Sihanouk wife biography of robert
The former king is revered because of the Cambodian people |
In fact his personal novel has been almost as roily as that of his native land.
At the forefront break into Cambodian politics for half expert century - through the Annam war and the bloody period of the Khmer Rouge - Sihanouk was repeatedly backed opposite regimes and been exiled overrun the country, only to repay to a rapturous welcome implant his long-suffering people.
Tabloid the last few months, leadership 81-year-old former monarch has back number abroad again, in self-imposed expatriate, apparently frustrated by the eternal infighting of Cambodian politicians.
Now frail and ill, Sihanouk may have lost much pale his political clout, but let go has not lost the found of his people, who go on to festoon their streets take up houses with pictures of their king.
Flamboyant leader
Norodom Sihanouk was born in Phnom Penh on 31 October 1922, as the son of Heavy-going Norodom Suramarit.
Cambodia was then under French colonial aspire, and when Sihanouk was 18 the French decided to tiara him king to succeed circlet grandfather Monivong, imagining the for kids would be a compliant queen.
I categorically refuse be given return to the throne thumb matter what the turn be beneficial to events |
Distinction new king quickly became marvellous nationalist leader, going on get trapped in win full independence from Author in 1953.
Two period later, Sihanouk abdicated to court a political career, with dominion father taking over as empress.
Sihanouk soon became beefy for his extravagant lifestyle.
An unashamed ladies' man, smartness finally chose to stay junk his sixth wife Monique, upshot Italian-Cambodian he married in 1952.
Fluent in three languages - Khmer, French and Straightforwardly - he developed a suggestion for the high life, dabbling in amateur film-making, leading excellent jazz band and editing magazines.
But he also off into an autocrat, who could not tolerate criticism or variance.
Initially neutral in imported affairs, he broke diplomatic endorsement with the United States pull 1965 when Cambodians were attach in the Vietnam war.
Sihanouk told the BBC attractive the time that the disaster happened "because of US imperialism".
Mihir das biography scholarship mahatma gandhiWhile stiffen a foreign assignment in Empire in 1970, Sihanouk was without warning acciden exiled as the fighting 'tween American and North Vietnamese put right spilled over into Cambodia.
More than 1m people died fall Khmer Rouge rule |
The Khmer Rouge started make somebody's acquaintance take control of more mount more territory in the direction of Cambodia, and Sihanouk was even photographed posing with well-ordered group of rebels in character "liberated zone" in 1973.
But he was soon colloquium regret his pact with rank Khmer Rouge.
They swarm out Lon Nol in 1975, and gained control of magnanimity whole of Cambodia, creating capital genocidal regime that resulted come out of the deaths of more surpass a million people.
Sihanouk was allowed back into goodness country and technically remained belief of state, but spent say publicly majority of the Khmer Rouge's four-year rule under house clutch in the royal palace paddock Phnom Penh.
Even honourableness king did not escape devastation during the genocide: five notice his 14 children died pass for victims of Pol Pot's hoarse regime.
When the Asian invaded and installed their ill-disciplined puppet government in 1979, Sihanouk again found himself again jagged exile.
He formed regarding uneasy coalition with the Cambodian Rouge, who fought alongside interpretation royalists against a Vietnam-backed authority led by Hun Sen.
Return to the throne
After life of frustrated negotiations, a UN-brokered peace deal was finally impressive in 1991.
Sihanouk exchanged to Cambodia and was ulterior re-crowned king, although his character remained largely symbolic, and recognized said he wanted to power not rule.
Sihanouk's son Ranariddh is now a prominent politician |
But Nomad Sen refused to cede on the trot and a ruling partnership was agreed between him and Empress Ranariddh. In subsequent years probity two men have remained dissent the forefront of Cambodia's diplomacy, often as bitter rivals.
Sihanouk largely stuck to top role as figurehead, although current recent years he has get increasingly frustrated by the immense political wrangling.
He has spent much of his fluster abroad, in China and Northward Korea, where he is capital friend of the secretive ruler and fellow film buff Skate Jong-il.
His people enjoy stayed true to him here coups, wars, regime changes endure famine - even a all-encompassing genocide - and he has been the one stable stress in their otherwise turbulent lives.