House of Norodom

The House of Norodom (Khmer: រាជវង្សនរោត្តម, UNGEGN: Réachôvôngs Nôroŭttâm, ALA-LC: Rājavangs Narottam [riəceaʔʋɔŋ nɔroːɗɑm]; lit. 'Norodom dynasty') is the ruling royal house of Cambodia. Its members are direct descendants of King Norodom (1860–1904), a son of the "Great-King", Ang Duong. The current head of the House of Norodom is the current king of Cambodia, Norodom Sihamoni. Norodom is one of the two royal houses of Cambodia. Its counterpart, the House of Sisowath, is named after another son of Ang Duong, Sisowath. Four members have served as Kings of Cambodia, and three as Prime Ministers.

House of Norodom រាជវង្សនរោត្តម
Royal Arms of the King of Cambodia
Country	Cambodia
Founded	19 October 1860; 165 years ago (1860-10-19)
Founder	Norodom
Current head	Norodom Sihamoni
Titles	King of Cambodia Queen of Cambodia Queen Mother of Cambodia
Style(s)	Samdech Krom Preah Samdech Krom Khun Samdech Krom Loung Samdech Preah Anoch Samdech Preah Ream Samdech Preah Mohessara
Members	List

History

The Royal House of Norodom traces its origins to King Ang Duong (1796–1860), who reigned from 1848 until his death. During his reign, Cambodia was caught between the regional powers of Siam and Vietnam, both of which frequently interfered in Cambodian politics. Ang Duong, who had spent many years in the Siamese court, sought to strengthen Cambodia’s sovereignty by reviving Khmer culture, reforming administration, and cautiously reaching out to France for protection against its neighbors. Although he died before completing negotiations, his foreign policy laid the foundation for Cambodia’s later relationship with France.^[1]

Following Ang Duong’s death in 1860, his eldest son, Prince Norodom (1834–1904), was chosen as the new monarch. His enthronement formally established the House of Norodom as a distinct branch of the Cambodian royal family. In 1863, King Norodom signed a treaty with France, placing Cambodia under French protection while preserving the monarchy. This marked the beginning of nearly ninety years of French colonial influence, during which the throne alternated at times between the House of Norodom and the House of Sisowath, another branch descending from King Ang Duong.

The House of Norodom returned to prominence in 1941, when the French authorities selected Norodom Sihanouk, great-grandson of Norodom I, to become king. Sihanouk reigned during World War II and led Cambodia to independence from France in 1953, becoming the most prominent monarch of the dynasty. In 1955 he abdicated in favor of his father, Norodom Suramarit, and assumed the role of Head of State after Suramarit’s death in 1960. Sihanouk was deposed in 1970 following a coup d'etat by General Lon Nol, which abolished the monarchy and established the Khmer Republic.^[2]

During the Khmer Rouge regime (1975–1979), Sihanouk was briefly installed as head of state before being placed under house arrest. After the fall of the Khmer Rouge, he continued to play a role in Cambodian politics from exile.^[3] In 1993, following United Nations–organized elections, the monarchy was restored as a constitutional institution and Sihanouk was reinstated as king. He reigned until his abdication in 2004, citing age and health concerns.

In October 2004, the Royal Council of the Throne elected Norodom Sihamoni, son of Norodom Sihanouk, as king. Sihamoni remains the current monarch of Cambodia, continuing the legacy of the House of Norodom into the 21st century.^[4]

Members

• Norodom (1834–1904)
• Norodom Sutharot (1872–1945)
• Norodom Phangangam (1874–1944)
• Norodom Kanviman Norleak Tevi (1876–1912)
• Norodom Suramarit (1896–1960)
• Sisowath Kossamak (by marriage; 1904–1975)
• Norodom Kantol (1920–1976)
• Norodom Sihanouk (1922–2012)
• Norodom Monineath Sihanouk (by marriage; born 1936)
• Norodom Montana (1902–1975)
• Norodom Buppha Devi (1943–2019)
• Norodom Yuvaneath (1943–2021)
• Norodom Ranariddh (1944–2021)
• Norodom Chakrapong (born 1945)
• Norodom Vichara (1946–2013)
• Norodom Marie Ranariddh (by marriage; born 1948)
• Norodom Kuntha Bopha (1948–1952)
• Norodom Sirivudh (born 1951)^[5]
• Norodom Sihamoni (born 1953)^[6]
• Norodom Narindrapong (1954–2003)
• Norodom Arunrasmy (born 1955)
• Norodom Soma (born 1969)
• Norodom Rattana Devi (born 1974)
• Norodom Jenna (born 2012)

List of Norodom monarchs

Portrait	Name	Reign
		From	To	Duration
	Norodom នរោត្តម (b. 1834 – d. 1904)	19 October 1860	24 April 1904	43 years, 188 days
	Norodom Sihanouk នរោត្តម សីហនុ (b. 1922 – d. 2012)	24 April 1941	2 March 1955	13 years, 312 days
		24 September 1993	7 October 2004	11 years, 13 days
	Norodom Suramarit នរោត្តម សុរាម្រិត (b. 1896 – d. 1960)	3 March 1955	3 April 1960	5 years, 31 days
	Norodom Sihamoni នរោត្តម សីហមុនី (b. 1953)	14 October 2004	Present	21 years, 70 days

List of Norodom consorts

Portrait	Name	Reign
		From	To	Duration
	Norodom Monineath Sihanouk នរោត្តម មុនិនាថ សីហនុ (b. 1936)	24 September 1993	7 October 2004	11 years, 13 days

List of Norodom Prime Ministers

Portrait		Name	In office			Party
			From	To	Duration
		Norodom Sihanouk នរោត្តម សីហនុ (b. 1922 – d. 2012)	18 March 1945	13 August 1945	148 days	Independent
			28 April 1950	30 May 1950	32 days
			16 June 1952	24 January 1953	222 days
			7 April 1954	18 April 1954	11 days
			3 October 1955	5 January 1956	94 days	Sangkum
			1 March 1956	24 March 1956	23 days
			15 September 1956	15 October 1956	30 days
			9 April 1957	7 July 1957	89 days
			10 July 1958	19 April 1960	1 year, 284 days
			17 November 1961	13 February 1962	88 days
		Norodom Kantol នរោត្តម កន្តុល (b. 1920 – d. 1976)	6 October 1962	25 October 1966	4 years, 19 days	Sangkum
		Norodom Ranariddh នរោត្តម រណឫទ្ធិ (b. 1944 – d. 2021)	2 July 1993	6 August 1997	4 years, 35 days	FUNCINPEC