Unlike in European aristocracies, Khmer noble titles are not inherited, but individually granted based on personal merit.
All scholars (educated Chinese) wishing to access the title of Mandarin could participate in the competition, which was organized at the national level by the imperial house.
According to Khin Sok, the Samdech and the Okhna are considered as Moha Montrey, the others are only middle and junior officials.
[4] Noble families were tasked with keeping the Royal Chronicles of Cambodia as can be read from the Khmer inscription K. 380 found on the southern gopura of the Preah Vihear Temple.
Samdech is a Cambodian honorific bestowed by the King of Cambodia to individuals deemed to have made significant contributions to the nation.
The word Montrey has several meanings in Cambodian: an intellectual or one who has knowledge or one who runs a state affair or one who has honor or one who has simply distinguished himself from the Reastr (man of the people) by his title of dignity.
The Montreys form themselves into a closed social category based on power and practice endogamy within the group.