Norodom Sihanouk was the King of Cambodia from 1941 to 1955 and again from 1993 to 2004.
Known to the Cambodian people as Samdech Euv (father prince), Sihanouk became king in 1941.
After the Second World War, he campaigned for Cambodia's independence from French rule, which took place in 1953.
In 1955, Sihanouk abdicated the throne in favour of his father Norodom Suramarit, and went on to form the political organisation Sangkum.
Sihanouk led the Sangkum to victory in the 1955 general elections, and became the Prime Minister of Cambodia.
After his father's death in 1960, Sihanouk introduced a constitutional amendment which made him the Head of State of Cambodia, a position which he held until 1970.
Between 1955 and 1970, Sihanouk governed Cambodia under one-party rule, and cracked down on political dissent from the Democrat party and Pracheachon.
