c. 1120-c. 1215

Khmer Emperor

Jayavarman VII was in his sixties when he took the throne of the Khmer or Angkor Empire, as Cambodia was known in ancient times, yet he reigned for three decades. During that time, he rebuilt the temple cities of Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom, and undertook the building of other temples, as well as hospitals and roads. He also expanded the boundaries of the Khmer Empire, which reached its greatest extent under his leadership.

An earlier ruler of the same name, Jayavarman II (r. c. 790-850), had founded the Khmer Empire and established Hinduism as its state religion, and some time after 900, the Khmers had carved the Hindu temple city Angkor Thom out of the jungle. Angkor Thom covered 5 square miles (12.8 square kilometers), and included a moat, high walls, temples, palaces, and a tower, all carved with detailed images of Hindu deities...