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Angkor's Last Stand: The Fall of Yasodharapura to Ayutthaya
Description
In 1431, the Ayutthayan army under King Borommaracha II laid siege to Yasodharapura, the last capital of the Khmer Empire. For months, the Khmer defenders held out within the walls of Angkor Thom, but internal divisions and dwindling resources finally led to a catastrophic breach. This episode follows the siege day by day, from the first skirmishes at the East Baray to the final assault on the royal palace. We explore King Ponhea Yat's desperate negotiations, the role of Theravada Buddhist monks as mediators, and the fate of the city's population after the fall. Drawing on the Cambodian royal chronicles and Siamese sources, we piece together the forgotten battle that ended an empire—and the aftermath that saw the Khmer court flee to Phnom Penh, leaving Angkor to the jungle.