The History of Cambodia

By tj15

  • Independence from France

    King Norodom Sihanouk declared independence from France. Many Cambodians were trying to gain independence since the 1930s and King Norodom Sihanouk did it for them.

  • A new King

    King Sihanouk addicted the throne and became the prime minister. His father Norodom Suramarit then became the king.

  • The death of King Norodom Suramarit

    King Norodom Suramarit dies and his son Norodom Sihanouk becomes head of state.

  • Realtions with the US.

    Sihanouk breaks off relations with the US.

  • Cambodia bombing

    The US plans a secret bombing against the North Vietnamese on Cambodia soil.

  • Overthrow of Sihanouk

    Prime Minister Lon Noi overthrows Sihanouk in coup.

  • Overthrow of Lon Noi

    Lon Noi is overthrown by Pol Pot. Sihanouk becomes head of state and the country is renamed Kampuchea.

  • Rename of Kampuchea

    The country is renamed Democratic Kampuchea.

  • Resign of Sihanouk

    Sihanouk resigns, Khieu Samphan becomes head of state and Pol Pot is prime minister.

  • Vietnam fights in Cambodia.

    The fight breaks out or begins with the Vietnamese in Cambodia.

  • lightning assault on Cambodia.

    Vietnamese invade in a lightning assault.

  • Vietnamese take Phnom Penh

    The Vietnamese take Phnom Penh. Pol Pot and Khmer Rouge forces flee to the border region with Thailand.

  • New Elections part 2

    The pro-Vietnamese Kampuchean People's Revolutionary Party wins parliamentary elections. The international community refuses to recognise the new government.

  • New Elections

    The People's Republic of Kampuchea is established. Many elements of life before the Khmer Rouge take-over are re-established

  • Hun Sen

    Hun sen becomes prime minister.

  • Guerrilla Warfare.

    Cambodia is plagued by guerrilla warfare. Hundreds of thousands become refugees.

  • Kampuchea is renamed

    Kampuchea is re-named the State of Cambodia.

  • Buddhism is back

    Buddhism is re-established as the state religion.

  • Vietnamese troops

    Vietnamese troops withdraw from Cambodia.

  • Peace Agreement

    A peace agreement is signed in Paris for Cambodia.

  • The monarchy is restored

    The monarchy is restored, Sihanouk becomes king again. The country is re-named the Kingdom of Cambodia. The government-in-exile loses its seat at the UN

  • Pol Pot

    Hun Sen mounts a coup against the prime minister, Prince Ranariddh, and replaces him with Ung Huot. The coup attracts international condemnation. The Khmer Rouge put Pol Pot on trial and sentence him to life imprisonment

  • death of pol pot

    Pol Pot dies in his jungle hideout.

  • Bridge

    First bridge across the Mekong River opens, linking east and west Cambodia.

  • Rainsy is convicted

    Rainsy is convicted in absentia of defaming Hun Sen and is sentenced to 18 months in prison

  • Duch goes on trial

    Former Khmer Rouge leader Kaing Guek Eav known as Duch goes on trial on charges of presiding over the murder and torture of thousands of people as head of the notorious Tuol Sleng prison camp.

  • Duch is arrested

    Comrade Duch is found guilty of crimes against humanity and given 35-year prison sentence.

  • Norodom Sihanouk dies

    Former king, Norodom Sihanouk, dies of a heart attack. He was 89.

  • Hun Sen

    Prime Minister Hun Sen marks 30 years in power.

  • Rainsy Resigns

    Sam Rainsy resigns as head of the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP). He had been in self-imposed exile since 2005, when parliament stripped him of his immunity.

  • Kem Sokha

    Human rights activist Kem Sokha is appointed as the new leader of the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), replacing Sam Rainsy.