Ang Duong - Historical Background

Historical Background

Further information: Siamese–Vietnamese War (1841–1845) and Colonial Cambodia

Cambodia during the reign of King Ang Duong was in danger of being swallowed by her two powerful neighbours, Vietnam and Siam. In order to protect Cambodia from being swallowed by Vietnam and Siam, King Ang Duong secretly began to make contacts with the French authority based in Asia for protection. King Ang Duong's action paved the way for France to establish a French Protectorate in 1863 which had lasted for 90 years. Preah Bat Ang Duong was responsible for Cambodia becoming a French protectorate but he died three years before the protectorate, which was established during the reign of his elder son, King Norodom.

There has been much debate over the wisdom of his action. However, due to the circumstances of the time, Preah Bat Ang Duong had probably made the right decision, since the Khmer ancient culture and customs were under threat of being quashed, and the country would be swallowed altogether, had Cambodia come under the control of the Siamese and the Vietnamese. Although by becoming a French protectorate it would mean that Cambodia had virtually lost her independence and the French rule caused many hardships for the Cambodian people, the Protectorate had ensured Cambodia's survival to this present day. Under the French Protectorate, although losing her independence, Cambodia was able to preserve its identity, culture, traditions and ways of life which would have been otherwise destroyed by the Vietnamese and the Siamese had he chosen to remain a vassalage state to both these countries.