France, Colonial, Order of Cambodia Officer's Decoration
Kingdom of Cambodia: Royal Order of Cambodia [Ordre royal du Cambodge].
2nd model (with crown - 1896-1948), 2nd version with little cross above the crown, officer decoration, French production, silver brilliant and gold-plated, partly enamelled, on what is probably the later, so-called "imperial" ribbon with applied rosette .
After the kingdom had become a French protectorate in 1863, King Norodom I (1834-1904, ruled since 1860) founded the five-class (Grand Cross, Grand Officer, Commander, Officer and Knight) General Order of Merit on February 8, 1864 January 1865 (1st model). At an unknown later point in time (before 1896) the decorations were raised by a western crown (2nd model).
By decree of May 10 and 23, 1896, the French President Félix Faure (1841-1899, President since 1895) transferred the administration of the order, now without the designation "royal", to the Grand Chancellery of the Legion of Honor in Paris, making it a French colonial order has been. Further stipulations were made by a presidential decree of January 12, 1897. With a decree of December 5, 1899, a new ribbon (white with orange stripes) was introduced for the awards made by the French President . Model, (2.) "metropolitan" version). The awards made by the King of Cambodia continued to be awarded on the previous red ribbon with green side stripes (2nd model, (1st) "royal".
With a decree of August 25, 1948, under King Norodom Sihanouk (1922-2012, ruled from 1941 to 1955 and from 1993 to 2004), the administration was transferred back to Cambodia, making the order a purely Cambodian order again. The government of Democratic Cambodia abolished the order in 1975. As a result of Norodom Sihanouk's return to Cambodia as king, the order was re-established by royal decree No. 1095/01 of October 5, 1995, with the insignia now being elevated by the Cambodian royal crown (3rd model).
Silver, Gilt and enamels. On National Ribbon with rosette.
