Battambang Province (Thailand)
Encyclopedia
Phra Tabong Province was a province of Thailand
, from the late 18th century until it was ceded to French Indochina
in 1907, and again between 1941-1946 after Thailand recaptured it during the Japanese occupation of Cambodia
in World War II
.
The area is now covered by Battambang Province
, Banteay Meanchey Province, and Pailin
municipality of Cambodia
.
, landing in the area of modern Battambang.
family, was installed as governor, with the title Chao Phraya Abhayabhubet. His family governed the region for another five generations, until 1907. In that year Phra Tabong was ceded to French Indochina
along with portions of modern Laos
in exchange for Trat Province
, according to the Franco-Siam Treaty signed March 23, 1907.
In 1941, with the help of Japan, which was occupying Thailand at the time, Thailand recaptured the areas it had ceded to France in 1907. The area in Cambodia had since been subdivided, and was rejoined to Thailand on July 23, 1941 as two provinces: Phra Tabong Province (with new boundaries, corresponding to Cambodian Battambang Province
) and Phibunsongkhram Province (corresponding to Cambodian Siem Reap Province).
Thailand was forced to cede the territory again in 1946, after the end of World War II
, as a condition for Thailand's admission into the United Nations
.
):
Three of the former Cambodian districts were renamed to honor the military officers who led the three major divisions of the Thai armed forces in the French-Thai War
:
On December 23, 1941, Si Sophon and Sinthu Songkhram Chai were reassigned to Phibunsongkhram Province.
On November 3, 1942, Mueang Phra Tabong was established as a town (thesaban mueang).
On September 17, 1943, due to its small size, Phromyothi District was downgraded to a minor district (king amphoe) and renamed Pak Phraek. At the same time, four subdistricts from Mongkhon Buri District were combined into a new Phromyothi District.
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
, from the late 18th century until it was ceded to French Indochina
French Indochina
French Indochina was part of the French colonial empire in southeast Asia. A federation of the three Vietnamese regions, Tonkin , Annam , and Cochinchina , as well as Cambodia, was formed in 1887....
in 1907, and again between 1941-1946 after Thailand recaptured it during the Japanese occupation of Cambodia
Japanese occupation of Cambodia
The Japanese occupation of Cambodia was the period of Cambodian history during World War II when the Empire of Japan established its authority over Cambodia....
in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
The area is now covered by Battambang Province
Battambang Province
Battambang is a province in northwestern Cambodia. It is bordered to the North with Banteay Meanchey, to the West with Thailand, and to the East and South with Pursat. The capital of the province is the city of Battambang. The name, meaning 'lost staff', refers to the legend of Preah Bat Dambang...
, Banteay Meanchey Province, and Pailin
Pailin
Pailin is a province at the northern edge of the Cardamom Mountains, in the west of Cambodia near the border of Thailand. This province is surrounded by Battambang Province, and was officially carved out of Battambang to become a separate administrative division after the surrender of the Ieng...
municipality 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...
.
Name
Phra Tabong is the Thai version of the name Preah Bat Dambang Kranhoung, the namesake of Battambang, who according to Khmer legend threw his staff from AngkorAngkor
Angkor is a region of Cambodia that served as the seat of the Khmer Empire, which flourished from approximately the 9th to 15th centuries. The word Angkor is derived from the Sanskrit nagara , meaning "city"...
, landing in the area of modern Battambang.
History
Though Siam had invaded this area of Cambodia beginning in the 15th century, Siamese administration of the area was only formally organized in the late 18th century, at the beginning of the Bangkok period. Baen Abhaiwongse, originator of the AbhaiwongseAbhaiwongse
Abhaiwongse is a Thai surname.The Abhaiwongse family governed Phra Tabong Province, Thailand for six generations between the late 18th century and 1907, when the territory was ceded to French Indochina...
family, was installed as governor, with the title Chao Phraya Abhayabhubet. His family governed the region for another five generations, until 1907. In that year Phra Tabong was ceded to French Indochina
French Indochina
French Indochina was part of the French colonial empire in southeast Asia. A federation of the three Vietnamese regions, Tonkin , Annam , and Cochinchina , as well as Cambodia, was formed in 1887....
along with portions of modern Laos
Laos
Laos Lao: ສາທາລະນະລັດ ປະຊາທິປະໄຕ ປະຊາຊົນລາວ Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao, officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic, is a landlocked country in Southeast Asia, bordered by Burma and China to the northwest, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the south and Thailand to the west...
in exchange for Trat Province
Trat Province
Trat is a province of Thailand. It is located in the east of Thailand, and has borders with Chanthaburi Province to the northwest, Cambodia to the east, and the Gulf of Thailand to the south.Trat is most famous for gemstone mining and trading....
, according to the Franco-Siam Treaty signed March 23, 1907.
In 1941, with the help of Japan, which was occupying Thailand at the time, Thailand recaptured the areas it had ceded to France in 1907. The area in Cambodia had since been subdivided, and was rejoined to Thailand on July 23, 1941 as two provinces: Phra Tabong Province (with new boundaries, corresponding to Cambodian Battambang Province
Battambang Province
Battambang is a province in northwestern Cambodia. It is bordered to the North with Banteay Meanchey, to the West with Thailand, and to the East and South with Pursat. The capital of the province is the city of Battambang. The name, meaning 'lost staff', refers to the legend of Preah Bat Dambang...
) and Phibunsongkhram Province (corresponding to Cambodian Siem Reap Province).
Thailand was forced to cede the territory again in 1946, after the end of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, as a condition for Thailand's admission into the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
.
Administrative divisions
When it was rejoined to Thailand on July 23, 1941, Phra Tabong was divided into seven districts (amphoeAmphoe
An amphoe is the second level administrative subdivision of Thailand. Usually translated as district, amphoe make up the provinces, and are analogous to a county seat...
):
- Mueang Phra Tabong (corresponding to Cambodian Battambang DistrictBattambang DistrictBattambang District is a district of Battambang Province, in north-western Cambodia. The capital lies at Battambang city.- Travel Around Battambang Provinc :You only pay 25$ for perdayBattambang town to Ek Phnom 15$...
) - Phromyothi (corresponding to Cambodian Sangkae DistrictSangkae DistrictSangkae District is a district within Battambang Province, in north-western Cambodia.-Communes and villages:-References:...
) - Athuekthewadet (corresponding to Cambodian Moung Ruessei DistrictMoung Ruessei DistrictMoung Ruessei District is a district of Battambang Province, in north-western Cambodia. The capital lies at the town of Moung Ruessei.- Administration :The district is subdivided into 11 communes .- Communes and villages :...
) - Mongkhon Buri (corresponding to Cambodian Mongkol Borei DistrictMongkol Borei DistrictMongkol Borei District is a district in the south of Banteay Meanchey Province, in north-western Cambodia. The district capital is Mongkol Borei town located around 8 kilometres south of the provincial capital of Sisophon by road. Mongkol Borei District is the southern-most district of Banteay...
) - Si Sophon (corresponding to Cambodian Serei Saophoan DistrictSerei Saophoan DistrictSerei Saophoan District is a district in the centre of Banteay Meanchey Province, in north-western Cambodia. Serei Saophoan is the urban district of Banteay Meanchey province and the district capital is also the provincial capital Sisophon town. The town is located 359 kilometres north of Phnom...
) - Sinthusongkhramchai (corresponding to Cambodian Tuek Cho District(?))
- Phailin (corresponding to the Cambodian PailinPailinPailin is a province at the northern edge of the Cardamom Mountains, in the west of Cambodia near the border of Thailand. This province is surrounded by Battambang Province, and was officially carved out of Battambang to become a separate administrative division after the surrender of the Ieng...
District, now a municipality)
Three of the former Cambodian districts were renamed to honor the military officers who led the three major divisions of the Thai armed forces in the French-Thai War
French-Thai War
The Franco-Thai War was fought between Thailand and Vichy France over certain areas of French Indochina that had once belonged to Thailand....
:
- Phromyothi was renamed for Colonel Luang Phromyothi (common name Mangkon Phromyothi, later General), who commanded Army troops.
- Athuekthewadet was renamed for Air Marshal Luang Athuekthewadet (common name Bunchiam Komonmit), who commanded Air Force troops.
- Renamed in 1943 to Ronnaphakat, after Luang Athuekthewadet quit his position.
- Sinthusongkhramchai was renamed for Rear Admiral Luang Sinthusongkhramchai (common name Sin Kamonnawin, later Admiral), who commanded Navy troops.
On December 23, 1941, Si Sophon and Sinthu Songkhram Chai were reassigned to Phibunsongkhram Province.
On November 3, 1942, Mueang Phra Tabong was established as a town (thesaban mueang).
On September 17, 1943, due to its small size, Phromyothi District was downgraded to a minor district (king amphoe) and renamed Pak Phraek. At the same time, four subdistricts from Mongkhon Buri District were combined into a new Phromyothi District.