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Chenla (called by Chinese or
"Kambuja" by Khmer) was a more
direct ancestor of the Khmer
Empire. Its history first appear
in the Chinese Chronicles as a
Funan's vassal state who gained
its independence from Funan
around the year 550 A.D. Within
the next 60 years, Chenla
succeeded to conquer its
predecessor the Funan, and
gradually absorbed its people as
well as inherited the Indian
cultures.
The first capital of Chenla,
named Isanapura, was established
around 613 A.D. at Sambor Prei
Kuk in Kompong Thom province of
modern Cambodia.
Later on Chenla was divided into
northern and southern states, of
which the Chinese Chronicles
refers to as "Chenla of the
Land" and "Chenla of the Sea",
respectively. The center of the
northern Chenla was at the
Champassak province of today
southern Laos, whereas that of
the Southern Chenla occupied the
former Funan's territory along
the Mekong Delta and the coast.
In 715, both Chenla states were
further broken up into several
smaller states.
During the 8th century, another
naval state emerged into a
strong "Java Empire" across the
sea. Dispute among the
historians about the center of
this Java Empire still has not
been resolved, as it could be
either the Java Island of today
Indonenesia or the Malay
Peninsula. Java vigorously
expanded its territory and
sailed to invade and finally
conquered the weak Chenla
states.
Ironically, the fate of Chenla
and the invasion of Java Empire
planted the actual seed for the
establishment of the Angkor
Empire. |
