Khmer Empire

Khmer Empire Time Period

The Khmer Empire reigned in Southeast Asia from 802 CE to 1431 CE, a period of over 600 years (to put in perspective, that is well over twice the current age of the United States of America). That marks the Khmer Empire as a true Medieval (5th to 15th century) empire, falling just before the European maritime powers began staking their claim across the world.

Wall relief from Angkor depicting the Khmer army (including war elephants) going to war against the Cham. Source: Manfred Werner/ Tsui, CC-BY-SA-3.0-migrated.

Khmer Empire Timeline

The following list provides a brief progression of events regarding the history of the Khmer Empire:

• 802 CE: Jayavarman II declared himself to be Chakravartin, the universal ruler; historians marks this as the beginning of the Khmer Empire.

• 1122 CE: The thirty-seven-year construction of Angkor Wat began under the rule of Suryavarman II.

• 1181 - 1215: The reign of Jayavarman VII saw the Khmer Empire reach its height of power.

• 1203: The Khmer defeated Champa and reclaim lost territory.

• 1285: The Khmer Empire begins paying tribute to the Yuan Dynasty to avoid invasion.

• 1295 - 1309: Under the reign of Srindravarman, the Khmer Empire largely converted to Theravada Buddhism.

• 14th century: The Bubonic plague, famine, invasion, and infrastructural breakdown plighted the Khmer Empire, weakening it considerably.

• 1431 CE: The city of Angkor fell to the kingdom of Ayutthaya; historians mark this as the end of the Khmer Empire.

Khmer Empire History

The Khmer Empire was a well-organized, highly religious (at one point Hindu, at another point Buddhist) state. Its population was comprised mainly of the Khmer people, an Austroasiatic ethnic group that speaks the Khmer language. Origin stories tell of a marriage between an Indian Brahmin priest and a Naga princess whose father revealed the land of Cambodia. Historians believe that the Khmer people migrated from Southern China and Northern India into Cambodia around 2000 BCE.

Photograph of Angkor Wat. Source: Manfred Werner, CC-BY-SA-3.0-migrated.

Founding of the Khmer Empire

Jayavarman II is regarded as the first ruler of the Khmer as a true empire. As a king, Jayavarman II reportedly spent years in service of the kingdom of Sailendras in Java, most likely as a vassal ruler, until he returned to Cambodia and declared himself Chakravartin, the "universal ruler" of the Khmer in 802 CE. In one move, Jayavarman II split his new nation from Java and appointed himself as the divine and absolute ruler. Jayvarman II expanded the Khmer Empire's territories and established a temporary capital before his death in 830 CE.

The Khmer Empire's most famous and lasting legacy, Angkor Wat, was constructed in the mid 12th century under the reign of Suryavarman II. The vast temple was dedicated to the Hindu deity Vishnu.

Khmer Empire Golden Age

The Khmer's greatest military rival was Champa in southern Vietnam, who had successfully repelled multiple Khmer invasions and even mounted a counter offensive that captured Angkor, capital of the Khmer Empire. By the end of the 12th century, the empire was poised to fall. Thanks to the efforts of its new ruler, Jayavarman VII, the Khmer Empire would instead reach even greater heights.

Photograph of a statue depicting Jayavarman VII, located in Cambodia. Source: Marcin Konsek, CC-BY-SA-4.0.

Jayavarman VII defeated the Cham and pushed them out of Angkor in 1203 after years of war. He centralized his reign, expanded Khmer territories, and funded the construction of many buildings, including the new capital city of Angkor Thom, agricultural infrastructure, and over one hundred hospitals. As a Buddhist, Jayavarman VII believed that the Hindu gods had betrayed the Khmer people in allowed Angkor to be captured by Champa; gradually, the massive temple transitioned in dedication to the Buddhist faith.

Khmer Empire in Decline

The Khmer Empire's seemingly sudden demise is disputed among historians. Some point toward a great migration of Thai (Siamese) people into Southeast Asia as a possible cause, leading to the establishment of many competitive states within the region. Others highlight the failing agricultural infrastructure, climate conditions that caused flooding and droughts, widespread disease, and corrupt politics as primary causes.

Indeed, the Khmer Empire's transition to the Buddhist faith largely removed the concept of a "universal", or divinely appointed ruler. Decentralized, dozens of Khmer generals and politicians vied for total power. In 1431, the Khmer left their illustrious capital of Angkor. The Siamese kingdom of Ayutthaya took the capital that same year.

Khmer Empire Religion

At different points in time, the Khmer Empire was primarily a Hindu and Buddhist state. Up until the reign of Jayavarman VII, the empire's temples and religious authority was dominantly Shaivite Hindu. Afterwards, and especially during Srindravarman's reign, the nation's largely adopted Theravada Buddhism. Both of these religions were heavily propagated by the Indian Ocean Trade of the Medieval Era, and both Hinduism and Buddhism integrated themselves with the traditional beliefs of the Khmer people.

Khmer empire Achievements

The Khmer Empire was an impressive Medieval empire, rivaling the size and wealth of even the Byzantine Empire in the west. Often, the empire is overshadowed by achievements of contemporaries such as the Mongol Empire or the Song Dynasty, and by later empires such as the Spanish Maritime Empire. But to forget the Khmer Empire is to forget arguably the most powerful empire on the planet during the 12th century.

Ruins of Angkor Thom in Cambodia. Source: Gerd Eichmann, CC-BY-SA-4.0

The greatest of the Khmer Empire's achievements still stand today; its archeological ruins attract thousands of tourists from across the world, inspiring people to imagine what a medieval city the size of modern-day New York City may have looked like, and what stories each cracked stone of Angkor Wat may behold.