Historical biography archive · Updated 2026-11-03

Heng Samrin Biography and Timeline

Follow Heng Samrin through 14 dated historical records for Kampuchea.

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Heng Samrin, historical timeline

A chronological timeline drawn from matching World History Database records.

14Distinct records

1 of 1Page

1978–1992Years on this page

1978

KUFNS

Politics / Vietnam War, 2nd

Heng Samrin & Pen Sovan are the foremost founding members of the Kampuchean United Front for National Salvation (KUFNS or FUNSK), after becoming disillusioned with the Khmer Rouge

Role range: 1960-1975

1979

7 January 1979

Head of State Appointed

Chairman of People's Revolutionary Council · Phnom Penh · Government / People's Republic of Kampuchea

Vietnamese-backed authorities install Heng Samrin as head of state

Role range: 1979-1981

10 January 1979

PRK Government Formed

Chairman of People's Revolutionary Council · Phnom Penh · Government / People's Republic of Kampuchea

People's Republic of Kampuchea government forms under Heng Samrin's chairmanship

Role range: 1979-1981

11 January 1979

Revolutionary Council Leadership

Chairman of People's Revolutionary Council · Phnom Penh · Government / People's Republic of Kampuchea

Heng Samrin leads the People's Revolutionary Council after the fall of Democratic Kampuchea

Role range: 1979-1981

1979

Government

Head of of-State · Government / Government of Kampuchea

The Peoples Republic of Kampuchea is established under Samrin by the Vietnamese

1979

Head of State

Head of of-State · Phnom Penh · Government / Government of Kampuchea

Appointed Head of State for Kampuchea, by the Vietnamese

1979

United Nations

Head of of-State · Warfare / United Nations

Heng Samrins delegation is turned away from the United Nations Conference

1980

1 January 1980

PRK State Leadership

Chairman of People's Revolutionary Council · Phnom Penh · Government / People's Republic of Kampuchea

Heng Samrin continues as head of state of the People's Republic of Kampuchea

Role range: 1979-1981

1981

27 June 1981

State Council Presidency

President of Council of State · Phnom Penh · Government / People's Republic of Kampuchea

Heng Samrin becomes President of the Council of State

Role range: 1981-1992

28 June 1981

New State Structure

President of Council of State · Phnom Penh · Government / People's Republic of Kampuchea

Council of State replaces the earlier revolutionary council framework

Role range: 1981-1992

5 December 1981

Party Leadership Consolidated

President of Council of State · Phnom Penh · Government / People's Republic of Kampuchea

Heng Samrin consolidates senior state and party leadership after Pen Sovan's removal

Role range: 1981-1992

1985

14 January 1985

Hun Sen Premiership Begins

President of Council of State · Phnom Penh · Government / People's Republic of Kampuchea

Heng Samrin remains head of state as Hun Sen becomes Prime Minister

Role range: 1981-1992

1989

1 May 1989

State Renamed

President of Council of State · Phnom Penh · Government / State of Cambodia

Heng Samrin continues as head of state after PRK becomes State of Cambodia

Role range: 1981-1992

1992

6 April 1992

Presidency Ends

Former President of Council of State · Phnom Penh · Government / State of Cambodia

Heng Samrin's head of state role ends as Chea Sim takes over

Role range: 1981-1992

Records, sources and methodology

These dates and descriptions come from the historical_events database. Exact duplicate records have been collapsed. Names are grouped by the country, Name 2 and Name 1 fields; records with missing Name 2 cannot be reliably assigned to an individual biography. Check the underlying sources before formal citation.