Sisowath Monivong (Khmer: ស៊ីសុវត្ថិ មុនីវង្ស, Sisŏvôtthĕ Mŭnivôngs[ˈsiːsoʋatmuˈniːʋɔŋ];[1] 27 December 1875 – 24 April 1941) was the King of Cambodia from 9 August 1927 until his death in 1941. During his reign, Cambodia was a French protectorate. Monivong was the grandson of the poet-king Ang Duong, grandfather of Norodom Sihanouk and the great-grandfather of the current king, Norodom Sihamoni. His full regnal title and style was Preah Bat Samdech Preah Serey Monivarman Krom Luang Chao Chakrabangsa Sisowath Monivong Ney Preah Reacheanachak Kampuchea (Khmer: ព្រះបាទសម្តេចព្រះសិរីមុនីវរ្ម័នក្រុមហ្លួងចៅចក្របាងស្ស ស៊ីសុវត្ថិ មុនីវង្ស នៃព្រះរាជាណចក្រកម្ពុជា) which can be literally translated from Khmerized Sanskrit as "His majesty, glorious lord scholar-protector; His highness, lord of land and sea, Sisowath Monivong of the Kingdom of Kampuchea". He is the most recent monarch from the House of Sisowath, as all his successors are members of the House of Norodom.
Born in Phnom Penh in 1875, Sisowath Monivong was the sixth child and the second son of King Sisowath.[2] His mother was Neak Moneang Van, later titled Samdeach Preah Voreachini, the fifth child-bearing wife of Sisowath. At that time his uncle King Norodom ruled from Oudong, the capital of Cambodia. Norodom was a puppet king for the French colonial protectorate. In 1884, after the French conquered Laos and occupied Vietnam, Cambodia became a direct colonial possession. The royal family then moved from Oudong to the new capital of Phnom Penh, where Sisowath Monivong resided.
In 1904, both of his uncles and his elder brother Essaravong died, resulting in Sisowath Monivong becoming the Crown Prince of Cambodia. In 1906, he traveled with his father, King Sisowath, to France.[2] There he was admitted to the Military School of Saint-Maixent. He graduated two years later with the rank sous lieutenant in the Foreign Legion. He was then posted to Brive and later to Paris. In 1909, he returned to Cambodia. In 1910, he was promoted to lieutenant, in 1916 to captain, and finally, in 1922, to chief of battalion. The same year he was released from military service. During the First World War, he actively recruited volunteer military personnel and workers. These services were recognized with the Cross of Commander of the Foreign Legion and the Cambodian title of Samdech Preah Keofea. He was then appointed secretary-general of the council of ministers and president of the council of the Royal Family.
Monivong had many consorts, at least six of whom were granted official recognition, having borne children to him.[2] One of these was a woman named Meak, a member of the Royal Ballet, who was given the title Khun Preah Moneang Bopha Norleak Meak. Meak bore Monivong's son, Prince Sisowath Kusarak, in 1926. Around 1934–1935, two of her young cousins came to live with her, a common Cambodian custom;[3] one of her cousins, named Saloth Sâr, would later adopt the name Pol Pot.
In 1927, Sisowath Monivong's father died, so at age 52 Sisowath Monivong ascended to the throne. Like his father and his uncle, Monivong was simply a figurehead for the French administration and, in the words of one author, Monivong "caused the French no trouble".[4] The real power was in the hands of the French Resident-General. The King was surrounded by his Royal Council composed of his cousins: Sisowath Rathary (father of Sisowath Sirik Matak), Sisowath Watchayavong, Norodom Phanouvong, Norodom Suramarit and Norodom Singhara.
It was during Monivong's rule that Cambodia became open to outside communist influences. In 1930, the Vietnamese leader Ho Chi Minh founded the Indochinese Communist Party which subsequently obtained popularity in Cambodia. The Cambodian communists' primary objective was to overthrow the French.
In 1940, when the French Third Republic fell to Nazi Germany, the "Vichy France" regime took power in the unoccupied parts of France and in its overseas colonies, including Cambodia. In the late 1930s, a powerless Monivong noticed that Imperial Japan was making inroads in Vietnam. Japan then invaded and occupied Cambodia in early 1941. The Japanese allowed Cambodian Vichy French officials to administer, but only under Japanese protection. The Cambodian king was beholden to the Vichy French, who were in turn beholden to the Japanese. In western Cambodia, Thailand, now an ally of the Japanese, occupied territory. As the Japanese and Thai oppression of Cambodians became evident, Sisowath Monivong retired to Kampot in late 1941 and died at Bokor the same year.[5] He died taking the posthumous title of Preah Karuna Preah Sisowath Monivong Preah Khatiyakot (Khmer: ព្រះករុណាព្រះស៊ីសុវត្ថិ មុនីវង្ស ព្រះខត្តិយកោដ្ឋ).
His son Sisowath Monireth was the heir to the throne, but the French authorities chose Sisowath Kossamak's nineteen-year-old son Norodom Sihanouk to succeed him instead, mistakenly believing that he would be more pliable than Monireth.[6] Two of his children, Sisowath Monireth and Sisowath Monipong, would go on to serve as prime minister.
^Headly, Robert K.; Chhor, Kylin; Lim, Lam Kheng; Kheang, Lim Hak; Chun, Chen. 1977. Cambodian-English Dictionary. Bureau of Special Research in Modern Languages. The Catholic University of America Press. Washington, D.C. ISBN0-8132-0509-3
^ abcJeldres, Julio A., 2003, The Royal House of Cambodia, Monument Books, Phnom Penh
^Chandler, David P., 1992, Brother Number One: A political biography of Pol Pot, Silkworm Books, Thailand: 8
^Volkert, Kurt; T. Jeff Williams (2001). A Cambodian Odyssey. Lincoln, NE: Writer's Showcase; iUniverse.com, Inc. p. 8. ISBN0595166067. Retrieved 16 January 2014.
^Corfield, Justin (2009). The History of Cambodia. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO, LCC. p. 144. ISBN9780313357220.
^Volkert, Kurt; T. Jeff Williams (2001). A Cambodian Odyssey. Lincoln, NE: Writer's Showcase; iUniverse.com, Inc. p. 9. ISBN0595166067. Retrieved 16 January 2014.
External linksEdit
Media related to Sisowath Monivong at Wikimedia Commons
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In this Cambodian name the surname is Sisowath In accordance with Cambodian custom this person should be referred to by the given name Monivong This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Sisowath Monivong news newspapers books scholar JSTOR November 2012 Learn how and when to remove this template message Sisowath Monivong Khmer ស ស វត ថ ម ន វង ស Sisŏvotthĕ Mŭnivongs ˈsiːsoʋat muˈniːʋɔŋ 1 27 December 1875 24 April 1941 was the King of Cambodia from 9 August 1927 until his death in 1941 During his reign Cambodia was a French protectorate Monivong was the grandson of the poet king Ang Duong grandfather of Norodom Sihanouk and the great grandfather of the current king Norodom Sihamoni His full regnal title and style was Preah Bat Samdech Preah Serey Monivarman Krom Luang Chao Chakrabangsa Sisowath Monivong Ney Preah Reacheanachak Kampuchea Khmer ព រ ប ទសម ត ចព រ ស រ ម ន វរ ម នក រ មហ ល ងច ចក រប ងស ស ស ស វត ថ ម ន វង ស ន ព រ រ ជ ណចក រកម ព ជ which can be literally translated from Khmerized Sanskrit as His majesty glorious lord scholar protector His highness lord of land and sea Sisowath Monivong of the Kingdom of Kampuchea He is the most recent monarch from the House of Sisowath as all his successors are members of the House of Norodom Sisowath Monivongស ស វត ថ ម ន វង សKing of CambodiaReign9 August 1927 23 April 1941Coronation20 July 1928PredecessorSisowathSuccessorNorodom SihanoukBorn27 December 1875 1875 12 27 Khemarin Palace Phnom Penh French CambodiaDied23 April 1941 1941 04 23 aged 65 Bokor Hill Station Kampot Cambodia French IndochinaBurialOudong Kandal CambodiaSpouseNorodom Kanviman Norleak Tevi m 1894 died 1912 wbr and 19 other consorts and concubinesIssuewith Kanviman Norleak Tevi Sisowath PinnarethSisowath Thavet RoeungsiSisowath SariletlakSisowath KossamakSisowath NearirakhSisowath MonirethSisowath MonipongHouseSisowathFatherSisowathMotherVarni VanReligionTheravada Buddhism Contents 1 Life 2 Reign 3 References 4 External linksLife EditBorn in Phnom Penh in 1875 Sisowath Monivong was the sixth child and the second son of King Sisowath 2 His mother was Neak Moneang Van later titled Samdeach Preah Voreachini the fifth child bearing wife of Sisowath At that time his uncle King Norodom ruled from Oudong the capital of Cambodia Norodom was a puppet king for the French colonial protectorate In 1884 after the French conquered Laos and occupied Vietnam Cambodia became a direct colonial possession The royal family then moved from Oudong to the new capital of Phnom Penh where Sisowath Monivong resided In 1904 both of his uncles and his elder brother Essaravong died resulting in Sisowath Monivong becoming the Crown Prince of Cambodia In 1906 he traveled with his father King Sisowath to France 2 There he was admitted to the Military School of Saint Maixent He graduated two years later with the rank sous lieutenant in the Foreign Legion He was then posted to Brive and later to Paris In 1909 he returned to Cambodia In 1910 he was promoted to lieutenant in 1916 to captain and finally in 1922 to chief of battalion The same year he was released from military service During the First World War he actively recruited volunteer military personnel and workers These services were recognized with the Cross of Commander of the Foreign Legion and the Cambodian title of Samdech Preah Keofea He was then appointed secretary general of the council of ministers and president of the council of the Royal Family Monivong had many consorts at least six of whom were granted official recognition having borne children to him 2 One of these was a woman named Meak a member of the Royal Ballet who was given the title Khun Preah Moneang Bopha Norleak Meak Meak bore Monivong s son Prince Sisowath Kusarak in 1926 Around 1934 1935 two of her young cousins came to live with her a common Cambodian custom 3 one of her cousins named Saloth Sar would later adopt the name Pol Pot Monivong died on 23 April 1941 at the age of 65 at Bokor Mountain which was renamed Preah Monivong National Park in his honour Reign Edit nbsp In 1927 Sisowath Monivong s father died so at age 52 Sisowath Monivong ascended to the throne Like his father and his uncle Monivong was simply a figurehead for the French administration and in the words of one author Monivong caused the French no trouble 4 The real power was in the hands of the French Resident General The King was surrounded by his Royal Council composed of his cousins Sisowath Rathary father of Sisowath Sirik Matak Sisowath Watchayavong Norodom Phanouvong Norodom Suramarit and Norodom Singhara It was during Monivong s rule that Cambodia became open to outside communist influences In 1930 the Vietnamese leader Ho Chi Minh founded the Indochinese Communist Party which subsequently obtained popularity in Cambodia The Cambodian communists primary objective was to overthrow the French In 1940 when the French Third Republic fell to Nazi Germany the Vichy France regime took power in the unoccupied parts of France and in its overseas colonies including Cambodia In the late 1930s a powerless Monivong noticed that Imperial Japan was making inroads in Vietnam Japan then invaded and occupied Cambodia in early 1941 The Japanese allowed Cambodian Vichy French officials to administer but only under Japanese protection The Cambodian king was beholden to the Vichy French who were in turn beholden to the Japanese In western Cambodia Thailand now an ally of the Japanese occupied territory As the Japanese and Thai oppression of Cambodians became evident Sisowath Monivong retired to Kampot in late 1941 and died at Bokor the same year 5 He died taking the posthumous title of Preah Karuna Preah Sisowath Monivong Preah Khatiyakot Khmer ព រ ករ ណ ព រ ស ស វត ថ ម ន វង ស ព រ ខត ត យក ដ ឋ His son Sisowath Monireth was the heir to the throne but the French authorities chose Sisowath Kossamak s nineteen year old son Norodom Sihanouk to succeed him instead mistakenly believing that he would be more pliable than Monireth 6 Two of his children Sisowath Monireth and Sisowath Monipong would go on to serve as prime minister nbsp This article contains Khmer text Without proper rendering support you may see question marks boxes or other symbols instead of Khmer script References Edit Headly Robert K Chhor Kylin Lim Lam Kheng Kheang Lim Hak Chun Chen 1977 Cambodian English Dictionary Bureau of Special Research in Modern Languages The Catholic University of America Press Washington D C ISBN 0 8132 0509 3 a b c Jeldres Julio A 2003 The Royal House of Cambodia Monument Books Phnom Penh Chandler David P 1992 Brother Number One A political biography of Pol Pot Silkworm Books Thailand 8 Volkert Kurt T Jeff Williams 2001 A Cambodian Odyssey Lincoln NE Writer s Showcase iUniverse com Inc p 8 ISBN 0595166067 Retrieved 16 January 2014 Corfield Justin 2009 The History of Cambodia Santa Barbara CA ABC CLIO LCC p 144 ISBN 9780313357220 Volkert Kurt T Jeff Williams 2001 A Cambodian Odyssey Lincoln NE Writer s Showcase iUniverse com Inc p 9 ISBN 0595166067 Retrieved 16 January 2014 External links Edit nbsp Media related to Sisowath Monivong at Wikimedia Commons Sisowath MonivongHouse of SisowathBorn 27 December 1875 Died 24 April 1941Regnal titlesPreceded bySisowath King of Cambodia1927 1941 Succeeded byNorodom Sihanouk Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Sisowath Monivong amp oldid 1178980536, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
