Harshavarman III
Encyclopedia
Harshavarman III was a king of Khmer
who ruled from 1066 to about 1080 AD. He succeeded his elder brother Udayadityavarman II
and his capital was the so called Second Yasodharapura
, which had its center in Baphuon
, built by his brother, and West Baray
as its principal bàrày.
His reign was upset by internal rebellions that finally he was not able to battle out. So Harshavarman III was the last ruler of his dinasty. His successor, Jayavarman VI
, was an usurper who came from Phimai area, on the Khorat Plateau
, in present day Thailand
. Maybe Harshavarman didn't die in 1080, but rather he abandoned Angkor
and took refuge in the south, where his followers kept fighting against Jayavarman VI
. Harshavarman received the posthumous name of Sadaśivapada.
He was named in stele K.908 at Preah Khan
as a maternal ancestor of Jayavarman VII
, even if a long dispute rose out of this issue.
Khmer Empire
The Khmer Empire was one of the most powerful empires in Southeast Asia. The empire, which grew out of the former kingdom of Chenla, at times ruled over and/or vassalized parts of modern-day Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, Burma, and Malaysia. Its greatest legacy is Angkor, the site of the capital city...
who ruled from 1066 to about 1080 AD. He succeeded his elder brother Udayadityavarman II
Udayadityavarman II
Udayadityavarman II ruled the Angkor Kingdom from 1050 to 1066 A.D. He was the successor of Suryavarman I but not his son; he descended from Yasovarman I's spouse. He built the Baphuon Temple to honor the god Shiva, but some of the sculptures are dedicated to Buddha...
and his capital was the so called Second Yasodharapura
Yasodharapura
Yaśodharapura was the first capital of the Khmer empire to be built at the Angkor site. The city was built during the reign of King Yasovarman I after the palace in the previous capital at Roluos was burned during his struggle to consolidate power upon the death of the previous king, his...
, which had its center in Baphuon
Baphuon
The Baphuon is a temple at Angkor, Cambodia. It is located in Angkor Thom, northwest of the Bayon. Built in the mid-11th century, it is a three-tiered temple mountain built as the state temple of Udayadityavarman II dedicated to the Hindu God Shiva. It is the archetype of the Baphuon style...
, built by his brother, and West Baray
West Baray
The West Baray is a baray, or reservoir, at Angkor, Cambodia, oriented east-west and located just west of the walled city Angkor Thom. Rectangular in shape and measuring approximately 8 by 2.1 kilometers, the West Baray is the largest baray at Angkor. Its waters are contained by tall earthen dikes...
as its principal bàrày.
His reign was upset by internal rebellions that finally he was not able to battle out. So Harshavarman III was the last ruler of his dinasty. His successor, Jayavarman VI
Jayavarman VI
Jayavarman VI was king of the Khmer Empire from about 1080 to 1107 AD.During the reigns of Udayadityavarman II and Harshavarman III there were some internal rebellions and an unsuccessful war with Champa...
, was an usurper who came from Phimai area, on the Khorat Plateau
Khorat Plateau
The Khorat Plateau also Korat Plateau, is a plateau in the northeastern region of Thailand, named for the short form of Nakhon Ratchasima, an historical stronghold controlling access to and from the plateau.-Geography:...
, in present day Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
. Maybe Harshavarman didn't die in 1080, but rather he abandoned Angkor
Angkor
Angkor is a region of Cambodia that served as the seat of the Khmer Empire, which flourished from approximately the 9th to 15th centuries. The word Angkor is derived from the Sanskrit nagara , meaning "city"...
and took refuge in the south, where his followers kept fighting against Jayavarman VI
Jayavarman VI
Jayavarman VI was king of the Khmer Empire from about 1080 to 1107 AD.During the reigns of Udayadityavarman II and Harshavarman III there were some internal rebellions and an unsuccessful war with Champa...
. Harshavarman received the posthumous name of Sadaśivapada.
He was named in stele K.908 at Preah Khan
Preah Khan
Preah Khan , sometimes transliterated as Prah Khan, is a temple at Angkor, Cambodia, built in the 12th century for King Jayavarman VII. It is located northeast of Angkor Thom and just west of the Jayatataka baray, with which it was associated. It was the centre of a substantial organisation,...
as a maternal ancestor of Jayavarman VII
Jayavarman VII
Jayavarman VII was a king of the Khmer Empire in present day Siem Reap, Cambodia. He was the son of King Dharanindravarman II and Queen Sri Jayarajacudamani. He married Jayarajadevi and then, after her death, married her sister Indradevi...
, even if a long dispute rose out of this issue.