Rájendravarman (944-968)

The son of Yasovarman IV, Prince Harshavarman II came to the throne after his father’s death. King Rájendravarman succeeded him. The latter’s father had resided in Bhavapura and his mother was called Mahendradeví. The new king transferred the caputal, and the power, back from Koh Kor to Yasodharapura, present-day Phnom Backheng. He continued to worship the Devarája cult.

Rájendravarman completed the construction of monuments begun under the reigns of his predecessors, such as the Phimean Akas temple. In 952, in the middle of the Yasodharatatáka reservoir, he built the Eastern Mebon, a temple dedicated to his ancestors depicted as maor Brahmanism deitied, and Pre Rup temple south of this Baray. He was named Preah Sicaloka after his death.

Jayavarman V (968-1001)

Son of King Rájendravarman, Jayavarman V came to the throne at a young age. His spiritual master was Yajnavaraha, the man who had been his father’s adviser and who had begun the construction of Banteay Srei temple. The king completed the construction of the temple, which is considered to be his main achievement.

Jayavarman V was named Preah Paramaviraloka after his death.

Banteay Srei temple (photo National Museum, no. 3796-1936)

Banteay Srei temple, view from the east of East Gopura II
(photo National Museum, no. 7014-1936)

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Jayavarman IV (921-941)

After the death of Yasovarman, his two sons Harshavarman I and Isanavarman II succeeded on another to the throne.

In 921, Jayavarman IV, the kings’ uncle on their mother’s side and Yasovarman I’s brother-in-law through his wife Javardevi, came to the throne. He moved the capital city from Yasodharapura to Chok Gargyar, which was called Koh Ker by the Khmer people, in Preah Vihear province, approximately 85km to the mortheast of the city of Angkor.

He built numerous temples in the new capital (photo 8), which were dedicated to the Brahmanic gods. He pursued the tradition for social development initiated by his predecessors by commissioning the digging of the Rahal artificial reservoir, to be used for both farming and religious purposes.

Several temples were built in the provinces under his reign, such as the Prasat Neang Khmao (photo 9).

He was named Preah Parama Sivapada after his death.

Archaeologists designate works of art from this era by the name of Koh Ker style.

Koh Ker temple pyremid

Neamg Khmao temple, view from the east

Phimean Akas temple, view from the south

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Yasovarma (889-900)

Son of Indravarman and Indradeví, who himself came from the royal families of Vyádhapura, Sambhupura in Kratie province and Aninditapura in sputern water Tchen-la.

In 893, he erected Lolei temple in the middle of the Indratatáka Baray. The brick temple comprised four sanctuaries designed to house statues of Siva and his wife, which represent his parents and grandparents. He commissioned the construction of several hermitages throughout the province.

The inscription on the Sdok Kak Thom stele names him as the founder of the city of Yasodharapura. He built his temple at the top of Phnom Bakheng to house the Yasldharesvara Siva linga. In addition, he crowned Phnom Bok and Phnom Krom with temples dedicated to the major Trimúrti gods, Brahma, Visnu and Siva, and completed the eastern reservoir, which is called Yasldharatatáka and spreads over an area of 7km in length by 1.8km in width. The reservoir is now dry.

Lastly, he began the construction of temples dedicated to the supreme god, Siva: Sikharesvara at Preah Vihear temple and Bhadresvara at Phnom Sandak temple (Sivapura).

Yasovarman was given the posthumous name Preah Sivaloka after his death.

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Indravarman I (887-889)

Indravarman I, Indradeví’s husband, succeeded Jayavarman III to the throne of Hariharálaya. His master was Siva Soma.

The king’s main achievement, the Indratatáka reservoir, played an important social and religious role. Today, the reservoir is dried up.



In 879, the king commissioned the construction of the 6-brick sanctuaries Preah Kö temple, dedicated to his parents, his maternal grandparents and to Jayavarman II and his wife, both deified in the likeness of Siva and his wife.

In 881, Indravarman commissioned the construction of the Bakong temple where he laid the Indresvara linga. The king also dedicated a sanctuary to Siva inside Phnom Bayang temple, in Takeo province.

He was named Preah Isvaraloka after his death.

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