Item number: M55

Year: AD 1864-Present

Material: Gold and Enamel

The results after XRF testing

Size: order 21.27 x 11.95 mm

Weight: 1.09 g

Provenance: La Galerie Numismatique 2023

This object is a miniature version of the Officer Class of the Royal Order of Cambodia, featuring an eight-pointed star made of gold, connected to a suspended crown. At the apex of the crown, there is a small cross atop a golden globe. The obverse of the medal has an oval shape with purple enamel painting, bearing the golden royal coat of arms. The outer edge of the oval is surrounded by a red enamel border with gold medallions on both sides.

The ribbon has a width of 37 mm, originally designed with a red ribbon bordered by green edges. In AD 1899, due to the resemblance to the Legion of Honour ribbon, the French colonial government issued a new decree changing the colors to a white ribbon with orange edges. For ranks of Officer Class (fourth class) and above, the ribbon is adorned with a 30 mm white and orange rosette. In AD 1948, after gaining independence from colonial status, Cambodia restored the original red and green color scheme for the ribbon.

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)

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: M55

年代: 公元 1864 年

材質: 青銅

XRF分析結果

尺寸: 勳章 21.27 x 11.95 mm

重量: 1.09 g

來源: 貨幣畫廊 2023

此物件為迷你版的軍官級，外觀為黃金打造的八芒星，上方連結一頂王冠，王冠頂端的金球還有一個小十字架。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。橢圓形的外邊，環繞著一道兩側夾金邊的紅色琺瑯。

綬帶的寬度為37毫米，原先設計是帶有綠色邊框的紅色綬帶。公元1899年，由於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，綬帶飾以一朵30毫米的白色和橙色花飾。公元1948年，擺脫殖民地位的柬埔寨恢復為原先的紅綠配色綬帶。

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)

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。