The Sacred Throne: A History of the Cambodian Monarchy

The Sacred Throne: A History of the Cambodian Monarchy
Chapter One: The Unbroken Chain: A History of the Cambodian Monarchy Through the Ages The monarchy of Cambodia is one of the world's most ancient and resilient royal institutions. It is an unbroken chain of lineage and legitimacy that stretches back nearly two thousand years, from the mythical union of a foreign prince and a native serpent princess to the revered constitutional monarchs of the present day. The history of this sacred throne is the history of the Khmer nation itself. It is a story of profound transformation, in which the very definition of kingship has evolved to meet the challenges and spirit of each new era. From the divine God-Kings who commanded the construction of Angkor to the righteous Buddhist rulers of the middle period and the father-figure of the modern nation, the monarch has always remained the ultimate symbol of Khmer identity, unity, and cultural soul. To trace this history is to witness the remarkable adaptability of a people and their most sacred inst…