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1. Khmer Empire in Cambodia 802-1431
Powerful Southeast Asian Empire
The Khmer Empire or officially the Angkor Empire between 802-1431 is the predecessor state to modern Cambodia. The Khmer Empire was a powerful Hindu-Buddhist Empire in Southeast Asia. The ancient empire was situated in the area of the present-day Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam. The Khmer Empire grew out of the former kingdoms of Funan and Chenla. The Khmer Empire ruled over or visualized most of mainland Southeast Asia. The greatest legacy of the empire is Angkor, the site of the ancient capital during the zenith of the Khmer Empire.
Ancient capital Angkor
Satellite images have revealed that Angkor was the largest pre-industrial urban centre in the world during its peak in the 11th to 13th centuries. The famous monuments of Angkor Wat and Bayon demonstrate the Khmer Empire's immense power and wealth, impressive art, architectural technique and culture. The beginning of the Khmer Empire is conventionally dated to 802, when King Jayavarman II declared himself the chakravartin ("king of the world" or king of kings") on Phnom Kulen.
Decline of Khmer Empire
The empire ended with the fall of Angkor in the 15th century. In 1431 the king abandoned Angkor and left to Phnom Penh area. There are many explanations for the decline of Angkor, including foreign pressure from neighboring kingdoms, ecological breakdown with droughts for example, plague and problems caused by conversion of faith by the people. The scientists don't completely agree about the reasons so there are many theories about the decline of the once thriving Khmer Empire.
2. Dark ages of Cambodia 1431-1863
Definition
The Dark ages of Cambodia refer to the time period in Cambodian history, which started after Angkor was abandoned and ended when Cambodia became a French Protectorate. There's not much information about the Dark ages of Cambodia, in this era there was even a period when there's not even a single contemporary record of a king's name for over 200 years.
Outside sources
There are almost no records about the 15th century, only some external sources from the Chinese Ming Shilu annales and the earliest Royal Chronicle of Ayutthaya. There are more sources for the 16th century, however they are as well from the outside of Cambodia. Siamese and Vietnamese dominance in Southeast Asia intensified during the 17th and 18th century causing the Khmer Kingdom to become a vassal state, which had to pay tribute to these powers.
Reason of becoming a French protectorate
Cambodia lost its independence in the 19th century, when it was placed under joint suzerainty by Vietnam and Siam. The fear of being incorporated into Vietnam and Siam led King Ang Duong to agree to colonial France's offer of protection. The offer took effect with King Norodom Prohmbarirak signing and officially recognizing the French protectorate on 11 August 1863.
3. Cambodia part of French Indochina 1887-1953
Protectorate 1863
In 1863 Cambodia became a French Protectorate and that doubled the size of the country by reclaiming the north and the west from Thailand. Under the protection treaty signed with France, Cambodia was allowed to keep its monarchy. However the power was vested in a resident general located in Phnom Penh. France was in charge of Cambodia's foreign and trade relations besides providing military protection.
French Indochina 1887
In 1887 Cambodia was integrated into the French Indochina union with the French colonies and protectorates in Vietnam. In 1885-1895 there were rebellions in Vietnam against the colonial power. Thailand (then Siam) had many times conflicts with France, which tried to expand the borders of French Indochina. There were conflicts or wars with Thailand in 1893, 1904-1907 and 1940-1941. As a result of all these conflicts the borders in Southeast Asia changed a lot during this period. Unlike French North Africa, French Indochina didn't have many French settlers. This was mainly, because French Indochina was an economic colony with the main purpose of exploiting the natural resources of the area rather than settlement colony helping Metropolitan France from being overpopulated. The French government improved the infrastructure of French Indochina by constructing roads, railways and buildings. The colonists also built towns and cities in Indochina serving different purposes from trading outposts to resorts.
End of French Indochina 1954
French Indochina was occupied by Japan during World War II. After the war France tried to reclaim the control of French Indochina, but it wasn't able to do it and so it had to accept the independence of the countries in French Indochina. In 1946 Cambodia was granted self-rule within the French Indochina union and its protectorate status was abolished in 1949. In 1953 Cambodia celebrated its independence from France. One year later in 1954 the French Indochina came to an end.
French Indochina timeline
1887 French Indochina established on October 17th including Annam, Tonkin, Cochinchina and Cambodia
1893 Laos was added to French Indochina
1900 Kwangchow Wan was added to French Indochina
1945 North Vietnam became independent
1953 Laos became independent on October 22th
1953 Cambodia became independent on November 9th
1954 South Vietnam became independent on July 24th
4. Bombing of Cambodia
Vietnam War
The disastrous bombings of Cambodia occurred between March 18, 1969 and May 28, 1970 during the Vietnam War. USA was allied with South Vietnam, who were fighting against the Communists of North Vietnam. The forces of North Vietnam had sanctuaries and supply routes in Cambodia and from there they launched some attacks against South Vietnam and the American forces. US President Nixon wanted to stop the attacks of the North Vietnamese Viet Cong.
Secret Operation Menu 1969-1970
Nixon consulted his National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger and the two came up with a plan to bomb secretly the bases of Viet Cong in Cambodia. The plan had to be kept secret, otherwise it would have caused a national chaos, especially because Cambodia had declared itself as a neutral country in the conflict. Nixon gave the orders directly to the bombers without even consulting the Congress. Nixon kept the attack a secret from high-ranking officials in the military as well. Operation Menu started on March 18, 1969 when planes started bombing Cambodia. The first set of bombings were named Breakfast and it was hailed as a success by the White House. Then the Nixon administration secretly ordered more bombings without the consent of the Congress. Air raids called codenamed Lunch, Snack, Dinner and Dessert then followed Breakfast concluding Operation Menu.
US troops occupy parts of Cambodia 1970
In April 1970 Nixon ordered US troops to occupy parts of Cambodia and he claimed that the soldiers were protecting the US withdrawal from South Vietnam. The chaos created by USA led the Cambodians to overthrow their government, leading eventually to the rise of the Khmer Rouge.
Result of the bombings
Many Americans were against the war in Vietnam and the US involvement. The opposition against the Vietnam War grew after the media outlets publicized what America had done in Cambodia. As a result of the US bombing in Cambodia a total of 2,756,941 tons of bombs were dropped, making the country possible the most heavily bombed country in the world. As a comparison the Allies dropped just over 2 million tons of bombs during the whole World War II including the atomic bombs of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. A lot of innocent people died, because of the bombings and have died and injured up to this day due to the bombs in the terrain.
5. Khmer Rouge in Cambodia
Most devastating period in Cambodian history 1975-1979
The rule of Khmer Rouge led by Pol Pot between 1975-1979 is the most devastating period of the Cambodian history. At least 1.7 million people, almost a quarter of the population was killed by execution, starvation or overwork.
Coup of 1970 in Cambodia
In 1970 Prince Norodom Sihanouk was overthrown by Marshal Lon Nol in a coup. Sihanouk then aligned with the Khmer Rouge, which were building a following in the countryside of Cambodia. The chaotic situation at the time was partly caused by the bombings of USA in Cambodia during the Vietnam War. USA suspected that the North Vietnamese Viet Cong forces had supply lines and sanctuaries in Cambodia, from where they launched attacks against the American and South Vietnamese forces. That's why USA bombed Cambodia and occupied parts of the country in 1970.
Khmer Rouge rise in power 1975
In 1975 the Khmer Rouge seized Phnom Penh taking Cambodia under their control. About two million people were forced out of the cities to rural areas as the Khmer Rouge tried to create a purely agrarian society. The Khmer Rouge idealized the Angkor Empire in 802-1431 and had an existential fear about the existence of the Cambodian state, which had been liquidated historically during periods of Vietnamese and Siamese intervention. During the Khmer Rouge Cambodia was an atheist state and 95% of Cambodia's Buddhist temples were destroyed during this time. Many ethnic minorities were exterminated and this era gave rise to the term "Killing Fields". Also intellectuals were killed for example professionals like doctors, lawyers and teachers.
Vietnamese occupation in Cambodia 1979-1990
In 1978 the Vietnamese troops invaded Cambodia after some border raids by the Khmer Rouge as they had the intention to get some of their historical areas from Vietnam back. In 1979 Vietnam takes over Phnom Penh and starts the 11-year Vietnamese occupation in Cambodia. The Khmer Rouge move to the west and lose the control of the country. Pol Pot and Ieng Sary were found guilty in 1979 in the genocide tribunal, where neither of the men arrived. They didn't serve a sentence either. The Khmer Rouge continued guerrilla war until 1998 when Pol Pot died. The year 1999 is considered the end of Khmer Rouge.
1. Khmer Empire in Cambodia 802-1431
Powerful Southeast Asian Empire
The Khmer Empire or officially the Angkor Empire between 802-1431 is the predecessor state to modern Cambodia. The Khmer Empire was a powerful Hindu-Buddhist Empire in Southeast Asia. The ancient empire was situated in the area of the present-day Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam. The Khmer Empire grew out of the former kingdoms of Funan and Chenla. The Khmer Empire ruled over or visualized most of mainland Southeast Asia. The greatest legacy of the empire is Angkor, the site of the ancient capital during the zenith of the Khmer Empire.
Ancient capital Angkor
Satellite images have revealed that Angkor was the largest pre-industrial urban centre in the world during its peak in the 11th to 13th centuries. The famous monuments of Angkor Wat and Bayon demonstrate the Khmer Empire's immense power and wealth, impressive art, architectural technique and culture. The beginning of the Khmer Empire is conventionally dated to 802, when King Jayavarman II declared himself the chakravartin ("king of the world" or king of kings") on Phnom Kulen.
Decline of Khmer Empire
The empire ended with the fall of Angkor in the 15th century. In 1431 the king abandoned Angkor and left to Phnom Penh area. There are many explanations for the decline of Angkor, including foreign pressure from neighboring kingdoms, ecological breakdown with droughts for example, plague and problems caused by conversion of faith by the people. The scientists don't completely agree about the reasons so there are many theories about the decline of the once thriving Khmer Empire.
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| Khmer Empire 802-1431 |
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| Buddhist monks at Angkor Wat |
2. Dark ages of Cambodia 1431-1863
Definition
The Dark ages of Cambodia refer to the time period in Cambodian history, which started after Angkor was abandoned and ended when Cambodia became a French Protectorate. There's not much information about the Dark ages of Cambodia, in this era there was even a period when there's not even a single contemporary record of a king's name for over 200 years.
Outside sources
There are almost no records about the 15th century, only some external sources from the Chinese Ming Shilu annales and the earliest Royal Chronicle of Ayutthaya. There are more sources for the 16th century, however they are as well from the outside of Cambodia. Siamese and Vietnamese dominance in Southeast Asia intensified during the 17th and 18th century causing the Khmer Kingdom to become a vassal state, which had to pay tribute to these powers.
Reason of becoming a French protectorate
Cambodia lost its independence in the 19th century, when it was placed under joint suzerainty by Vietnam and Siam. The fear of being incorporated into Vietnam and Siam led King Ang Duong to agree to colonial France's offer of protection. The offer took effect with King Norodom Prohmbarirak signing and officially recognizing the French protectorate on 11 August 1863.
 |
| Spheres of influence in mainland Southeast Asia c. 1540 |
3. Cambodia part of French Indochina 1887-1953
Protectorate 1863
In 1863 Cambodia became a French Protectorate and that doubled the size of the country by reclaiming the north and the west from Thailand. Under the protection treaty signed with France, Cambodia was allowed to keep its monarchy. However the power was vested in a resident general located in Phnom Penh. France was in charge of Cambodia's foreign and trade relations besides providing military protection.
French Indochina 1887
In 1887 Cambodia was integrated into the French Indochina union with the French colonies and protectorates in Vietnam. In 1885-1895 there were rebellions in Vietnam against the colonial power. Thailand (then Siam) had many times conflicts with France, which tried to expand the borders of French Indochina. There were conflicts or wars with Thailand in 1893, 1904-1907 and 1940-1941. As a result of all these conflicts the borders in Southeast Asia changed a lot during this period. Unlike French North Africa, French Indochina didn't have many French settlers. This was mainly, because French Indochina was an economic colony with the main purpose of exploiting the natural resources of the area rather than settlement colony helping Metropolitan France from being overpopulated. The French government improved the infrastructure of French Indochina by constructing roads, railways and buildings. The colonists also built towns and cities in Indochina serving different purposes from trading outposts to resorts.
End of French Indochina 1954
French Indochina was occupied by Japan during World War II. After the war France tried to reclaim the control of French Indochina, but it wasn't able to do it and so it had to accept the independence of the countries in French Indochina. In 1946 Cambodia was granted self-rule within the French Indochina union and its protectorate status was abolished in 1949. In 1953 Cambodia celebrated its independence from France. One year later in 1954 the French Indochina came to an end.
French Indochina timeline
1887 French Indochina established on October 17th including Annam, Tonkin, Cochinchina and Cambodia
1893 Laos was added to French Indochina
1900 Kwangchow Wan was added to French Indochina
1945 North Vietnam became independent
1953 Laos became independent on October 22th
1953 Cambodia became independent on November 9th
1954 South Vietnam became independent on July 24th
 |
| French Indochina expansion |
4. Bombing of Cambodia
Vietnam War
The disastrous bombings of Cambodia occurred between March 18, 1969 and May 28, 1970 during the Vietnam War. USA was allied with South Vietnam, who were fighting against the Communists of North Vietnam. The forces of North Vietnam had sanctuaries and supply routes in Cambodia and from there they launched some attacks against South Vietnam and the American forces. US President Nixon wanted to stop the attacks of the North Vietnamese Viet Cong.
Secret Operation Menu 1969-1970
Nixon consulted his National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger and the two came up with a plan to bomb secretly the bases of Viet Cong in Cambodia. The plan had to be kept secret, otherwise it would have caused a national chaos, especially because Cambodia had declared itself as a neutral country in the conflict. Nixon gave the orders directly to the bombers without even consulting the Congress. Nixon kept the attack a secret from high-ranking officials in the military as well. Operation Menu started on March 18, 1969 when planes started bombing Cambodia. The first set of bombings were named Breakfast and it was hailed as a success by the White House. Then the Nixon administration secretly ordered more bombings without the consent of the Congress. Air raids called codenamed Lunch, Snack, Dinner and Dessert then followed Breakfast concluding Operation Menu.
US troops occupy parts of Cambodia 1970
In April 1970 Nixon ordered US troops to occupy parts of Cambodia and he claimed that the soldiers were protecting the US withdrawal from South Vietnam. The chaos created by USA led the Cambodians to overthrow their government, leading eventually to the rise of the Khmer Rouge.
Result of the bombings
Many Americans were against the war in Vietnam and the US involvement. The opposition against the Vietnam War grew after the media outlets publicized what America had done in Cambodia. As a result of the US bombing in Cambodia a total of 2,756,941 tons of bombs were dropped, making the country possible the most heavily bombed country in the world. As a comparison the Allies dropped just over 2 million tons of bombs during the whole World War II including the atomic bombs of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. A lot of innocent people died, because of the bombings and have died and injured up to this day due to the bombs in the terrain.
 |
| US planes bombing Cambodia |
Most devastating period in Cambodian history 1975-1979
The rule of Khmer Rouge led by Pol Pot between 1975-1979 is the most devastating period of the Cambodian history. At least 1.7 million people, almost a quarter of the population was killed by execution, starvation or overwork.
Coup of 1970 in Cambodia
In 1970 Prince Norodom Sihanouk was overthrown by Marshal Lon Nol in a coup. Sihanouk then aligned with the Khmer Rouge, which were building a following in the countryside of Cambodia. The chaotic situation at the time was partly caused by the bombings of USA in Cambodia during the Vietnam War. USA suspected that the North Vietnamese Viet Cong forces had supply lines and sanctuaries in Cambodia, from where they launched attacks against the American and South Vietnamese forces. That's why USA bombed Cambodia and occupied parts of the country in 1970.
Khmer Rouge rise in power 1975
In 1975 the Khmer Rouge seized Phnom Penh taking Cambodia under their control. About two million people were forced out of the cities to rural areas as the Khmer Rouge tried to create a purely agrarian society. The Khmer Rouge idealized the Angkor Empire in 802-1431 and had an existential fear about the existence of the Cambodian state, which had been liquidated historically during periods of Vietnamese and Siamese intervention. During the Khmer Rouge Cambodia was an atheist state and 95% of Cambodia's Buddhist temples were destroyed during this time. Many ethnic minorities were exterminated and this era gave rise to the term "Killing Fields". Also intellectuals were killed for example professionals like doctors, lawyers and teachers.
Vietnamese occupation in Cambodia 1979-1990
In 1978 the Vietnamese troops invaded Cambodia after some border raids by the Khmer Rouge as they had the intention to get some of their historical areas from Vietnam back. In 1979 Vietnam takes over Phnom Penh and starts the 11-year Vietnamese occupation in Cambodia. The Khmer Rouge move to the west and lose the control of the country. Pol Pot and Ieng Sary were found guilty in 1979 in the genocide tribunal, where neither of the men arrived. They didn't serve a sentence either. The Khmer Rouge continued guerrilla war until 1998 when Pol Pot died. The year 1999 is considered the end of Khmer Rouge.
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| Pol Pot, birth name Saloth Sar |
 |
| Skulls in a killing field in Cambodia |
Timeline
200-400s Funan and its successor Chenla ruled in Cambodia
690 Chenla was divided into Land Chenla and Water Chenla after the death of Jayavarman I
802 Khmer Empire declared independence from Java
1200s Monks from Sri Lanka introduced Theravada Buddhism to Southeast Asia
1295 Buddhism became the official state religion when Indrawarman III took power
1432 Angor was sacked by Ayutthaya Kingdom and abandoned
1511 First mention of Cambodia was made by the Portuguese
1594 The capital Longvek was conquered and destroyed by Kingdom of Ayutthaya
1618 New Khmer capital was established at Oudong
1841-1845 After the Siamese-Vietnamese War Cambodia came under joint Siamese-Vietnamese suzerainty
1863 Cambodia became a French protectorate
1867 The Thai signed a treaty with France to get suzerainty over Cambodia in exchange for the control of Battambang and Siem Reap, which were ceded back to Cambodia in 1907 by a border treaty
1887 Cambodia became a French colony as the colony of French Indochina was established
1904 France manipulated the choice of king and placed the brother of the former king to the throne
1941 King Monivong died and France placed Norodom Sihanouk to the throne after having passed over Monivong's son Monireth
1953 Cambodia became independent from France
1955 Sihanouk abdicated in favor of his father and was elected prime minister
1960 Sihanouk's father died and he became the head of state again, taking the title of prince
1967-1975 Cambodian civil war
1969 USA started bombing in Cambodia, where the Vietnamese Communists had a sanctuary and a supply route for their arms and other aid to their armed forces in South Vietnam
1970 Prime Minister Lon Nol led a military coup overthrowing Sihanouk who was visiting Beijing
1975 Lon Nol's government surrendered and the Khmer Rouge led by Pol Pot took the power, starting one of the most devastating periods in the history of Cambodia
1979 After border disputes with Vietnam the Vietnamese army occupied Phnom Penh and overthrew the Khmer Rouge
1990 Vietnam withdrew its troops from Cambodia
1991 Paris Peace Settlement
1993 Norodom Sihanouk was restored as King of Cambodia, altough all power was in the hands of the government
1991 Paris Peace Settlement
1993 Norodom Sihanouk was restored as King of Cambodia, altough all power was in the hands of the government
1997 A coup led by the co-Prime Minister Hun Sen against the non-communist parties in the government
1998 Pol Pot died and the guerrilla war was over
2004 Norodom Sihanouk abdicated in favor of his son Norodom Sihamoni
1998 Pol Pot died and the guerrilla war was over
2004 Norodom Sihanouk abdicated in favor of his son Norodom Sihamoni
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