Norodom Sihanouk

31 October 1922 – 15 October 2012

Norodom Sihanouk was a Cambodian head of state who held office under several titles between 1941 and 2004, including king, prime minister and head of state. He led the campaign that ended French rule over Cambodia in 1953, was removed in a coup in 1970, spent years in exile and under house arrest, and was restored to the throne in 1993 after the Paris Peace Agreements. He abdicated in 2004 and died in Beijing in 2012.

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Life events

Born in Phnom Penh
31 October 1922

Born into the Cambodian royal family during the French protectorate.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Became King of Cambodia
1941

Selected for the throne by the French colonial administration on the death of his grandfather Sisowath Monivong.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Cambodia gained independence from France
9 November 1953

France transferred remaining powers after his campaign for independence.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Abdicated to enter electoral politics
1955

Gave up the throne to his father and founded the Sangkum movement, later serving as prime minister and head of state.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Lived in exile in Beijing and Pyongyang
1970 – 1975

Headed a government-in-exile allied with the Khmer Rouge against the Lon Nol government.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Deposed while abroad
18 March 1970

The National Assembly removed him as head of state in a vote led by Lon Nol while he was travelling in Moscow.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Resigned as head of state under the Khmer Rouge
1976

Left the post in 1976 and was kept under house arrest in Phnom Penh until 1979.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Returned to Cambodia after the Paris Peace Agreements
1991

Came back to Phnom Penh as chairman of the Supreme National Council.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Restored as King of Cambodia
24 September 1993

Took the throne again under the new constitution following United Nations-supervised elections.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Died in Beijing
15 October 2012

Died of a heart attack while receiving medical treatment in China, eight years after abdicating in favour of his son Norodom Sihamoni.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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