House of Norodom

House of Norodom
រាជវង្សនរោត្តម
Royal Arms of the King of Cambodia
Country Cambodia
Founded19 October 1860 (1860-10-19)
FounderNorodom
Current headNorodom Sihamoni
TitlesKing of Cambodia
Queen of Cambodia
Queen Mother of Cambodia
Style(s)Samdech Krom Preah
Samdech Krom Khun
Samdech Krom Loung
Samdech Preah Anoch
Samdech Preah Ream
Samdech Preah Mohessara
MembersList

The House of Norodom (Khmer: រាជវង្សនរោត្តម, UNGEGN: Réachôvôngs Nôroŭttâm, ALA-LC: Rājavangs Narottam [riəceaʔʋɔŋ nɔroːɗɑm]; lit.'Norodom dynasty') is the ruling royal house of Cambodia. Its members are direct descendants of King Norodom (1860–1904), a son of the "Great-King", Ang Duong. The current head of the House of Norodom is the current king of Cambodia, Norodom Sihamoni. Norodom is one of the two royal houses of Cambodia. Its counterpart, the House of Sisowath, is named after another son of Ang Duong, Sisowath. Four members have served as Kings of Cambodia, and three as Prime Ministers.

History

The Royal House of Norodom traces its origins to King Ang Duong (1796–1860), who reigned from 1848 until his death. During his reign, Cambodia was caught between the regional powers of Siam and Vietnam, both of which frequently interfered in Cambodian politics. Ang Duong, who had spent many years in the Siamese court, sought to strengthen Cambodia’s sovereignty by reviving Khmer culture, reforming administration, and cautiously reaching out to France for protection against its neighbors. Although he died before completing negotiations, his foreign policy laid the foundation for Cambodia’s later relationship with France.[1]

Following Ang Duong’s death in 1860, his eldest son, Prince Norodom (1834–1904), was chosen as the new monarch. His enthronement formally established the House of Norodom as a distinct branch of the Cambodian royal family. In 1863, King Norodom signed a treaty with France, placing Cambodia under French protection while preserving the monarchy. This marked the beginning of nearly ninety years of French colonial influence, during which the throne alternated at times between the House of Norodom and the House of Sisowath, another branch descending from King Ang Duong.

The House of Norodom returned to prominence in 1941, when the French authorities selected Norodom Sihanouk, great-grandson of Norodom I, to become king. Sihanouk reigned during World War II and led Cambodia to independence from France in 1953, becoming the most prominent monarch of the dynasty. In 1955 he abdicated in favor of his father, Norodom Suramarit, and assumed the role of Head of State after Suramarit’s death in 1960. Sihanouk was deposed in 1970 following a coup d'etat by General Lon Nol, which abolished the monarchy and established the Khmer Republic.[2]

During the Khmer Rouge regime (1975–1979), Sihanouk was briefly installed as head of state before being placed under house arrest. After the fall of the Khmer Rouge, he continued to play a role in Cambodian politics from exile.[3] In 1993, following United Nations–organized elections, the monarchy was restored as a constitutional institution and Sihanouk was reinstated as king. He reigned until his abdication in 2004, citing age and health concerns.

In October 2004, the Royal Council of the Throne elected Norodom Sihamoni, son of Norodom Sihanouk, as king. Sihamoni remains the current monarch of Cambodia, continuing the legacy of the House of Norodom into the 21st century.[4]

Members

List of Norodom monarchs

Portrait Name Reign
From To Duration
Norodom
នរោត្តម
(b. 1834 – d. 1904)
19 October 1860 24 April 1904 43 years, 188 days
Norodom Sihanouk
នរោត្តម សីហនុ
(b. 1922 – d. 2012)
24 April 1941 2 March 1955 13 years, 312 days
24 September 1993 7 October 2004 11 years, 13 days
Norodom Suramarit
នរោត្តម សុរាម្រិត
(b. 1896 – d. 1960)
3 March 1955 3 April 1960 5 years, 31 days
Norodom Sihamoni
នរោត្តម សីហមុនី
(b. 1953)
14 October 2004 Present 21 years, 129 days

List of Norodom consorts

Portrait Name Reign
From To Duration

Norodom Monineath Sihanouk
នរោត្តម មុនិនាថ សីហនុ
(b. 1936)
24 September 1993 7 October 2004 11 years, 13 days

List of Norodom Prime Ministers

Portrait Name In office Party
From To Duration
Norodom Sihanouk
នរោត្តម សីហនុ
(b. 1922 – d. 2012)
18 March 1945 13 August 1945 148 days Independent
28 April 1950 30 May 1950 32 days
16 June 1952 24 January 1953 222 days
7 April 1954 18 April 1954 11 days
3 October 1955 5 January 1956 94 days Sangkum
1 March 1956 24 March 1956 23 days
15 September 1956 15 October 1956 30 days
9 April 1957 7 July 1957 89 days
10 July 1958 19 April 1960 1 year, 284 days
17 November 1961 13 February 1962 88 days
Norodom Kantol
នរោត្តម កន្តុល
(b. 1920 – d. 1976)
6 October 1962 25 October 1966 4 years, 19 days Sangkum
Norodom Ranariddh
នរោត្តម រណឫទ្ធិ
(b. 1944 – d. 2021)
2 July 1993 6 August 1997 4 years, 35 days FUNCINPEC

References

  1. ^ "Duong". Britannica. 1 January 2025. Retrieved 9 September 2025.
  2. ^ "1970 Cambodian Coup d'état". World History Edu. 14 February 2025. Retrieved 7 October 2025.
  3. ^ "Khmer Rouge". Britannica. 22 September 2025. Retrieved 30 September 2025.
  4. ^ "King Norodom Sihamoni: 20th Anniversary of the Coronation of the Country's 21st Century Monarch". Cambodianess. 29 October 2024. Retrieved 7 October 2025.
  5. ^ "House for Norodom Sirivuth's Mother". The Vann Molyvann Project.
  6. ^ "BIOGRAPHY OF HIS MAJESTY KING NORODOM SIHAMONI OF CAMBODIA". Khmer Times. 13 May 2019. Retrieved 24 June 2020.