King Norodom Sihanouk

King Norodom Sihanouk was a significant political figure in Cambodia, serving as king and prime minister at different times from the 1940s until his death in 2012. He played a crucial role in Cambodia's independence from French colonial rule in 1953 and sought to maintain neutrality during the Vietnam War. His leadership saw a mix of monarchy and democratic principles, but his rule was also marked by political turmoil. Sihanouk was deposed in a coup in 1970, later returning to power in the 1990s, and is remembered for his complex legacy in shaping modern Cambodian history.