Cambodia - Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Northern Thailand - page 561

Rise & Fall of Angkor
The Angkorian era lasted from AD 802 to 1432, encompassing periods of conquest, tur-
moil and retreat, revival and decline, and fits of remarkable productivity.
In 802, Jayavarman II (reigned c 802-50) proclaimed himself a devaraja (god-king).
He instigated an uprising against Javanese domination of southern Cambodia and, through
alliances and conquests, brought the country under his control, becoming the first mon-
arch to rule most of what we now call Cambodia.
In the 9th century, Yasovarman I (r 889-910) moved the capital to Angkor, creating a
new centre for worship, scholarship and the arts. After a period of turmoil and conflict,
Suryavarman II (r 1113-52) unified the kingdom and embarked on another phase of territ-
orial expansion, waging successful but costly wars against both Vietnam and Champa (an
Indianised kingdom that occupied what is now southern and central Vietnam). His devo-
tion to the Hindu deity Vishnu inspired him to commission Angkor Wat.
The tables soon turned. Champa struck back in 1177 with a naval expedition up the
Mekong, taking Angkor by surprise and putting the king to death. But the following year a
cousin of Suryavarman II - soon crowned Jayavarman VII (r 1181-1219) - rallied the Kh-
mers and defeated the Chams in another epic naval battle. A devout follower of Mahayana
Buddhism, it was he who built the city of Angkor Thom.
During the twilight years of the empire, religious conflict and internecine rivalries were
rife. The Thais made repeated incursions into Angkor, sacking the city in 1351 and again
in 1431, and from the royal court making off with thousands of intellectuals, artisans and
dancers, whose profound impact on Thai culture can be seen to this day.
From 1600 until the arrival of the French, Cambodia was ruled by a series of weak
kings whose intrigues often involved seeking the protection of either Thailand or Vietnam
- granted, of course, at a price.
French Colonialism
The era of yo-yoing between Thai and Vietnamese masters came to a close in 1864, when
French gunboats intimidated King Norodom I (r 1860-1904) into signing a treaty of pro-
tectorate. An exception in the annals of colonialism, the French presence really did protect
the country at a time when it was in danger of being swallowed by its more powerful
neighbours.