Ang Duong

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Ang Duong bigraphy, stories - Cambodian politician

Ang Duong : biography

1796 – 19 May 1860

Ang Duong () (1796–19 May 1860) (r. 1841–1844, 1845–1860) was a king of Cambodia.

Ang Duong was younger son of king Ang Eng, who 1779–1797 was ruler of Cambodia at the then capital Udong, by one of his Thai consorts, Ros, ‘queen Vara’ (died c. 1869), whom he had taken as concubine in 1793 from Bangkok.

He is regarded as the Great-King of Cambodia who protected the country from both invasion and steered it away from poverty. King Ang Duong was the son of King Ang Eng (died 1796) and the father of King Norodom (1834–1904)and King Sisowath (1840–1927). He was the great-great-grandfather of king Sihanouk. He had been living in Bangkok for 27 years since he was 16 until 43.

His official title is Preah Raja Samdach Preah Hariraksha Rama Suriya Maha Isvara Adipati.

Gallery

File:Ang Duong Chedey.jpg|The Stupa of King Ang Duong

Literary works in Siam

In 1814, King Ang Duong works as poet and great classical writer of Cambodian literature in Bangkok. He translated Cambodian literature Vorvong & Sorvong into Thai language if taken as a gift for the birthday of crowned prince Mongkut.

In 1843, King Ang Duong was crowned as king of Cambodia, and come back to Oudong.

Historical background

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.