Episode Details
Back to Episodes
Jayavarman VII: The Builder King Who Reshaped Angkor
Description
In this episode of The Khmer Empire's Sudden Collapse Explained, we zero in on Jayavarman VII, the most prolific builder of the Khmer Empire, who reigned from 1181 to 1218. After the Cham sacked Angkor in 1177, Jayavarman VII drove them out and launched an unprecedented building spree, constructing the walled city of Angkor Thom, the Bayon with its mysterious smiling faces, and over a hundred hospitals. But his ambitious projects, funded by massive taxation and forced labor, may have strained the empire's resources and contributed to its later decline. We explore his personal story—his conversion to Mahayana Buddhism, the role of his wives and children, and the controversial decoration where he had temples built by his family and officials. Was he a pious benefactor or a megalomaniac? How did his Buddhist kingship clash with previous Hindu traditions? And did his building boom set the stage for collapse? Join Lucas and Luna as they unpack the legacy of this extraordinary ruler.