The Royal Order of Cambodia
With Unofficial Ribbon and Cross
(Full Size, With Case), Knight Class,
French Indochina
The hallmark「Robert Stoll」
King Norodom-I with Royal Order of Cambodia
Source: Die katholischen Missionen
Source: Die katholischen Missionen
Chocolat Guérin-Boutron Chocolate Card
The Royal Order of Cambodia
The Royal Order of Cambodia
Item number: M174
Year: AD 1899-1995
Material: Gold, Silver and Enamel
Size: case 108.0 x 64.7 x 25.3 / order 77.0 x 48.8 x 10.0 mm
Weight: 27.55 g
Manufactured by: Robert Stoll, New York
Provenance: Aberdeen Medals 2022
This is the Knight class of the Royal Order of Cambodia, awarded during the French Indochina period, and it comes with a brown leather storage case. The object is composed of diamond cut silver rays, and designed in the shape of an eight pointed star. Above, there is a suspension in the shape of a crown adorned with a cross. 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.
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. Most of the Royal Orders of Cambodia were manufactured by the A. Chobillion jeweller in Paris during the colonial period, but this particular order was crafted by the jeweller Robert Stoll in New York, USA. It is likely that it was privately commissioned by the recipient for production afterwards. (See Picture)
Right: The differences between the rays
The Knight class is worn as a breast ribbon, with the order suspended by a fixed 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. However, the solid red ribbon of the order does not conform to the aforementioned two colours, suggesting it may have been added by the manufacturer in New York. Judging by the Western-style crown at the top of the order, it can be roughly estimated that the order was awarded no later than the year AD 1995, before the top decoration was changed to the Cambodian-style Mukuta crown.
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. (See Table)
| Grades of Order |
| Knight Grand Cross (Maha Sirivaddha) |
| Knight Grand Officer (Mahasena) |
| Knight Commander (Dhipadinda) |
| Knight Officer (Sena) |
| Chevalier (Assarariddhi) |
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.
法屬印度支那時期
騎士級柬埔寨王家勳章
(非制式綬帶十字架官方版，含盒)
物件編號: M174
年代: 公元 1899-1995
材質: 黃金, 白銀和琺瑯
尺寸: 盒 108.0 x 64.7 x 25.3 / 勳章 77.0 x 48.8 x 10.0 mm
重量: 27.55 g
製造地: Robert Stoll珠寶行, 紐約
來源: 亞伯丁獎章 2022
此為法屬印度支那時期頒發的騎士級柬埔寨王家勳章，並且附有一個棕色皮革的收納盒。勳章以切割為鑽石質感的銀質射線組成八芒星，上方連結一頂帶有十字架的王冠狀懸掛。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。
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。多數柬埔寨王家勳章自殖民時期便交由巴黎的A. Chobillion珠寶行製造，但這枚勳章卻是由美國紐約的Robert Stoll珠寶行製造，可能是綬勳者後續私下委託製造的。(見圖)
右側: 射線背後有無孔洞
騎士級以胸綬方式配戴，其勳章以固定環形懸掛銜接綬帶。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。然而該勳章的純紅色綬帶不符合上述兩種顏色，可能是紐約的製造者自行追加的。以勳章頂部的西式王冠為判斷，大致能推估該勳章的頒發時間不晚於公元1995年，即頂部裝飾更改為柬埔寨在地的穆庫塔王冠風格之前。
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。(見下圖)
| 勳章的級別 |
| 大十字級 (Maha Sirivaddha) |
| 大指揮官級 (Mahasena) |
| 指揮官級 (Dhipadinda) |
| 軍官級 (Sena) |
| 騎士級 (Assarariddhi) |
