Sisophon Province
Encyclopedia
Sisophon was a changwat (province
) of Thailand
. In 1906 it was ceded to French Indochina
. It is now part of Cambodia
and known as Banteay Meanchey.
During the 16th Century and beyond, Sisophon was known as Srey Saophoan meaning in Khmer "Beautiful Lady" and it was a small district, belonging in Battambang Province.
Onward to the 17th century, the Siamese later known to the world as Thai, took over Battambang Province
, Siem Reap Province in a successful military campaign.
Battambang Province and Siem Reap province was renamed as Phra Dambang and Siam Nakorn respectfully.
Therefore, Srey Saophoan was renamed as Srisophon in the Siamese/Thai language.
When the French imperialists came in the 1900s, the Siamese were forced to cede Battambang Province and Siem Reap Province back to Cambodia.
So the name of these province were changed back to their Khmer names.
Srisophon was changed officially back to Serey Saophoan meaning in Khmer "Beautiful Freedom" as implying freedom from the Siamese control for a long time of nearly 200 years.
After the Khmer Rouge reign, Battambang Province was broken up into two provinces. Those provinces are the remaining Battambang Province and Banteay Meanchey Province.
Sisophon was made the capital city of Banteay Meanchey Province.
Province
A province is a territorial unit, almost always an administrative division, within a country or state.-Etymology:The English word "province" is attested since about 1330 and derives from the 13th-century Old French "province," which itself comes from the Latin word "provincia," which referred to...
) of Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
. In 1906 it was ceded to French Indochina
French Indochina
French Indochina was part of the French colonial empire in southeast Asia. A federation of the three Vietnamese regions, Tonkin , Annam , and Cochinchina , as well as Cambodia, was formed in 1887....
. It is now part of Cambodia
Cambodia
Cambodia , officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia...
and known as Banteay Meanchey.
During the 16th Century and beyond, Sisophon was known as Srey Saophoan meaning in Khmer "Beautiful Lady" and it was a small district, belonging in Battambang Province.
Onward to the 17th century, the Siamese later known to the world as Thai, took over Battambang Province
Battambang Province
Battambang is a province in northwestern Cambodia. It is bordered to the North with Banteay Meanchey, to the West with Thailand, and to the East and South with Pursat. The capital of the province is the city of Battambang. The name, meaning 'lost staff', refers to the legend of Preah Bat Dambang...
, Siem Reap Province in a successful military campaign.
Battambang Province and Siem Reap province was renamed as Phra Dambang and Siam Nakorn respectfully.
Therefore, Srey Saophoan was renamed as Srisophon in the Siamese/Thai language.
When the French imperialists came in the 1900s, the Siamese were forced to cede Battambang Province and Siem Reap Province back to Cambodia.
So the name of these province were changed back to their Khmer names.
Srisophon was changed officially back to Serey Saophoan meaning in Khmer "Beautiful Freedom" as implying freedom from the Siamese control for a long time of nearly 200 years.
After the Khmer Rouge reign, Battambang Province was broken up into two provinces. Those provinces are the remaining Battambang Province and Banteay Meanchey Province.
Sisophon was made the capital city of Banteay Meanchey Province.