Phnom Penh in History

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

Works in Phnom Penh as director of administrative service

Begins a short prime ministerial term while still king

Ends his 1950 prime ministerial term after one month in office

Becomes Chief of Police during the late protectorate period

Moves into the army with command of an infantry battalion

Launches the Royal Crusade for Cambodian independence

Takes direct control of government during the independence campaign

Ends his 1952 to 1953 prime ministerial term

Continues building influence inside the Cambodian armed forces after independence

Begins another short term as Prime Minister after Chan Nak

Ends his brief 1954 premiership before Penn Nouth returns

Appointed Army Chief of Staff in Phnom Penh

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

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

Begins a long term as Minister of National Defence

Becomes commander in chief of Cambodia's armed forces

Ends his 1958 to 1960 prime ministerial term

Elected Cambodian Head of State after the death of King Suramarit

Directs security policy against clandestine communist networks

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

Military intelligence under Lon Nol is linked to suppression of early CPK leadership

Ends his final prime ministerial term

Becomes a senior right-wing figure inside Sihanouk's government

Learns of US bombing of Communists in Kampuchea but allows their Embassy to reopen

Rejects American economic and military aid and expels American diplomats

Oversees military security while Cambodia tries to maintain neutrality

Nationalizes banks and private business under Sangkum economic policy

Continues efforts to strengthen Cambodian forces before the civil war

Hosts the first Conference of the Indochinese Peoples in Phnom Penh

Forms a conservative government under the Sangkum political system

Appointed Prime Minister of Cambodia for his first term

Resigns after injury and political pressure from his first premiership

Returns as Minister of National Defence before the 1970 crisis

Recalled by Sihanouk as Cambodia faces economic and political crisis

Appointed Prime Minister of Cambodia for his 2nd term

Challenges North Vietnamese and Viet Cong use of Cambodian territory

Restores diplomatic relations with the United States after neutrality assurances

Orders airports and borders closed against Vietnamese communist movement

Anti-Vietnamese demonstrations increase pressure on Sihanouk's neutral policy

Demands Vietnamese communist forces leave Cambodian territory

Neutralist rule is replaced by an anti-communist government aligned with the United States

Leads the government as the National Assembly removes Sihanouk while abroad

Cheng Heng becomes provisional head of state while Lon Nol keeps executive control

Lon Nol leads the political takeover that removes Sihanouk during his absence abroad

Sihanouk is held responsible for the North Vietnamese taking refuge in Kampuchea. A Coup overthrows Prince Sihanouk while the Prince is out of the country

Lon Nol receives emergency powers after Sihanouk is removed

The Kampuchean National Assembly votes to depose Sihanouk by 92 votes to 0

The Kampuchean National Assembly votes to depose Sihanouk by 92 votes to 0

National Assembly votes unanimously to withdraw confidence from Sihanouk

Removed from power by the Cambodian National Assembly while abroad

Acts while Sihanouk is outside Cambodia during the decisive National Assembly session

Premier Lon Nol supports the National Assembly vote removing Sihanouk

Emergency powers are invoked as Lon Nol becomes effective head of government

Expands the Khmer National Armed Forces after the coup

Seeks closer military and diplomatic support from the United States

Requests American support against Vietnamese communist forces in Cambodia

Receives expanded American military support for the new anti-communist regime

Mobilizes forces as civil war spreads through the countryside

Proclaims the Khmer Republic and abolishes the monarchy

Leaves the prime ministership as Sirik Matak takes over government leadership

Khmer Parliament confers the rank of Marshal on Lon Nol

Ends his 2nd term as Minister of National Defence

Uses Son Ngoc Thanh as Prime Minister under the presidential system

Cheng Heng resigns and transfers chief-of-state powers to Lon Nol

Lon Nol becomes President of the Khmer Republic

New republican constitution approved by referendum

Creates the Social Republican Party with support from Lon Non

Elected first President of the Khmer Republic after adoption of the constitution

Social Republican Party dominates National Assembly elections

Proclaims a unilateral ceasefire after the Paris Peace Accords

Introduces conscription as the army suffers casualties and desertions

Khmer Rouge offensive pushes toward the suburbs of Phnom Penh

Rotates prime ministers as the republic faces military and economic decline

Becomes increasingly isolated from Sirik Matak, Cheng Heng, and In Tam

Founds the Angkar to act as enforcer & executioner for the new regime

The Khmer Rouge capture Phnom Penh & keep Sihanouk under house arrest

Establishes the Democratic Republic of Kampuchea

Successfully leads a coup in Kampuchea

The Khmer Rouge capture Phnom Penh & keep Sihanouk under house arrest

All foreigners are expelled from Kampuchea

Khmer Rouge forces surround Phnom Penh as the republic nears collapse

Resigns and leaves Cambodia before the Khmer Rouge capture Phnom Penh

Saukham Khoy becomes acting president after Lon Nol leaves Cambodia

The Khmer Rouge capture Phnom Penh

The Khmer Rouge capture Phnom Penh

The communist forces of the Khmer Rouge overthrow the Lon Government after a civil war

Khmer Rouge capture Phnom Penh, beginning Democratic Kampuchea

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

The communist forces of the Khmer Rouge overthrow the Lon Government after a civil war

The Khmer Rouge captures Phnom Penh. The Khmer Rouge capture Phnom Penh

The Khmer Rouge capture Phnom Penh

The Khmer Rouge captures Phnom Penh

Forced evacuation of Phnom Penh population to rural zones

Khmer Rouge abolish money, markets, and private property

Democratic Kampuchea declared under Angkar leadership

Allowed to visit Phnom Penh after five years in exile

Returns to Phnom Penh with his wife under Khmer Rouge supervision

Resigns & is placed under house arrest for 4 years

Members of Sihanouks family are murdered

Anew constitution comes into effect in Democratic Kampuchea

Democratic Kampuchea constitution adopted

CPK Central Committee appoints Khieu Samphan as President of the State Presidium

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

People's Representative Assembly confirms Khieu Samphan as head of state

Democratic Kampuchea government announced with Khieu Samphan as head of state

Khieu Samphan begins office as President of the State Presidium

Pol Pot formally becomes Prime Minister of Democratic Kampuchea

State Presidium becomes the formal head of state institution

Nuon Chea becomes Acting Prime Minister during Pol Pot's temporary absence

Nuon Chea leads the Council of Ministers in an acting capacity

Acting premiership continues under the Khmer Rouge state structure

Nuon Chea remains acting head of government for Democratic Kampuchea

Nuon Chea's acting premiership ends after a brief temporary term

Breaks off diplomatic relations with Vietnam. Breaks off diplomatic relations with Hanoi

Tuol Sleng S-21 prison expands interrogation operations

Regime cuts most foreign ties except China

Diplomatic relations breakdown between Kampuchea & Vietnam

Khmer Rouge intensify anti-Vietnam propaganda

Appointed Head of State for Kampuchea, by the Vietnamese

The CPK led by Pol Pot withdrew its forces westwards, to an area near the Thai border, with unofficial protection from elements of the Thai Army

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

The Vietnamese forces invaded Kampuchea along with the KUFNS, capturing Phnom Penh

The Vietnamese invade Kampuchea, capturing Phnom Penh. The Vietnamese forces invaded Kampuchea along with the KUFNS, capturing Phnom Penh

Phnom Penh falls and Khmer Rouge flee to border regions

Vietnamese-backed authorities install Heng Samrin as head of state

The Vietnamese invade Kampuchea, capturing Phnom Penh

Khieu Samphan loses state authority as Phnom Penh falls to Vietnamese-backed forces

The Vietnamese forces invaded Kampuchea along with the KUFNS, capturing Phnom Penh

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

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

Vietnam invades Kampuchea

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

Appointed Chairman of the Council of Minister's

Pen Sovan is appointed Prime Minister of the People's Republic of Kampuchea

Heng Samrin becomes President of the Council of State

Pen Sovan begins leading the Council of Ministers

Council of State replaces the earlier revolutionary council framework

Pen Sovan's government begins reconstruction under the PRK

Pen Sovan combines senior party status with the prime ministership

Pen Sovan's position weakens before his removal from office

Chan Sy becomes Acting Prime Minister after Pen Sovan's removal

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

Pen Sovan is removed from the prime ministership after a short term

Appointed Chairman of the Council of Minister's

Chan Sy is formally appointed Prime Minister of the People's Republic of Kampuchea

Chan Sy's government is confirmed under the PRK system

Chan Sy continues as Prime Minister during reconstruction and Vietnamese military presence

Hun Sen becomes Acting Prime Minister after Chan Sy's death

Chan Sy's premiership ends after his death

Appointed Chairman of the Council of Minister's

Hun Sen is appointed Prime Minister of the People's Republic of Kampuchea

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

Hun Sen begins his premiership under the PRK government

Hun Sen remains Prime Minister as negotiations with resistance factions develop

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

Hun Sen continues as Prime Minister after PRK becomes State of Cambodia

Kampuchea is ruled by the United Nations Transitional Authority in Kampuchea until elections 1993

Kampuchea is ruled by the United Nations Transitional Authority in Kampuchea until elections 1993

Kampuchea is ruled by the United Nations Transitional Authority in Kampuchea until elections 1993. A peace accord between China & the United Nations ends 13 yrs of civil war in Kampuchea

Kampuchea is ruled by the United Nations Transitional Authority in Kampuchea until elections 1993. A peace accord between China & the United Nations ends 13 yrs of civil war in Kampuchea

Hun Sen continues as Prime Minister during the United Nations transition

Chea Sim becomes President of the Council of State after Heng Samrin

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

Chea Sim serves as head of state during the transitional period

Chea Sim continues as head of state before the 1993 election settlement

Chea Sim's head of state term ends as Sihanouk returns as head of state

Hun Sen's State of Cambodia premiership ends with restoration of the kingdom

Cambodian government officially outlaws Khmer Rouge

Government and international discussions continue over trials for senior leaders

National discussions begin on Khmer Rouge legacy

Archives and evidence collection expand

Plans continue for a Khmer Rouge tribunal

Cambodia passes law establishing the framework for the ECCC

United Nations and Cambodia sign agreement to establish the ECCC

UN-Cambodia agreement for the ECCC enters into force

ECCC judicial officials are sworn in and the tribunal begins operations

Public outreach and victim participation work expand around the tribunal

National review of the Khmer Rouge era expands