Khmer Empire (Ætas ab Brian)edit

From Alternative History

History of Rome-After Ætas ab Brian

Nations to speak of

The Khmer Empire prior to the Yellow Scare, in 2187(1434)

Contents 1 Origins 2 Expansion into Siam 3 Great Eastern Failure 4 Nihonian Interests 5 Decline 6 Rulers

[edit] Origins

Ancient Sinican records described powerful thalassocratic states in Indo-Sinica which tied trade routes between India and Sinica by sea since the 950's(200's). The core state that would become the Khmer Empire was called Fou-nan by the Sinicans and Nokor Borei by the natives. It was a major trade stop where Indian merchant ships road the monsoon winds to Nokor and then had to wait 6 months for the winds to reverse and blow them back. Indian influence on the Khmer was great and a unique cultural mix of East-Asian and Hindu architecture, religion, and traditions heavily defined its development. Sea faring civilisations easily grew in Ulterior Australis (Oceana) due to the rich trade of the Silk Road by sea.

Prior to 1556(803) much of Indo-Sinica passed in and out of Srivijava's influence.

[edit] Expansion into Siam

The Miasmata reached Indo-Sinica from its origins in India by mid 1602(849) and lasted until late 1604(851) fading away to the rest of Ulterior Australis.

The depopulation of the Mon, Chao-bon, Kensiu, and Kintaq lands (regions collectively called Sayam, OTL Malay Peninsula and western Thailand) during the Miasmata allowed Khmer's ruler Veasnavarman to expand into the areas [1631-5(878-82)] rather easily once they themselves had recovered and solidifying the entity of the Kingdom of Khmer. Sinica was still reeling from the Miasmata's effects and putting down revolts, otherwise it is likely Sinica would have gained control instead.

The regions were re-colonised by the Khmer during their relaxed invasions but were not treated as well as the territories closer to the capital.

[edit] Great Eastern Failure

Under the new king Daraphirin in 1878(1125), a new programme of empire building was attempted. Starting with invasions of Dai Viet in the 1880's(1127+), the Khmer armies experienced numerous defeats and ultimately failed to accomplish anything, most of the blame for which could be placed in the army's mismanagement by Daraphirin and his generals. Turning his attention to the Vijava(Champa) Confederacy in 1898(1145), Daraphirin made multiple invasion attempts but accomplished little more than he had in Dai Viet. Returning home in defeat in 1904(1151), Daraphirin would face civil war upon his arrival and was killed in the uprisings later that year. Paramavishnok I was appointed the new king by Khmer's nobles in late 1904(1151).

[edit] Nihonian Interests

Nihonia's imperial endeavors throughout the 19th century(1050+) had little effect on the Khmer, even as the Nihonians built forts on the Chem Than coasts, subjugated the Champa kingdom, and impeded Khmer trade ships. In 1930(1177) the Nihonian armies began an invasion of Khmer itself, managing to kill the king Paramavishnok II and occupying the capital. However, Paramavishnok III was able to re-assemble the armies and hire mercenaries from both Sayam and Dai Viet to push the Nihonians back to Champa. Relative peace was achieved and lasted until renewed Nihonian interests put the Khmer on Rome's side in the Amplus Arma.

[edit] Decline

The Khmer Empire used the outdated government system of absolute monarchy. Of all the members of the Concilium Mundi, it was the only nation to fully stick to its traditional ruling structure, although in the period 1949-1973(1196-1220) they experimented with a parliamentary system with a set term for the king.

Understandably, the archaic system caused civil trouble (much like that experienced by the former Muscovite Empire), but even through Nihhon's occupation of the Empire from 2061-7 and the partition of Siam afterwards, the monarchy still commanded full power (actually, during the occupation and for a short time after, the monarchy enjoyed greater loyalty as they served as a symbol for 'freedom' and tradition). So, the emperors of Khmer continued to rule, their government lacking some of the security of more modern systems (and also lacking some that they hadn't bothered to install). Thusly, that Khmer was the only nation in Aisa Ulterior to fall during the 'Yellow Scare' did not seem so surprising after the fact. The country was accepted as lost in 2190(1437), becoming the Konsi-Thang Cartel

[edit] Rulers

	King	from	to	period	notes
1.	Veasnavarman I	~1631(878))	1679(926)	[48yrs]
2.	Chenruhi	1679(926)	1695(942)	[16yrs]
3.	Samnagaman	1695(942)	1775(1022)	[80yrs]	longest reigning king, may have actually been a look alike later on
4.	Ebolanaraman	1775(1022)	1812(1059)	[37yrs]
5.	Phokunviraman I	1812(1059)	1864(1111)	[52yrs]
6.	Veasnavarman II	1864(1111)	1878(1125)	[14yrs]
7.	Daraphirin	1878(1125)	1904(1151)	[26yrs]
8.	Paramavishnok I	1904(1151)	1919(1166)	[15yrs]
9.	Paramavishnok II	1919(1166)	1930(1177)	[11yrs]
10.	Paramavishnok III	1930(1177)	1949(1196)	[19yrs]
11.	Paramavishnok IV	1949(1196)	1955(1202)	[6yrs]	first king of the parliamentary system
12.	Vannaraman I	1955(1202)	1961(1208)	[6yrs]
13.	Veasnavarman III	1961(1208)	1967(1214)	[6yrs]
14.	Javayaraman I	1967(1214)	1973(1220)	[6yrs]	last king of the parliamentary system
15.	Veasnavarman IV	1973(1220)	2043(1290)	[70yrs]
16.	Paramavishnok V	2043(1290)	2049(1296)	[6yrs]	advocated the return of a parliamentary system and stepped down
17.	Harpichanaravabrimaman	2049(1296)	2059(1306)	[10yrs]
18.	Javayaraman II	2059(1306)	2063(1310)	[4yrs]
	Nihonian Occupation	2063(1310)	2067(1314)	[5yrs]	much of Khmer had been occupied since 2061(1308)
19.	Veasnavarman V	2067(1314)	2081(1328)	[14yrs]
20.	Veasnavarman VI	2081(1328)	2089(1336)	[8yrs]
21.	Veasnavarman VI	2081(1328)	2089(1336)	[8yrs]
22.	Javayaraman III	2089(1336)	2093(1340)	[4yrs]
23.	Paramavishnok VI	2093(1340)	2104(1351)	[11yrs]
24.	Veasnavarman VII	2104(1351)	2116(1363)	[12yrs]
25.	Veasnavarman VIII	2116(1363)	2146(1403)	[30yrs]
26.	Vannaraman II	2146(1403)	2162(1419)	[16yrs]
27.	Phokunviraman II	2162(1419)	2172(1429)	[10yrs]
28.	Paramavishnok VII	2172(1429)	2190(1437)	[18yrs]	last King of the Khmer