The
French protectorate of Cambodia formed part of the
French Colonial Empire in Southeast Asia. It was established in 1867 when the Cambodian King
Norodom requested the establishment of a French protectorate over his country, meanwhile
Siam (modern
Thailand) renounced
suzerainty over Cambodia and officially recognised the French protectorate on Cambodia. Cambodia was integrated into the
French Indochina union in 1887 along with the French colonies and protectorates in
Vietnam (
Cochinchina,
Annam and
Tonkin). In 1946, Cambodia was granted self-rule within the
French Union and had its protectorate status abolished in 1949. Cambodia later gained its independence and the independent day was celebrated on 9 November 1953.