Accession as King
Chosen as king after the death of Sisowath Monivong
Role range: 1941-1955
Historical biography archive · Updated 2026-11-03
Norodom Sihanouk Biography and Timeline
Follow Norodom Sihanouk through 55 dated historical records for Kampuchea.
Norodom Sihanouk, historical timeline
A chronological timeline drawn from matching World History Database records.
55Distinct records
1 of 2Page
1941–1969Years on this page
1941
Coronation
Crowned king under the French protectorate administration
Role range: 1941-1955
1945
First Premiership
Forms Cambodia's first modern cabinet and serves as Prime Minister
Role range: 1945-1945
Japanese Defeat
Sihanouk's wartime government ends after Japan's defeat and the French return
Role range: 1941-1955
1946
First Elections
Presides as Cambodia holds its first parliamentary elections under French reforms
Role range: 1941-1955
1947
Constitution Promulgated
Approves constitutional arrangements for a limited parliamentary monarchy
Role range: 1941-1955
1949
Franco-Khmer Treaty
Secures greater autonomy for Cambodia within the French Union
Role range: 1941-1955
1950
Prime Minister Appointed
Begins a short prime ministerial term while still king
Role range: 1950-1950
Prime Minister Term Ends
Ends his 1950 prime ministerial term after one month in office
Role range: 1950-1950
1952
Prime Minister Appointed
Takes direct control of government during the independence campaign
Role range: 1952-1953
Royal Crusade Begins
Launches the Royal Crusade for Cambodian independence
Role range: 1941-1955
1953
Premiership Ends
Ends his 1952 to 1953 prime ministerial term
Role range: 1952-1953
1954
Prime Minister Appointed
Begins another short term as Prime Minister after Chan Nak
Role range: 1954-1954
Prime Minister Term Ends
Ends his brief 1954 premiership before Penn Nouth returns
Role range: 1954-1954
Geneva Accords
Geneva settlement recognizes Cambodia's sovereignty and territorial integrity
Role range: 1941-1955
1955
Abdication
Abdicates in favor of his father Norodom Suramarit to enter politics
Role range: 1941-1955
Sangkum Founded
Founds Sangkum Reastr Niyum as his dominant political movement
Role range: 1955-1970
Election Victory
Sangkum wins national elections and establishes Sihanouk's post-abdication dominance
Role range: 1955-1970
UN Membership
Cambodia becomes a member of the United Nations under Sihanouk's political leadership
Role range: 1955-1970
Prime Minister Appointed
Becomes Prime Minister after Sangkum's election victory
Role range: 1955-1956
1956
Prime Minister Term Ends
Ends his first post-abdication prime ministerial term
Role range: 1955-1956
Second 1956 Premiership
Returns briefly as Prime Minister during Sangkum rule
Role range: 1956-1956
March Premiership Ends
Ends his March 1956 prime ministerial term
Role range: 1956-1956
September Premiership
Begins a further short term as Prime Minister
Role range: 1956-1956
September Premiership Ends
Ends his September to October prime ministerial term
Role range: 1956-1956
1957
Neutrality Declared
Declares Cambodia neutral amid the Cold War and Indochina conflict
Role range: 1955-1970
Prime Minister Appointed
Becomes Prime Minister for another short Sangkum government
Role range: 1957-1957
Prime Minister Term Ends
Ends his 1957 term as Prime Minister
Role range: 1957-1957
1958
Prime Minister Appointed
Starts his longest continuous prime ministerial term
Role range: 1958-1960
Sangkum Consolidation
Sangkum consolidates control after the 1958 political settlement
Role range: 1955-1970
1960
Prime Minister Term Ends
Ends his 1958 to 1960 prime ministerial term
Role range: 1958-1960
Head of State Elected
Elected Cambodian Head of State after the death of King Suramarit
Role range: 1960-1970
1961
Non-Aligned Diplomacy
Represents neutral Cambodia within the emerging Non-Aligned Movement
Role range: 1960-1970
Final Premiership Begins
Begins his final term as Prime Minister while also head of state
Role range: 1961-1962
1962
Final Premiership Ends
Ends his final prime ministerial term
Role range: 1961-1962
1963
US Aid Rejected
Rejects American economic and military aid and expels American diplomats
Role range: 1960-1970
1964
Economic Nationalization
Nationalizes banks and private business under Sangkum economic policy
Role range: 1960-1970
1965
Indochina Conference
Hosts the first Conference of the Indochinese Peoples in Phnom Penh
Role range: 1960-1970
1967
Battambang Unrest
Faces rural unrest in Battambang during growing Communist resistance
Role range: 1960-1970
1969
US Relations Restored
Restores diplomatic relations with the United States after neutrality assurances
Role range: 1960-1970
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.