During the pre-Angkor and Angkor eras, the areas to the north and to the
north west of the Tonle Sap Lake were known as the territories of
Amogha Boreak and Bhima Boreak. During the Angkor period, the territory
of Amogha Boreak was significantly prosperous because the land was so
fertile that rice crops,
fruit and vegetables
produced excellent yields. Many Khmer people settled there as indicated
by the existence of so many ancient temples in the area. With the
exception of the temples of Wat Banon, Ek Phnom, Baseth, Stung, Banteay
Tey, Banteay Chmar, etc,other monuments, which were
built by dignitaries and subjects at the time as places of worship to God and other
deities of Buddhism and
Hinduism, almost completely disappeared.
Between
the 15th century and the 18th century the area was invaded by the
Siamese army, forcing landowners off their land and splitting up their
families.
From the late 18th century until early in the 20th century, the Siamese ruled
Battambang and placed it under the rule of the Lord Chaofa Ben family, which was later known as the
Aphaiwong Family.
This lasted for 6 generations and ended in 1907. While under Thai rule,
the province was a changwat of Thailand called Phra Tabong (a sacred
stick).
Battambang ferry
The
French Siamese Treaty of March 23, 1907, obliged the Siamese to return
territories that they had occupied for more than a century. These
included Battambang, Siem Reap and Angkor, in exchange for Trat province
and the area of Dach Se (Lao territory) in the upper catchment area of
the Mekong River. On December 6 1907, His Majesty Preah Bat Sisowath
issued a royal declaration splitting Battambang into 3 provinces:
Battambang, Siem Reap and Serei Sophorn. In 1925, Battambang was divided
again into two provinces: Battambang and Siem Reap, with Battambang
having two districts: Battambang and Serei Sophorn. By 1940, Battambang
consisted of 7 districts: Battambang, Sangke, Maung Russey, Monkol
Borei, Toeuk Cho, Serei Sophorn, and Bei Thbaung.
In May 1953,
the Poi Pet administration was founded and ordered under the district of
Serei Sophorn which was divided into two districts: Serei Sophorn and
Banteay Chmar. In March 1965, the administration of Poi Pet, was
elevated to the status of a district named O Chrov. In July 1965, part
of the territory of Maung Russey was separated to become the
administration of Kors Kralor. In March 1966, another new district Thmar
Pouk was founded and the district of Banteay Chmar was cut off from the
province of Battambang for incorporation
into Oddor Meanchey province, another newly founded province. In the
early years of the Khmer Rouge, two new districts were established:
Banan and Kors Lor. During the 3 years and 9 months of the Killing
Fields, Battambang saw its people evacuated by Pol Pot's men from the
city and towns and relocated to remote and mountainous areas. The
province of Battambang, once known as the rice bowl of the country, was
turned into a site of torture, killings, and starvation.
The
province of Battambang was completely liberated from the genocidal
regime on January 13, 1979. At that time, the People’s Committee of
commune-Sangkat was founded through the first-ever elections in 1983.
Between 1979 and 1986, Battambang had 9 districts and one provincial
town.
In 1986, three new districts were created: Banan, Bovel,
and Ek Phnom. Until that point, Battambang had 12 districts and 1
provincial town. In 1988, however 5 districts were separated and
incorporated into the newly founded province of Banteay Meanchey.
In
1998, following the integration of the remaining territory of the
former Democratic Kampuchea, the province of Battambang saw part of its
territory separated for the municipality of Pailin, while 4 new
districts were established: Samlot, Kamreang, Phnom Proeuk and Sampov
Loun. In 2000, part of the district of Maung Russey was split off to
become the district of Koas Krolor.
Posted by: Sotin
Credit: http://khmerization.blogspot.com/2011/10/history-of-battambang.html
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| Dombong Kronhoung in the past |
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| Road No.3 in the past |
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| Preap Sor |
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| Dombong Kronhoung now |
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| Provincial Hall |
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| Iron Bridge in the past |
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| Dombong Kronhoung |
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| Psanat in the past |
