The Cham Invasion of 1177 That Shattered Angkor

In 1177, the Khmer Empire suffered a devastating blow: a Cham fleet sailed up the Mekong and Tonlé Sap rivers, sacked the capital of Angkor, and killed the reigning king. This episode explores the little-known Cham invasion that forced the Khmer to rebuild their capital under Jayavarman VII. We discuss the naval battle on the Great Lake, the political fragmentation of the Cham kingdom of Champa, and how this humiliation spurred Jayavarman to construct Angkor Thom and its massive moat — a defensive response that reshaped Khmer architecture. We also examine the controversial role of the Chinese Song dynasty in regional trade and the lasting enmity between Khmer and Cham that culminated in further wars. Drawing on the stele inscriptions at Preah Khan and the writings of Zhou Daguan, we paint a vivid picture of a kingdom nearly lost, then reborn. #ChamInvasion #Angkor1177 #JayavarmanVII #KhmerEmpire #Champa #NavalBattle #TonleSap #AngkorThom #MekongRiver #SongDynasty #PreahKhanStele #ZhouDaguan #SoutheastAsianHistory #MedievalCambodia #NavalWarfare #EmpireCollapse #History #FexingoHistory #AngkorWat #SuryavarmanII Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo