Perhaps you’re asking yourself: Who was Ang Duong? He was King of Cambodia. He reigned from 1848 to 1860. Ang Duong’s rule brought unity to a kingdom suffering from dissent. He focused on national identity. He wanted to minimize foreign interference.
Ang Duong revised the legal codex. He also encouraged religious and cultural reforms. He faced Siamese and Vietnamese encroachment. He sought an alliance with France. This led to the 90-year French protectorate. His actions helped create modern Cambodia.
King Ang Duong was born in 1796. His father was King Ang Eng. His mother was Queen Vara, who was of Thai origin. Ang Duong was father to Kings Norodom and Sisowath. He was also the great-great-grandfather of King Norodom Sihanouk. Dedicated to extending the royal family line, Ang Duong had numerous wives. He fathered 18 legitimate children.
King Ang Duong is celebrated for promoting national unity. He revitalized the nation. He protected it from foreign invasion. But his power was limited. Poverty and internal conflict hindered lasting success. He spent 27 years in Bangkok. During his time in Thailand, Ang Duong composed poetry. He authored classical Cambodian literature. He promoted legal reform. He participated in Khmer classical dance.
Siam and Vietnam fought over Cambodia. Siam took Cambodian royalty hostage. They relocated them to Ayutthaya. Siam controlled Cambodian policies. Vietnam gained military control. They restored King Ang Chan. Later, Siam invaded again. Vietnam proved superior. Cambodia was placed under joint Siamese-Vietnamese rule.
Ang Duong sought help from the British. When that failed, he sought help from the French. His policies paved the way for the French protectorate in 1863. This lasted for 90 years. He initiated secret negotiations with Napoleon III. He proposed cooperation with France. Ang Duong died in 1860 before negotiations concluded. King Norodom signed the French protectorate in 1863. It was incorporated into the Indochinese Union in 1867.
There has been debate over Ang Duong’s policies. Some say he sought colonial serfdom. Others disagree. He may have pondered an unequal relationship with France. He knew alignment with Western powers was necessary.
Cambodia preserved its identity during French rule. Otherwise, it might have diffused into Vietnam and Siam. Their border might be the Mekong River. Ang Duong was a royal moralist and a strong Buddhist. He wrote the story of Khaki. Khmer literary scholars value it. The Khaki story is popular. It is about a woman who betrays her husband. It is used as a metaphor.
King Norodom built Ang Doung in 1891. It was to house the ashes of his father, King Ang Duong. Some say King Ang Duong is buried next to the Silver Pagoda in Phnom Penh. Decorated with coloured tiles, the stupa stands as a tribute to King Ang Duong. It honors his efforts to preserve Cambodia.