EPISODE · Jun 18, 2026 · 6 MIN
The Cham Invasion of 1177: Angkor's Darkest Hour
from The Khmer Empire: The Lost Civilization Behind Angkor Wat — Fexingo History · host Fexingo
In 1177, the Khmer Empire suffered a catastrophe that seemed impossible: a Cham fleet sailed up the Mekong and Tonlé Sap rivers, across the great lake itself, and sacked the capital of Angkor. This episode follows the invasion from the Cham perspective — the audacious plan of King Jaya Indravarman IV, the naval raid that bypassed Khmer defenses, and the shocking fall of a city that had never been conquered. We explore how the Khmer were caught off guard despite their military power, what the Cham did once inside the city, and how this disaster set the stage for Jayavarman VII's dramatic rebuilding. Drawing on Cham inscriptions, Khmer chronicles, and the accounts of Chinese traveler Zhou Daguan, we piece together one of medieval Southeast Asia's most dramatic reversals of fortune. #ChamInvasion1177 #Angkor #JayaIndravarmanIV #TonléSap #KhmerEmpire #SuryavarmanII #Vijaya #ZhouDaguan #NavalWarfare #MedievalSoutheastAsia #Cambodia #Champa #MilitaryHistory #AngkorWat #JayavarmanVII #History #FexingoHistory #Podcast Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
Embed this episode
NOW PLAYING
The Cham Invasion of 1177: Angkor's Darkest Hour
No transcript for this episode yet
Similar Episodes
No similar episodes found.
Similar Podcasts
No similar podcasts found.