15 Facts About Sisowath Kossamak

Sisowath Kossamak was Queen of Cambodia from 1955 to 1960 as the wife of King Norodom Suramarit and reigning Queen of Cambodia from 1960 until the abolition of the monarchy in 1970.

Sisowath Kossamak was born a Cambodian princess as the daughter of King Sisowath Monivong and his wife Norodom Kanviman Norleak Tevi.

Sisowath Kossamak remained under house arrest until her health declined in 1973, and she was allowed to join her son in China.

Sisowath Kossamak Kosamak was the daughter of King Sisowath Kossamak Monivong and Queen Norodom Kanviman Norleak Tevi.

Sisowath Kossamak was not on good terms with her daughter-in-law, Princess Monique, which led to advisories blaming Monique for the sometimes strained relationship between Kossamak and Sihanouk, and for Sihanouk's alleged initial hesitance to abdicate, as it would make his mother queen.

Queen Sisowath Kossamak enjoyed great respect and popularity: despite being neither a monarch nor politically influential, she was said to exert great moral authority over the Khmers, was described as generous to the poor and devoting herself to the welfare of the nation.

When king Norodom Suramarit died in 1960, a demonstration took place in Battambang in which the protestors called for the widowed Queen Sisowath Kossamak to take the throne as a ruling monarch.

Sisowath Kossamak commented his refusal with the comment that 'Only God understands the reasons why I do not want my mother to ascend the throne.

Sisowath Kossamak's brother Prince Monireth commented the matter in his memoirs that it was a shame that his sister had not been born male so she could have succeeded to the throne:.

Sisowath Kossamak kept her title of Queen after the death of her spouse, which was a higher title than her son, the head of state, who insisted on keeping his title Prince rather than King.

In 1960, King Suramarit died and Sihanouk became Head of State, with his mother, Queen Sisowath Kossamak performing as the ceremonial monarch.

Queen Sisowath Kossamak occupied the throne of Cambodia from 1960 but her political power was virtually non-existent.

Queen Sisowath Kossamak continued in her public representational role during the reign of her son as Chief of State during the 1960s.

Sisowath Kossamak was however asked by the Khmer Republic government to mediate between her son and the National Assembly 'in a last-ditch attempt to turn the people's anger and save her son'.

Sisowath Kossamak was allowed to join her son in Beijing in China for health reasons in 1973.