French Protectorate of Cambodia

Cambodia, 1863–1953. Draft, not yet reviewed

The French protectorate of Cambodia was the period of French colonial rule in Cambodia within French Indochina. On 11 August 1863, Norodom signed a treaty acknowledging a French protectorate over his kingdom. Under the treaty, the Cambodian monarchy was allowed to remain, but power was largely vested in a resident general to be housed in Phnom Penh. Cambodia later gained full independence under the leadership of King Sihanouk on 9 November 1953, a date celebrated as Independence Day.

Seat of power: Phnom Penh

Rulers

Sisowath Monivong

King of Cambodia, 1927–1941

He was the King of Cambodia, and during his reign Cambodia was a French protectorate. He was the grandfather of Norodom Sihanouk and the great-grandfather of the current king, Norodom Sihamoni.

Portrait of Sisowath Monivong: CIRAD, Public domain, file

Norodom Sihanouk

King of Cambodia, 1941–1955

When his grandfather Monivong died in 1941, Sihanouk became king amidst French colonial rule. After the Japanese occupation of Cambodia during World War II, he secured Cambodian independence from France in 1953.

Portrait of Norodom Sihanouk: (unknown, Abaca Press claims ownership but claim is doubtful), Public domain, file

Culture

The first decades of French rule in Cambodia included numerous reforms into Cambodian politics, such as the reduction of the monarch's power and abolition of slavery.
Cambodia was integrated into the French Indochina union in 1887 along with the French colonies and protectorates in Laos and Vietnam.
In 1947, Cambodia was granted self-rule within the French Union, and in 1949 its status was elevated to that of an associated state.

Picture

The palace was built by King Norodom between 1866 and 1870 and largely rebuilt between 1912 and 1932.

Image: Jean-Pierre Dalbéra from Paris, France, CC BY 2.0, file

Sources

Text adapted from the Wikipedia articles listed as sources, CC BY-SA 4.0.