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Unlike other
civilizations, it
seems that there was
no clear-cut rule or
regulation about who
should succeed the
throne when the king
passed away.
Throughout the
history of Angkor
Empire, the royal
brethrens of the
same mother or
different mothers
often struggled for
power, and the crown
was taken by force.
It was found that
the right to the
throne was followed
through the maternal
line. The designated
crowned prince was
often challenged by
his brothers or by
the other princes of
different lineage.
In many instances,
the throne was
succeeded after the
bloodshed battles.
In order to prove
their rights and to
acquire supports,
the candidates often
proclaimed that they
were descendants of
either Brahmin
Kaundinya and
princess Soma or
Kambu and Mera,
as these two
legendary couples
were believed by the
ancient Khmers as
their ancestors.
These incidences may
not be surprising,
if we traced back
into the history
further, the same
practice had also
been found since the
time of Funan as
written in the
Chinese Chronicle.
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