Water Chenla
Water Chenla ចេនឡាទឹក 水真臘 Shuǐ Zhēnlà | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| c. 706/710–c. 802 | |||||||||
| Status | Fragmented kingdom | ||||||||
| Capital | Various city-states (see below) | ||||||||
| Common languages | Old Khmer | ||||||||
| Religion | Hinduism (Shaivism), Mahayana Buddhism | ||||||||
| King / Queen | |||||||||
• early 8th century | Queen Jayadevi (first known) | ||||||||
• c. 781–788 | King Mahipativarman (last known) | ||||||||
| Historical era | Classical Southeast Asia | ||||||||
• Division of Chenla | c. 706/710 | ||||||||
• Javanese raid; unification under Jayavarman II | c. 802 | ||||||||
| |||||||||
Water Chenla or Lower Chenla (ចេនឡាទឹក; Chinese: 水真臘; pinyin: Shuǐ Zhēnlà; literally “Chenla of the Water” or “Chenla of the Sea”) was the southern half of the Khmer kingdom of Chenla after its fragmentation in the early 8th century. It existed roughly from 706–802 CE and consisted of a loose confederation of at least five principalities centred along the Mekong River and the Tonlé Sap basin. The northern half was known as Land Chenla (ចេនឡាដីគោក).
Chinese sources consistently referred to the southern kingdom as Shuǐ Zhēnlà (水真臘) to distinguish it from the land-locked northern realm.
Historical background
[edit]After the death of King Jayavarman I (c. 657–690), who left no male heir, the throne passed to his daughter Queen Jayadevi. Her accession as a female ruler is believed to have weakened central authority and precipitated the permanent division of Chenla into the northern “Land” polity and the southern “Water” polity.[1]
Water Chenla quickly fragmented into several semi-independent city-states (ksatrapura), of which the best documented are:
- Sambhupura (modern Sambor, Kratié Province)
- Aninditapura or Pālādityapura (exact location uncertain)
- Vyadhapura (near ancient Banteay Prei Nokor, close to modern Bavet)
- Two further unnamed principalities known only from the titles of their rulers (e.g. Sri Narendravarman)
Geography
[edit]Water Chenla occupied the fertile Mekong floodplain and the region around the Tonlé Sap, extending from approximately Stung Treng and Kratié in the north down to the Mekong Delta in the south. The abundance of waterways and proximity to the sea gave rise to the Chinese designation “Water Chenla”.
Political history
[edit]Despite attempts at reunification, the kingdom remained politically fragmented. Notable events include:
- c. 716–730: Prince Pushkaraksha of Aninditapura moved his court to Sambhupura and attempted to reunite Water Chenla.
- c. 750–770: King Rajendravarman I continued these efforts without lasting success.
- Late 8th century: Several Sanskrit inscriptions from Sambhupura (770, 781) and elsewhere testify to a flourishing Mahayana Buddhist culture, including early worship of the bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara.
- 774–802: Repeated raids by seafaring Shailendra forces from Java culminated in the sack of an unidentified capital (probably Sambhupura), the capture and execution of King Mahipativarman (son of Rajendravarman I), and the temporary subjugation of parts of Water Chenla.[2]
The Javanese occupation ended around 802 when Jayavarman II, a Khmer prince who had been held hostage in Java, returned, expelled the foreign rulers, and proclaimed himself universal monarch (devaraja), founding the Khmer Empire centred at Angkor.
Rulers of Water Chenla (c. 706–802 CE)
[edit]| No. | Posthumous / Reign Name | Personal Name | Capital / Notes | Reign |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Devaditya | unknown | Bhavapura–Sambor Prei Kuk | early 8th century |
| 2 | Indraditya | unknown | Bhavapura–Sambor Prei Kuk | 8th century |
| 3 | Dharmaditya | unknown | Bhavapura–Sambor Prei Kuk | 8th century |
| 4 | Pālāditya | unknown | Pālādityapura | 8th century |
| 5 | Nṛpatāditya | unknown | Aninditapura | 8th century |
| 6 | Viśvarūpa | unknown | Aninditapura | ? |
| 7 | Nṛpatīndravarman I | unknown | Aninditapura | ? |
| 8 | Puṣkarākṣa | unknown | Sambhupura (moved court from Aninditapura) | 716–730 |
| 9 | Narendravarman | unknown | unidentified city-state | ? |
| 10 | Rājapativarman | unknown | Vyādhapura | ? |
| 11 | Sambhuvarman | unknown | Sambhupura | 730–c.750 |
| 12 | Jayavarman (possibly Jayavarman II of later tradition?) | unknown | unidentified | c.740–750 |
| 13 | Queen Nṛpatīndradevī I | unknown | Vyādhapura? | mid-8th century |
| 14 | Rajendravarman I | unknown | Sambhupura | c.750–770 |
| 15 | Indraloka | unknown | Sambhupura | ? |
| 16 | Queen Nṛpatīndradevī II | unknown | Sambhupura | late 8th century |
| 17 | Jayendrabhā | unknown | Sambhupura | c.780s |
| 18 | Jyeṣṭhāryā | unknown | Sambhupura | reigning in 803 |
| 19 | Jayavarman (possibly Jayavarman III?) | unknown | Vyādhapura–Dhyanapura (Bàyàng) | c.763–770 |
| 20 | Jayavarman (possibly Jayavarman IV?) | unknown | Indrapura–Sambhupura | c.770–781 |
| 21 | Mahīpativarman | unknown | Sambhupura | c.781–c.788 killed by Javanese raiders |
| Javanese (Shailendra) invasions and occupation (c.774–802) | ||||
Traditional / Older list of rulers (commonly found in Cambodian sources)
[edit]| No. | Ruler | Personal Name | Reign |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pālāditya (Pālādityapura) | unknown | ? |
| 2 | Viśvarūpa (Aninditapura) | unknown | ? |
| 3 | Nṛpatīndravarman I (Aninditapura) | unknown | ? |
| 4 | Puṣkarākṣa (Sambhupura) | unknown | 716–730 |
| 5 | Narendravarman | unknown | ? |
| 6 | Rājapativarman (Vyādhapura) | unknown | ? |
| 7 | Sambhuvarman (Sambhupura) | unknown | 730–750 |
| 8 | Rajendravarman I (Sambhupura) | unknown | 750–770 |
| 9 | Indraloka (Sambhupura) | unknown | ? |
| 10 | Queen Nṛpatīndradevī II (Sambhupura) | unknown | ? |
| 11 | Jayendrabhā (Sambhupura) | unknown | ? |
| 12 | Jyeṣṭhāryā (Sambhupura) | unknown | ? |
| 13 | Jayavarman II (Sambhupura) | unknown | 770–781 |
| 14 | Mahīpativarman (Sambhupura) | unknown | 781–788 |
| Javanese invasions: 774–802 | |||
Legacy
[edit]Water Chenla represents the final phase of the pre-Angkorian Khmer world. The period witnessed the transition from Hinduism-dominated Shaivism to increasing Mahayana Buddhist influence and laid the demographic and cultural foundations for the later Khmer Empire.