Ang Eng
Ang Eng (died 1796) was King of Cambodia, reigning from 1779 until his death.[1][2] A youthful monarch who had sought refuge at the Thai court, he was installed on the throne at Oudong by Siamese troops amid efforts to reassert Thai control over Cambodia following a period of Vietnamese intervention.[1][2] His accession under King Rama I of Siam required the cession of the provinces of Battambang and Siem Reap to Thailand, marking a significant loss of territory during a era of alternating Thai and Vietnamese hegemony over the weakened Khmer kingdom.[3][4] Ang Eng's rule exemplified the internal divisions and external manipulations that characterized Cambodian politics in the late 18th century, with royal authority subordinated to neighboring powers' strategic interests.[2]Early Life and Background
Birth and Parentage
Ang Eng was the son of Outey II, who reigned as king of Cambodia from 1758 until his death in 1777.[3][5] Outey II, also known as Udayaraj II or Narayraj II, had been installed on the throne amid ongoing civil conflicts between rival factions backed by Siam and Vietnam, and his rule ended violently when he was killed during a rebellion led by Ang Non II.[3] Ang Eng's exact birth date remains uncertain in historical records, with genealogical sources placing it in 1772.[6] This aligns with contemporary descriptions of him as a youthful monarch upon his installation in 1779, suggesting he was approximately seven years old at the time and thus a minor under regency influence.[7] No reliable details exist regarding his mother or precise birthplace, though as a royal offspring, he was likely born in or near the capital of Oudong during the unstable final years of his father's reign.[3]Education and Upbringing in Exile
Ang Eng was born around 1772 and became king of Cambodia in 1779 at about seven years old, as the sole surviving male member of the royal family following years of civil strife and foreign interventions.[8] His early years on the throne were marked by instability, including threats from Vietnamese forces allied with rival Cambodian factions.[8] In 1783, amid escalating Vietnamese attacks, Ang Eng fled to Bangkok, seeking refuge under the protection of the newly established King Rama I of Siam.[8] He resided there for eleven years, housed directly by Rama I and under the guardianship of the pro-Siamese Cambodian minister Pok, who oversaw his daily affairs.[8] This extended stay in the Siamese capital provided Ang Eng with immersion in the Bangkok court's protocols and administrative structures, though primary sources offer limited details on his personal instruction or scholarly pursuits.[8] Upon reaching maturity around 1794, Rama I conferred royal titles on Ang Eng in Bangkok, formalizing his status and enabling his return to Cambodia as the recognized sovereign at Udong later that year.[8] This period of exile thus shaped his political dependencies, embedding Siamese oversight into his upbringing and reinforcing Cambodia's tributary relationship with Siam.[8]