Emperor of the Khmer Empire | |
---|---|
Imperial | |
Imperial Arms of Kambujadesa | |
Incumbent | |
Chakravarman I since 1997 | |
Details | |
Style | His/Her Divine Majesty |
Heir apparent | Sumdaravana |
First monarch | Suryavarman II |
Formation | 1135 |
Residence | Imperial Palace of Angkor |
The Emperor of the Khmer Empire, also simply called the Khmer Emperor, also internationally referred to as the Emperor of Cambodia or the Cambodian Emperor, is the head of state and government of the Khmer Empire.
History of the Khmer Empire[]
Before the rulers of the Khmer Empire styled themselves as emperors, they had the title of king. Jayavarman II declared independence from the Srivijaya Empire in 802 and established the Kingdom of Kambujadesa with himself as ruler. The rulers continued to have this title until Suryavarman II expanded the kingdom into a great empire and crowned himself emperor. The role of women in the empire was to be queens, servants, daily life (and dancing for the rulers.)
Description[]
The emperor of the Khmer Empire is worshipped as a demigod, son of the gods and supreme ruler of the empire. The emperor is viewed as son and the divine incarnation of the Hindu Gods. The people believe that the emperor is appointed by the Hindu Gods and therefore, any limitation of his power would be against the will of the Hindu Gods. The emperor is viewed as the divine incarnation of the God Shiva and is thus the extreme masculinity (if there is an reigning empress then she represents the Goddess Shakti and thus extreme femininity). The emperor may choose any woman that he wants as one of his concubines. Women who become concubines live in extreme luxury for the rest of their lives and it is a great honor to become a wife of the emperor. In the last ages it is common for emperors to only take a few wives or one wife. Therefore, the Khmer Empire is an autocratic, divine and absolute monarchy where the emperor rules with an iron fist. He and his family reside in the Grand Imperial Palace of Angkor, in the heart of the city. The emperor has infallibility, inviolability and his word is law. Many people have criticized the Khmer Empire for its lack of democracy. The Khmer Empire is the only remaining divine monarchy on Earth. His official title as Emperor of the Khmer Empire is "His Divine Majesty the Almighty Emperor of the Great Empire of Kampuchea". There has only been one known instance of a reigning woman. Her name is Suryavana. She was empress regnant from 1145-1160. The current constitution allows women to ascend the throne. The current emperor is Chakravarman I. He was crowned emperor in 1995 at the age of ten. He is married to Suprassana Devi and has one daughter Sundaravana. She is the current heir to the throne. Most emperors receive a posthumous name and sometimes a nickname.
Requirements[]
Article 5 of the Khmer constitution decrees that the ruler must meet this requirements. The Emperor must:
- follow the Hindu religion
- not have betrayed the nation
- be a member of the Imperial family
- be physically and mentally capable of performing his/her duties
- not have committed heinous crimes
Line of Succession[]
If the emperor does not name a successor then the first in line becomes emperor. Women are currently allowed to ascend the throne. The constitution implements absolute cognatic primogeniture.
The line of succession is described below:
- 1. Oldest child
- 2. Children from oldest to youngest
- 3. Siblings of the emperor from oldest to youngest
- 4. Consort of the emperor/empress
- 5. Grandchildren of the emperor from oldest to youngest
- 6. Children of the siblings of the emperor from oldest to youngest
- 7. Other relatives of the emperor
List of Doods[]
Number | Name of King | Reign | Nickname or posthumous name |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Jayavarman II | 802-835 | Paramesvara |
2 | Jayavarman III | 835-877 | Viṣṇuloka |
3 | Indravarman III | 877-890 | Unknown |
4 | Yasovarman I | 889-910 | Paramashivaloka |
5 | Harshavarman I | 910-923 | Unknown |
6 | Ishanavarman II | 923-928 | Paramarudraloka |
7 | Indravarman III | 877-890 | Unknown |
8 | Yasovarman I | 889-910 | Paramashivaloka |
9 | Harshavarman II | 941-944 | Bhrahmaloka |
10 | Rajendravarman II | 944-968 | Unknown |
11 | Jayavarman V | 968-1001 | Unknown |
12 | Udayadityavarman I | 1002 | Unknown |
13 | Jayavirahvarman | 1002-1006 | Unknown |
14 | Suryavarman I | 1006-1050 | Unknown |
15 | Udayadityavarman II | 1050-1066 | Unknown |
16 | Harshavarman III | 1066-1080 | Sadaśivapada |
17 | Jayavarman VI | 1090-1107 | Paramakaivalyapada |
18 | Dharanindravarman I | 1107-1113 | Unknown |
19 | Suryavarman II | 1066-1080 | "The Great" and "The Muscular" Paramavishnuloka |
Number | Name of Emperor | Reign | Nickname or and/posthumous name |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Suryavarman II | 1135-1145 | "The Great" and "The Muscular" Paramavishnuloka |
2 | Suryavana | 1145-1160 | "The Beautiful" Sundaramahila |
3 | Suryavarman III | 1155-1195 | "The Great" Dvitiyakaäbhinava |
4 | Srindavarman I | 1195-1235 | "The Golden" Kanakamayanara |
5 | Ksarakajatavarman I | 1235-1245 | "The Decline" Hrasavarman |
6 | Vilaksanavarman I | 1245-1255 | "The Failure" Asaphalatavarman |
7 | Darzaniyavarman I | 1255-1265 | "The Collapse" Pravlaya |
8 | Jayavarman VII | 1265-1315 | "The Great" Pratyagacchatiloka |
9 | Vizalavarman I | 1315-1351 | "The Giant" Sthulavarman |
10 | Nirupaplavavarman I | 1351-1380 | "The Handsome" Zamtamaloka |
11 | Pumstvavarman I | 1380-1422 | "The Masculine" Devaloka |
12 | Samhanavatavarman I | 1422-1460 | "The Muscular" Samhananopetaloka |
13 | Balavanavarman I | 1460-1490 | "The Strong" Samarthaloka |
14 | Hasyavarman I | 1490-1516 | "The Crazy" Hsyakathaloka |
15 | Samulbanavarman I | 1516-1536 | "The Bloody" Samsmaraniyaloka |
16 | Gudhavarman I | 1536-1560 | "The Mysterious" |
17 | Samhananopetavarman I | 1560-1596 | "The God" Surendra |
18 | Priyavarman I | 1596-1630 | "The Incapable" Azaktavarman |
19 | Zobhanavarman I | 1630-1659 | "The Error" Mithyatva |
20 | Abhinavavarman I | 1659-1699 | "The Excellent" Varisthaloka |
21 | Laghuvarman | 1699-1700 | "The Shortlived" Alpuyusavarman |
22 | Smaramavarman I | 1700-1800 | "The Immortal" Amaravarman |
23 | Samulbanavarman II | 1800-1810 | "The Builder" Gharakarakavarman |
24 | Suryavarman IV | 1810-1840 | "The Golden" Kanakamayanara |
25 | Samhananopetavarman II | 1840-1885 | "The Great" Dvitiyakaäbhinava |
26 | Nirupaplavavarman II | 1885-1923 | "The Excellent" Varisthaloka |
27 | Samhananopetavarman II | 1923-1950 | "The Awesome" Bhimavarman |
28 | Balavanavarman I | 1950-1988 | "The Cultured" Vyutpattimataloka |
29 | Samhananopetavarman III | 1988-1997 | "The Musical" Svaraloka |
30 | Chakravarman I | 1997-present | "The Guru" Gharakarakavarman |
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