Ang Mey
Encyclopedia
Ang Mey was the 97th Monarch ruler during the Udong era of Cambodia. She is famous for being one of few female rulers in Cambodia's History
. Installed on the Cambodia
n throne by the Vietnam
ese, she reigned during the domination of Siamese-Vietnamese War (1841-1845)
Queen Ang Mey Also known as Queen Ba-cong-chua or Ksat Trey, she was proclaimed on the death of her father by the Vietnam
ese faction at court with the title of My-lam-quan-chua in January 1835, and deposed in August 1840. She was reinstated in 1844, and again deposed by the Vietnamese and taken to Huế with her sisters in 1845.
period, by his second wife, Anak Munang Krachap.
After King Ang Chan II died in 1834, there was no heir apparent to the Khmer throne; for the king had no son but four daughters, Princess Baen, Mey, Peou and Sngon. This delighted both Vietnam
and Siam who wanted to eliminate the royal rulers in Cambodia
. Although, Ang Chan's surviving brothers, Ang Im and Ang Doung, immediately laid claim to the throne but couldn't succeed as Vietnam who were occupying Cambodia, did not approve.
In contrast, Vietnamese emperor and Cambodia OKha wished to install Ang Chan's eldest daughter, Princess Ang Baen as the sovereign, but she was passed over due to her being sympathetic to Thai
interests and her refusal to marry the emperor's son. Ang Mey was an alternative to her sister, Baen. A Thai manuscript stated that the Vietnamese had tried to persuade Ang Mey to marry the son of emperor Gia Long
in order to facilitate the incorporation of Cambodia
into Vietnam
's state but gave up in vie of strong objections from the Cambodian noblemen.
, and had to grow their hair long in Vietnamese style. The market sold only Vietnamese food. Khmer classical dance
had assimilated elements of Vietnamese and Chinese tradition. Cambodian officials had to don Vietnamese ceremonial garb.
Wat
s were destroyed in order to eradicate the Khmer identity. Places also received Vietnamese names. The area around Phnom Penh
was renamed from Annam to Tran Tay, or "Western Commandery".
The elder sister of Ang Mey, Princess Baen, suffered a similar fate. After the Vietnamese discovered her relation with her mother and uncle who were living in Battambang
and her plans to escape to them, she was imprisoned, pending her trial in Phnom Penh
. The Vietnamese emperor, Minh Mạng
, demoted Mey and the other princesses. In August 1841 they were all arrested and deported to Vietnam with the royal regalia. Around that time, some of Ang Mey's relatives were imprisoned on the island of Poulo Condore. According to Thai and Cambodian sources, Ang Baen was drowned in the Mekong
river, although Khin Sok, states that Baen was tortured to death by the Vietnamese general and her body thrown in the river.
Many Cambodian Okha and their followers had ready revolt against Vietnamese polices depend on the death of Princess Ang Baen and The absence of their queen ang mey. Vietnamese Official in Phnom Penh
had called for Mey to be return in Cambodia
to quit the rebellion but Ming Mang
refused. However, in March 1841, Upon her return to Phnom Penh
issue a letter to provincial official and leader asking for their support of her reign. At that times, Doung was issuing similar call for help from Oudong
. Queen Ang Mei was reinstated as a queen and her sisters, Poeu appointed for the heir parents in 1844. However, most of Cambodian Court remain under Vietnamese control until October 1846 when Vietnamese release the daughter of King Ang Duong
and another members of Cambodian to joint with him in Oudong
.There were a discussion were underway between Thai and Vietnamese for the resolution for The Cambodia
problem resulting in Compromise whereby both Ang Duong
and Ang Mei would be rule together are co-sovereigns. However, a simulataneous coronation was held in Bangkok
and Phnom Penh
in 1848 recording only Ang Duong
's accession, succeed his niece, Ang Mey from Throne.
There were even the rumour that Ang Mey was engaged in an affair with Troung Ming Giang, The Vietnamese governor in Phnom Penh
. Jean Mora consulted Oknha and women of the palace who had the position at the court during the reign of Ang Mey and independent Observer told that the rumor was not true. Other tempered their allegation of Ang Mey's wrong doing; the once beautiful princess who may be sold her country but not her body to the Vietnamese. Yet History had construct Mey as a passive victim hardly legitimate in the eye of her own people. Ang Mey also began blame as her reign seem as completely negative, during which khmer territory, culture, and Independence was almost lost. whist it can not be denied that Vietnamese was in control of Cambodia during Ang mei's reign, she inherited country that had been already been mortgaged to Húe by her father, Ang Chan. Mei was crowned Sovereign of a kingdom which The Vietnamese was already in charge. It is difficult to ascertain what course of action other than acquiescense was available to her. However, Ang Mey seem to have sought of Peaceful solution to the factionalism in her country, telling envoys sent by Ang Duong
that she wished for a return to peace and amicabitlity and hoping that she and her sisters would be able to live together with their uncle. This may of course had been at diplomatic respone, the Vietnamese annal described her as an intelligent young lady at the time of her accession. Nothing sudden flights to Vietnam
, the murder to her sisters and continued changed in her status seem to induced hysterical or untoward behaviour. Ang Mey then reportly turned mad.
left her in the care of old retainer when he and his court moved to Phnom Penh
. At Oudong
An Mey could still believed that she had some dignity, and her servants could placate th villagers whom she as saulted when her mind was unbalanced or pay for the goods as she took the right from the merchants in the market.
During she allowed to return to Oudong after the cession of hostilities in 1847. She later married an unknown man and had two daughters (This note does not verify that she had children) She and her husband died in an accident in late December 1874 but cremated at Phnom Penh in 1884.
History of Cambodia
- Prehistory and early history :Carbon 14 dating of a cave at Laang Spean in northwest Cambodia reveals people who made pots were living in Cambodia as early as 4200 BCE . Further archaeological evidence indicates that other parts of the region now called Cambodia were inhabited from around...
. Installed on the Cambodia
Cambodia
Cambodia , officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia...
n throne by the Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
ese, she reigned during the domination of Siamese-Vietnamese War (1841-1845)
Siamese-Vietnamese War (1841-1845)
The 1841-1845 Siamese-Vietnamese War in Cambodia was a war between Viet Nam and Siam , triggered by Siam's attempt to expand its influence in Cambodia and to prevent its rival, Viet Nam, from territorial gains in the region at the expense of the declining Khmer Empire.After the unsuccessful attempt...
Queen Ang Mey Also known as Queen Ba-cong-chua or Ksat Trey, she was proclaimed on the death of her father by the Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
ese faction at court with the title of My-lam-quan-chua in January 1835, and deposed in August 1840. She was reinstated in 1844, and again deposed by the Vietnamese and taken to Huế with her sisters in 1845.
Early life
Ang Mey was born in 1815 as the second daughter of H.M. Brhat Pada Samdach Brhat Rajankariya Brhat Udayarajadhiraja Ramadipati Brhat Sri Suriyapura Parama Surindra Maha Chakrapatiratta Paramanatha Bupati Sadithpen Isvara Kambujaratta Chau Brhat Jatha Varavarman Damramsa Krung Kambuja Adipati Sri Sudhana Negara Indrapati Kururajapuri Rama Uda Maha Sadhana known as Ang Chan II, King of Cambodia during the OudongOudong
Udong is a town in Cambodia, situated in the north-western part of Kandal Province. The town is located on top of the mountain Phnom Udong, about 40 km northwest of the capital Phnom Penh...
period, by his second wife, Anak Munang Krachap.
After King Ang Chan II died in 1834, there was no heir apparent to the Khmer throne; for the king had no son but four daughters, Princess Baen, Mey, Peou and Sngon. This delighted both Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
and Siam who wanted to eliminate the royal rulers in Cambodia
Cambodia
Cambodia , officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia...
. Although, Ang Chan's surviving brothers, Ang Im and Ang Doung, immediately laid claim to the throne but couldn't succeed as Vietnam who were occupying Cambodia, did not approve.
In contrast, Vietnamese emperor and Cambodia OKha wished to install Ang Chan's eldest daughter, Princess Ang Baen as the sovereign, but she was passed over due to her being sympathetic to Thai
Thai people
The Thai people, or Siamese, are the main ethnic group of Thailand and are part of the larger Tai ethnolinguistic peoples found in Thailand and adjacent countries in Southeast Asia as well as southern China. Their language is the Thai language, which is classified as part of the Kradai family of...
interests and her refusal to marry the emperor's son. Ang Mey was an alternative to her sister, Baen. A Thai manuscript stated that the Vietnamese had tried to persuade Ang Mey to marry the son of emperor Gia Long
Gia Long
Emperor Gia Long , born Nguyễn Phúc Ánh , was an emperor of Vietnam...
in order to facilitate the incorporation of Cambodia
Cambodia
Cambodia , officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia...
into Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
's state but gave up in vie of strong objections from the Cambodian noblemen.
In the region as a puppet queen of Vietnam
In May 1835, Ang Mey was crowned with the title of quan-chua bestowed by Húe. Her three sisters were given the title huyen quan, "sub-prefecture rulers". The Cambodian people, not accustomed to be ruled by a Queen and despairing of the "Vietnamization" of their country, asked the Siamese to bring back their male ruler Ang-Duong. The Vietnamese kept close guard over the Ang princesses. Queen Ang Mey had two companies of soldiers, 100 men in total, for her personal protection. The other three Cambodian princesses, were each assigned thirty soldiers. Ostensibly for their safety, the guards were in reality assigned to ensure that they did not escape. In outside society, all women were ordered to wear trousers instead of the Khmer SampotSampot
The sampot is a long, rectangular cloth worn around the lower body. It can be draped and folded in several different ways. The traditional dress is similar to the dhoti of Southern Asia...
, and had to grow their hair long in Vietnamese style. The market sold only Vietnamese food. Khmer classical dance
Khmer classical dance
The Royal Ballet of Cambodia is a form of performing arts established in the royal courts of Cambodia for the purpose of entertainment as well as ceremonial propitiation...
had assimilated elements of Vietnamese and Chinese tradition. Cambodian officials had to don Vietnamese ceremonial garb.
Wat
Wat
A wat is a monastery temple in Cambodia, Thailand, or Laos. The word "wat" means "school".- Introduction :...
s were destroyed in order to eradicate the Khmer identity. Places also received Vietnamese names. The area around Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh is the capital and largest city of Cambodia. Located on the banks of the Mekong River, Phnom Penh has been the national capital since the French colonized Cambodia, and has grown to become the nation's center of economic and industrial activities, as well as the center of security,...
was renamed from Annam to Tran Tay, or "Western Commandery".
The elder sister of Ang Mey, Princess Baen, suffered a similar fate. After the Vietnamese discovered her relation with her mother and uncle who were living in Battambang
Battambang
Battambang is the capital city of Battambang province in northwestern Cambodia.Battambang is the second-largest city in Cambodia with a population of over 250,000. Founded in the 11th century by the Khmer Empire, Battambang is well known for being the leading rice-producing province of the country...
and her plans to escape to them, she was imprisoned, pending her trial in Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh is the capital and largest city of Cambodia. Located on the banks of the Mekong River, Phnom Penh has been the national capital since the French colonized Cambodia, and has grown to become the nation's center of economic and industrial activities, as well as the center of security,...
. The Vietnamese emperor, Minh Mạng
Minh Mang
Minh Mạng was the second emperor of the Nguyễn Dynasty of Vietnam, reigning from 14 February 1820 until 20 January 1841. He was a younger son of Emperor Gia Long, whose eldest son, Crown Prince Canh, had died in 1801...
, demoted Mey and the other princesses. In August 1841 they were all arrested and deported to Vietnam with the royal regalia. Around that time, some of Ang Mey's relatives were imprisoned on the island of Poulo Condore. According to Thai and Cambodian sources, Ang Baen was drowned in the Mekong
Mekong
The Mekong is a river that runs through China, Burma, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. It is the world's 10th-longest river and the 7th-longest in Asia. Its estimated length is , and it drains an area of , discharging of water annually....
river, although Khin Sok, states that Baen was tortured to death by the Vietnamese general and her body thrown in the river.
Many Cambodian Okha and their followers had ready revolt against Vietnamese polices depend on the death of Princess Ang Baen and The absence of their queen ang mey. Vietnamese Official in Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh is the capital and largest city of Cambodia. Located on the banks of the Mekong River, Phnom Penh has been the national capital since the French colonized Cambodia, and has grown to become the nation's center of economic and industrial activities, as well as the center of security,...
had called for Mey to be return in Cambodia
Cambodia
Cambodia , officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia...
to quit the rebellion but Ming Mang
Minh Mang
Minh Mạng was the second emperor of the Nguyễn Dynasty of Vietnam, reigning from 14 February 1820 until 20 January 1841. He was a younger son of Emperor Gia Long, whose eldest son, Crown Prince Canh, had died in 1801...
refused. However, in March 1841, Upon her return to Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh is the capital and largest city of Cambodia. Located on the banks of the Mekong River, Phnom Penh has been the national capital since the French colonized Cambodia, and has grown to become the nation's center of economic and industrial activities, as well as the center of security,...
issue a letter to provincial official and leader asking for their support of her reign. At that times, Doung was issuing similar call for help from Oudong
Oudong
Udong is a town in Cambodia, situated in the north-western part of Kandal Province. The town is located on top of the mountain Phnom Udong, about 40 km northwest of the capital Phnom Penh...
. Queen Ang Mei was reinstated as a queen and her sisters, Poeu appointed for the heir parents in 1844. However, most of Cambodian Court remain under Vietnamese control until October 1846 when Vietnamese release the daughter of King Ang Duong
Ang Duong
Ang Duong was king of Cambodia.Ang Duong was younger son of king Ang Eng, who 1779-1797 was ruler of Cambodia at the then capital Oudong, by one of his Thai consorts, Ros, 'queen Vara' , whom he had taken as concubine in 1793 from Bangkok.He is regarded as the Great-King of Cambodia who...
and another members of Cambodian to joint with him in Oudong
Oudong
Udong is a town in Cambodia, situated in the north-western part of Kandal Province. The town is located on top of the mountain Phnom Udong, about 40 km northwest of the capital Phnom Penh...
.There were a discussion were underway between Thai and Vietnamese for the resolution for The Cambodia
Cambodia
Cambodia , officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia...
problem resulting in Compromise whereby both Ang Duong
Ang Duong
Ang Duong was king of Cambodia.Ang Duong was younger son of king Ang Eng, who 1779-1797 was ruler of Cambodia at the then capital Oudong, by one of his Thai consorts, Ros, 'queen Vara' , whom he had taken as concubine in 1793 from Bangkok.He is regarded as the Great-King of Cambodia who...
and Ang Mei would be rule together are co-sovereigns. However, a simulataneous coronation was held in Bangkok
Bangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
and Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh is the capital and largest city of Cambodia. Located on the banks of the Mekong River, Phnom Penh has been the national capital since the French colonized Cambodia, and has grown to become the nation's center of economic and industrial activities, as well as the center of security,...
in 1848 recording only Ang Duong
Ang Duong
Ang Duong was king of Cambodia.Ang Duong was younger son of king Ang Eng, who 1779-1797 was ruler of Cambodia at the then capital Oudong, by one of his Thai consorts, Ros, 'queen Vara' , whom he had taken as concubine in 1793 from Bangkok.He is regarded as the Great-King of Cambodia who...
's accession, succeed his niece, Ang Mey from Throne.
A life with a scandal
Ang Mei's story is told disapassionately in The Cambodia Chronicle where she portrayed as a puppet of Vietnamese emperor and Officials. Ang Doung took care to emphasize association between Mei and Vietnamese, and blamed her who ruled during the Annamite period for the loss of indentured slaves. Most histories of the period imply that Oknha and Cambodian in general acquiesced to Ang Mey as their sovereign reluctantly holding out Forlorny for Dunong or for Ang Im and Duong to return as Sovereign.There were even the rumour that Ang Mey was engaged in an affair with Troung Ming Giang, The Vietnamese governor in Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh is the capital and largest city of Cambodia. Located on the banks of the Mekong River, Phnom Penh has been the national capital since the French colonized Cambodia, and has grown to become the nation's center of economic and industrial activities, as well as the center of security,...
. Jean Mora consulted Oknha and women of the palace who had the position at the court during the reign of Ang Mey and independent Observer told that the rumor was not true. Other tempered their allegation of Ang Mey's wrong doing; the once beautiful princess who may be sold her country but not her body to the Vietnamese. Yet History had construct Mey as a passive victim hardly legitimate in the eye of her own people. Ang Mey also began blame as her reign seem as completely negative, during which khmer territory, culture, and Independence was almost lost. whist it can not be denied that Vietnamese was in control of Cambodia during Ang mei's reign, she inherited country that had been already been mortgaged to Húe by her father, Ang Chan. Mei was crowned Sovereign of a kingdom which The Vietnamese was already in charge. It is difficult to ascertain what course of action other than acquiescense was available to her. However, Ang Mey seem to have sought of Peaceful solution to the factionalism in her country, telling envoys sent by Ang Duong
Ang Duong
Ang Duong was king of Cambodia.Ang Duong was younger son of king Ang Eng, who 1779-1797 was ruler of Cambodia at the then capital Oudong, by one of his Thai consorts, Ros, 'queen Vara' , whom he had taken as concubine in 1793 from Bangkok.He is regarded as the Great-King of Cambodia who...
that she wished for a return to peace and amicabitlity and hoping that she and her sisters would be able to live together with their uncle. This may of course had been at diplomatic respone, the Vietnamese annal described her as an intelligent young lady at the time of her accession. Nothing sudden flights to Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
, the murder to her sisters and continued changed in her status seem to induced hysterical or untoward behaviour. Ang Mey then reportly turned mad.
The Latest Life
During Ang Mey's lived with the memory of the death and dishonour for over twenty years. NorodomNorodom of Cambodia
Norodom I ruled as king of Cambodia from 1860 to 1904. He was the eldest son of King Ang Duong, who ruled on behalf of Siam, and half-brother of Prince Si Votha as well as the half-brother of King Sisowath. Norodom is cognate with Narottam in Sanskrit which means Best of men . Norodom was...
left her in the care of old retainer when he and his court moved to Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh is the capital and largest city of Cambodia. Located on the banks of the Mekong River, Phnom Penh has been the national capital since the French colonized Cambodia, and has grown to become the nation's center of economic and industrial activities, as well as the center of security,...
. At Oudong
Oudong
Udong is a town in Cambodia, situated in the north-western part of Kandal Province. The town is located on top of the mountain Phnom Udong, about 40 km northwest of the capital Phnom Penh...
An Mey could still believed that she had some dignity, and her servants could placate th villagers whom she as saulted when her mind was unbalanced or pay for the goods as she took the right from the merchants in the market.
During she allowed to return to Oudong after the cession of hostilities in 1847. She later married an unknown man and had two daughters (This note does not verify that she had children) She and her husband died in an accident in late December 1874 but cremated at Phnom Penh in 1884.