Historical biography archive · Updated 2026-11-03

Norodom Sihanouk Biography and Timeline — Page 2

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
2 of 2Page
1970–1982Years on this page

1970

Foreign Tour Begins

Prince · Cambodian Head of State · Paris · Government / Kingdom of Cambodia

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

Role range: 1960-1970

Overthrow

Prince · Cambodian Head of State · Phnom Penh · Warfare / Vietnam War, 2nd

Removed from power by the Cambodian National Assembly while abroad

Role range: 1955-1975 – 1960-1970

FUNK Announced

Prince · Exiled Leader of FUNK · Beijing · Politics / National United Front of Kampuchea

Announces a resistance front against the Lon Nol government

Role range: 1970-1975

Indochina Peoples Conference

Prince · Exiled Leader of GRUNK · Guangzhou · Warfare / Cambodian Civil War

Urges coordination among Indochinese movements against US-backed governments

Role range: 1967-1975 – 1970-1975

GRUNK Founded

Prince · Exiled Head of GRUNK · Beijing · Government / Royal Government of National Union of Kampuchea

Forms the Royal Government of National Union of Kampuchea in exile

Role range: 1970-1975

1975

Head of State Office Begins

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

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

Role range: 1975-1976

Head of State Office Begins

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

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

Role range: 1975-1976

Return Visit

Prince · Head of State of Democratic Kampuchea · Phnom Penh · Government / Democratic Kampuchea

Allowed to visit Phnom Penh after five years in exile

Role range: 1975-1976

Return from Exile

Prince · Head of State of Democratic Kampuchea · Phnom Penh · Government / Democratic Kampuchea

Returns to Phnom Penh with his wife under Khmer Rouge supervision

Role range: 1975-1976

1976

Resignation from Office

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

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

Role range: 1975-1976

House Arrest Begins

Prince · Detained Former Head of State · Phnom Penh · Government / Democratic Kampuchea

Placed under house arrest after resigning as head of state

Role range: 1976-1979

Resignation from Office

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

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

Role range: 1975-1976

1979

House Arrest Ends

Prince · Released Former Head of State · Phnom Penh · Government / Democratic Kampuchea

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

Role range: 1976-1979

1982

Coalition Presidency Agreed

Prince · President of CGDK · Kuala Lumpur · Government / Coalition Government of Democratic Kampuchea

Sihanouk is named President of the Coalition Government of Democratic Kampuchea

Role range: 1982-1987

Coalition Proclaimed

Prince · President of CGDK · Kuala Lumpur · Government / Coalition Government of Democratic Kampuchea

CGDK is proclaimed with Sihanouk as President

Role range: 1982-1987

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.