Far East Kingdoms

Protectorate of Cambodia (French Colonies) (South-East Asia)
AD 1863 - 1954

Cambodia All Modern States China Japan Korea Laos Oceania Thailand Vietnam

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

The French 'Protectorate of Cambodia' (or 'Cambodge' in French) was declared in 1863, with a formal confirmation in 1864. When this protectorate was established, Cambodia's territory was roughly that of today, but it also included what is now southern Vietnam and part of southern Laos. Siam lay to the west, Champassak to the north-east, and Dai Nam to the east.

King Norodom I of the 'Middle Kingdom', exasperated with his violent and intrusive Siamese and Vietnamese overlords and recognising the growing French power in the region, had actually requested the creation of the protectorate. Siam voluntarily relinquished its role and recognised the change. France retained the monarchy but installed a resident-general in the capital who became the real power in the land.

This 'Colonial Cambodia' was incorporated into French Indochina in 1887, a new entity which was created to join together all of the French possessions in South-East Asia. Japan became the dominant power in the region during the Second World War, but it allowed Vichy France to maintain nominal governance over Indochina.

The allied victory in 1945 restored a liberated France to its former colonial position, but immediately various elements of French Indochina began manoeuvring for independence. Cambodia immediately attained its autonomy and began negotiating for independence as if it were already an independent country.

While beleaguered French forces battled the Vietnamese, Cambodia declared its independence in 1953 and France withdrew its forces from the country in 1954 to leave the 'First Kingdom' briefly in charge.

(Information by John De Cleene, Peter Kessler, 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 Southeast Asia: A Historical Encyclopaedia, from Angkor Wat to East Timor, Keat Gin Ooi (ABC-Clio, 2004), from Kingdoms of Asia, the Middle East, and Africa, Gene Gurney (New York, 1986), and from External Links: Siam, Cambodia, and Laos, Sanderson Beck (san.beck.org), and Cambodia (Encyclopaedia Britannica), and Cambodia (Rulers.org), and Cambodia (World Statesmen).)

1863

King Norodom I of the 'Khmer Middle Kingdom' requests that France establish a protectorate over the country, 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 with French representatives in charge and the king remaining on the throne.

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

1863 - 1866

French representative.

1866 - 1868

French representative.

1868 - 1870

French representative.

1868 - 1870

Acting French representative after a formal role in 1866.

1870 - 1871

Acting French representative.

1871 - 1876

French representative for the second time.

1876

Acting French representative.

1876 - 1879

French representative for a third time.

1879 - 1881

Acting French representative.

1881 - 1885

French representative / resident-general (after 1884).

1884

Norodom's Cambodia 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 becomes the real power (one which abolishes slavery) while the king is a figurehead.

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)

1885

Acting French resident-general.

1885 - 1886

Provisional French resident-general.

1886 - 1887

French resident-general.

1887 - 1889

Now firmly in control of the imperial throne, the French in 1887 unite Annam, Tonkin, Cochinchina, and 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. In 1889, the French residents supérieur become subject to the governors-general of Indochina.

1887 - 1889

Acting French resident-general.

1887 - 1889

Acting French resident-general.

1889 - 1894

French resident supérieur.

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.

Born in 1885, King Sisavang Vong was the last ruler of the Lao kingdom of Luang Prabang and the founding monarch of the kingdom of Laos

1894

Acting French resident supérieur.

1894 - 1897

French resident supérieur for the second time.

1897 - 1900

French resident supérieur.

1900 - 1901

Acting French resident supérieur.

1901 - 1902

French resident supérieur.

1902

Acting French resident supérieur.

1902 - 1904

French resident supérieur.

1904 - 1905

French resident supérieur.

1904 - 1927

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

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

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.

1905

Acting French resident supérieur.

1905 - 1911

French resident supérieur for the second time.

1911 - 1914

French resident supérieur.

1914

Acting French resident supérieur.

1914

Acting French resident supérieur.

1914 - 1927

French resident supérieur. Also Indochina (1922).

1914 - 1927

Baudouin provides a practical medical guide to all village chiefs, one which is written in Khmer. The guide proves relatively useful. During part of his term he also serves as acting governor-general of French Indochina.

Japan's First World War occupation of Korea was viewed with some unease by the western powers but was generally accepted as being necessary to ensure peace and stability in the region

1927 - 1929

French resident supérieur.

1929

Acting French resident supérieur.

1929 - 1932

French resident supérieur for the second time.

1932 - 1935

French resident supérieur for the second time.

1935 - 1936

Acting French resident supérieur.

1936 - 1941

French resident supérieur.

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 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.

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

1941 - 1943

Acting French resident supérieur.

1943 - 1944

French resident supérieur.

1944 - 1945

Acting French resident supérieur. Imprisoned by Japan.

1945

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

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.

1945

Japanese commander (Mar-Aug).

1945

Japanese supreme advisor (Mar-Aug).

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.

On 4 January 1948 the British governor of Burma (left) stands beside the country's first president, Sao Shwe Thaik, standing to attention as the new nation's flag is raised

1945

Acting French resident supérieur for the second time.

1945 - 1946

UK commander, 'Allied Land Forces', Cambodia.

1946 - 1947

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

1945 - 1946

Commissioner of the French republic in Cambodia.

1946 - 1947

Commissioner of the French republic in Cambodia.

1947 - 1953

The French refer to the new entity as the 'French Republic in Cambodia'. Its commissioners are subordinate to the 'high commissioners of France in Indochina'. Cambodia in May 1947 adopts a constitution which establishes a state legislative body in the form of a national assembly.

King Sihanouk visited Paris in 1946, and is pictured here with a bevy of French generals, but his reign came at a turbulent time in South-East Asian history

Twice the king dissolves this assembly because he does not like the opposition's 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.

1947 - 1948

Commissioner of the French republic in Cambodia.

1948 - 1949

Acting commissioner.

1949 - 1951

Commissioner of the French republic in Cambodia.

1951 - 1952

Commissioner of the French republic in Cambodia.

1952 - 1953

(High) commissioner of the French republic in Cambodia.

1953

Sihanouk returns from exile in Thailand just as Cambodia declares independence. France for a while clings to the fiction that it is still the regional colonial power.

Former school teacher Saloth Sar fled to the jungle in 1963 to rebrand himself as Pol Pot and eventually lead the communist 'Khmer Rouge' to power

1953 - 1954

Acting high commissioner for France.

1954

With Sihanouk now in charge in Cambodia, France finally concedes the inevitable loss of French Indochina. It recognises the independent Cambodian state which is known as the 'First Kingdom'. French forces are withdrawn in 1954.