History of the Angkor and Khmer Empire

Rise and Decline of the Khmer Empire

Period: Jan 1, 800 to Jan 1, 1500

Khmer Empire is founded

Jan 1, 802

Jayavarman II founds the Khmer Empire in Cambodia. To expand the area, he used wars, alliances and marriages. He built several Hindu temples which served as the mausoleums of the Khmer kings when they died.

Jayavarman II dies

Jan 1, 850

Yasovarman I (889-900)

Jan 1, 889

Yasovarman's reign. He constructed a new capital called Yasodharapura and 100 monastries with it. He then built a massive reservoir in the Angkor area.

Rajendravarman II reign (944-968)

Jan 1, 944

He built a series of temples at Angkor.
He led the Khmer's in their first war with Champa.

Jayavarman V (968-1001)

Jan 1, 968

Jayavarman V took over the Khmer court after his father Rajendravarman.
Under his rule the Khmer court became a centre for scholars and artists, which helped to educate the people of the Khmer area.

Suryavarman II reign (1113-1150)

Jan 1, 1113

Suryavarman II came to power after killing a rival prince in a battle fought on war elephants.
He conquered Haripunchai and south-western Thailand, up to the border with Bagan. In the east and north he took several provinces of Champa, therefore extending the Khmer Empire.
He commenced the construction of Angkor Wat, the greatest of all Khmer temples. It was dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu and took 37 years to build.

Cham's Invasion

Jan 1, 1177

After Suryavarman II's death, the Cham rowed up the Mekong River and across Tonle sap in war canoes and invaded the Khmer Empire. The sacked the Khmer capital and killed King Tribhuvanadityavarman.

Jayavarman VII becomes King (1181-1215)

Jan 1, 1181

Jayavarman VII waged war against Champa for twenty-two years and conquered much of its land.
He was a follower of Mahayana Buddhism and he made this the new state religion.
Under his reign the Khmers built Angkor Thom (great city) and its Bayon Temple. He also built many other temples, roads, hospitals and rest-houses for traders and travellers.

Empire Weakening

Jan 1, 1238

After Jayavarman VII's death, no other temples were built. The Khmer's lost most of the territory they had conquered in Champa to their east. In the west, several Thai nobles rebelled, establishing the first Thai kingdom at Sukhothai.

Jayavarman VIII (1243-1295)

Jan 1, 1243

Jayavarman VIII wanted the Khmer's to return to Hinduism. He converted Buddhist temples to Hindu temples and destroyed thousands of Buddha images.
During his reign, the Khmer Empire was threatened by the Mongol Empire, a much more powerful empire to the north. In 1283, he paid tribute to the Mongols to avoid war. This made the Khmer Empire a vassal state of the Mongols.

Srindravarman (1295-1309)

Jan 1, 1295

Srindravarman overthrew his father-in-law Jayavarman VIII.
He introduced Theravada Buddhism to the Khmer Empire.

Thai's sacked Angkor

Jan 1, 1400