The Khmer Navy and the Battle of the Tonlé Sap

In 1177, the Cham fleet sailed up the Mekong and Tonlé Sap rivers, sacking Angkor in a shocking naval raid. But the Khmer Empire had its own maritime tradition, from river-borne troops to ocean-going ships. This episode explores the naval architecture and warfare of the Khmer Empire, focusing on the Cham invasion of 1177 and the subsequent Khmer naval revival under Jayavarman VII. We discuss the types of vessels used, the strategic importance of the Tonlé Sap, and the battles that shaped the empire's fate. Drawing on Chinese records by Zhou Daguan, Cham inscriptions, and archaeological evidence from the Tonlé Sap, we reconstruct how the Khmers fought on water. We also touch on the empire's trade networks with China and the Spice Islands, which relied on Khmer ships. Plus, how the Khmer navy helped Jayavarman VII avenge the 1177 sack of Angkor and project power across Southeast Asia. This episode fills a gap in the podcast's coverage of Khmer military history, complementing earlier episodes on land warfare and the Cham conflict. #KhmerEmpire #NavalWarfare #TonleSap #ChamInvasion1177 #JayavarmanVII #KhmerNavy #Angkor #ZhouDaguan #MekongRiver #SoutheastAsianHistory #MilitaryHistory #Shipbuilding #AncientNavies #Cambodia #Champa #History #FexingoHistory #Podcast Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo