Ponhea Yat
Encyclopedia
Ponhea Yat was the last king of the Khmer Empire
.
He was the son of Srey Soriyovong and became king in 1393. That year he was forced to flee Angkor Thom
when the Siamese
captured it, resettling first in Tuol Basan (now Srey Santhor), and after that became flooded, to Chaktomuk (now part of Phnom Penh
).
In Phnom Penh, the king ordered the land to be built up to protect it from flooding, and a palace to be built.
During his reign King Ponhea Yat also ordered the construction of six Buddhist monasteries around the city, and his remains are housed in a stupa
behind the Wat Phnom
.
King Ponhea Yat was succeeded on his death by his first son Narayana Reachea, who reigned until 1469 and who was succeeded in turn by Ponhea Yat's second son, Srey Reachea.
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...
.
He was the son of Srey Soriyovong and became king in 1393. That year he was forced to flee Angkor Thom
Angkor Thom
Angkor Thom , located in present day Cambodia, was the last and most enduring capital city of the Khmer empire. It was established in the late twelfth century by king Jayavarman VII. It covers an area of 9 km², within which are located several monuments from earlier eras as well as those...
when the Siamese
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...
captured it, resettling first in Tuol Basan (now Srey Santhor), and after that became flooded, to Chaktomuk (now part of Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh is the capital and largest city of Cambodia. Located on the banks of the Mekong River, Phnom Penh has been the national capital since the French colonized Cambodia, and has grown to become the nation's center of economic and industrial activities, as well as the center of security,...
).
In Phnom Penh, the king ordered the land to be built up to protect it from flooding, and a palace to be built.
During his reign King Ponhea Yat also ordered the construction of six Buddhist monasteries around the city, and his remains are housed in a stupa
Stupa
A stupa is a mound-like structure containing Buddhist relics, typically the remains of Buddha, used by Buddhists as a place of worship....
behind the Wat Phnom
Wat Phnom
Wat Phnom is a Buddhist temple located in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. It was built in 1373, and stands 27 metres above the ground. It is the tallest religious structure in the city.-History:...
.
King Ponhea Yat was succeeded on his death by his first son Narayana Reachea, who reigned until 1469 and who was succeeded in turn by Ponhea Yat's second son, Srey Reachea.