Si Votha
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Si Votha (also spelled Si Vattha) was a Cambodian prince who was briefly a contender for the throne.
Si Votha was a son of King Ang Duong, who ruled Cambodia from 1841 to 1860. Si Votha had two half-brothers, Norodom and Sisowath, with Norodom being the king's chosen heir. Upon King Ang Duong's death, a succession struggle ensued, with Si Votha attempting to take power. Norodom, although occupied with a rebellion, eventually gained the upper hand, and was backed by Sisowath.
The French, who were attempting to expand their influence in Cambodia at the time, were pleased by Si Votha's defeat, as he had been an outspoken critic of European colonialism in the area. Si Votha became something of a figurehead for resistance against the French. In 1885, insurgents loyal to Si Votha attacked a French military outpost, and began a period of large-scale insurrection against French rule. The rebellion was largely unsuccessful, however, and in 1887, Cambodia was incorporated in the French-controlled Indochinese Union.
Si Votha died in 1891.
