Cambodia'. By the time their 'Cambodian Protectorate' was established Cambodia's territory had generally shrunk to that of modern Cambodia, although it still included what is now southern Vietnam and a small part of southern Laos. Siam lay to the west, Champassak to the north-east, and Dai Nam to the east.

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(Information by John De Cleene, Peter Kessler, & Ben Lawne, and the John De Cleene Archive, with additional information from Asia in the Modern World, Claude A Buss (Macmillan Publishing Company, 1964), from the two-part BBC documentary series, Jungle Atlantis (first screened on 25 September 2014), from Kingdoms of Asia, the Middle East, and Africa, Gene Gurney (New York, 1986), from Southeast Asia: Past & Present, D R SarDesai (Westview Press, 1989), and from External Links: Cambodia (Encyclopaedia Britannica), and Cambodia (Rulers.org), and Cambodia (World Statesmen), and Siam, Cambodia, and Laos, Sanderson Beck (san.beck.org).)

1863 - 1904

'Middle Kingdom' ruler since 1860. Vassal of Siam & France.

1863

Norodom of the 'Middle Kingdom' requests that France establish a protectorate over Cambodia, ending joint Siamese-Vietnamese protection. Siam voluntarily recognises the French protectorate of Cambodia while the Viet have their own problems with creeping French colonial activities. 'Colonial Cambodia' is established.

1884

Norodom is forced to sign another treaty with France, thereby triggering an unsuccessful popular uprising. Under the terms of the treaty Cambodia comes under direct French control, and the French install a parallel administration to ensure proper governance. The resident-general of the 'Protectorate of Cambodia' becomes the real power (one which abolishes slavery) while the king is a figurehead.

Occasionally a royal capital, Phnom Penh became important and was greatly developed during the French colonial period, with the Moonlight Pavilion within the Royal Palace being shown here

1887 - 1888

Now firmly in control of the imperial throne, the French in 1887 unite Annam, Tonkin, Cochinchina, and the 'Protectorate of Cambodia' into the 'Union of Indochina', otherwise known as French Indochina. In the following year, the French capture the Viet rebel emperor, Ham Nghi, and exile him to Algeria.

1893

France creates a new state formation known as Laos out of the kingdom of Luang Prabang and the province of Xieng Khouang. Laos is added to French Indochina.

1904 - 1927

Son.

1904 -1927

During Sisovath's reign, the French introduce rubber plantations and construct an extensive network of roads. The improvements, in contrast to what they are doing in Annam, keeps calm the population of the 'Protectorate of Cambodia', with rebellions almost being unheard of.

Siam in 1907 returns to Cambodia the provinces of Battambang and Siem Reap, which had been in Thai hands since they were forcibly ceded in 1794.

The French colonial presence in Laos built the Bureau de la Residence in 1915 (today it serves as the offices of the country's Ministry of Information and Culture)

1927 - 1941

Son. Preferred his wives & concubines to governing.

1941

France during the Second World War finds itself in a weakened position in the region following its fall to Germany and seeing the Vichy government installed. Thailand invades Cambodia as an ally of Japan but is defeated by the French forces there.

Japan intervenes directly, requiring the 'Protectorate of Cambodia' to cede the provinces of Battambang and Siem Reap to Thailand. France is allowed to maintain nominal governance over French Indochina until the spring of 1945.

1941 - 1955

Grandson. Moved from colonial era to 'First Kingdom' in 1953.

1945

In the spring, Japan removes the Vichy French administration of Indochina and authorises the 'Protectorate of Cambodia', Laos, and Annam to declare independence within the Japanese 'Greater East Asian Co-Prosperity Sphere'.

Japanese evacuation from Guadalcanal was largely successful thanks to bombing attacks on the US fleet, with very few Japanese troops surrendering to the allies, but it marked the beginning of a series of setbacks for Japan

Japan appoints Son Ngoc Thanh as foreign minister of Cambodia. On his advice the king declares independence on 12 March 1945. Cambodia, though, really comes under Japanese rule until August 1945.

Following the Japanese surrender in August 1945, British and French troops enter Saigon. In September, allied forces arrive in Phnom Penh and arrest Son Ngoc Thanh. Sentenced to hard labour in France, that is commuted in 1950 and he is allowed to return to Cambodia.

1946 - 1953

Already autonomous under French control and negotiating as an equal for independence, the 'Protectorate of Cambodia' officially becomes an autonomous kingdom within the 'French Union'. The country in May 1947 adopts a constitution which establishes a national assembly.

French colonial holdings in South-East Asia were generally referred to as French Indochina, but officially they were the Indochinese Union until 1947, and then the Indochinese Federation

Twice the king dissolves this legislative body because he does not like the opposition majority. In a troubled reign he goes into voluntary exile in Thailand in 1953 but returns when the French concede the country's right to independence. Cambodia's 'First Kingdom' is born.