I.

Mladjov, Page 1/5

CAMBODIA (KAMBUJADEA, KAMPUCHEA)

The first known polity to be centered in Cambodia was the kingdom of Funan, with its capital at
Vydhapura. Although much of the scant historical information about it (including its name) comes from
Chinese sources, it, like most of Indochina, was under predominantly Indian cultural and religious influence
(including both Hinduism and Buddhism). When Funan disintegrated in the 6th century AD, its territory was
gradually reassembled by the monarchs of Kambujadea (Cambodia, called Zhenla in Chinese sources). Since the
history of the Khmer kingdom is illuminated mostly by the surviving inscriptions, our knowledge of it remains
fairly limited. Khmer kings were avid builders of temples, palaces, and cities, including the capitals napura in
the 7th century and Yaodharapura (Angkor) in the 9th century. During the 8th century the kingdom weakened
and was invaded by the Javanese, and a greater degree of cohesion was achieved by Jayavarm II and his
successors. As Khmer royal succession did not follow what we may consider a direct line, there were numerous
occasions of intra-dynastic struggles and civil wars, but the kingdom generally continued to prosper, reaching its
apex in the reigns of Sryavarm I and Sryavarm II in the 11th and 12th centuries. In the 1170s, however, the
country fell prey to a Cham invasion from what is today Vietnam. Cambodias independence was quickly reestablished by Jayavarm VII, who overran enemy Champa in 1191 and installed a puppet king on its throne.
Although the Khmer monarchy bought off Mongol aggression in 1283, it seems to have declined in power by
the beginning of the 14th century. This may have had something to do with the increasing popularity of
Buddhism, which undermined the notion of divine kingship. At the same time the Thai polities of Sukhothai
and Ayutthaya in the west threw off Khmer overlordship, and expanded at the expense of Cambodia. Even the
mere sequence and genealogy of the rulers in the late 14th and 15th centuries are known only from the surviving
traditional chronicles, none of which date from before the 19th century. 1 After being sacked by the Siamese
perhaps in the 1360s and certainly in 1432, Angkor was replaced as capital by Phnom Penh and then by Lovk,
which was also sacked by the Siamese, in 1593. With this Cambodia, already reduced to a purely local power,
was turned into a Siamese dependency. In part to counter complete dependency on Siam, Cambodia also became
susceptible to Vietnamese influence, and Vietnam gradually annexed the delta of the Mekong.
Cambodias kings, reigning from a new capital, Oudong, were thus in a precarious position, caught between
two overlords. The French takeover of Vietnam also led to the extension of French protectorate over Cambodia
in 1863, after an agreement with the Cambodian king Norodom, who moved the capital to Phnom Penh in
1866. It was the French who forced Siam to abandon its claims to suzerainty over Cambodia in 1867. The
French protectorate lasted for 90 years, until 1953. The international politics of the Cold War and the Vietnam
War polarized the now independent country and the monarchy was swept aside in 1970 by a rightist republican
regime. This plunged Cambodia into civil war and led to the Communist Khmer Rouge takeover in 1975, and
later a Vietnamese invasion in 1979, which resulted in the establishment of a Peoples Republic and further civil
war. With the intervention of the United Nations peace was gradually reestablished in 19921993 and
democratic elections led to the creation of a constitutional monarchy with Norodom Sihanouk restored as king.
His abdication in 2004 resulted in the succession of his son Norodom Sihamoni.
In the list below names prior to the mid-15th century are given in scientific transliteration, while those of
later ones are given in modern transcription, followed by scientific transliteration in italics.

c.550600
c.600611
611c.635
c.635655

Kings of Cambodia
Bhavavarm I son of Pithivndravarm by daughter of king Rudravarm of Vydhapura
Mahendravarm 2 brother of Bhavavarm I 3
navarm I son of Mahendravarm
Bhavavarm II son of (?) Mahendravarm

The veracity of the narrative of these sources has been questioned by modern scholarship, most notably M.T.
Vickery, Cambodia after Angkor: The Chronicular Evidence for the Fourteenth to Sixteenth Centuries (2 vols.,
doctoral dissertation, Yale University 1977).
2
Originally named itrasena.
3
Or at the very least Mahendravarm was the son of one Vravarm by a daughter of king Rudravarm of
Vydhapura.
1

I. Mladjov, Page 2/5

c.655685
c.685720
& c.690716
c.720730
c.730750
c.750770
c.770780
c.780834
834850:
:877889
889920
920922
922928
928941
941944
944968
9681001
10011002
10021007
10071050
10501066
10661080
10801107
11071113
11131150
11501160
11601168
11681178
11781181
11811218
12181243
12431296
12961307
13071327
13271342
13421358
13581362

Jayavarm I son of (?) Bhavavarm II

Jayadev daughter of Jayavarm I
Nipatndravarma husband of Jayadev; son of Vivarpa
Pukarka (Indraloka) son of Nipatndravarma and Jayadev
ambhuvarm (Rudravarm) son of Pukarka
Rjendravarm I son of ambhuvarm
Mahpativarm son of Rjendravarm I
Jayavarm II (Paramevara) husband of Dharanndradev, daughter of ambhuvarm, and
also of Jayendravallabha, daughter of Rjendravarm I
Jayavarm III (Viuloka) son of Jayavarm II
Indravarm I (Ivaraloka) son of Pithivndravarm by Pithivndradevi, daughter of
ambhuvarm
Yaovarm I (Paramaivaloka) son of Indravarm I
Haravarm I (Rudraloka) son of Yaovarm I
navarm II (Paramarudraloka) son of Yaovarm I
Jayavarm IV (Paramevarapda) husband of Jayadev, daughter of Indravarm I
Haravarm II (Brahmaloka) son of Jayavarm IV
Rjendravarm II (ivaloka) son of Mahendravarm by Mahendradev (Jayamahevar),
daughter of Indravarm I
Jayavarm V (Paramaivaloka) son of Rjendravarm II
Udaydityavarm I (Jayayudhavarm) son of vaka of Bali by sister of the wife of Jayavarm V
Jayavravarm (Nipatndravarm) brother of Udaydityavarm I
Sryavarm I (Nirvapda) married Vralakm (Nipatndralakm), daughter of
Jayavravarm; son of Jvaka of Tmbraliga; rival since 1002
Udaydityavarm II 4 (Udayrkavarm) brother of Vralakm, wife of Sryavarm I
Haravarm III (adavapada) brother of Udaydityavarm II
Jayavarm VI (Paramakaivalyapda) husband of Vijayendralakm, daughter of (?)
Udaydityavarm II; son of Hirayavarm of Mahdharapura
Dharandravarm I (Paramanikalapda) brother of Jayavarm VI
Sryavarm II (Paramaviuloka) son of Kitndrditya by Narendralakm, daughter of
sister of Dharandravarm I
Dharandravarm II son of Mahdharditya, brother of Narendralakm, mother of
Sryavarm II
Yaovarm II son of (?) Sryavarm II
Tribhuvandityavarm usurper
(to Champa)
Jayavarm VII (Mahparamesangata) son of Dharandravarm II by Jayarjacmai,
daughter of Haravarm III
Indravarm II son of Jayavarm VII
Jayavarm VIII (Paramevarapda) son of (?) Indravarm II; abdicated
Indravarm III husband of Indrabhpevarac, daughter of Jayavarm VIII; abdicated,
died 1309:
Indrajayavarm brother of (?) Indravarm III
Jayavarm IX (Paramevara) son of (?) Indrajayavarm
Sryavarm III (Ta Trsk Ph'em?) married Candrvat, daughter of Jayavarm IX
Nirvapda (Nibbnapad) son of Sryavarm III

Originally named Bhvanditya.

I. Mladjov, Page 3/5

1362
13621364
13641365
13651367
13671369
1369
1369
13691378
13781405
14051418
14181432
14321445
14451481
14811485
14851492
1492
14921504
15041512
15121516
15161566
15661576
15761594

15941596
15961597
15971599
15991600
16001602
16021619
16191627
16271632
16321640
16401642
16421658
16581672

Sidhnarja brother of Nirvapda; abdicated

Labasarja son of Sidhnarja 5
Suriyodaya son of Nirvapda; deposed
Cau P St son of king Ramathibodi I of Ayutthaya
Cau P t brother of Cau P St
Cau Ktu Pa Bs brother of Cau P t
Suriyodaya restored
Paramarma son of Labasarja
Dhammsokarja son of Labasarja
Suriyavaa (Cau Ba Rm) son of Suriyodaya 6
Paramsokarja (Cau Ba Kalamegha?) son of Dhammsokarja
Indarja son of king Borommaracha II of Ayutthaya
Baromreachea I, Chau Ponhea Yat (Paramarja, Cau Ba Yt) son of Suriyavaa;
abdicated, died 1484
Neareayreachea I (Nryaarja) son of Baromreachea I
Srei Reachea (r Rja) son of Baromreachea I
Srei Soriyoday (r Suriyodaya) son of Neareayreachea I 7
Thoamareachea (Dhammarja) son of Barom Reachea I
Srei Sukonthor (r Sugandhapada, Gkht?) son of Thoamareachea
Srei Chttha, Sdech Kan (r Jeh, Stec Kan) brother of Ban, wife of Srei Sukonthor; son
of Vijayanaka; deposed, died 1529
Baromreachea II, Chau Ponhea Chan (Paramarja, Cau Ba Cand) son of Thoamareachea
Baromreachea III (Paramarja) son of Baromreachea II
Baromreachea IV, Sattha (Paramarja, Sah) son of Baromreachea III; deposed, died 1595
+ Chei Chttha I (Jayajeh) son of Baromreachea IV; associated 15841594; deposed,
died 1595
+ Baromreachea V, Chau Ponhea Tn (Paramarja, Cau Ba Tan') son of Baromreachea IV;
associated 15841594; deposed
Ream I, Chau Ponhea Ong (Rma, Cau Ba O) son of Abhayadas
Ream II, Chau Ponhea Nou (Rma, Cau Ba Nr) son of Ream I
Baromreachea V, Chau Ponhea Tn (Paramarja, Cau Ba Tan') restored
Baromreachea VI, Chau Ponhea An (Paramarja, Cau Ba An) son of Baromreachea III
Kv Fa I, Chau Ponhea Nhom (Kaev Hv, Cau Ba om) son of Baromreachea IV
Baromreachea VII, Srei Soriyopor (Paramarja, r Sriyavarm) son of Baromreachea III;
abdicated, died 1619
Chei Chttha II (Jayajeha) son of Baromreachea VII
Srei Thoamareachea I, Chau Ponhea To (r Dhammarja, Cau Ba T) son of Chei
Chttha II
Ang Tong, Chau Ponhea Nou (Ag Da, Cau Ba Nr) son of Chei Chttha II
Botumreachea I, Ang Non (Padumarja, Ag Nan') son of Outeireachea (Udayarja),
son of Baromreachea VII
Reameathipadei I Sattha, Chau Ponhea Chan (Rmdhipati Sa, Cau Ba Cand) son
of Chei Chttha II; deposed, died 1659
Baromreachea VIII, Ang So (Paramarja, Ag Sr) brother of Botumreachea I

Elsewhere the descent is given as son of Nirvapda.

Elsewhere this reign is inserted before that of Paramarma.
7
Elsewhere this reign is inserted before that of r Rja.
5
6

I. Mladjov, Page 4/5

16721673
16731677
16771695
16951696
16961700
17001701
17011702
17021704
17041707
17071715
17151722
17221729
1729
17291738
17381750
1750
17501751
1751
17511757
17571760
17601775
17751779
17791796
17961835
18351841
18411844
18441845
18451860
18601904
19041927
19271941
19411955
19551960
19601970
& 19601970
19701993
19932004
2004

Botumreachea II, Srei Chei Chttha (Padumarja, r Jayajeh) son of Botumreachea I

Kv Fa II, Ang Chi (Kaev Hv, Ag J) son of Baromreachea VIII
Chei Chttha III, Ang So (Jayajeh, Ag Sr) son of Baromreachea VIII; abdicated
Reamathipadei II, Ang Yng (Rmdhipati, Ag Ya) son of Kv Fa II
Chei Chttha III, Ang So (Jayajeh, Ag Sr) restored; abdicated
Kv Fa III, Ang Im (Kaev Hv, Ag Im) son of Ang Non (Ag Nan'), son of Ang Im (Ag Im),
brother of Baromreachea I; deposed
Chei Chttha III, Ang So (Jayajeh, Ag Sr) restored; deposed
Srei Thoamareachea II, Ang Nou (r Dhammarja, Ag Nr) son of Chei Chttha III; deposed
Chei Chttha III, Ang So (Jayajeh, Ag Sr) restored; abdicated, died 1725
Srei Thoamareachea II, Ang Nou (r Dhammarja, Ag Nr) restored; deposed
Kv Fa III, Ag Im (Kaev Hv, Ag Im) restored; abdicated
Baromreachea IX Sattha, Ang Chi (Paramarja Sah, Ag J), son of Kv Fa III; regent
Chei Chttha IV, Ang Im (Jayajeh, Ag Im) Kv Fa III restored with new title; abdicated,
died 1731
Baromreachea IX Sattha, Ang Chi (Paramarja Sah, Ag J) restored; deposed
Chei Chttha V, Ang Nou (Jayajeh, Ag Nr) Srei Thoamareachea II restored with new title
Srei Thoamareachea III, Ang Im (r Dhammarja, Ag Im) son of Srei Thoamareachea II/
Chei Chttha V
Reameathipadei III, Ang Tn (Rmdhipati, Ag Tan') son of Reameathipadei II; regent;
deposed
Baromreachea IX Sattha, Ang Chi (Paramarja Sah, Ag J) restored
Srei Chei Chttha, Ang Snguon (r Jayajeh, Ag Suon) son of Srei Thoamareachea II/
Chei Chttha V
Reameathipadei III, Ang Tn (Rmdhipati, Ag Tan') restored
Neareayreachea II, Outeireachea, Ang Tn (Nryaarja, Udayarja, Ag Tan') son of
Ang So (Ag Sr), son of Reameathipadei III; deposed, died 1777
Reameathipadei IV, Ang Non (Rmdhipati, Ag Nan') son of Srei Chei Chttha
Neareayream, Ang Eng (Nryaarma, Ag E) son of Neareayreachea II
Outeireachea, Ang Chan (Udayarja, Ag Cand) son of Neareayream; formally installed 1806
Ang Mei (Ag M) daughter of Outeireachea; deposed
Ang Duong (Hiraraksrma, Ag uo) son of Neareayream; deposed
Ang Mei (Ag M) restored; deposed, died 1874
Ang Duong (Hiraraksrma, Ag uo) restored; formally installed 1848
Norodom, Ang Chroleng (Narottam, Ag Crai) son of Ang Duong
Sisowath (Ssuvatthi) son of Ang Duong
Sisowath Monivong (Ssuvatthi Munvas) son of Sisowath
Norodom Sihanouk (Narottam Shanu) son of Norodom Suramarit (below) by Sisowath
Kosamak (below); abdicated
Norodom Suramarit (Narottam Surmrit) son of Norodom Sutharot (Narottam Sudharja),
son of Norodom
Sisowath Kosamak (Ssuvatthi Kusuma) daughter of Sisowath Monivong; nominal queen;
deposed, died 1975
Norodom Sihanouk (Narottam Shanu) restored as head of state (prince); deposed
(republic)
Norodom Sihanouk (Narottam Shanu) restored as king; president 19751976 and since
1991; abdicated
Norodom Sihamoni (Narottam Shamoni) son of Norodom Sihanouk

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SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHY:
A. CHAKRAVARTI, Royal Succession in Ancient Cambodia, Calcutta, 1982
J. FINESTONE and S. TALIB, The Royal Families of South-East Asia, Selangor, 2002
M. PHUN, Histoire du Cambodge de la fin du XVIe sicle au dbut du XVIIIe, Paris, 1995
M.T. VICKERY, Cambodia after Angkor: The Chronicular Evidence for the Fourteenth to Sixteenth Centuries (2
vols.), doctoral dissertation, Yale University, 1977