Angkor Wat's Forgotten Builder: The Reign of Rajendravarman II

Before Suryavarman II crowned Angkor Wat, another king reshaped the Khmer capital in the 10th century. Rajendravarman II returned the court to Angkor after decades in Koh Ker, restoring the royal lineage and commissioning the temple-mountain Pre Rup. This episode follows his reign from 944 to 968 CE—his military campaigns against Champa, his patronage of Sanskrit literature, and the administrative reforms documented in the Sdok Kak Thom inscription. We also explore the Baksei Chamkrong temple, built as a shrine to his parents, and the role of the Brahmin priest Yajnavaraha. Lucas and Luna uncover the foundations upon which Suryavarman II later built his great temple. #RajendravarmanII #AngkorWat #KhmerEmpire #PreRup #BakseiChamkrong #SdokKakThom #KohKer #Champa #Yajnavaraha #Cambodia #SoutheastAsianHistory #TempleMountain #Devaraja #10thCentury #Angkor #KhmerArchitecture #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo