History - The Rough Guide to Cambodia - page 281

succession passed first to his son-in-law and then to his daughter, Jayadevi , one of only a
handful of queens in Cambodian history, despite the fact that women were regarded as
equals, and inheritance of property, slaves and lands passed through the female line.

The Angkor empire
By the eighth century, Chenla had divided into two states, Land (or Upper) Chenla and
Water (or Lower) Chenla. In the late eighth century, Jayavarman II - generally regarded
as the founder of the Angkor empire - appeared on the scene and in 795 declared
himself ruler of a kingdom called Kambujadesa, having himself proclaimed a devaraja ,
or “god king” (a tradition followed by subsequent Angkorian monarchs for the next five
centuries) in an elaborate ceremony at Phnom Kulen, where he appears to have resided
for a period. He also established a new capital at Hariharalaya (in the area of present-day
Roluos), the first city in the region which would later be known as Angkor .

The empire in the ascendant
Jayavarman II was succeeded by his son, Jayavarman III (850-877), and then by
Indravarman I (877-889), who established a pattern of three-fold building work that
most subsequent Angkorian kings would emulate. First, he honoured the water gods by
creating the Indratataka baray (lake) at Roluos; secondly, he built a temple to his
ancestors at Preah Ko; thirdly, he erected the Bakong state-temple. Indravarman's son,
Yasovarman I (889-900) had to fight his brothers to assume the throne, and his reign
seems to have carried on in a military vein. After completing the temple of Lolei at
Roluos he moved northwest, where he constructed the first state-temple in the Angkor
area proper, on the hill of Phnom Bakheng. He followed this by excavating the massive
East Baray, more than 7km long and almost 2km wide. He was succeeded by his two
sons, Harshavarman I (900-922), and Ishanavarman II (922-927). Their uncle,
Jayavarman IV (928-941), became the only Angkorian king to rule from a distance. He
ascended the throne when he was already ruling his own state from Koh Ker (see p.192).
After the death of Jayavarman IV, his son Harshavarman II (941-944) lasted just a
short time before he was ousted by his cousin, Rajendravarman I (944-968) who went
on to commission the temples of East Mebon and Pre Rup. He also granted land to his
guru, Yajnavaraha, to build the beautiful shrine at Banteay Srei. Rajendravarman waged
war against the Cham, hailing from the state of Champa on the coast of Vietnam, and
annexed neighbouring states, making them provinces of the Khmer empire.
Rajendravarman I was succeeded by his son Jayavarman V (968-1001) who at some
point was successful in extending his territory into what is now northeast Thailand.
In 1002, two rivals, Jayaviravarman (1002-10) and Suryavarman I were both
proclaimed king. Jayaviravarman was subsequently overthrown by Suryavarman I
(1011-50), during whose long reign further territory was added to the kingdom, with
provinces as far away as Lopburi in present-day Thailand paying allegiance to him.
Suryavarman I left a substantial legacy including the temple of Preah Vihear; he also
built the massive West Baray reservoir, which is still in use to this day. His successor,
Udayadityavarman II (1050-66), had his work cut out warding off rival claimants to
the throne, but still found time to build the huge Baphuon temple. He was succeeded
by his brother, Harshavarman III (1066-80) and then by Jayavarman VI (1080-1107).

Early 7th century 795

Ishanavarman I (reigned 610-625) builds numerous
temples at Sambor Prei Kuk, which develops into the
greatest of Cambodia's pre-Angkorian capitals

Jayavarman II declares himself devaraja (“god king”)
and has himself consecrated in an elaborate ceremony
at his new capital at Phnom Kulen