Cambodian honors system consists of a number of

orders Order, ORDER or Orders may refer to: * Categorization, the process in which ideas and objects are recognized, differentiated, and understood * Heterarchy, a system of organization wherein the elements have the potential to be ranked a number of d ...

, decorations and

medal A medal or medallion is a small portable artistic object, a thin disc, normally of metal, carrying a design, usually on both sides. They typically have a commemorative purpose of some kind, and many are presented as awards. They may be int ...

s through which the country's sovereign awards its citizens for actions or deeds that benefit the nation. The modern system was established under Colonial French Rule and continued with modification after independence until the fall of the

Khmer Republic The Khmer Republic ( km, សាធារណរដ្ឋខ្មែរ, ; french: République khmère) was a pro-United States military-led republican government of Cambodia that was formally declared on 9 October 1970. The Khmer Republic wa ...

on 17 April 1975. The current system was reinstated on 5 October 1995 by the Decree for the Establishment and Use of Decorations of Honor of the Kingdom of Cambodia No. 1095/01. The system includes an array of awards, both

civil Civil may refer to: *Civic virtue, or civility *Civil action, or lawsuit * Civil affairs *Civil and political rights *Civil disobedience *Civil engineering *Civil (journalism), a platform for independent journalism *Civilian, someone not a membe ...

and

military A military, also known collectively as armed forces, is a heavily armed, highly organized force primarily intended for warfare. It is typically authorized and maintained by a sovereign state, with its members identifiable by their distinct ...

, for gallantry, bravery, distinguished service, meritorious service and long service. Various campaign and commemorative medals have also been struck.

History

The Cambodian honors system is based on European/French models. Many of the honors are

orders of chivalry An order of chivalry, order of knighthood, chivalric order, or equestrian order is an order of knights, typically founded during or inspired by the original Catholic military orders of the Crusades ( 1099–1291) and paired with medieval concep ...

granted by royal decree or sub-decree. This system was established under Colonial French Rule and continued with modification after independence until the fall of the

on 17 April 1975. The current system was reinstated on 5 October 1995 by the Decree for the Establishment and Use of Decorations of Honor of the Kingdom of Cambodia No. 1095/01. Many of the modern awards have origins from Cambodia's period as a French colony or under the Kingdom of Cambodia under the rule of King

Norodom Sihanouk Norodom Sihanouk (; km, នរោត្តម សីហនុ, ; 31 October 192215 October 2012) was a Cambodian statesman, Sangkum and FUNCINPEC politician, Norodom Sihanouk filmography, film director, and composer who led Cambodia in vari ...

Nominating for awards

Under the current system, candidates are nominated by government ministries through a Decoration of Honor Candidate Qualification Review Committee. These committees refer nominations, with justification, to the Council of Ministers for a decision.

Categories of honors and awards

As established by Royal Decree, the hierarchy of decorations of honors are:

Awards for National and Motherland Defense

Grand Order of National Merit The Grand Order of National Merit ( km, គ្រឿងឥស្សរិយយសជាតូបការ) was founded by King Norodom Sihanouk on 5 October 1995. It is awarded in one class to foreign Heads of State and to Cambodian nationals wh ...

KHM Ordre Royal du Cambodge - Chevalier BAR

Royal Order of Cambodia * KHM National Independence Medal

National Independence Medal

Royal Household Awards

Medal of the Crown * KHM Medal of Norodom I

Medal of Norodom I * KHM Medal of Sisowath I

Medal of Sisowath I * KHM Medal of Norodom Sihanouk - gold

Medal of Norodom Sihanouk * KHM Medal of Norodom Suramarit - gold

Medal of Norodom Suramarit * KHM Anussara Medal

Anussara Medal of Royal Remembrance

Medals of National Defense

Sena Jayaseddh Medal * KHM National Defence Medal - gold

Medal of National Defense

Multi-Category

Royal Order of H.M. The Queen Preah Kossomak Nearireath * KHM Royal Order of Sahametrei - Knight

Royal Order of Sahametrei The Royal Order of Sahametrei ( km, គ្រឿងឥស្សរិយយសលំដាប់សហមេត្រី) is a chivalric order conferred by the government of the Kingdom of Cambodia. The Royal Order of Sahametrei was instituted in ...

Royal Order of Sowathara Cambodian honors system consists of a number of orders, decorations and medals through which the country's sovereign awards its citizens for actions or deeds that benefit the nation. The modern system was established under Colonial French Rule an ...

KHM Royal Order of Monisaraphon - Knight

Royal Order of Monisaraphon The Royal Order of Monisaraphon ( km, គ្រឿងឥស្សរិយយសមុនីសារាភ័ណ្ឌ) was founded by King Sisowath of Cambodia on 1 February 1905. It is conferred for accomplishment and outstanding support in the ...

Medal of Labour * KHM National Construction Decoration

Decoration of National Construction * KHM Khemara Kelarith Sports Medal - gold

Khemara Kelarith Sports Medal * KHM Order of Feminine Merit

Order of Satrei Vathana (Feminine Merit)

References

External links

Indochina Medals, CambodiaOrders and Medals Society of America, Cambodia
{{Decorations by country