Norodom Monineath

Birthday June 18, 1936

Birth Sign Gemini

Birthplace Saigon, Cochinchina, French Indochina (now Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam)

Age 87 years old

Nationality Vietnam

#41603 Most Popular

1936

Norodom Monineath Sihanouk (នរោត្ដម មុនីនាថ សីហនុ, ; born Paule Monique Izzi; 18 June 1936) is the Queen Mother of Cambodia.

Norodom Monineath was born on 18 June 1936, in Saigon, French Indochina, in present-day Vietnam.

She was born Paule-Monique Izzi, and is sometimes referred to as Queen Monique.

Her father, Jean-François Izzi, was a French banker of Corsican, French and Italian descent, who was Director of Crédit Foncier in Saigon, and killed in World War II.

Her mother, Pomme Peang, was from Phnom Penh.

Norodom Monineath studied at the Primary School Norodom, Sisowath High School, and the Lycée René Descartes.

1951

She met Norodom Sihanouk in 1951, when he awarded her first prize in a beauty pageant.

1952

They lived together since 12 April 1952, and married on 5 March 1955 at Khemerin Palace, as the "secondary consort" (Sihanouk married his official wife, Norodom Thavet Norleak, on 4 March 1955, before being married to Monineath).

She has been described as the close confidant of Sihanouk.

1955

She is the widow of King-Father Norodom Sihanouk, whom she married in 1955 as the "secondary consort" (Sihanouk married his official wife, Norodom Thavet Norleak, as the "first lady" also in 1955, before being married to Monineath).

In 1955, Princess Monique's husband abdicated in favor of his father, but continued to rule the country as premier.

1960

In 1960, he became head of state again, but known as premier and with the title prince.

Princess Monique, as she was called during this period, was exposed to some criticism from the Khmer Republic for her life during the reign of Sihanouk in the 1960s.

The propaganda of the Khmer Republic was later to accuse her of having caused the strained relationship between Sihanouk and his mother, the popular queen mother Sisowath Kossamak, and for being the cause to why her spouse prevented his mother from succeeding to the throne in 1960.

The Khmer Republic propaganda claimed that she had advised Sihanouk to introduce the unpopular state casino, which was at the time viewed as a symbol of national decadence, and alleged that she, her mother Madame Pomme, and her brother Oum Manorine contributed to corruption by promoting proteges to lucrative offices.

The Khmer Republic reportedly once burned her image in effigy for corruption.

1967

Princess Monique served as president of the Cambodian Red Cross (CRC) in 1967–1970.

1968

After Sihanouk and Norleak divorced in 1968, Monineath became the official spouse of the King.

Monineath and King Sihanouk had two children: Norodom Sihamoni and Norodom Narindrapong; both were born before their parents married.

Her official, full title is "Samdech Preah Mahaksatrey Norodom Monineath Sihanouk" (សម្តេចព្រះមហាក្សត្រី នរោត្តម មុនិនាថ សីហនុ).

The Queen is also called "Preah Voreakreach Meada Cheat Khmer" (ព្រះវររាជមាតាជាតិខ្មែរ, lit. "mother of the Khmer nation").

Her birthday on 18 June is an official public holiday in Cambodia.

1970

After the Cambodian coup of 1970, she joined her husband in exile first in Beijing in China and then North Korea.

As guests of the North Korean leader Kim Il Sung, a palace with 60 rooms was given to them as their residence during their stay.

1973

In 1973, Norodom Sihanouk allied himself with the Khmer Rouge against their common enemy, Lon Nol.

The royal couple also made a visit to Khmer Rouge territory in Cambodia before returning to China.

1975

After the fall of Phnom Penh to the Khmer Rouge in April 1975, she returned to the royal palace in Phnom Penh in Cambodia with her husband, who was appointed nominal head of state by the Khmer Rouge.

1976

From 1976 onward, however, they were both kept under house arrest by the Khmer Rouge.

They were reportedly subjected to a political re-education program during these years, and at least 18 members of the extended royal house were killed.

Reportedly, the regime suggested to have them executed, but this was prevented by intervention by China and North Korea.

1979

In January 1979, Pol Pot allowed for her and her husband to be evacuated from Cambodia by the Chinese.

The original plan was to evacuate only Sihanouk and Monineath, but Pol Pot himself insisted that all members of the royal house should be given a place on the Chinese plane.

Norodom Monineath spent the following years with her husband as state guests of China and North Korea.

1987

She is credited to have played some part in the peace negotiations arranged between Sihanouk and Hun Sen by Tong Siv Eng in 1987 and 1988, and she is known to have been present during the negotiations.

1991

In 1991, she returned to Cambodia with Sihanouk.

1992

On 22 February 1992, she was elevated by the King to the rank of Samdech Preah Cheayea.

1993

She was Queen of Cambodia from 1993 to 2004, as the wife of King Norodom Sihanouk.

On 24 September 1993, she was raised to the rank of Samdech Preah Mohèsey Norodom Monineath of Cambodia.

1996

On 2 January 1996, the King elevated her to the rank of Samdech Preah Reach Akka Mohèsey Norodom Monineath.

Sihanouk reportedly suggested to change the constitution to make it possible for her to be a regent and succeed him on the throne, but ultimately, this did not come about, and he chose to abdicate in favor of their son instead.