The Legacy of Angkor Wat
Dr Uday Dokras
Its “legacy” consists of the extraordinary artistic and engineering talents that
the ruins reveal. These talents are on view today in Cambodian classical dance
and among the openhearted, inventive and resilient people who struggle to
make ends meet in their poor, overcrowded country, while bearing witness to
their wondrous past.
This legacy is palimpsestic- like a parchment on which something is
overwritten without actually and fully erasing the earlier script, by scraping so
that it may be used again. — palimpsestic, Hinduism, then Buddhism them in
some cases Hinduism again –the Buddhism and finally Islam? Let me not talk
too much about the Temple structures as I have written much on these> we
will however, discuss what contribution the Angkor has given to the world- we
know what it does to its country. It is the single source of income by way of
tourist dollars- the only way for the people to sustain themselves.
Year Numberof tourists Receipts
2019 6.61 m 5.31 bn $
2018 6.20 m 4.83 bn $
2017 5.60 m 4.02 bn $
2016 5.01 m 3.52 bn $
1.31 million foreign visitors Int'l tourist arrivals to Cambodia down 80 pct in 2020
due to COVID-19: minister from 6.6 million in the year before.
I will start by quoting ad verbatim the words of UNESCO World Hetitage Convention
List comments on Angkor;
1
Brief synthesis -https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/668/
Angkor, in Cambodia’s northern province of Siem Reap, is one of the most important
archaeological sites of Southeast Asia. It extends over approximately 400 square
kilometres and consists of scores of temples, hydraulic structures (basins, dykes,
reservoirs, canals) as well as communication routes. For several centuries Angkor, was
the centre of the Khmer Kingdom. With impressive monuments, several different
ancient urban plans and large water reservoirs, the site is a unique concentration of
features testifying to an exceptional civilization. Temples such as Angkor Wat, the
Bayon, Preah Khan and Ta Prohm, exemplars of Khmer architecture, are closely linked
to their geographical context as well as being imbued with symbolic significance. The
architecture and layout of the successive capitals bear witness to a high level of social
order and ranking within the Khmer Empire. Angkor is therefore a major site
exemplifying cultural, religious and symbolic values, as well as containing high
architectural, archaeological and artistic significance.
The park is inhabited, and many villages, some of whom the ancestors are dating back
to the Angkor period are scattered throughout the park. The population practices
agriculture and more specifically rice cultivation.
Criterion (i): The Angkor complex represents the entire range of Khmer art from the
9th to the 14th centuries, and includes a number of indisputable artistic masterpieces
(e.g. Angkor Wat, the Bayon, Banteay Srei).
Criterion (ii): The influence of Khmer art as developed at Angkor was a profound one
over much of South-east Asia and played a fundamental role in its distinctive
evolution.
Criterion (iii): The Khmer Empire of the 9th-14th centuries encompassed much of
South-east Asia and played a formative role in the political and cultural development
of the region. All that remains of that civilization is its rich heritage of cult structures
in brick and stone.
Criterion (iv): Khmer architecture evolved largely from that of the Indian sub-
continent, from which it soon became clearly distinct as it developed its own special
characteristics, some independently evolved and others acquired from neighboring
cultural traditions. The result was a new artistic horizon in oriental art and
architecture.
Integrity
The Angkor complex encompasses all major architectural buildings and hydrological
engineering systems from the Khmer period and most of these “barays” and canals
still exist today. All the individual aspects illustrate the intactness of the site very
much reflecting the splendor of the cities that once were. The site integrity however, is
put under dual pressures:
1. endogenous: exerted by more than 100,000 inhabitants distributed over 112
historic settlements scattered over the site, who constantly try to expand their
dwelling areas;
2. exogenous: related to the proximity of the town of Siem Reap, the seat of the
province and a tourism hub.
2
Angkor is one of the largest archaeological sites in operation in the world.
Tourism represents an enormous economic potential but it can also generate
irreparable destructions of the tangible as well as intangible cultural heritage. Many
research projects have been undertaken, since the international safeguarding program
was first launched in 1993.The scientific objectives of the research (e.g.
anthropological studies on socio-economic conditions) result in a better knowledge
and understanding of the history of the site, and its inhabitants that constitute a rich
exceptional legacy of the intangible heritage. The purpose is to associate the
“intangible culture” to the enhancement of the monuments in order to sensitize the
local population to the importance and necessity of its protection and preservation and
assist in the development of the site as Angkor is a living heritage site where Khmer
people in general, but especially the local population, are known to be particularly
conservative with respect to ancestral traditions and where they adhere to a great
number of archaic cultural practices that have disappeared elsewhere. The
inhabitants venerate the temple deities and organize ceremonies and rituals in their
honor, involving prayers, traditional music and dance. Moreover, the Angkor
Archaeological Park is very rich in medicinal plants, used by the local population for
treatment of diseases. The plants are prepared and then brought to different temple
sites for blessing by the gods. The Preah Khan temple is considered to have been a
university of medicine and the NeakPoan an ancient hospital. These aspects of
intangible heritage are further enriched by the traditional textile and basket weaving
practices and palm sugar production, which all result in products that are being sold
on local markets and to the tourists, thus contributing to the sustainable development
and livelihood of the population living in and around the World Heritage site.
Hydrology: Siem Reap River is a tributary of the Tonlé Sap (Great Lake) .The
Siem Reap River has played a crucial role in supplying the Angkor Temple
Complex and the surrounding population for hundreds years. This complex
consists of surface reservoirs, moats, canals, diversion weirs and numerous
ancient temples. Normally, the water resource from this river has been diverted
for storage in the complex (reservoirs and moats) during the rainy season. It
has been used for households and irrigation purposes, sustaining the
groundwater resource as well as maintaining the geotechnical stability of the
Angkor Wat Temple structures. The base of the Angkor Wat Temple was
constructed on a sandy alluvial substrate, which is particularly susceptible to
subsidence in the event of any drawdown of the local water table. A stable
supply of water of groundwater from the Siem Reap River is therefore required
to avert any instabilities within this ancient structural foundation
The site’s importance as a residential, water management, ritual and political
center, which “will lead to more extensive excavation at Koh Ker sites that have
the greatest significance in reaching an understanding of a much more
complicated community than anticipated.”
“ Meticulous survey of the banks, channels and reservoirs at Angkor shows
them to have been part of a large scale water management network instigated
in the ninth century AD. Water collected from the hills was stored and could
3
have been distributed for a wide variety of purposes including flood control,
agriculture and ritual while a system of overflows and bypasses carried surplus
water away to the lake, the Tonle Sap, to the south. The network had a history
of numerous additions and modifications. Earlier channels both distributed
and disposed of water. From the twelfth century onwards the large new
1
channels primarily disposed of water to the lake. “
The headwater catchment of the Siem Reap River has supplied the Angkor
Temple Complex and surrounding communities since the twelfth century. The
Angkor Temple Complex area consists of historical moats
and barays (reservoirs) which are currently used to store the water from the
Siem Reap River to maintain temple foundation, irrigate cultivation areas and
provide floodwater storage. The Angkor Wat Temple, which is located in the
complex, was constructed on a sandy alluvial substrate and needs a stable
supply of water to avert land subsidence and destabilization of the temple
foundation. In light of changing climate, land use and land cover (LULC)
trends, it is crucial to examine the wide-ranging implications of reduced water
supply for the Angkor Temple Complex. Using the Soil and Water Assessment
Tool, a study referred to in the footnote sought to assess the conditions
necessary to provide sustainable streamflow to the Angkor Temple Complex.
On modeling 30 scenarios of co-varied LULC and precipitation regime under a
changing climate the results showed that under most LULC scenarios,
sufficient water resources could be harvested to supply the complex in the
olden days. Conversely, the water supply to the complex was shown to be
sensitive under the range of climate scenarios explored; a reduction of more
than 10–20% in mean annual precipitation was enough to put the water supply
1
under stress for the current and future conditions of the complex. Could be a
reason for the “abandonment” years ago?
______________________________
1. Chim, K., Tunnicliffe, J., Shamseldin, A. et al. Sustainable water management in the Angkor Temple
Complex, Cambodia. SN Appl. Sci. 3, 74 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42452-020-04030-00On
Barays The ability to store water was accomplished by constructing large
reservoirs called barays. These reservoirs had inlet and outlet control
structures so that they were used both in the time of drought and flooding.
There were four large barays which had the respective approximate storage
volumes (Coe, 2003): West Baray (48 million m 3), East Baray (37.2 million m 3),
Preah Khan (Jayatataka) Baray (8.7 million m 3), and Indratataka Baray (7.5
4
million m3). The approximate surface areas of these barays are West Baray (16
million m2), East Baray (12.4 million m 2), Jayatataka Baray (2.9 million m 2),
and Indratataka Baray (2.5 million m2).
The water management network of Angkor, Cambodia,Roland Fletcher,Dan Penny,Damian Evans
et al suggests that
(https://www.researchgate.net/publication/236597666_The_water_management_network_of_Angk
or_Cambodia)
Sustainable water management in the Angkor Temple Complex,
Cambodia,Kosal Chim, et al,SN Applied Sciences volume 3,
Article number: 74 (2021)
5
6
Roads: The medieval Khmer empire had built an extensive system of roads
cross-connecting the capital to other parts and served as an economic highway
to being and trade commodities to markets.
The Ancient Khmer Highway was a 225 km (140 mi) roadway going northwest
between Angkor (in Cambodia) and Phimai (Vimayapura) (now in Thailand).
While it was not the only such road built by the Khmer, it was the most
important one. ... Most of the buildings along the road date from the reign of
King Jayavarman VII. The road has been proven to exist in the 12th and 13th
century, but it is quite certain that it existed earlier. Most of the buildings
along the road date from the reign of King Jayavarman VII.The Ta Muen Thom
pass over the Dângrêk Mountains,was used and the first major stop was
the Phanom Rung temple. A research paper deconstructs the road system of
the Khmer, empire builders of early historic Cambodia. Far from being the
creation of one king, the road system evolved organically to serve expeditions,
pilgrimages and embedded exchange routes over several centuries. The paper
encourages us to regard road networks as a significant topic, worthy of
comparative study on a global scale.
Further it is noted that the medieval Khmer built an extensive road system
from their capital of Angkor across vast stretches of mainland Southeast Asia.
Integrating the concepts of structure and accessibility it is apparent that this
system serves to connect the capital with Khmer centres near important
geographic resources, such as iron and copper, and the regional river network.
While these roads served multiple purposes their formalization is directly
linked to the movement of critical economic commodities and ensuring the
security of the Empire's core.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. A transport geographic perspective on travel and communication in Angkorian
Southeast Asia (ninth to fifteenth centuries AD)
Mitch Hendrickson,World Archaeology,Vol. 43, No. 3, THE ARCHAEOLOGY OF TRAVEL AND
COMMUNICATION (SEPTEMBER 2011), pp. 444-457 (14
2. Historic routes to Angkor: Development of the Khmer road system (9 th to 13 th
centuries AD) in mainland Southeast Asia,Mitch
Hendrickson,2010https://www.researchgate.net/publication/273293411_Historic_rout
es_to_Angkor_Development_of_the_Khmer_road_system_ninth_to_thirteenth_centuries_
AD_in_mainland_Southeast_Asia
3. A Transport Geographic Perspective on Travel and Communication in Angkorian Southeast Asia
(Ninth to Fifteenth Centuries AD), Mitch Hendrickson,2011
7
Angkor Wat is a religious temple complex in Cambodia. At 402 acres, it is the
largest religious monument in the world, and is considered to be the finest
classical example of Khmer architecture, a building tradition that spanned the
9th and 15th centuries AD during the reign of the Khmer Empire.
8
King Suryavarman II began the construction after ascending to the throne in
1113. It is not known who the architects or designers were. Originally, it
was built as a Hindu temple of the god Vishnu. Reflecting this, the temple faces
west in contrast with many of the other temples at Angkor. However, towards
the end of the 12th century it was transformed into a Buddhist temple.
Over the course of the 20th century, Angkor Wat became more well-known
globally as a symbol of Cambodia, and today it is the country’s main tourist
attraction.
DESIGN & Construction: The temple complex is surrounded by a 190m-wide
moat forming a 1.5km by 1.3km rectangle. A sandstone causeway crosses the
moat on its western side. The stylistic elements of the complex are
characteristic of Khmer architecture and include the ogival, lotus bud-
shaped towers, half-galleries, axial galleries, connecting enclosures and
cruciform terraces.
CIVIL WORKS: The main pyramid takes the form of
three stepped terraces with covered galleries bordering all sides of each step.
The corners of the second and third steps are punctuated by towers, the
highest of which rises to 55m.
At the time of its construction, Khmer architects were proficient in the use
of sandstone as a building material, and the complex was constructed using 5-
10 million sandstone blocks, each weighing up to 1.5 tons. These blocks were
quarried from the mountain of Phnom Kulen, more than 50km away, and were
floated on rafts down the Siem Reap River. Inscriptions record that
the construction involved 300,000 workers and 6,000 elephants.
The sandstone blocks form the most visible elements of the structure, while a
type of clay local to the area, laterite, was used for the outer wall and
concealed structural elements. The precise binding agent for the blocks is
unknown, although it is believed to be natural resin or slaked lime.
Internally, the smooth stones were laid with very tight joints without mortar,
held together instead by mortise and tenon joints, or by dovetails and gravity.
It is believed the blocks were assembled using a combination of elephants, coir
ropes and pulleys, and bamboo scaffolding.
Perhaps its most notable legacy is the site of Angkor, in present-
day Cambodia, the Khmer capital during the empire's zenith. The majestic
monuments of Angkor, such as Angkor Wat and Bayon, bear testimony to the
Khmer Empire's immense power and wealth, impressive art and culture,
architectural technique, aesthetics achievements, and the variety of belief
systems that it patronised over time. Satellite imaging has revealed that
Angkor, during its peak in the 11th to 13th centuries, was the largest pre-
industrial urban centre in the world. Angkor Wat is famous for its vast array of
symbolic detailing. Nearly 2,000 sq.m of bas reliefs are intricately carved into
9
the sandstone,as well as extensively carved lintels, fiezes and pediments, and
nearly 2,000 depictions of apsaras (celestial dancers).
The beginning of the era of the Khmer Empire is conventionally dated to 802,
when King Jayavarman II declared himself chakravartin ("universal ruler", title
equivalent to "emperor") on Phnom Kulen. The empire ended with the Siege of
Angkor by the Siamese Kingdom of Ayutthaya in 1431.
During the Angkor period, there were five Royal Roads linking the capital city
of Angkor with provincial principal cities. Seven Temples d’étape, six Fire
Shrines, and 25 masonry bridges were constructed along the East Royal Road
to Preah Khan of Kompong Svay. We conducted measurements of magnetic
susceptibility and chemical composition of laterite blocks and magnetic
susceptibility of sandstone blocks used for the construction of the bridges to
determine the supply ranges of the stone blocks and the construction ages
based on the results obtained in this study and previous studies of Temples
d’étape and Fire Shrines. The results suggest that most of the sandstone
blocks for the bridge balustrades were supplied from quarries in the
southeastern foothills of Kulen Mountain, but that the bridges close to Preah
Khan of Kompong Svay have sandstone balustrades supplied from nearby
quarries. In contrast, cluster and principal component analyses and t-tests
using data for chemical composition and magnetic susceptibility of laterite
blocks revealed that there were five sources of supply. These results elucidated
that the supply ranges of laterite blocks were narrower than those of the
sandstone blocks. Judging from magnetic susceptibilities, supply ranges,
shapes, orientations of bedding planes, and stacking methods of the stone
blocks, it was concluded that the construction age of the bridges is highly likely
to have been in the early Angkor Wat period.
Uchida, E., Sakurai, Y., Cheng, R. et al. Supply ranges of stone blocks used in masonry bridges
and their construction period along the East Royal Road in the Khmer Empire, Cambodia. Herit
10
Sci 8, 38 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1186
11
Sambor Prei Kuk
Pre Rup/ Banteay Srei/Bayon
Many temples had been built before Cambodia became a powerful Kingdom
of Khmer Empire which dominated most of the Indochina region. At that time,
Cambodia was known as Chenla kingdom, the predecessor state of Khmer
empire. There are three pre-Angkorean architectural styles Sambor Prei
Kuk style (610–650): Sambor Prei Kuk, also known as Isanapura, was the
capital of the Chenla Kingdom. Temples of Sambor Prei Kuk were built in
rounded, plain colonettes with capitals that include a bulb.
Prei Khmeng style (635–700): Structures reveal masterpieces of sculpture
but examples are scarce. Colonettes are larger than those of previous styles.
Buildings were more heavily decorated but had general decline in
standards.
Kompong Preah style (700–800): Temples with more decorative rings on
colonettes which remain cylindrical. Brick constructions were being
continued.
Scholars have worked to develop a periodization of Angkorean architectural
styles. The following periods and styles may be distinguished. Each is named
for a particular temple regarded as paradigmatic for the style. [6]
12
Kulen style (825–875): Continuation of pre-Angkorean style but it was a
period of innovation and borrowing such as from Cham temples. Tower is
mainly square and relatively high as well as brick with laterite walls and
stone door surrounds but square and octagonal colonettes begin to appear.
Preah Ko style (877–886): Hariharalaya was the first capital city of
the Khmer empire located in the area of Angkor; its ruins are in the area
now called Roluos some fifteen kilometers southeast of the modern city
of Siem Reap. The earliest surviving temple of Hariharalaya is Preah Ko; the
others are Bakong and Lolei. The temples of the Preah Ko style are known
for their small brick towers and for the great beauty and delicacy of their
lintels.
Bakheng Style (889–923): Bakheng was the first temple mountain
constructed in the area of Angkor proper north of Siem Reap. It was the
state temple of King Yasovarman, who built his capital of Yasodharapura
around it. Located on a hill (phnom), it is currently one of the most
endangered of the monuments, having become a favorite perch for tourists
eager to witness a glorious sundown at Angkor.
Koh Ker Style (921–944): During the reign of King Jayavarman IV, capital
of Khmer empire was removed from Angkor region through the north which
is called Koh Ker. The architectural style of temples in Koh Ker, scale of
buildings diminishes toward center. Brick still main material but sandstone
also used.
Pre Rup Style (944–968): Under King Rajendravarman, the Angkorian
Khmer built the temples of Pre Rup, East Mebon and Phimeanakas. Their
common style is named after the state temple mountain of Pre Rup.
Banteay Srei Style (967–1000): Banteay Srei is the only major Angkorian
temple constructed not by a monarch, but by a courtier. It is known for its
small scale and the extreme refinement of its decorative carvings, including
several famous narrative bas-reliefs dealing with scenes from Indian
mythology.
Khleang Style (968–1010): The Khleang temples, first use of galleries.
Cruciform gopuras. Octagonal colonettes. Restrained decorative carving. A
few temples that were built in this style are Ta Keo, Phimeanakas.
Baphuon Style (1050–1080): Baphuon, the massive temple mountain of
King Udayadityavarman II was apparently the temple that most impressed
the Chinese traveller Zhou Daguan, who visited Angkor toward the end of
the 13th century. Its unique relief carvings have a naive dynamic quality
that contrast with the rigidity of the figures typical of some other periods. As
of 2008, Baphuon is under restoration and cannot currently be appreciated
in its full magnificence.
Classical or Angkor Wat Style (1080–1175): Angkor Wat, the temple and
perhaps the mausoleum of King Suryavarman II, is the greatest of the
Angkorian temples and defines what has come to be known as the classical
style of Angkorian architecture. Other temples in this style are Banteay
13
Samre and Thommanon in the area of Angkor, and Phimai in
modern Thailand.
Bayon Style (1181–1243): In the final quarter of the 12th century,
King Jayavarman VII freed the country of Angkor from occupation by an
invasionary force from Champa. Thereafter, he began a massive program of
monumental construction, paradigmatic for which was the state temple
called the Bayon. The king's other foundations participated in the style of
the Bayon, and included Ta Prohm, Preah Khan, Angkor Thom,
and Banteay Chmar. Though grandiose in plan and elaborately decorated,
the temples exhibit a hurriedness of construction that contrasts with the
perfection of Angkor Wat.
Post Bayon Style (1243–1431): Following the period of frantic
construction under Jayavarman VII, Angkorian architecture entered the
period of its decline. The 13th century Terrace of the Leper King is known
for its dynamic relief sculptures of demon kings, dancers, and nāgas.
List of architectural styles during Angkor period
Styles Dates Rulers Temples Chief Characteristics
Kulen 825– Jayavarman II Damrei Krap Continuation of pre-
875 Angkorean but a
period of innovation
and borrowing such as
from Cham temples.
Tower mainly square
and relatively high.
Mainly brick with
14
laterite walls and
stone door surrounds.
Square and octagonal
colonettes begin to
appear.
Simple plan: one or
more square brick
towers on a single
base. First appearance
of concentric
Indravarman enclosures and
Preah 877– Preah
I Jayavarman of gopura and libraries.
Ko 886 Ko, Bakong, Lolei
III Decorative 'flying
palaces' replaced
by dvarapalas and deva
tas in niches. First
major temple
mountain at Bakong.
Development of
Phnom the temple mountain.
Yasovarman Bakheng, Phnom More use of stone,
Bakhe 889–
I Harshavarma Krom, Phnom particularly for major
ng 923
nI Bok, Baksei temples and more
Chamkrong (trans.) decorative stone
carving.
Scale of buildings
diminishes toward
Koh 921– Group of Koh
Jayavarman IV center. Brick still main
Ker 944 Ker temples
material but sandstone
also used.
Pre 944– Rajendravarma Pre Rup, East Transitional
Rup 968 n Mebon, Bat between Koh
Chum, Kutisvara Ker and Banteay Srei.
Long halls partly
enclose sanctuary. The
15
last great monuments
in plastered brick,
increasing use of
sandstone.
Ornate,
superposed pediments,
sweeping gable ends,
rich and deep carving.
Plasterd brick replaced
Bantea 967–
Jayavarman V Banteay Srei by stone and laterite.
y Srei 1000
Appearance of scenes
in pediments.
Voluptuous devatas
with gentle
expressions.
First use of galleries.
Ta Keo, Cruciform gopuras.
Khlean 968–
Jayavarman V The Khleangs, Phimea Octagonal colonettes.
g 1010
nakas, Royal Palace Restrained decorative
carving.
A return to rich
carving: floral motifs
but also lintels with
scenes. Nagas without
Baphu 1050– Udayadityavar head-dress. Bas-reliefs
Baphuon, West Mebon
on 1080 man II appear at Baphuon
temple, carving with
lively scenes enclosed
in small panels, often
in narritive sequence.
Angko 1113– Suryavarman Angkor Wat, Banteay The high classical
r Wat 1175 II Yasovarman Samré, Thommanon, C style of Khmer
II hau Say Tevoda, Beng architecture. Fully
Mealea, some of Preah developed conical
Pithu, Phimai and Phn towers with carving
16
profile. Galleries wider
and with half galleries
on one side.
Concentric enclosures
connected by axial
galleries. Nagas with
head-dress, naga
om Rung
balustrades raised off
the ground. Invention
of cross-shaped
terrace. Richly carved
lintels and other
decorations. Bas-
reliefs, Apsaras.
The last great style.
Hurried construction,
often in laterite not
stone, carving less
Ta Prohm, Preah elegant. Complex
Khan, Neak Pean, Ta plans, huge temples. In
Som, Ta Nei, Angkor Cambodia, face-towers
Thom, Prasat and historical
Jayavarman Chrung, Bayon, Elepha narrative bas-reliefs.
1181–
Bayon VII Indravarma nt terrace, Ta Prohm Three periods: 1. large
1243
n II Kel, Krol Ko, Prasat complex temples on a
Suor Prat, Banteay single level, 2. face-
Chhmar, towers and avenues of
Hospital Chaples, giants carrying nagas,
Jayatataka baray 3. decline of the
building standards,
devatas acquire
Angkor Wat style
diadem.
Terrace of the Leper
Inversion of cross-
1243– King, Preah
Post Jayavarman shaped terrace,
15th Pithu, Preah
Bayon VIII and others causeways on columns,
C. Palilay (modifications
low or high.
to temples)
17
The Legacy of the Monarchs of Angkor
Reig
King Capital Legacy and Events
n
Proclaimed the independence of
Kambuja from Java. Claimed
as Chakravartin through sacred
802– Mahendraparvata, Hariharal
Jayavarman II Hindu ritual on Phnom
835 aya
Kulen and
initiating Devaraja cult in
Cambodia.
835–
Jayavarman III Hariharalaya Son of Jayavarman II
877
877– Indravarman I Hariharalaya Nephew of Jayavarman II. Built
18
The Legacy of the Monarchs of Angkor
Reig
King Capital Legacy and Events
n
Preah Ko dedicated
to Jayavarman II, also for his
889 father and his grand father.
Constructed temple
mountain Bakong.
Son of Indravarman I. Built
Indratataka Baray and Lolei.
889– Hariharalaya, Yaśodharapur Moved the capital to
Yasovarman I
910 a Yaśodharapura centred
around Phnom Bakheng, and
also built Yashodharatataka.
Son of Yasovarman I. Involved
910– in a power struggle against his
Harshavarman I Yaśodharapura
923 maternal uncle Jayavarman IV.
Built Baksei Chamkrong.
Son of Yasovarman I, brother of
Harshavarman I. Involved in a
923–
Ishanavarman II Yaśodharapura power struggle against his
928
maternal uncle Jayavarman IV.
Built Prasat Kravan.
Son of King Indravarman I's
daughter, Mahendradevi,
928– married to Yasovarman I sister,
Jayavarman IV Koh Ker
941 claim the throne through
maternal line. Ruled from Koh
Ker.
941–
Harshavarman II Koh Ker Son of Jayavarman IV.
944
19
The Legacy of the Monarchs of Angkor
Reig
King Capital Legacy and Events
n
Uncle and first cousin of
Harshavarman II and wrestle
944– power from him. Transfer the
Rajendravarman II Angkor (Yaśodharapura)
968 capital back to Angkor,
Built Pre Rup and East Mebon.
War against Champa in 946.
Son of Rajendravarman II. Built
968–
Jayavarman V Jayendranagari in Angkor a new capital Jayendranagari
1001
and Ta Keo in its centre.
1001– Udayadityavarman I, Period of chaos, 3 kings rule
Angkor
1006 Jayaviravarman, Suryavarman I simultaneously as antagonist.
Took the throne. Alliance
with Chola and conflict
1006– with Tambralinga kingdom.
Suryavarman I Angkor
1050 Built Preah Khan Kompong
Svay. The king adhered to
Mahayana Buddhism.
Took the throne, descendant of
Yasovarman I's spouse.
1050–
Udayadityavarman II Yaśodharapura II (Angkor) Built Baphuon, West
1066
Baray and West Mebon,
also Sdok Kok Thom.
Succeeded his elder brother
1066– Udayadityavarman II, capital at
Harshavarman III Yaśodharapura II (Angkor)
1080 Baphuon. Champa invasion in
1074 and 1080.
1090– Jayavarman VI Angkor Usurper from Vimayapura.
20
The Legacy of the Monarchs of Angkor
Reig
King Capital Legacy and Events
n
1107 Built Phimai.
1107– Succeeded his younger brother,
Dharanindravarman I Angkor
1113 Jayavarman VI.
Usurped and killed his great
uncle. Built Angkor
1113– Wat, Banteay
Suryavarman II Angkor
1145 Samre, Thommanon, Chau Say
Tevoda and Beng Mealea.
Invade Đại Việt and Champa.
1150– Succeeded his cousin
Dharanindravarman II Angkor
1160 Suryavarman II
1160– Overthrown by his minister
Yasovarman II Angkor
1167 Tribhuvanadityavarman
Cham invasion in 1177 and
1167–
Tribhuvanadityavarman Angkor 1178 led by Jaya Indravarman
1177
IV, looted the Khmer capital.
1178–
Cham occupation, led by Champa king Jaya Indravarman IV
1181
1181– Jayavarman VII Yaśodharapura (Angkor) Led Khmer army against Cham
1218 invaders thus liberated
Cambodia. Led the conquest of
Champa (1190–1191). Major
infrastructure constructions;
built hospitals, rest houses,
reservoirs, and temples
21
The Legacy of the Monarchs of Angkor
Reig
King Capital Legacy and Events
n
including Ta Prohm, Preah
Khan, Bayon in Angkor
Thom city, and Neak Pean.
Son of Jayavarman VII. Lost
1219– control of Champa and lost
Indravarman II Angkor
1243 western territories
to Siamese Sukhothai Kingdom.
Mongol invasion led by Kublai
Khan in 1283 and war with
1243–
Jayavarman VIII Angkor Sukhothai. Built Mangalartha.
1295
He was a zealous Shivaite and
eradicated Buddhist influences.
Overthrew his father in law
Jayavarman VIII.
Made Theravada Buddhism the
1295–
Indravarman III Angkor state religion.
1308
Received Yuan Chinese
diplomat Zhou Daguan (1296–
1297).
1308–
Indrajayavarman Angkor
1327
1327– Jayavarmadiparamesvara
Angkor Last Sanskrit inscription (1327).
1336 (Jayavarman IX)
1336–
Trosok Peam Angkor
1340
22
The Legacy of the Monarchs of Angkor
Reig
King Capital Legacy and Events
n
1340–
Nippean Bat Angkor
1346
1346–
Lompong Racha Angkor
1351
1352–
Siamese Ayutthaya invasion led by Uthong
1357
1357–
Soryavong Angkor
1363
1363–
Borom Reachea I Angkor
1373
1373–
Thomma Saok Angkor
1393
1393 Siamese Ayutthaya invasion led by Ramesuan
1394–c.
In Reachea Angkor
1421
1405– Abandon Angkor (1431).
Barom Reachea II Chaktomuk
1431
23
