Norodom Sihanouk was born on October 31 1922. He was initially brought up by his grandparents. He went to school in Saigon. He became King in 1941 and fought for Cambodian Independence. He abdicated on behalf of his father in 1955. He became Prime Minister of the country. Upon his fathers death in 1960 he became the Head of State of Cambodia.

After years spent trying to keep his "neutral" country from being swallowed up into the Vietnam conflict, Cambodian Prince Norodom Sihanouk was deposed in 1970 by Lon Nol. When the Khmer Rouge captured the capital in 1975, Sihanouk was briefly returned to power from exile in Beijing. In 1976, he resigned and was placed under house arrest.

Though he became head of Kampuchea's CGDK coalition government in 1982, he resigned repeatedly over the years, moves seen as attempts to enhance his negotiating position with the government.

After the overthrow of the Communist government electinos were held in 1993. Sihanouk was again appointed King. He abdicated in favor of his son in 2004 Norodom Sihamoni who seceded him as King.

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