Item number: M172

Year: AD 1899-1948

Material: Gold, Silver and Enamel

Size: 94.8 x 59.2 x 13.3 mm

Weight: 46.0 g

Provenance: Liverpool Medals 2022

This is the Commander class of the Royal Order of Cambodia, awarded during the French Indochina period. The object is composed of diamond cut silver rays, and designed in the shape of an eight pointed star. Above, there is a crown-shaped suspension, with a cross decoration on the bead at the top of the crown. On the obverse, there is an oval-shaped purple enamel painting with the gold royal emblem at the top. The outer edge of the oval is decorated with a surrounding ring of red enamel. On the reverse of the ray linking the crown, there is a somewhat indistinct poinçon.

Since its establishment in AD 1864, many manufacturers have been involved in the production of this order, with each edition having its own characteristics and slight differences. The most noticeable differences include whether there is a cross on top of the bead at the top and whether there are holes on the reverse of the rays. Other differences may require measurement and examination of the jeweller’s hallmark to determine.

The Commander class is worn as a cravat ribbon, with the order suspended by a ring suspension to the ribbon. When Norodom I created this order, the ribbon was red with green stripes on both sides. However, in AD 1899, the French colonial government deemed the colours too similar to those of the Legion of Honour order and issued a new decree changing the ribbon to white with orange borders. Officers of the rank of Fourth Class and above had a white-orange floral decoration on their ribbons. It wasn’t until Cambodia gained independence from colonial rule in AD 1948 that the original red-green ribbon colours were restored. Therefore, judging by the ribbon’s colour, the period of issuance for this order can be estimated to be between AD 1899 and AD 1948.

Under the unique Mandala system in Southeast Asia, a region could simultaneously be a vassal of different rulers. Cambodia, once a powerful empire in the medieval period under the Khmer Empire, later became a vassal of both the Vietnamese Nguyễn Dynasty and the Siamese (Thai) Chakri Dynasty. Since AD 1845, Siam (Thailand) and Vietnam have jointly exercised protection over Cambodia.

However, Southeast Asia’s traditional order quickly faced challenges and disruptions from the new power, France. Unwilling to be a puppet of Siam, Crown Prince Norodom sought support and protection from the emerging French influence. Since French intervention in July AD 1863, Cambodia became a highly autonomous protectorate. On February 8, AD 1864, King Norodom I, inspired by the French Legion of Honour, established the Royal Order of Cambodia with five ranks. The initial orders were awarded to French military commanders who assisted him in establishing his independence.

As the suzerain of Cambodia, the French colonial government had the authority to award this order, similar to the king. According to the colonial decree of AD 1896, foreign individuals residing in Cambodia for at least three years or those who contributed to the expansion of French colonial territories were eligible to receive this award. In AD 1948, amid the post-war decolonization wave, France abolished Cambodia’s colonial status, turning the Order into a national decoration for Cambodia. In AD 1955, the Kingdom of Cambodia gained independence, breaking away from the French Union.

Subsequently, caught in the Cold War turmoil in Southeast Asia, Cambodia experienced a royal overthrow supported by the United States in AD 1970. During the period of exile, King Norodom Sihanouk continued to confer this medal. Upon his successful return to the country in AD 1975, King Sihanouk resumed the awarding of the medal. The medal later witnessed the chaotic era of the Khmer Rouge and continues to be issued today as Cambodia’s official national decoration.

物件編號: M172

年代: 公元 1899-1948 年

材質: 黃金, 白銀和琺瑯

尺寸: 94.8 x 59.2 x 13.3 mm

重量: 46.0 g

來源: 利物浦獎章 2022

此為法屬印度支那時期頒發的指揮官級柬埔寨王家勳章。以切割為鑽石質感的銀質射線組成八芒星，上方連結一頂王冠狀懸掛，王冠頂部的圓珠帶有一個十字架裝飾。勳章正面有一紫色琺瑯彩繪的橢圓形，上頭有代表皇室的金色家徽。橢圓形外緣則有一圈環繞的紅色琺瑯裝飾。銜接王冠的射線背面，則有一個不甚明顯的純度印記。

公元1864年創立以來，有許多廠商投入該勳章的製造，不同版別之間有各自的特色和些許差異。最明顯的差異是頂部圓珠的十字架有無，和射線背面有無孔洞，其餘須測量尺寸和觀察珠寶商商標方能判斷。

指揮官級以領綬方式配戴，其勳章以環型懸掛銜接綬帶。諾羅敦一世創設此勳章時，以兩側帶有綠色豎條的紅色作為綬帶配色。但在公元1899年，法國殖民政府認為配色跟榮譽軍團勳章過於相似，頒布新法令將顏色改為橙色邊框的白色綬帶。四等的軍官級以上，綬帶加以有一朵白橙色的花飾。直到公元1948年擺脫殖民地位的柬埔寨才恢復為原先的紅綠配色綬帶。故以綬帶的顏色為判斷，能推估該勳章的頒發時間落在公元1899至1948年之際。

在東南亞獨特的曼荼羅體系下，一個地方可能同時是不同統治者的附庸，曾在中世紀不可一世的高棉帝國，後續卻淪為越南阮朝和暹羅(泰國)扎克里王朝附庸的柬埔寨正是一個生動例子。自公元1845年起，暹羅和越南對柬埔寨實施聯合保護。

不過很快東南亞的舊秩序，就遭到新勢力法國的挑戰和破壞，不甘為暹羅魁儡的儲君諾羅敦，趁勢尋求新勢力的支持和保護。自1863年7月法國干預下，柬埔寨成為高度自治的保護國。公元1864年2月8日，登基為國王的諾羅敦一世參考法國榮譽軍團勳章，成立擁有五個等級的皇家柬埔寨勳章，首批勳章被授予協助其自立的法軍指揮官們。

作為柬埔寨的宗主國，法國殖民政府比照國王有頒發該勳章的權力。根據公元1896年的殖民地法令，在柬埔寨有效居留至少三年，或對於擴張法國殖民地有功的外籍人士，皆有獲頒該獎勵的資格。公元1948年，在戰後的去殖民浪潮影響下，法國先取消柬埔寨的殖民地地位，使該勳章成為柬埔寨的國家勳章。公元1955年，柬埔寨王國脫離法蘭西聯邦成為獨立的國家。

隨後捲入東南亞冷戰漩渦的柬埔寨，公元1970年皇室遭到美國支持的軍方推翻，西哈努克親王為首的王室在流亡期間仍持續授予該勳章。公元1975年成功返國的西哈努克親王恢復勳章的頒發，該勳章後續見證赤色高棉的混亂時期，直到今日仍作為柬埔寨的法定國家勳章發放。