The former king of Cambodia held out in big politics for as long as 73 years, perhaps the longest in recent history. Norodom Sihanouk, in addition, 10 times was the prime minister of the country and was even elected head of state. The monarch’s main hobby was cinema; according to his scripts, he made about 20 feature films. He is probably one of the most unusual kings ever to rule.
early years
Born Norodom Sihanouk on October 31, 1922 in Phnom Penh, in a royal family. He received primary education at home, then studied in the French Saigon. Then he studied at the military school Somour (France). At this time, by the prince's own admission, his main hobbies were cars, girls and cinema.
In France, he met with socialist, liberal ideas and freemasons. Norodom Sihanouk was crowned at the age of 18, in 1941, with the approval of the Vichy government of France. Then Cambodia was a colony of France, which in turn was controlled by Nazi Germany. After the Second World War, he joined the liberation movement, actively seeking independence of the country. In 1953, the goal was achieved.
Chief reformer
In 1955, Norodom Sihanouk abdicated in favor of his father, who appointed him prime minister. He resolutely took up the reforms, trying to liberalize the Cambodian monarchy and socialize the economy. After the death of his father, Sihanouk abandoned the throne, changed the constitution, and was almost unanimously elected head of the new democratic state.
The political movement he created totaled about a million people. As a leader who brought independence to the country, he was very popular among the people. Photo of Norodom Sihanouk was in almost every Cambodian family. During these years, he visited China and the Soviet Union with diplomatic missions. Nikita Khrushchev even awarded Comrade Sihanouk with the Order of Suvorov.
After decisive democratic reforms, he actually only strengthened his real power. To show his closeness to the people, Sihanouk sometimes traveled to the provinces, where he worked in the field with peasants or dug irrigation canals. At the same time, he decided to realize his youthful dream - to become a movie star. In 1966, Sihanouk made his first film, “Apsara, ” as in all his subsequent works, acting as a screenwriter, director, composer, and, of course, an actor.
Between two fires
In 1970, when Norodom Sihanouk rested in France, an armed coup took place in the country. The pro-American government of Lon Nol came to power. Sihanouk formed a government in exile in China and created a broad coalition fighting against the invaders. In 1975, with the help of Vietnamese troops, the country was liberated, but the Khmer Rouge, who soon arrested Sihanouk, came to power. Total terror was unfolded in the country, many members of the royal family were executed. In total, about 3 out of 7 million citizens of the country were killed. In 1979, the bloody regime was overthrown by Vietnamese troops, which supported the rebellious general Heng Samrin. After the capture of Phnom Penh, Sihanouk was allowed to leave the country.
In the biography of Norodom Sihanouk, the period of struggle for independence began again. He was again exiled and again formed the next government on the basis of a broad coalition, which included the Khmer Rouge. Sihanouk began to fight for the withdrawal of the Vietnamese contingent from Cambodia. Armed coalition units were based in pro-Western Thailand. Since 1984, negotiations began with the Vietnamese government to return the former king to the country.
