Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
signed in 1886, eroding much of Norodom's power and allowing the French to collect
taxes and to have residents installed in ten provincial towns.
Towards the end of the century Norodom, already an
opium addict
, became ill, and
the French
résident supérieur
was granted permission from Paris to assume executive
authority. By the time Norodom died in 1904, France was effectively ruling Cambodia.
Norodom's compliant half-brother
Sisowath
(ruled 1904-27) was installed on the
throne, the French having passed over Monivong, Norodom's son and natural heir.
Sisowath, a figurehead, had little impact on affairs during his reign.
By the early part of the twentieth century, the French were disillusioned with the
Cambodians, whom they regarded as indolent and corrupt. Consequently, they did
little to develop Cambodia's human resources (the most tangible legacy of their
ninety-year rule is arguably the country's communications network, including more
than 5000km of roads and a railway line from Phnom Penh to the Thai border).
Instead, the French filled key clerical positions with Vietnamese, who also ran many of
the small businesses and took labouring jobs. Meanwhile, the ethnic Chinese, who had
been established in Cambodia for centuries, continued their lucrative trades as bankers
and merchants.
This neglect of the Khmer, and the crippling taxes levied by the French, bred
resentment to which the French, in their complacency, remained oblivious. They were
shocked when revolts against taxation broke out in 1916, and doubly horrified when
Felix Bardez - the French resident in Kompong Chhnang - was
beaten to death
by
locals in 1925 while investigating resistance to tax payments in a provincial village.
World War II
he
Japanese invasion
of Southeast Asia in 1941-42 brought little change to the status
quo in Indochina, where the Japanese allowed the (now Vichy) French to continue
administering the day-to-day running of the country. The Thais, who were allies of the
Japanese and who sensed a degree of vulnerability in the French position, took the
opportunity to launch attacks across the border into Cambodia, with the aim of
recovering the provinces of Battambang and Siem Reap, reluctantly given up to
Cambodia earlier in the century. The French roundly defeated the Thai navy, however,
forcing the Japanese to save Thai face by compelling the French administration to hand
over the provinces for a nominal sum.
King Sisowath Monivong
blamed the French for
this loss of territory and refused to deal with them again - although in fact this wasn't
to be for long, since he died shortly afterwards. he Japanese allowed the next king to
be chosen by the French who, seeking a compliant successor, passed over Monivong's
son in favour of his youthful and inexperienced grandson,
Norodom Sihanouk
, who
was crowned in September 1941.
Despite their hands-off approach in Indochina, the Japanese were supportive of
anti-colonial feeling, partly to gain support for their own presence. The effect of these
sentiments would become manifest after the Japanese surrender in August 1945, by
which time they had dissolved the French administration.
Towards independence
Though the French had reinstated their of
cials by the end of 1945, the prewar status
quo was never quite restored. The Thai government were now funding anti-Japanese
Early 16th century
1594
1767
Ang Chan (ruled
1505/1516-56) establishes
new court and capital
at Lovek
Continuing Thai incursions
culminate in the sack of Lovek. King
Chey Chettha establishes a new
capital at Oudong
Thai general Taksin invades Cambodia,
ransacks Phnom Penh and assumes
control of the country
