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Decline of the Khmer Empire in the 1340s
Between 1341 and 1350, the Khmer Empire at Angkor continued a decline that had begun in the early 14th century, with unstable central authority, stal…
Timeline
- 1341–1345Angkor · AngkorLarge-scale temple and hydraulic maintenance projects in the Angkor area had nearly halted, and central control over provincial governors weakened. The empire's northwestern territories gradually slipped from effective administration under pressure from Siamese polities.
- 1343–1348Khmer northwestern frontier · Northwestern KhmerSukhothai and Lan Na forces infiltrated Khmer vassal polities from the northwest, and the Khmer army could not effectively counter them. Border trade routes and tribute sources shrank, further weakening Angkor's finances.
- 1348–1350Phnom Penh area · Lower MekongThe Phnom Penh area in the lower Mekong gradually attracted population and administrative resources thanks to trade convenience and improved defensive conditions. By the late 1340s, the southward shift of the Khmer political center was already evident, and Angkor's practical function as a capital was further diminished.
Sources
- Angkor and the Khmer Civilization — Michael D. Coe (2003)
- A History of Cambodia — David P. Chandler (2008)