HISTORY
[Before AD100] PRE-FUNAN TIMES:
PEOPLES OF INDO-CHINA:
At the end of the ice age (c. 12,000BC) the Indo-Chinese region
is firstly inhabited by Australoid peoples. The land bridges
between Malaya, the Indonesian islands and Australia are submerged.
Various population groups migrate through southeast Asia.
The Mon-Khmer people gradually settle in the lands which later
become the kingdoms of Funan and Chenla and they become the
dominant tribes in the area.
GEOGRAPHY OF INDO-CHINA:
The Indo-Chinese region today comprises the countries of Laos,
Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand. It is made up of large fertile
plains which lie around two rivers, the Mekong and the Tonle
Sap.
[Map]The land is settled by various tribes who develop the
independent kingdoms of Tonkin, Annam, Cochin China, Cambodia,
Laos and Siam.
|c. 4000BC - AD100 Settlements
are formed throughout the Indo-China region. The major cultural
influences on the region are from China and India. The Dong-Son
culture becomes established in the northern part of today's
Vietnam.
|AD100 - AD600 THE KINGDOM OF FUNAN
|[Map]c. AD100 The Kingdom of Funan, part of the lands which
will become the vast Khmer Empire or Cambodia, is established
by the legendary Indian brahmin, Kambu. The peaceful settlement
of Indian traders begins the process of Indianization of Cambodia.
|c. AD245 Two Chinese ambassadors
visit Funan and produce a report on all aspects of life in
the kingdom.
|AD357 King Chandan, who is
probably of Indian origin, comes to the throne of Funan. He
is succeeded by another brahmin ruler.
|End AD400 - AD500 The Kingdom
of Funan is a prosperous trading region, lying on the trade
and pilgrimage route between India and China.
Indian culture still plays an important part in the developing
Kingdom of Funan, although native influence over customs,
art, architecture and religion is now also very strong. Both
forms of Hinduism and Mahayana Buddhism, a type of Buddhist
religion popular in India and China, exist in Funan.
|6th century There is evidence
from the texts of contemporary Chinese historians that the
Funan Empire is strong and respected throughout Asia. Indian
influence is still very much evident in all areas of life.
Trade in Funan is centered in the prosperous port city of
Oc-eo.
|AD514 - c. AD539 King Rudravarman
is the last of the great kings of Funan. He cultivates the
worship of the Hindu god Vishnu. Statues of the god dating
from his reign still exist today, showing the influence of
contemporary Indian art and religious iconography.
|c. AD550 Prince Bhavavarman
of the Funan royal family (and grandson of King Rudravarman)
marries the female heir to the throne of Chenla, a fertile
kingdom to the north of Funan occupying the territory which
today is Laos. Chenla is inhabited by the Mon-Khmer people
whose leaders are related to the Funan royal family before
the time of Bhavavarman.
On the Chenla king's death,
Bhavavarman becomes King of Chenla, and when the Funan king
dies, he siezes Funan as well. Within a few years, Funan becomes
a vassal state to Chenla.
|AD600 - AD800 THE KINGDOM OF CHENLA
|c. AD600 - AD611 Bhavavarman
is succeeded by Mahendravarman and then by Isanavarman, both
of whom are strong kings and complete the process of integrating
Funan into Chenla.
The capital of Chenla is initially at Sambor, some 40 miles
southeast of Angkor.
|AD616 - AD635 King Isanavarman
rules the Kingdom of Chenla with his capital at Sambor Prei
Kuk.
Architecture develops in the
kingdom using sandstone for building and beautiful carvings
in stone for the temples.
|AD635 - AD656 King Bhavavarman
II rules Chenla. Mahayana Buddhism spreads in Chenla. Statues
celebrating this religion are found.
|c. AD750 Jayavarman I becomes
King of Chenla. His reputation is as a strong war-like king
who expands the Chenla kingdom through his many conquests.
Ruined temples from this time still stand in the land around
the Angkor region. Wars of succession divide and weaken Kambuja.
Contact with India is broken and trade ceases. As the Kingdom
of Chenla declines, the Saliendra dynasty in Indonesia rises
to power. It is possible that this Indonesian dynasty may
have, in part, descended from the royal family of Funan.
|Late AD800 This is a period
of weakness and eventual disintegration into individual states
for the Kingdom of Chenla. There is an administrative breakdown
which results in the separate states being powerless. Meanwhile
the Saliendra dynasty, the ruling house of the Indonesian
Empire, becomes increasingly powerful and starts expanding
in southeast Asia. The Saliendra king of Java invades Chenla
and claims the throne, possibly on the grounds that he is
descended from the royal house of Funan. Cambodia becomes
a vassal state of Java.
|AD800 - 1440 THE KINGDOM
OF KAMBUJA
|c. AD800 - AD850 Jayavarman II, a young man connected to
the Chenla royal family and educated at the Saliendra court
in Java, returns to Chenla in AD790. He becomes king around
AD800. Initially he extends his kingdom by seizing land to
the north and east of Chenla. His 50-year reign is decisive
in developing the Khmer Kingdom by establishing its constitution,
religion and capital. His reign also sees important changes
in Khmer architecture. He builds several capitals, but finally
establishes his principal capital at Roluos, about 10 miles
southeast of today's town of Siem Reap. He names this city
Hariharalaya.
|AD850 - c. AD877 Jayavarman
III, son of Jayavarman II, succeeds the throne of Kambuja
and continues to rule the empire from the city at Roluos.
|c. AD877 - c. AD889 Indravarman
I, a nephew of Jayavarman II, rules Kambuja. He is learned
and brings peace and unity to the Khmer Kingdom. He has a
wide reputation for being a strong king throughout southeast
Asia. His peaceful reign and the income from the expanding
Khmer Empire enables King Indravarman I to embark on an ambitious
building program.
|AD877 Indravarman builds
a large reservoir north of the city.
|c. AD889 - c. AD900 Yasovarman
I (son of Indravarman) is King of Kambuja. He supposedly descends
from the Funan royal family through his mother. Many inscriptions
found on temple walls describing the events of his rule date
from his reign. It is believed that he was a strong but tyrannical
ruler. He moves the city from Roluos to the present site of
Angkor, a few miles from today's town of Siem Reap. Here he
[Map] builds the city of Yasodharapura with the Bakheng as
the central temple. At Roluos he builds the Lolei Temple in
the center of the baray.
|AD900 - AD921 Harshavarman
I, Yasovarman's brother, rules. He builds his temple-mountain,
the Baksei Chamkrong, a stone pyramid with a single tower.
|AD921 Harshavarman's uncle,
Jayavarman IV, divides the kingdom and sets up a rival capital
about 60 miles to the north east of Angkor in the old Chen
La Kingdom at Koh Ker. His son rules in this new capital.
Prasat Kravan is built to honor Lakshmi, the wife of Vishnu.
It is a brick temple with a rich beautiful shrine. This is
one of the first temples not to be dedicated by a king, but
rather by an individual or member of the hereditary aristocracy.
|c. AD930 - c. AD944 An usurper
successor (whose name is unknown) rules, followed by his son.
The capital remains far away from the Angkor site.
|AD944 - AD968 Rajendravarman
II, a descendant of Yasovarman I, rules Kambuja and brings
the court back to the old capital, Yasodharapura, at Angkor.
He continues to expand the Khmer Empire further and manages
an impressive building program during his relatively short
reign. The Sanskrit inscriptions on the temples remaining
from this reign tell us that this king was wise and tolerant.
Several Mahayana Buddhist establishments are set up at Angkor
during his reign.
|c. AD950 Rajendravarman II
attacks the Cham Kingdom which lies to the east of Kambuja.
|AD968 - 1001 Jayavarman V
rules Kambuja. His reign is marked by peace, prosperity and
cultural development. Jayavarman V's court is filled with
scholars, poets, ministers, ecclesiastics and philosophers
who discuss the mysteries of the world, paint its beauties,
write music and songs, dance for the delight of the king and
his courtiers and build wonderful temples, among them the
exquisite temple of Banteai Srei.
Jayavarman V also builds the temple of Ta Keo which is dedicated
to Siva and is the first of the Angkor temples to be built
completely of sandstone.
|c. 980 - 1220 THE DEVELOPMENT
OF THE CITY OF ANGKOR
|1001 - c. 1006 A period of weakness and civil war in Kambuja.
Udayadityavarman I rules, followed by Jayaviravarman, both
descendants of the royal house of Kambuja.
|c.1002 Suryavarman, a young
man who may have come from the Malayan provinces of the Khmer
Empire, ascends the throne of Kambuja by claiming that his
mother was descended from Indravarman I. He invades Kambuja
and by 1006 overcomes Jayaviravarman and becomes King of Kambuja.
|c. 1006 - 1050 Suryavarman
I is King of Kambuja for nearly 50 years. At the beginning
of his reign he embarks on a campaign of territorial expansion,
annexing land in the Menam valley to the west and the Mekong
valley to the north. After this there is peace and much building.
Suryavarman is responsible for the planning and foundations
of much of the city that can be seen at Angkor today. He adopts
the royal Hindu cult of Devaraja and sets himself up as a
representative of the god Siva. However, his homeland is a
Buddhist one so he also helps the spread of Mahayana Buddhism
in Cambodia.
|1050 - 1066 Udayadityavarman
II succeeds Suryavarman I and continues building in Angkor.
He builds the west baray and canals, and submerges some of
the old ninth-century city under it. He builds a new city
at Angkor, the third city to be built there. His central temple
is the Baphuon Temple. There is further consolidation and
expansion of the Khmer Empire.
|c. 1060 Towards the end of
his reign, there is a period of internal rivalry and warfare
which weakens the kingdom. The Cham regain their independence
and sack and burn the city of Sambor in Chen La, on the Mekong.
|1066 - 1080 Harshavarman
II rules until 1080, gradually losing the empire his predecessors
had gained. Some of the earlier temples are destroyed, including
the temple of Preah Pulilay (built by Udayadityavarman I)
of which only a fragment remains showing the beautiful decoration
achieved during Udayadityavarman's reign.
|1080 A northern provincial
governor claiming aristocratic descent seizes the kingdom
and founds a new dynasty, calling himself Jayavarman VI. There
are rival claimants to the throne and he never fully establishes
himself at Angkor, only building in northern Cambodia, at
Preah Vihear, Vat Phu and Phimai in the part of the empire
which is now northern Thailand. He dies in 1107.
|1107 - 1113 Jayavarman VI's
brothers rule. Rival claims to the throne and civil war continue
and the kingdom is temporarily partitioned. Suryavarman, an
ambitious nobleman who claimes he is related to the Cambodian
royal family, takes advantage of the weakened kingdom and
seizes power. He deposes both kings and takes the throne.
|1113 - 1150 Suryavarman II
rules Kambuja. Initially, he concentrates on territorial expansion
and conquers [Map]the neighboring kingdom of the Chams, extending
the limits of the Khmer Empire more than ever before. He embarks
on an ambitious building program, expanding the city of Angkor
and building many temples including Preah Pithu, Chansay Tevoda
and Thommanon, all in the Angkor region. Angkor Wat, a temple
dedicated to the god Vishnu, and generally recognized as the
highest achievement of Khmer temple architecture, is also
built during his reign.
|1145 Suryavarman plans to
seize control of all of Annam and asks the king of Champa
to assist him. He refuses so Suryavarman deposes him and annexes
his kingdom. The Cham regain independence in 1149.
|1150 Suryavarman II tries
to reconquer Annam. He leads his armies through jungle mountains
where they die of fever. He dies in 1150, leaving the kingdom
exhausted and weak.
|1150 - 1181 Suryavarman's
strong rule is followed by rival claims to the throne and
warfare, during which many buildings are destroyed. The legitimate
heir is Jayavarman, the son of Suryavarman II. He is a fervent
Buddhist who deplores violence. When a rival, Yasovarman,
claims the throne, Jayavarman allows him to take it in order
to avert bloodshed in the kingdom, and he retires to Champa.
Yasosvarman is killed by rebels after a five-year reign. Jayavarman
again steps down to his rival claimant, Tribhuvanandityavarman,
who is a nobleman not directly descended from the house of
Kambuja. War between Kambuja and Champa follows.
|1177 The Cham sack Angkor,
take its wealth and burn the wooden city. Jayavarman returns
to Kambuja and defeats the Cham, removing them from the kingdom
in a great and decisive battle.
|1181 - 1220 Jayavarman becomes
king in 1181 and rules the kingdom as Jayavarman VII. He takes
revenge on the Cham, invades Champa, seizes the capital, Vijaya,
and reduces Champa to a vassal state of the Khmer Empire.
Then he extends the empire more than ever before through a
series of campaigns. In the south he annexes most of the Malay
peninsula, in the west he takes land as far as the borders
of Burma, he goes north as far as Vientiane and into Annam
in the east.
|c. 1181 In order to appease
the people who are increasingly adopting Buddhism, Jayavarman
becomes a Buddhist himself.
Once he stabilizes his enlarged empire, Jayavarman starts
a massive building program. This includes the reconstruction
of Angkor Thom with the Bayon as the central temple and the
building of Ta Prohm and Preah Khan temples.
Banteai Kdei, Sra Srang (a large public bathing pool), Banteai
Chmar, Neak Pean, and Ta Som temples are also built. Along
the main roads leading to Angkor he builds 102 hospitals and
121 pilgrim hostels. The vast amount of building results in
Jayavarman overtaxing and overworking his subjects. Land is
lost from the empire and Champa breaks away from the Khmer
Kingdom again.
|1220 - c. 1400 Twelve kings
of Kambuja rule a shrinking, weakening empire. Despite this,
the royal court continues its extravagant lifestyle, but no
new temples are built.
|1220 - 1440 THE DECLINE AND
FALL OF ANGKOR AND THE KHMER EMPIRE:
From around 1220 when Jayavarman
VII [Map]dies, the Khmer Empire declines and the Thai Empire
to the west of Kambuja becomes the dominant force in southeast
Asia. The Cham people to the east of Kambuja and the Laotians
to the north also become increasingly significant in the region.
Hinayanist Buddhism, advocating a simple life of both people
and priests becomes established in Kambuja.
|1296 The Chinese ambassador
and his entourage visit Kambuja and spend a year in Angkor.
Chou Ta-Kuan, one of the Chinese officials, writes his report
of late 13th-century Kambuja from which much of our knowledge
of the kingdom at this time is drawn.
|1350 The Thai capital is
moved to Ayudhya, near Angkor. This threatens the increasingly
weak Cambodian Kingdom.
|1350 - 1430 Almost continual
warfare between the Thais and Khmers is waged during this
period.
|1369 The Thais attack Angkor
and take the city. They control it briefly.
|1389 Angkor again falls to
the Thais.
|1431 The Thais launch a major
attack on Angkor. After a seven-month siege, Angkor falls
and is sacked and looted. The city is deserted the following
year and the capital is moved east to the region of Phnom
Penh.
|1450 - 1860 THE PERIOD OF
VASSALAGE TO THAILAND AND VIETNAM:
From the mid-15th century
onwards, after Angkor falls to the Thais, the Khmer Empire
is in serious decline. The Vietnamese and Thai Empires control
the Indo-China peninsula. Warfare continues between the Thais
and Khmers, with Kambuja periodically becoming little more
than a vassal state of Thailand.
|1516 - 1566 King Ang Chan
rules Kambuja. His reign sees a strengthening of the Khmer
Kingdom and some raids into Thailand are made.
|1564 The Khmers reach Ayudhya,
the capital of Thailand, try to annex it, but find it already
occupied by the Burmese.
|1566 - 1576 King Barom Reachea
I rules Kambuja. There is a second period of greater Khmer
strength and some temporary success in the wars against the
Thais. The Cambodian court briefly reoccupies Angkor.
|1576 - 1599 THE SPANISH INTERLUDE
|1576 - c.1594 Under constant
attack from the Thais, King Satha, who rules Kambuja, seeks
military support from the Spanish, who by this time are well
established in southeast Asia.
|1594 The Thais capture the
new Cambodian capital at Lovek.
|c. 1594 Satha is deposed.
The usurper, Chung Prei, becomes king.
|1596 A Spanish expedition
arrives in Cambodia to aid King Satha against the Thais. They
sack the Chinese quarter of Phnom Penh and kill the king and
his son. They then march to Laos and take King Satha's son,
putting him on the Kambujan throne in Phnom Penh as King Barom
Reachea II.
|1599 The Kambujan court try
to oust Reachea II in favor of King Satha's brother, Soryopor,
to rid Kambuja of Spanish influence. The inhabitants of the
Spanish garrison in Phnom Penh are massacred and Soryopor
takes control after a brief period of confusion when three
princes occupy the throne. This marks the end of the Spanish
influence in Cambodia.
|17th & 18th centuries
The Kingdom of Cambodia continues to shrink and survives increasingly
at the mercy of Thailand and the Nguyen lords who rule Vietnam.
|1779 - 1860 With Thai support,
the Ang clan rule Cambodia from 1779 until 1860.
|1857 France invades Vietnam,
aiming to win the race with England to take control of the
Indo-Chinese peninsula.
|1860 - 1904 King Norodom
rules Cambodia. In 1863, Cambodia is established as a French
protectorate, ostensibly to prevent the country from being
swallowed up by Thailand and Vietnam. In 1884, King Norodom
is forced to sign a convention with France which transfers
a great deal of control of Cambodia to the French. There is
a brief but strong popular rebellion against French control
of Cambodia from 1885 to 1887 which is supported by the king.
|1860 Henri Mouhot, a French
botanist discovers the Angkor ruins. French interest in Angkor
begins, leading to an intensive research and restoration program
throughout the later half of the 19th and 20th century by
the Ecole Francaise d'Extreme Orient. The program is disrupted
by the Vietnam war in the 1960s.
|1863 - 1954 The period of
France's protectorate over Cambodia.
|1904 - 1927 Norodom's half
brother, Sisowath, rules Cambodia under French control.
|1916 Peasant uprisings against
taxes and forced labor show popular opposition to the repressive
French rule.
|1927 - 1941 King Monivong
rules Cambodia. Land in the east of the country is cultivated
for rubber plantations.
|1940 The Japanese occupy
Indo-China.
|1941 - 1992 SIHANOUK AND
CAMBODIA:
Prince Sihanouk (aged 18)
is put on the throne of Cambodia by the French in 1941 and
remains in power until 1970.
In the mid-60s, the Khmer Rouge, an extreme-left organization
becomes active against Sihanouk's government.
In the late 60s, Sihanouk sides with the right wing elements
in the government and crushes the Khmer Rouge. Their leaders
flee to the countryside where they amass strength and numbers.
|1969 - 1973 The United States
bombs eastern Cambodia as part of the efforts to defeat the
North Vietnamese communist forces [Map]who use Cambodian territory
in their guerrilla war against South Vietnam and the United
States.
|1970 Sihanouk's major political
opponent, Lon Nol, deposes him, bringing a new government
into power. Sihanouk moves to Peking and heads a government
in exile, the National United Front of Cambodia.
South Vietnamese and US forces invade Cambodia on May 1 in
an attempt to defeat Vietnamese communist forces hiding in
Cambodia.
The Khmer Rouge become a significant opposition force to the
Lon Nol government.
|1975 Phnom Penh is taken
by the Khmer Rouge on April 1. From 1975 to 1979 the Khmer
Rouge are in power backed by the Peking government. Cambodia
is renamed the Republic of Democratic Kampuchea.
Pol Pot, who was trained as a Buddhist monk and educated at
a French university, becomes the foremost leader of the Khmer
Rouge when he is made premier. Khieu Samphan, another important
Khmer Rouge leader, is named head of state.
The Kampuchea government implements a vast program of social
reorganization, relocating the urban population to the countryside
and forcing them to work on collective farms. There is massive
genocide of the Cambodian people, particularly the intelligentsia.
Many Buddhist monks who live in the Angkor temples are massacred
along with the majority of the Buddhist population.
|[Map]1979 The Vietnamese
invade Cambodia, take Phnom Penh and set up a new government.
Pol Pot and Khieu Sampan flee to China and organize guerrilla
resistance to the Vietnamese-backed government. There is civil
war and mass starvation in Cambodia.
A large number of refugees from Cambodia flee into Thailand.
The United Nations refuses to acknowledge the Vietnamese-backed
government.
Fighting between Kampuchea and Vietnam continues until 1989
when the Vietnamese withdraw.
|1991 Prince Sihanouk returns
to Cambodia in November to help set up a new government.
|1992 A coalition government
of opposition parties, including the National United Front
of Cambodia led by Sihanouk, is set up in Cambodia and monitored
by the United Nations.
Refugees from camps in Thailand begin to return to Cambodia.
Work to restore Angkor, disrupted since the late 1960s, is
actively begun again. Tourists return to Angkor.
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