The Ancient Khmer Empire by Lawrence Palmer Briggs

Author:Lawrence Palmer Briggs [Briggs, Lawrence Palmer]
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
Tags: History, Cambodia, Khmer, Civilization; Ancient, Indochina
Amazon: B0006ASLSM
Publisher: American Philosophical Society
Published: 1951-03-14T23:00:00+00:00

Su̅ryavarman’s Claim to the Throne

Su̅ryavarman I’s claim to the throne does not seem very well-founded The inscription of Takeo (II), whose only date is 1002, says he belonged to the line of Indravarman (29, A, st. 10). The inscription of Vat Thipdei B, whose only date is 1005, says he was of the maternal family of Indravarman (165, B, st. 3). The inscription of Lovek about sixty years later, indicates that his mother belonged to the family of Saptadevakula (31, B, st. 1). The inscription of Preaḥ Viḥear (III), dated 1028, says Su̅ryavarman was of the line of Indravarman and that his queen Vi̅ralakshmi̅, was of the line of Harshavarman (I) and I̅śa̅navarman (II) (6, 2, 209). An inscription of Prasat Khna (III), dated 1041, says his wife was a relative, in maternal line, of Harshavarman (222, 196–197). All these claims are remote and indefinite. The genealogies are probably attempts of the royal ministers to bring him within the degree of relationship required for eligibility to the throne (chapter II–9). His father’s marriage to a princess of the family of Saptadevakula brought him the support of that powerful family. His own marriage to a princess of the line of Yaśovarman strengthened his position against claimants of the line of Harshavarman II or of Ra̅jendravarman II, of which Udaya̅dityavarman I certainly—and Jayavi̅ravarman probably—claimed.251

On his manner of gaining the crown, however, the inscriptions are more explicit. The inscription of Vat Thipdei B says, “Enflamed by Śri̅ (glory), Śri̅ Su̅ryavarman, whose sword broke the circle of his enemies, obtained, for the prosperity of the earth, the desired royalty” (165, B, st. 2), which is nearly equivalent to saying—what everything else indicates—that Su̅ryavarman I was a plain usurper, who gained the throne by force. The inscription of Preaḥ Khan says: “His valor may be inferred from the fact that this wise Muni won the Kingdom in battle from a king surrounded by other kings” (352, st. 7). This is doubtless a reference to his victories over his two rivals and their vassals.

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