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The Tchen-la era (late 6th -8th centuries)


The inscriptions, archaeological evidence and Chinese records help better define and understand this era, as compared with the Nokor.

Many capital cities were founded during this era. We will therefore mention only the main ones:

Sresthapura, in Ba Dom, east of present-day Stung Treng, under the reign of Sresthavarman (545-565); Bhavarman, in Ampil Rolum, on the northwest of Kampong Thom, under the reign of Bhavarman I (565-705); Sambhypura, in Sambor, on the banks of the Mekong River in Kratie province, under the reign of King Mahendravarman (late 6th century-610); and lastly, Isanapura (present-day Sambor Prei kuk), in Kampong Thom province, under the reign of Isanavarman I (c.610-c.635), where many brick temples remain to this day.

Works of art from this era are referred to as from the Sambor Prei Kuk style.

Bhavavarman II succeeded his father King Isanavarman I.

In the 8th century, Tchen-la splits into two kingdoms, the ‘Inland Tchen-la’, north of the Dangrek Mountains in a region of mountains and valleys, and the ‘Water Tchen-la’, south of the Dangrek range, in a region of plains and lakes.

The 8th century is a time of upheavals in Cambodia. In 713, Jayadeví succeedes her father Jayavarman I to the throne and rules the country.

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