The Khmer Dark Age: Angkor's Collapse and the Thai Migration

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the often-overlooked period after Angkor's peak: the 15th century decline and the rise of Ayutthaya. They discuss the siege of Angkor by the Thai kingdom of Ayutthaya in 1431, the exodus of Khmer elites to the south, and the gradual abandonment of the temple city. The conversation covers the role of Theravada Buddhism, the shift of power to Phnom Penh, and the legacy of Angkor as a symbol of Cambodian identity. Specific names like Borommaracha II, the Thai king, and Ponhea Yat, the last Khmer king to rule from Angkor, are examined. The episode also touches on the environmental and economic factors—siltation of the baray, disruption of trade routes—that contributed to the decline. Lucas and Luna frame this as a story of transformation rather than collapse, drawing on recent scholarship by Michael Vickery and others to challenge the narrative of a 'dark age'. #AngkorWat #KhmerEmpire #Ayutthaya #BorommarachaII #PonheaYat #TheravadaBuddhism #CambodiaHistory #PhnomPenh #SoutheastAsia #MichaelVickery #AngkorDecline #ThaiMigration #1431Siege #Baray #TonleSap #History #FexingoHistory #TempleCity Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo