-
Jan 1, 770
Jayavarman's Rise
At this point in time, Khmer is no more than a body of small kingdoms ruled independently by individual rulers. Jayavarman II, a prospective ruler, begins to rise up and conquer leaders of other kingdoms in the nation and becomes king of "Kambuja" twenty years later. Jayavarman continues to build his kingdom. -
Jan 1, 1002
Civil War
After the death of Udayadityavarman I, Jayaviravarman and Suryavarman I compete for the throne, triggering a civil war that will last for over seven years. It will result in Suryavarman being crowned king. -
Jan 1, 1115
Angkor Wat
Suryavarman II, a young prince longing for power, kills his uncle the king in 1113 and seizes the throne. At just 14 years of age he knows that to maintain his power he must show his power. Two years later, he starts construction of the Hindu (later Buddhist,) temple-city capital known as Angkor Wat meaning “city temple grounds”. The temple will become the largest religious building in the world. -
Jan 1, 1150
Buddhism's Dominance
The number of Buddhist followers grows in the Khmer Empire and soon becomes the main practiced religion. Many Khmer kings in the future will reject Buddhism as a religion. -
Jan 1, 1177
Defeat of the Cham
Khmer is at war with two nations known as the Cham who resided in modern-day central Vietnam and the Vietnamese in today's north Vietnam .Jayavarman VII, general of the Khmer army, leads his forces to defeat the Cham army after they capture Yashodharapura. The Cham however, manage to loot Angkor, the capital. -
Jan 1, 1181
Jayavarman VII
Jayavarman VII is instated as king after the death of Yasovarman II. Jayavarman will be considered as the greatest Khmer ruler. Jayavarman takes on multiple building projects, constructing hospitals, monuments and highways. Jayavarman builds a grand city which he calls Angkor Thom. This city will become a marvel of the ancient world. The standard of the city rivals or even surpasses that of Rome and Greece. -
Jan 1, 1283
Mongolian Empire
Jayavarman VIII, is threatened by the Mongol Empire who see to vanquish the Khmer. While his advidors tell him to fight it out and so conquer the Mongolians he decides to pay a tribute to the Mongol Empire to ensure Khmer's safety. This is an important decision because it eliminates one of the greatest threats to the Khmer. -
Jan 1, 1431
Thai Attack
A Thai kingdom, known as Sukhothai, has repelled multiple attcks from the Khmer and remains a strong kingdom. The Ayutthaya, another Thai kingdom, conquers and takes control of the Sukhothai and drive the Khmer out of Angkor, the capital. Angkor will remain out of Khmer rule forever. The Khmer Empire has fallen. -
Preah Ko
Preah Ko, the first temple in the Khmer Empire has started construction. It was built by Indravarman I who finishes construction over fifteen years later. It was built to honor the king's family and his patron god, Shiva. -
Khmer Irrigation System
While also building Preah Ko, Indravarman also starts on a project to help irrigate the rice fields the empire so heavily relies on. The irrigation system will also help during the construction of Angkor Wat and other building projects in the future. -
Crowning of Jayavarman II
At a festival celebrating the Kambuja’s independence from the Java nation, Jayavarman II asks a Brahmin priest named Hiranhadama to perform the ritual for the choosing of a king. He was then declared as a devaraja or “god-king” and gave himself the title chakravartin. He begins to try and unite all of the individual kingdoms into to one single nation. Most of the kingdoms are united but some decline his rule and remain individual. It is now that Khmer is recognised as the Khmer Empire.
