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[Before AD100] PRE-FUNAN TIMES:
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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. The land is settled by various tribes who
develop the independent kingdoms of Tonkin, Annam, Cochin
China, Cambodia, Laos and Siam. |
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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.
Today, the Kingdom of Cambodia is once again a peaceful
place to visit. It is, at present, in the process of getting
rebuilt. Cambodia now in-corporate a Parliamentary
Government system, with His Majesty Preah Bat Norodom
Sihamoni, King and Head of State; H.E. Samdech Chea Sim,
President of the Senate; H.R.H. Samdech Krom Preah Norodom
Ranariddh, President of the National Assembly and H.E.
Samdech Hun Sen, Prime Minister. His Majesty effectively
remains the symbol of national unity for the people of
Cambodia who hold him dear to their hearts. |
