Post-Angkor period

Kingdom of Cambodia ព្រះរាជាណាចក្រកម្ពុជា (Khmer) Preăh Réachéanachâkr Kâmpŭchéa
1431–1863
Flag
Cambodia and mainland Southeast Asia in 1540 CE
Capital	Srey Sorchhor (1431–1434) Chaktomuk (1434–1525) Longvek (1525–1603) Lvea Aem (1603–1620) Oudong (1620–1863)
Common languages	Middle Khmer (until 1777) Khmer
Religion	Therevada Buddhism
Demonym(s)	Cambodian
Government	Absolute monarchy
Monarch
• 1431–1463	Ponhea Yat (first)
• 1516–1566	Ang Chan I
• 1566–1576	Barom Reachea I
• 1602–1618	Srei Soriyopear[1]
• 1618–1628	Chey Chettha II[2]
• 1848–1860	Ang Duong
• 1860–1863	Norodom (last)
Historical era	Early modern period
• Siege of Angkor	1431
• Siege of Ayutthaya[3]	1570
• Ayutthayan conquest of Longvek	1594
• Vietnamese settlement of Mekong Delta	17th century
• Capital city moved to Oudong	1620
• Rattanakosin annexation of Battambang and Siem Reap	1795
• Nguyen rule	1833–1845
• French protectorate	11 August 1863
Population
• 1500	1,224,000
• 1600	1,419,000
• 1700	1,650,000
• 1800	2,090,000
Currency	Tical
ISO 3166 code	KH
Preceded by Succeeded by Khmer Empire French protectorate of Cambodia
Today part of	Cambodia Thailand Vietnam

Part of a series on the
History of Cambodia
Early history
Funan Chenla Khmer Empire Angkor Khmer–Cham wars Đại Việt–Khmer War
Post-Angkor Period
Chaktomuk era Longvek era Siamese-Cambodian War Cambodian–Spanish War Cambodian–Dutch War Oudong era Loss of Mekong Delta Nguyễn Kingdom's invasion
Colonial period
French protectorate French Indochina Japanese occupation (Cambodia in 1945)
Independence and conflict
Post-independence US bombing Sihanouk Trail Cambodian campaign 1970 coup Khmer Republic US bombing Cambodian Civil War Fall of Phnom Penh Democratic Kampuchea Mayaguez incident Cambodian genocide Cambodian–Vietnamese War People's Republic of Kampuchea exiled coalition government K5 Plan
Peace process
1991 Paris Peace Agreements United Nations Transitional Authority (UNTAC, 1992–93) 1993 election
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The post-Angkor period of Cambodia (Khmer: ប្រទេសកម្ពុជាក្រោយសម័យអង្គរ), also called the Middle Period,^[4] refers to the historical era from the early 15th century to 1863, the beginning of the French protectorate of Cambodia. As reliable sources (for the 15th and 16th centuries, in particular) are very rare, a defensible and conclusive explanation that relates to concrete events that manifest the decline of the Khmer Empire, recognised unanimously by the scientific community, has so far not been produced.^[5][6] However, most modern historians have approached a consensus in which several distinct and gradual changes of religious, dynastic, administrative and military nature, environmental problems and ecological imbalance^[7] coincided with shifts of power in Indochina and must all be taken into account to make an interpretation.^[8][9][10] In recent years scholars' focus has shifted increasingly towards human–environment interactions and the ecological consequences, including natural disasters, such as flooding and droughts.^{[11][12][13][14]}

Stone epigraphy in temples, which had been the primary source for Khmer history, is already a rarity throughout the 13th century, ends in the third decade of the fourteenth, and does not resume until the mid-16th century. Recording of the Royal Chronology discontinues with King Jayavarman IX Parameshwara (or Jayavarma-Paramesvara), who reigned from 1327 to 1336. There exists not a single contemporary record of even a king’s name for over 200 years. Construction and maintenance of monumental temple architecture had come to a standstill after Jayavarman VII's reign. According to author Michael Vickery there only exist external sources for Cambodia’s 15th century, the Chinese Ming Shilu (engl. veritable records) annals and the earliest Royal Chronicle of Ayutthaya,^[15] which must be interpreted with greatest caution.^[16]

The single incident which undoubtedly reflects reality, the central reference point for the entire 15th century, is a Siamese intervention of some undisclosed nature at the capital Yasodharapura (Angkor Thom) around the year 1431. Historians relate the event to the shift of Cambodia's political centre southward to the river port region of Phnom Penh and later Longvek.^[17][18]

Sources for the 16th century are more numerous, although still coming from outside of Cambodia. The kingdom's new capital was Longvek, on the Mekong, which prospered as an integral part of the 16th century Asian maritime trade network,^[19][20] via which the first contact with European explorers and adventurers occurred.^[21] The rivalry with the Ayutthaya Kingdom in the west resulted in several conflicts, including the Siamese conquest of Longvek in 1594. The Vietnamese southward expansion reached Prei Nokor/Saigon at the Mekong Delta in the 17th century. This event initiates the slow process of Cambodia losing access to the seas and independent marine trade.^[22]

Siamese and Vietnamese dominance intensified during the 17th and 18th century, provoking frequent displacements of the seat of power as the Khmer monarch's authority decreased to the state of a vassal. Both powers alternately demanded subservience and tribute from the Cambodian court.^[23] In the mid 19th century, with dynasties in Siam and Vietnam firmly established, Cambodia was placed under joint suzerainty between the two regional empires, thereby the Cambodian kingdom lost its national sovereignty. British agent John Crawfurd states: "...the King of that ancient Kingdom is ready to throw himself under the protection of any European nation..."^{[citation needed]} To save Cambodia from being incorporated into Vietnam and Siam, King Ang Duong agreed to colonial France's offers of protection, which took effect with King Norodom Prohmbarirak signing and officially recognising the French protectorate on 11 August 1863.^[24]