Norodom Sihanouk Biography

Chosen as king after the death of Sisowath Monivong

Crowned king under the French protectorate administration

Forms Cambodia's first modern cabinet and serves as Prime Minister

Sihanouk's wartime government ends after Japan's defeat and the French return

Presides as Cambodia holds its first parliamentary elections under French reforms

Approves constitutional arrangements for a limited parliamentary monarchy

Secures greater autonomy for Cambodia within the French Union

Begins a short prime ministerial term while still king

Ends his 1950 prime ministerial term after one month in office

Launches the Royal Crusade for Cambodian independence

Takes direct control of government during the independence campaign

Ends his 1952 to 1953 prime ministerial term

Begins another short term as Prime Minister after Chan Nak

Ends his brief 1954 premiership before Penn Nouth returns

Geneva settlement recognizes Cambodia's sovereignty and territorial integrity

Abdicates in favor of his father Norodom Suramarit to enter politics

Founds Sangkum Reastr Niyum as his dominant political movement

Sangkum wins national elections and establishes Sihanouk's post-abdication dominance

Cambodia becomes a member of the United Nations under Sihanouk's political leadership

Becomes Prime Minister after Sangkum's election victory

Ends his first post-abdication prime ministerial term

Returns briefly as Prime Minister during Sangkum rule

Ends his March 1956 prime ministerial term

Begins a further short term as Prime Minister

Ends his September to October prime ministerial term

Declares Cambodia neutral amid the Cold War and Indochina conflict

Becomes Prime Minister for another short Sangkum government

Ends his 1957 term as Prime Minister

Starts his longest continuous prime ministerial term

Sangkum consolidates control after the 1958 political settlement

Ends his 1958 to 1960 prime ministerial term

Elected Cambodian Head of State after the death of King Suramarit

Represents neutral Cambodia within the emerging Non-Aligned Movement

Begins his final term as Prime Minister while also head of state

Ends his final prime ministerial term

Rejects American economic and military aid and expels American diplomats

Nationalizes banks and private business under Sangkum economic policy

Hosts the first Conference of the Indochinese Peoples in Phnom Penh

Faces rural unrest in Battambang during growing Communist resistance

Restores diplomatic relations with the United States after neutrality assurances

Leaves Cambodia for a foreign tour before the political crisis in Phnom Penh

Removed from power by the Cambodian National Assembly while abroad

Announces a resistance front against the Lon Nol government

Urges coordination among Indochinese movements against US-backed governments

Forms the Royal Government of National Union of Kampuchea in exile

Becomes head of state after Khmer Rouge victory and the end of the Khmer Republic

Becomes nominal head of state after Khmer Rouge victory and the end of the Khmer Republic

Allowed to visit Phnom Penh after five years in exile

Returns to Phnom Penh with his wife under Khmer Rouge supervision

Placed under house arrest after resigning as head of state

Resigns as head of state and is placed under Khmer Rouge house arrest

Resigns as head of state before Khieu Samphan assumes the State Presidium

Leaves Khmer Rouge custody on the last Chinese aircraft from Phnom Penh

Sihanouk is named President of the Coalition Government of Democratic Kampuchea

CGDK is proclaimed with Sihanouk as President