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Somdach Veang Thiounn (, April 8, 1864–September 1946) was a Cambodian state official of the
Khmer nobility The Khmer nobility is a social class comprising titled officials in the service of the monarchy. They form part of a hierarchical social system which developed from the time of the Angkorian Empire. While all titles were abolished by Pol Pot und ...
during the
French protectorate of Cambodia The French protectorate of Cambodia (; ) refers to the Kingdom of Cambodia when it was a French protectorate within French Indochina, a collection of Southeast Asian protectorates within the French colonial empire. The protectorate was establi ...
who had a lasting influence on Khmer historiography through the
Cambodian Royal Chronicles The Cambodian Royal Chronicles or Cambodian Chronicles (Rajabansavatar or Rapa Ksatr) are a collection of 18th and 19th century historical manuscripts that focus on the time from around the year 1430 to the beginning of the 16th century. This peri ...
. While he has been described as the ''
shogun , officially , was the title of the military aristocracy, rulers of Japan during most of the period spanning from 1185 to 1868. Nominally appointed by the Emperor of Japan, Emperor, shoguns were usually the de facto rulers of the country, exc ...
'' of the French protectorate and a "''
comprador A comprador or compradore () is a "person who acts as an agent for foreign organizations engaged in investment, trade, or economic or political exploitation." An example of a comprador would be a native manager for a European business house in Eas ...
'' feudalist", others have praised his long service to the
Kingdom of Cambodia Cambodia, officially the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country in Southeast Asia on the Indochinese Peninsula. It is bordered by Thailand to the northwest, Laos to the north, and Vietnam to the east, and has a coastline along the Gulf of Thail ...
, as "the
epitome An epitome (; , from ἐπιτέμνειν ''epitemnein'' meaning "to cut short") is a summary or miniature form, or an instance that represents a larger reality, also used as a synonym for embodiment. Epitomacy represents "to the degree of." A ...
of the colonial subject who quickly saw how to turn the new regime to an advantage":


Early life and education

Thiounn was born in the Kampong Tralach district of Kampong Chhnang province on April 8, 1864, in a Vietnamese family of fishermen who had emigrated from
Ha Tien Ha may refer to: Agencies and organizations * Health authority, a former type of administrative organisation of the NHS in England and Wales * Hells Angels Motorcycle Club * Highways Agency (renamed ''Highways England'', now ''National Highways'' ...
and settled a few miles north of
Longvek Longvek or Lavek (, or , ; ) was a city in Cambodia. It was the second capital city during the Cambodia's Post-Angkor period which began after the Angkor era. The city was known to early European traders as "Cambodia". The city used to serve as ...
. His father was known as ''
oknha ''Oknha'' (, ) is a Khmer honorific. It has different meanings depending on the period it was used. Linguistics The word means "nobleman" or "lord". The translation of "''Oknha''" is not unanimous. Leaning on the meaning of Vietnamese title " ...
piphéac norit'' Hui, a Cambodian merchant and "honorary mandarin" of the personal guard of Her Majesty the Queen Mother. probably Queen Pen, mother of King Norodom. His father Huy passed away in 1897 and his mother Veng shortly after him in 1900. As a child, Thiounn attended the Franco-Cambodian school in Phnom Penh, then joined classes at the Chasseloup-Laubat high school in
Saigon Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) ('','' TP.HCM; ), commonly known as Saigon (; ), is the most populous city in Vietnam with a population of around 14 million in 2025. The city's geography is defined by rivers and canals, of which the largest is Saigo ...
.Aberdam, Marie,
Samdech Veang Thiounn, (1864-1946), figure de l’interprète devenu haut-dignitaire du royaume khmer sous l’administration française
, ''Bulletin de l’AEFEK'' (in French), n° 20, February 2015.


Civil career

Speaking not only Khmer and Siamese but also French, Thiounn was hired as secretary of the Council of Ministers in 1883. He served as a mediator between the French administration and King
Norodom Preah Norodom (, ; born Ang Voddey (, ); 3 February 1834 – 24 April 1904) was King of Cambodia from 19 October 1860 to his death on 24 April 1904. He was the eldest son of King Ang Duong and was a half-brother of Prince Si Votha and King ...
. In 1884, Thiounn married a certain Malis, daughter of mī Soc and Paul Le Faucheur, “runner of arroyos” with a sulphurous reputation with the Indochinese authorities.
Auguste Pavie Auguste Jean-Marie Pavie (31 May 1847 – 7 June 1925) was a French colonial civil servant, explorer and diplomat who was instrumental in establishing French control over Laos in the last two decades of the 19th century. After a long career i ...
invited the young Thiounn to Kingdom of France in 1885 when he was only nineteen years old. After spending three years in France, Thiounn was then appointed interpreter on February 1, 1888, to be attached to the ''Mission Pavie'' until 1895. Thiounn also helped Pavie translate many Khmer folktales such as ''
Vorvong and Sorvong ''Vorvong and Sorvong'' () is a long tale of the Khmer '' sāstrā lbaeng'' tradition about two Khmer princes who fall into disgrace and, after a series of ordeals, regain their status. Vorvong and Sorvong was revealed to a Western audience for the ...
''. While he was harshly criticized by the more conservative dignitaries of the Royal Palace who supported rebel prince
Si Votha Si Votha (; also spelled Si Vattha; c. 1841 – 31 December 1891) was a Cambodian prince who was briefly a contender for the throne. He spent his entire life fighting his half brother Norodom of Cambodia, King Norodom for the throne. Si Votha w ...
, Veang Thiounn encouraged collaboration with the French protectorate for the modernization of Cambodia.


From political instability to exceptional longevity as Minister of the Palace


''L'affaire Yukanthor''

After the insurrection of 1884-1886 and later his failed diplomatic trip to France in 1886, Prince
Norodom Yukanthor Prince Norodom Arun Yukanthor (, 1860 - 27 June 1934) was the eldest son of King Norodom of Cambodia. Personal life Prince Yukanthor was born in 1860 (some sources say he was born in 1858) to either Preah Neang Brah Nan or Tep Soda Chan. He grew ...
went after those he presumed where responsible for making Cambodia a "slave inside the whims of (French) administrators". Yukanthor demanded the removal of the Prime Minister Um "who ran away before the enemy" in 1885, and of Thiounn, secretary of the Council of Ministers, the latter two which Yukanthor accused of being the "two main embezzlers of the country". In the scandal around Prince
Yukanthor Prince Norodom Arun Yukanthor (, 1860 - 27 June 1934) was the eldest son of King Norodom of Cambodia. Personal life Prince Yukanthor was born in 1860 (some sources say he was born in 1858) to either Preah Neang Brah Nan or Tep Soda Chan. He grew ...
, Thiounn did not try to defend himself and sided with the French colonial authorities. Thiounn was accused by Yukanthor to be a half-breed treated as a puppet by the French since his recruitment as secretary-interpreter, placed by them in the council of ministers and accused of enriching himself there thanks to the spices he demands in return for his services. Thiounn is thus accused to have illegally amassed a real estate fortune. The decision of a man like Thiounn to position himself alongside the French is easily explained. He was not a man rooted in the royal administration. After serving the French for a long time, he probably had a good idea of the extent of their power.


Minister of the Palace on a royal journey to France

From 1892, he became, as Deputy Secretary of the Council of Ministers, one of the main mediators between the Cambodia monarchy and the ''Résident supérieur''. From first secretary in 1897, he became general secretary and ''ex officio'' member of the council of ministers in 1899. In 1902, Thiounn was placed with King Norodom I by Resident Superior Boulloche and appointed Minister of the Palace, Finances and Fine Arts. He kept that position until the end of the reign of King Sisowath in 1927 and even under King Monivong until 1941. In 1906, he accompanied King Sisowath to France in what was the first international tour of the
Royal Ballet of Cambodia The Royal Ballet of Cambodia (, ''Robam Preah Reach Troap'', ) is a classical Khmer dance known for its intricate hand movements and elaborate costumes. Historically linked to the Khmer court, it has been performed at various royal ceremonie ...
. The French public was impressed by their performance and French journal ''
L'Illustration ''L'Illustration'' (; 1843–1944) was a French language, French illustrated weekly newspaper published in Paris. It was founded by Édouard Charton with the first issue published on 4 March 1843, it became the first illustrated newspaper in ...
'' praised Thiounn for his bright intellect and love of France. His son Thiounn Hol also joined the royal journey, and received as sponsorship to study at the ''Ecole coloniale''. Thiounn wrote the account of his trip, in which he punctiliously reports every stage of the long sea-voyage of the King. Around 1915, Thiounn Yang, daughter of Thiounn, was married Poc Duch's son, Poc Hell, sealing strong matrimonial alliances with others dignitaries.


Promoter of the material and immaterial heritage of Cambodia

As early as 1914, Thiounn became the patron of an important Buddhist pagoda,
Wat Kampong Tralach Krom Wat Kampong Tralach Krom was a historic Buddhist temple located in the lower part of the district of Kampong Tralach in the Kingdom of Cambodia. Constructed in the early 20th century, the sanctuary was notable for its classical architecture and ...
, in the historical whereabouts of the lost capital of
Longvek Longvek or Lavek (, or , ; ) was a city in Cambodia. It was the second capital city during the Cambodia's Post-Angkor period which began after the Angkor era. The city was known to early European traders as "Cambodia". The city used to serve as ...
. In 1917, Thiounn become involved in other major heritage projects such as the School of Arts, which eventually become the
Royal University of Fine Arts The Royal University of Arts (RUA or RUFA; , ALA-LC: ; ) is a university in Chey Chumneas, Phnom Penh specialising in architecture and fine arts. It is the oldest university in Cambodia, having been in existence since 1917. It is part of Pnom In ...
, and the Albert Sarraut Museum, which become the
National Museum of Cambodia The National Museum of Cambodia () is Cambodia's largest museum of cultural history and is the country's leading historical and archaeological museum. It is located in Chey Chumneas, Phnom Penh. Overview The museum houses one of the world's l ...
. At that time, Thiounn also began working on what would we his major literary legacy, a revised and expanded edition of the Royal Chronicles of Cambodia. Thiounn worked a major bilingual illustrated history of the ''Reamker'' based on his previous work in the Silver Pagoda, but his work was never properly published. Through his participation in such heritage publications, particularly in the review ''Kambuja Suriya'' in collaboration with Suzanne Karpelès, Thiounn appears as one of the first indigenous Khmer intellectuals or ''neak-cheh-doeung,''representatives of local religious and cultural knowledge in tune with his time through the transmission of Khmer heritage in modern forms such as printed edition in French. In 1928, following the coronation of Monivong, Thiounn was made president of the Permanent Committee of the Council of Ministers. By then, he had accumulated more wealth and power than anybody else in the Kingdom of Cambodia: After the demise of Son Diep in 1935, Thiounn promoted his son Thiounn Hol as secretary of the Council of Ministers. Also in the 1930s, Thiounn arranged the wedding of granddaughter Poc Vane with the candidate for the throne
Sisowath Monireth Sisowath Monireth (; 25 November 1909 – September 1975) was a Cambodian politician who served as the Prime Minister of Cambodia, during the French protectorate period, from 17 October 1945 to 15 December 1946. One of the most prominent membe ...
(1909-1975), reproducing the marriage practices associating the families of dignitaries with the royal family, aggravating both King Monivong and the French authorities, who would later prefer another candidate to the throne, Norodom Sihanouk. Thus, Thiounn was Prime Minister until the very beginning of his reign King Norodom Sihanouk, after having him under his tutelage for some years. Sihanouk said of Thiounn that by the end of his career, Thiounn was a "veritable  little king" and "as powerful as the French Residents-Superieurs of the period". When the
Second World War World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
worsened the situation in Cambodia with the presence of the Japanese, Thiounn was deposed, at the request of the French admiral
Jean Decoux Jean Decoux (; 5 May 1884 – 21 October 1963) was a French Navy admiral who was the Governor-General of French Indochina from July 1940 to 9 March 1945, representing the Vichy French government. Early life and naval career Decoux was born in B ...
under the orders of the
Vichy government Vichy France (; 10 July 1940 – 9 August 1944), officially the French State ('), was a French rump state headed by Marshal Philippe Pétain during World War II, established as a result of the French capitulation after the defeat against ...
, and replaced by Ung Hy, who was younger and more obedient to the French authorities. In fact, this decision may have been encouraged by the young Sihanouk as well, as in 1967, the latter accused Thiounn of "dipping his finger in the palace treasury" so that he might commit the greater sin of raising his children "as princes". Veang Thiounn died in September 1946.


Legacy


''Reamker''

In 1903, Oknha Veang Thiounn published a description of the wall paintings in the Royal Palace depicting the ''Reamker.'' Not only did he explain the scenes depicted in the paintings in the cloister of the Silver Pagoda. He also included in his introduction the ''
prolegomena In an essay, article, or book, an introduction (also known as a prolegomenon) is a beginning section which states the purpose and goals of the following writing. This is generally followed by the body and conclusion. Common features and techni ...
'' of the ''Râmayana'' in various Indian myths. Though he did substantial study of the original myths, he significantly altered in order to make the visit of the Royal Palace easier for visitors. These commentaries were instrumental in transmitting this traditional epic, before the later translation made by Saveros Pou; his identification of scenes was picked up in various Buddhist monasteries as was the case in the Wat Bo monastery in Siem Reap.


International fame of the Royal Ballet of Cambodia

While Veang Thiounn had originally resisted sending the few remaining Royal dancers to France, he finally accepted under the insistence of Col de Monteiro, Minister of the Navy, who offered to arrange to travels by sea for all. The detail report of his travel to France in 1903 is a rare document which relates in detail the first ever international tour of the Royal Ballet of Cambodia. It compares to the report of King
Chulalongkorn Chulalongkorn (20 September 1853 – 23 October 1910), posthumously honoured as King Chulalongkorn the Great, was the fifth king of Siam from the Chakri dynasty, titled Rama V. Chulalongkorn's reign from 1868 until his death in 1910 was cha ...
, ''Loin de chez moi'' (Far from home) which tells the story of latter's first trip to the West in 1907. While the Khmer tour was immensely popular in France as could be seen from the impact it had on sculptor
Auguste Rodin François Auguste René Rodin (; ; 12 November 184017 November 1917) was a French sculptor generally considered the founder of modern sculpture. He was schooled traditionally and took a craftsman-like approach to his work. Rodin possessed a u ...
or on dramaturgist
Jean Cocteau Jean Maurice Eugène Clément Cocteau ( , ; ; 5 July 1889 11 October 1963) was a French poet, playwright, novelist, designer, film director, visual artist and critic. He was one of the foremost avant-garde artists of the 20th-c ...
who wrote ''Sisowath en balade'' in 1906, Thiounn's account is the only one remaining from the Cambodian perspective. After this trip, struck by its international appeal, Veang Thiounn became an "ardent devotee of the Cambodian dance" and contributed to his renewal back home. However, according to Olivier de Bernon, this type of performance, such as the "empty choreography" prepared by Thiounn on Albert Sarrault's request for the
colonial exhibition A colonial exhibition was a type of World's fair, international exhibition that was held to boost trade. During the 1880s and beyond, colonial exhibitions had the additional aim of bolstering popular support for the various colonial ...
s, a type of performance aimed at strangers cleared the way, as time went on, for a gradual ‘modernization’ and cheapening of a sacred artistic genre. Thiounn also established a historical discourse which associated court dance with the reign of King
Jayavarman II Jayavarman II (; – 850, reigned –850) was a Khmer prince who founded and became the ruler of the Khmer Empire (Cambodia) after unifying the Khmer civilization. The Khmer Empire was the dominant civilization in mainland Southeast Asia from t ...
, identified by French scholars as the founder of the Angkor era, but associated by Thiounn with the legendary figure of King Ketumala known from '' The Poem of Angkor Wat'' and Cambodian Royal Chronicles prior to the fifteenth century.


Cambodian Royal Chronicles

Okna Veang Thiounn rewrote the Royal Chronicles of Cambodia. He was able to creatively combine established traditional Khmer narratives with the developing critical history emerging from Khmer archeology, promoted by the
French School of the Far East The French School of the Far East (, ; also translated as The French School of Asian StudiesPreferred translation by EFEO staff. SeEFEO official website), abbreviated EFEO, is an associated college of PSL University dedicated to the study of ...
. The Royal Chronicle, known as the ''Veang Thiounn Chronicle'', named after the minister who presided over its writing, was probably completed in 1934, and preserved in eight notebooks, notably at the Buddhist Institute of Phnom Penh. Compared to previous Chronicles, Veang Thiounn adds much information, of which the source, hearsay or unknown documents, remains unclear. For instance, while Thai and Cambodian sources state the Vietnamese drowned in the
Mekong river The Mekong or Mekong River ( , ) is a transboundary river in East Asia and Southeast Asia. It is the world's List of rivers by length, twelfth-longest river and List of longest rivers of Asia, the third-longest in Asia with an estimated l ...
after her sisters had been taken to Saigon. Khin Sok, citing the Veang Thiounn version of the chronicles, states that Khmer Princess Baen was taken to Long ho and tortured to death by the Vietnamese general, after which her body was placed in a sack and thrown in the river, adding details of cruelty incriminating for the Vietnamese neighbours. Eng Soth continued in that same tradition and add on even more unknown stories to the Cambodian Royal Chronicles in the second half of the 20th century, while Khin Sok appealed for a more
historical criticism Historical criticism (also known as the historical-critical method (HCM) or higher criticism, in contrast to lower criticism or textual criticism) is a branch of criticism that investigates the origins of ancient texts to understand "the world b ...
.


Posterity

Veang Thiounn was the first notorious member of the Thiounn family to reach a position of power in Cambodia. His descendants, though highly educated and qualified, were excluded from the Palace after having been its masters; later, they were among the Cambodian intellectuals of French culture whose aspirations placed them in a situation of competition with the Crown. Just as the deposed Siamese Royal
House of Abhaiwongse Abhayavongsa (; ) is a Thai noble surname used by a Thai family that formerly governed parts of Cambodia which was then ruled by Siam. Despite its long presence in Cambodia, it was never considered part of the Khmer nobility. The Abhayavongsa f ...
supported the
Khmer Issarak The Khmer Issarak (, or 'Independent Khmer') was a "loosely structured" anti- French and anti-colonial independence movement. The movement has been labelled as “amorphous”. The Issarak was formed around 1945 and composed of se ...
in
Battambang Battambang (, Romanization of Khmer#UNGEGN, UNGEGN: ) is the capital of Battambang province and the List of cities and towns in Cambodia, third largest city in Cambodia. The city is situated on the Sangkae River, which winds its way through t ...
, four of Thiounn's grandchildren were cadres of the
Khmer rouge The Khmer Rouge is the name that was popularly given to members of the Communist Party of Kampuchea (CPK), and by extension to Democratic Kampuchea, which ruled Cambodia between 1975 and 1979. The name was coined in the 1960s by Norodom Sihano ...
: Thiounn Hol, Thiounn Thoeun, Thiounn Mumm, Thiounn Prasith. The grandfather of Douc Rasy was also the cousin of Samdech Chaufea Veang Thiounn.


Works

* 1903 : ''Rioeun Kumnouv Reamker'' (Notice sur les fresques des galeries de la Pagode royale Preah Oubosoth Rottanaram). * 1905: « Les fêtes anniversaires de la naissance de Sa Majesté le roi du Cambodge », ''Revue coloniale'', décembre-janvier 1905–1906, pp. 410–417. * 1906: ''Programme des fêtes du couronnement de S. M. Prea Bat Samdach Prea Sisowath''. Paris. * 1907: « Fête de la coupe de cheveux d’un ou de plusieurs jeunes princes ou princesses membres de la famille royale du Cambodge », ''La revue indochinoise'' n°52, février 1907, pp. 250–257. * 1907: « Cérémonial cambodgien concernant la prise de fonctions des mandarins nouvellement promus », ''La revue indochinoise'' n°50, 31 janvier 1907, pp. 71–75. * 1921–1923: « Prah Khan, (l’épée sacrée du Cambodge) », ''Arts et archéologie khmers,'' Augustin Challamel, Paris, tome 1, fascicule 1, pp. 59–63. * 1930: ''Danses cambodgiennes'', Hanoi, Imprimerie d’Extrême-Orient, 1930. * 1956 :
Danses Cambodgiennes
', revised and augmented by Jeanne Cuisinier, Institut Bouddhique. * 2006 : ''Voyage du roi Sisowath en France : En l'année du Cheval, huitième de la décade correspondant à l'année occidentale 1906, royaume du Cambodge'', Traduit du khmer, présenté et annoté par Olivier de Bernon, Mercure de France.


Awards

* Thiounn was given the honorary titles of Samdech Chaufea Veang by the Royal Palace of Cambodia *
Grand Officer An officer is a person who has a position of authority in a hierarchical organization. The term derives from Old French ''oficier'' "officer, official" (early 14c., Modern French ''officier''), from Medieval Latin ''officiarius'' "an officer," fro ...
of the
Legion of Honor The National Order of the Legion of Honour ( ), formerly the Imperial Order of the Legion of Honour (), is the highest and most prestigious French national order of merit, both military and civil. Currently consisting of five classes, it was ...


References


Bibliography

* Aberdam, Marie,
Samdech Veang Thiounn, (1864-1946), figure de l’interprète devenu haut-dignitaire du royaume khmer sous l’administration française
, ''Bulletin de l’AEFEK'' (in French), n° 20, February 2015. * {{Cite journal , last=Thun , first=Theara , date=June 2020 , title=The epistemological shift from palace chronicles to scholarly Khmer historiography under French colonial rule , url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0022463420000235 , journal=Journal of Southeast Asian Studies , volume=51 , issue=1–2 , pages=132–153 , doi=10.1017/s0022463420000235 , s2cid=225827319 , issn=0022-4634, url-access=subscription 1864 births 1946 deaths Cambodian politicians People from Kampong Chhnang province Grand Officers of the Legion of Honour