Cambodian rebels in 19th century
Cambodian rebels in 19th century
A photo of Cambodian rebels in 1884 taken by Jules Pineau
Out of curiosity, I would like to know who were these rebels back then? Is it true back in the 19th century during the French occupation the different villages in Cambodia clash with each other?
- Lucky Lucan
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It was a rebellion against French rule in 1884.
http://pavie.culture.fr/rubrique.php?ru ... d=23&lg=en
http://pavie.culture.fr/rubrique.php?ru ... d=23&lg=en
Romantic Cambodia is dead and gone. It's with McKinley in the grave.
Not exactly. There was a Prince Si Votha (spelling changes), he was half-brother of the king and had several rebellions, more against his half-brother Norodom than the French, who used it as an excuse to get more control over Norodom. It was even said that Sisowath (his other half brother) secretly supported him, just to piss off Norodom.Lucky Lucan wrote: ↑Tue Aug 31, 2021 9:37 amIt was a rebellion against French rule in 1884.
http://pavie.culture.fr/rubrique.php?ru ... d=23&lg=en
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Si_Votha
1
1
The top two and bottom left guy, and maybe the guy in front too, all look related. Maybe that’s the father/grandfather as well.
Small family unit?
Are they swords or sticks?
Anything is good to beat the French.
Small family unit?
Are they swords or sticks?
Anything is good to beat the French.
pew, pew, pew, pew!
I heard about that story a friend of mine told me about it. I didn't know the part Sisowath secretly supported Si Votha. My question is why did Sisowath support Si Votha? What was the motive?The Steve wrote: ↑Tue Aug 31, 2021 10:46 amNot exactly. There was a Prince Si Votha (spelling changes), he was half-brother of the king and had several rebellions, more against his half-brother Norodom than the French, who used it as an excuse to get more control over Norodom. It was even said that Sisowath (his other half brother) secretly supported him, just to piss off Norodom.Lucky Lucan wrote: ↑Tue Aug 31, 2021 9:37 amIt was a rebellion against French rule in 1884.
http://pavie.culture.fr/rubrique.php?ru ... d=23&lg=en
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Si_Votha
The two in the back are holding swords.
Well it was never proven, just suspected. A bunch of half-brothers who all thought they should be king and used each other to piss the other ones off.kke802 wrote: ↑Tue Aug 31, 2021 11:49 amI heard about that story a friend of mine told me about it. I didn't know the part Sisowath secretly supported Si Votha. My question is why did Sisowath support Si Votha? What was the motive?The Steve wrote: ↑Tue Aug 31, 2021 10:46 amNot exactly. There was a Prince Si Votha (spelling changes), he was half-brother of the king and had several rebellions, more against his half-brother Norodom than the French, who used it as an excuse to get more control over Norodom. It was even said that Sisowath (his other half brother) secretly supported him, just to piss off Norodom.Lucky Lucan wrote: ↑Tue Aug 31, 2021 9:37 amIt was a rebellion against French rule in 1884.
http://pavie.culture.fr/rubrique.php?ru ... d=23&lg=en
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Si_Votha
IIRC, even Norodom was said to sometimes aid Si Votha, just to piss off the French.
A few things:
There was yet another rebellion shortly after the death of Ang Duong when Norodom’s younger half-brother Si Votha began an uprising in the east. Although Norodom had served in the Royal Siamese Army, he proved inept as a military leader and the rebels took Phnom Penh, forcing Norodom to flee to Battambang and later Bangkok. He left his half-brother Sisowath in charge of the defense of Oudong.
At the end of 1862 Norodom returned with a Siamese army and the rebellion was put down. By this time the French had taken a foothold in Vietnam, with the Treaty of Saigon signed in June 1862. Under the terms of the agreement, the French received Saigon and three of the southern provinces of Cochinchina, the opening of three ports to trade, freedom of missionary activity, a vague protectorate over Vietnam’s foreign relations, and a large cash indemnity.
The French, still hoping for a route to China via the Mekong and wary of British and American influence on Siam, began reasserting old claims of suzerainty over Cambodia on behalf of their new colony.
and also
A new uprising against Norodom broke out in 1875, headed again by his wayward half-brother Si Votha, who had been free and biding his time since his last rebellion had been put down by the Siamese in 1862. This time there was no help coming from Bangkok, and with the situation becoming critical, Norodom finally asked for French assistance in 1877.
The French, although previously agreeing to protect the king ‘from his enemies’, decided to place some terms on Norodom in return for military support. Norodom agreed to allowing a French résident to sit with the council of ministers as a ‘consultant’ on issues of trade, finance and the legal system and any other matters he deemed important. Slavery was to be abolished in stages, and no new taxes were to be imposed without France’s approval.
Norodom agreed and the rebellion was quashed by French and Vietnamese troops. The rebellious prince Si Votha once again disappeared when faced with a superior foe, ready to fight another day.
Soon, living up to his reputation of ‘marvelous duplicity’ the king tried to find ways to get out of the deal. The French then discovered Norodom had been holding secret talks with the Spanish consulate in Saigon- a total breach of the agreement.
The French administration in Saigon discussed removing the king and exiling him to a far-flung corner of the empire, such as Tahiti or Mauritius. However, they recognized the almost Godlike status held by a Cambodian king over the peasantry, no matter how cruel or inept he may have been.
Instead, Vietnamese were encouraged to cross the border and settle with the hope that they may become the majority of the population within a few generations. The idea of “silkworms eating the mulberry leaves” lived on, and continued to cause resentment in the eastern provinces.
and
One of these was Paul le Faucheur (Kennedy spells it as Foucheur), the self-described architect of the new palace, who informed them that the royal income was about a thousand pounds a month; Kennedy believed this was probably an under-estimate designed to mislead the prying Britishers. Sivotha and Sirivong were still in Bangkok, but Sisowath had been transferred to Saigon. “He still resides under French surveillance at that city, greatly to his Majesty’s annoyance and apprehension,” for as Norodom confessed to Kennedy, “if his brother … were to come into the country, and there a general wish for his elevation to the throne [as Second King], it would be his duty to sanction the measure.”
Marie François Xavier Joseph Jean Honoré Brau de Saint-Pol Lias arrived in Phnom Penh from Saigon onboard the steamer Mouhot on Sunday 8 February 1885, en route to Angkor.
He found the countryside in the midst of an uprising led by Prince Sivotha, a disaffected and intensely anti-French brother of the king, and French civilians had been advised to move into the Residency where they could be guarded by Vietnamese riflemen. After a sudden outbreak of noises in the night; shouts, explosions, barking dogs; Brau grabbed a revolver in each hand and rushed out. It was a false alarm, just the Chinese celebrating New Year with fireworks.
But the Chinese were thought to be in league with the rebels, certainly the Queen Mother was supporting them, and Norodom was behind it all.
A thousand rebels were reported just three hours march from Phnom Penh; French troops and volunteers, and a hundred of Norodom’s men led by a mandarin left to fight them off……
I see, I would like to know what was the aftermath of these rebels. I heard there were exiled Vietnamese rebels that went into hiding in the South of Cambodia. I wonder if they made an alliance with the Khmer to take out the french together.The Steve wrote: ↑Tue Aug 31, 2021 1:27 pmWell it was never proven, just suspected. A bunch of half-brothers who all thought they should be king and used each other to piss the other ones off.kke802 wrote: ↑Tue Aug 31, 2021 11:49 amI heard about that story a friend of mine told me about it. I didn't know the part Sisowath secretly supported Si Votha. My question is why did Sisowath support Si Votha? What was the motive?The Steve wrote: ↑Tue Aug 31, 2021 10:46 amNot exactly. There was a Prince Si Votha (spelling changes), he was half-brother of the king and had several rebellions, more against his half-brother Norodom than the French, who used it as an excuse to get more control over Norodom. It was even said that Sisowath (his other half brother) secretly supported him, just to piss off Norodom.Lucky Lucan wrote: ↑Tue Aug 31, 2021 9:37 amIt was a rebellion against French rule in 1884.
http://pavie.culture.fr/rubrique.php?ru ... d=23&lg=en
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Si_Votha
IIRC, even Norodom was said to sometimes aid Si Votha, just to piss off the French.
A few things:
There was yet another rebellion shortly after the death of Ang Duong when Norodom’s younger half-brother Si Votha began an uprising in the east. Although Norodom had served in the Royal Siamese Army, he proved inept as a military leader and the rebels took Phnom Penh, forcing Norodom to flee to Battambang and later Bangkok. He left his half-brother Sisowath in charge of the defense of Oudong.
At the end of 1862 Norodom returned with a Siamese army and the rebellion was put down. By this time the French had taken a foothold in Vietnam, with the Treaty of Saigon signed in June 1862. Under the terms of the agreement, the French received Saigon and three of the southern provinces of Cochinchina, the opening of three ports to trade, freedom of missionary activity, a vague protectorate over Vietnam’s foreign relations, and a large cash indemnity.
The French, still hoping for a route to China via the Mekong and wary of British and American influence on Siam, began reasserting old claims of suzerainty over Cambodia on behalf of their new colony.
and also
A new uprising against Norodom broke out in 1875, headed again by his wayward half-brother Si Votha, who had been free and biding his time since his last rebellion had been put down by the Siamese in 1862. This time there was no help coming from Bangkok, and with the situation becoming critical, Norodom finally asked for French assistance in 1877.
The French, although previously agreeing to protect the king ‘from his enemies’, decided to place some terms on Norodom in return for military support. Norodom agreed to allowing a French résident to sit with the council of ministers as a ‘consultant’ on issues of trade, finance and the legal system and any other matters he deemed important. Slavery was to be abolished in stages, and no new taxes were to be imposed without France’s approval.
Norodom agreed and the rebellion was quashed by French and Vietnamese troops. The rebellious prince Si Votha once again disappeared when faced with a superior foe, ready to fight another day.
Soon, living up to his reputation of ‘marvelous duplicity’ the king tried to find ways to get out of the deal. The French then discovered Norodom had been holding secret talks with the Spanish consulate in Saigon- a total breach of the agreement.
The French administration in Saigon discussed removing the king and exiling him to a far-flung corner of the empire, such as Tahiti or Mauritius. However, they recognized the almost Godlike status held by a Cambodian king over the peasantry, no matter how cruel or inept he may have been.
Instead, Vietnamese were encouraged to cross the border and settle with the hope that they may become the majority of the population within a few generations. The idea of “silkworms eating the mulberry leaves” lived on, and continued to cause resentment in the eastern provinces.
and
One of these was Paul le Faucheur (Kennedy spells it as Foucheur), the self-described architect of the new palace, who informed them that the royal income was about a thousand pounds a month; Kennedy believed this was probably an under-estimate designed to mislead the prying Britishers. Sivotha and Sirivong were still in Bangkok, but Sisowath had been transferred to Saigon. “He still resides under French surveillance at that city, greatly to his Majesty’s annoyance and apprehension,” for as Norodom confessed to Kennedy, “if his brother … were to come into the country, and there a general wish for his elevation to the throne [as Second King], it would be his duty to sanction the measure.”
Marie François Xavier Joseph Jean Honoré Brau de Saint-Pol Lias arrived in Phnom Penh from Saigon onboard the steamer Mouhot on Sunday 8 February 1885, en route to Angkor.
He found the countryside in the midst of an uprising led by Prince Sivotha, a disaffected and intensely anti-French brother of the king, and French civilians had been advised to move into the Residency where they could be guarded by Vietnamese riflemen. After a sudden outbreak of noises in the night; shouts, explosions, barking dogs; Brau grabbed a revolver in each hand and rushed out. It was a false alarm, just the Chinese celebrating New Year with fireworks.
But the Chinese were thought to be in league with the rebels, certainly, the Queen Mother was supporting them, and Norodom was behind it all.
A thousand rebels were reported just three hours march from Phnom Penh; French troops and volunteers, and a hundred of Norodom’s men led by a mandarin left to fight them off……
The fate of 2 rebels was recorded by DP Chandler. Here is a summary https://cne.wtf/2020/02/22/dark-history ... cannibals/kke802 wrote: ↑Tue Aug 31, 2021 9:33 pmI see, I would like to know what was the aftermath of these rebels. I heard there were exiled Vietnamese rebels that went into hiding in the South of Cambodia. I wonder if they made an alliance with the Khmer to take out the french together.The Steve wrote: ↑Tue Aug 31, 2021 1:27 pmWell it was never proven, just suspected. A bunch of half-brothers who all thought they should be king and used each other to piss the other ones off.kke802 wrote: ↑Tue Aug 31, 2021 11:49 amI heard about that story a friend of mine told me about it. I didn't know the part Sisowath secretly supported Si Votha. My question is why did Sisowath support Si Votha? What was the motive?The Steve wrote: ↑Tue Aug 31, 2021 10:46 amNot exactly. There was a Prince Si Votha (spelling changes), he was half-brother of the king and had several rebellions, more against his half-brother Norodom than the French, who used it as an excuse to get more control over Norodom. It was even said that Sisowath (his other half brother) secretly supported him, just to piss off Norodom.Lucky Lucan wrote: ↑Tue Aug 31, 2021 9:37 amIt was a rebellion against French rule in 1884.
http://pavie.culture.fr/rubrique.php?ru ... d=23&lg=en
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Si_Votha
IIRC, even Norodom was said to sometimes aid Si Votha, just to piss off the French.
A few things:
There was yet another rebellion shortly after the death of Ang Duong when Norodom’s younger half-brother Si Votha began an uprising in the east. Although Norodom had served in the Royal Siamese Army, he proved inept as a military leader and the rebels took Phnom Penh, forcing Norodom to flee to Battambang and later Bangkok. He left his half-brother Sisowath in charge of the defense of Oudong.
At the end of 1862 Norodom returned with a Siamese army and the rebellion was put down. By this time the French had taken a foothold in Vietnam, with the Treaty of Saigon signed in June 1862. Under the terms of the agreement, the French received Saigon and three of the southern provinces of Cochinchina, the opening of three ports to trade, freedom of missionary activity, a vague protectorate over Vietnam’s foreign relations, and a large cash indemnity.
The French, still hoping for a route to China via the Mekong and wary of British and American influence on Siam, began reasserting old claims of suzerainty over Cambodia on behalf of their new colony.
and also
A new uprising against Norodom broke out in 1875, headed again by his wayward half-brother Si Votha, who had been free and biding his time since his last rebellion had been put down by the Siamese in 1862. This time there was no help coming from Bangkok, and with the situation becoming critical, Norodom finally asked for French assistance in 1877.
The French, although previously agreeing to protect the king ‘from his enemies’, decided to place some terms on Norodom in return for military support. Norodom agreed to allowing a French résident to sit with the council of ministers as a ‘consultant’ on issues of trade, finance and the legal system and any other matters he deemed important. Slavery was to be abolished in stages, and no new taxes were to be imposed without France’s approval.
Norodom agreed and the rebellion was quashed by French and Vietnamese troops. The rebellious prince Si Votha once again disappeared when faced with a superior foe, ready to fight another day.
Soon, living up to his reputation of ‘marvelous duplicity’ the king tried to find ways to get out of the deal. The French then discovered Norodom had been holding secret talks with the Spanish consulate in Saigon- a total breach of the agreement.
The French administration in Saigon discussed removing the king and exiling him to a far-flung corner of the empire, such as Tahiti or Mauritius. However, they recognized the almost Godlike status held by a Cambodian king over the peasantry, no matter how cruel or inept he may have been.
Instead, Vietnamese were encouraged to cross the border and settle with the hope that they may become the majority of the population within a few generations. The idea of “silkworms eating the mulberry leaves” lived on, and continued to cause resentment in the eastern provinces.
and
One of these was Paul le Faucheur (Kennedy spells it as Foucheur), the self-described architect of the new palace, who informed them that the royal income was about a thousand pounds a month; Kennedy believed this was probably an under-estimate designed to mislead the prying Britishers. Sivotha and Sirivong were still in Bangkok, but Sisowath had been transferred to Saigon. “He still resides under French surveillance at that city, greatly to his Majesty’s annoyance and apprehension,” for as Norodom confessed to Kennedy, “if his brother … were to come into the country, and there a general wish for his elevation to the throne [as Second King], it would be his duty to sanction the measure.”
Marie François Xavier Joseph Jean Honoré Brau de Saint-Pol Lias arrived in Phnom Penh from Saigon onboard the steamer Mouhot on Sunday 8 February 1885, en route to Angkor.
He found the countryside in the midst of an uprising led by Prince Sivotha, a disaffected and intensely anti-French brother of the king, and French civilians had been advised to move into the Residency where they could be guarded by Vietnamese riflemen. After a sudden outbreak of noises in the night; shouts, explosions, barking dogs; Brau grabbed a revolver in each hand and rushed out. It was a false alarm, just the Chinese celebrating New Year with fireworks.
But the Chinese were thought to be in league with the rebels, certainly, the Queen Mother was supporting them, and Norodom was behind it all.
A thousand rebels were reported just three hours march from Phnom Penh; French troops and volunteers, and a hundred of Norodom’s men led by a mandarin left to fight them off……
The Last Royal Sacrifice
The year is 1877, and for some reason you decided to join a rebel army put together by a minor prince named Siwotha. King Norodom is understandably upset about this, so gathers his own forces, bolstered up by a few French soldiers and a whole load of Francophile Vietnamese, to march on the hill where your small bunch of rebels have hastily built a fort.
Seeing these columns raising the dust in the distance is enough for the yellow-bellied prince to saddle up his elephant and high-tail it out the area with a few of his buddies. The rest of you are left to explain your treacherous choices to an angry royalist army.
To make matters worse, it wasn’t just any old Prey Veng hill that the turncoat prince decided to take over, but Ba Phnom, the Mountain of the Ancestors. This happens to be the cradle of Mon-Khmer civilization and the likely site of the lost capital of Funan- Vyadhapura.
As far as location, location, location goes, this one is great, as it’s also, by choice or coincidence, right next to a shrine dedicated to the ‘protective spirit’ of the White Mother, neak ta Ma Sar. As a Buddhist, you probably don’t realize that this is a reworking of the ancient Hindu goddess of war and protector of the weak, known as Durga Devi Mahisasuramardini. But, you would almost certainly be aware that, despite the Theravadian upgrade, the believers in this cult, (which about includes just about everybody, even the orange robed dharma chanters at the wat), like to offer up the ancient rite of blood sacrifice now and again in order to predict the weather and keep the spirits satisfied.
So, leaderless and outnumbered the decision is made to accept the amnesty offered by the enemy at the gates, but, like most good things in life, there’s a catch. In this case the King demands two prisoners to give the populace a special treat in time for planting season.
Somehow you are volunteered, coerced or forced to be one of them and are faced with two choices. The first is to be guest of honour at a big party with chanting monks, and plenty of revelry, before having your head chopped off to see which way your blood spurts, and giving farmers an insight where the rains might fall on their crops. Then 100 pieces of your flesh are to be skewered on two sharpened sticks and the lesser spirits of nek ta Sap Tha and nek ta Tuol Chhnean, get a double human shish kebab, 50 bits of you, and 50 bits of your comrade, each. Your heads will then be placed on spikes as a seasonal gift to Ma Sar.
Option #2 involves a refusal to take part in the ceremony and the consensual decapitation in the name of communal level crop rotation, but is a guaranteed way to find out what innovative techniques the King’s best torturer has been working on involving white-hot metal and sharpened bamboo.
Not that you would know it as you are led up the hill with your head and hands in wooden stocks, but you and your buddy will be the last men to be honoured in a tradition that goes back 1000 years. After this party, the nation will move towards the 20th century and outsource the severed human head arrangement to not-so-willing buffaloes.
Interesting read, and must say i was relieved it was about this story rather than when the early Rebel Bikers who seem to have all been thankfully booted out of the country alongside their overweight, sweaty, 136 dwelling hanger on fan boys!
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