Javanese raids on Indochina

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|

8th centuries military campaign on Indochina

Javanese raids on Indochina

Map of Indochina shows land raided by the Javanese (purple)
| Date| c. 767–790

|

Location|

Eastern and southern coast of Indochina (present-day Cambodia and Vietnam)

Result|  Javanese victory
Territorial
changes|

* Southeastern coast of Champa was under the Javanese control
* Water Chenla became the vassal of Shailendra dynasty[1]: 35

Belligerents
Shailendra dynasty|

Tang dynasty

* Annan

Champa
Water Chenla [km]
Commanders and leaders
Dharanindra
Jayavarman II[2]|  Chang Po-i
Prithindravarman †
Satyavarman #
Indravarman I
Mahipativarman [3]: 137
Strength
1,000 "medium-sized" vessels[3]: 137 |  unknown

Javanese raids on Indochina or the Shailendra's campaign on Indochina, was a military campaign launched by Shailendra dynasty of Java to captured most of strategic trade areas between Indochina and spreading their influences through Chenla and conquering them.

## Background

[edit]

According to Chinese citations, the Chenla splits into the two factions, Land Chenla and Water Chenla. By this actions, the Chenla suffered an epidemic situation and Shailendra dynasty also realized this situations. Many of the Javanese sailors who sailing in South China Sea seeing a big potential in the middle of chaos situation in Chenla, the Javanese ships always used the port in Chenla as their shelters and the Javanese sailors had an insight on the situation in Chenla which the informations are useful to the preparation of military campaign. When the Shailendra dynasty knowing about the situation by the reports of Javanese sailors about conditions in Water Chenla, the Shailendra launched an military campaign on Water Chenla.[4]

## Campaigns

[edit]

### Raids on Tonkin and Champa (767, 774–787)

[edit]

In c. 767, the Java (Daba) fleets from Shailendra dynasty were laid a military attacks. The Cambodian inscriptions were generally said the fleets was Malayan, Sumatran, Javanese, or all of them, quickly seized the island of Pulo-Condor on the southern Chenla, and the island were used by Javanese pirates to conducting some numerous military raids on Champa and Chiaou-Chou.[5][6] At the same year, Tonkin coast was assaulted by Java (Shepo) of Shailendra and Kunlun raids,[7][8][9] around modern-day Hanoi, the capital of Tonkin (Annam).[10][11] Around Son-tay they were vanquished at the hands of Chang Po-i the governor, after the Kunlun and the Javanese assaulted Tonkin in 767.[12]

Champa was subsequently assaulted by Javanese or Kunlun vessels in 774 and 787.[13][14][15] In 774, an series of assault was launched again on Po-Nagar in Nha-trang where the pirates demolished temples, while in 787 an assault was launched on Phang-rang.[16][17][18] Several Champa coastal cities suffered naval raids and assault from Java. Java armadas was called as Javabala-sanghair-nāvāgataiḥ (fleets from Java) which are recorded in Champa epigraphs.[19][20] All of these raids believed was launched by the Sailendras, dynasty ruler of Java and Srivijaya.[21][22][23] The possible cause of Javanese assault on Champa was probably prompted by commerce rivalry on serving Chinese market. The 787 epigraph was in Yang Tikuh while the 774 epigraph was Po-nagar.[24][25]

In 774, Javanese raiders from the south launched a surprising seaborne invasion of Champa in Kauthara province, plundering cities, stealing the golden statue of Bhagavati, and demolished the Champa's Siva-linga temple of Po Nagar.[26] Apparently Prithindravarman, the predecessor of Champa king Satyavarman, was killed by the invaders amidst chaos.[27] Champa source mentioned their invader as foreigners, sea-farers, eaters of inferior food, of frightful appearance, extraordinarily black and thin.[28] The 774 assault by the Javanese happened in the rule of Isvaraloka (Satyavarman).[29][30] Cham record mentioned that their country was hit by ferocious, pitiless, dark-skinned sea raiders, which modern historians believed to by Javanese. Java had commercial and cultural links to Champa.[31] And assault was initiated on Cambodia. Javanese raid was launched via the Pulo Condor island. Malaya, Sumatra or Java all could have been the origin of the assaulters.[32] The Kauthara Nha Trang temple of Po Nagar was ruined when ferocious, pitiless, dark-skinned men born in other countries, whose food was more horrible than corpses, and who were vicious and furious, came in ships . . . took away the [temple linga], and set fire to the temple. In 774 according to the Nha Trang epigraph in Sanskrit by the Chams. Men born in other lands, living on other foods, frightful to look at, unnaturally dark and lean, cruel as death, passing over the sea in ships assaulted in 774.[33]

In 787, warriors from Java borne over in ships assaulted Champa. In Phan-rang the Sri Bhadradhipatlsvara temple was arsoned by seaborne Java troops in 787,[34][35] when Indravarman was in power at the hands of the Javanese. It was mentioned the armies of Java, having come in vessels of the 787 assault, and of the previous assault, that Satyavarman, the King of Champa vanquished them as they were followed by good ships and beaten at sea and they were men living on food more horrible than cadavers, frightful, completely black and gaunt, dreadful and evil as death, came in ships in the Nha-trang Po Nagar epigraph in Sanskrit, which called them men born in other countries. The ruin of the temple at Panduranga in 787 came at the hands of the assaulters.

### Javanese invasion of Chenla

[edit]

Late in the 8th century, c. 780, Chenla faced war with Javanese pirates that ultimately took over the Mekong delta and then later took over Chenla. However author Michael Vickery asserts that these categories of Water and Land Chenla created by the Chinese are misleading and meaningless because the best evidence shows that until 802 AD, there was no single, great state in the land of ancient Cambodia, but a number of smaller ones.[36]

Shailendras maharaja, Dharanindra ordered his minister to kept the secret conversations and prepared 1,000 vessels on average sizes to equipped them to put on board each on their arms. And valiant the trooops in as great quainty possible, he declared openly that he only want to make a pleasure trips on the islands around Chenla; and he wroted for the governors of the islands submitted him to notify them that he was going to a pleasure trips on the islands. This news were spread everywhere and the governors of the each islands prepared the receive of the Maharaja. When the order was already executed and the preparation are finished, the letter embarked and his fleets and troops are set out to the Chenla.[37]

Khmer king of Water Chenla, Mahipativarman still not suspected the Maharaja until Maharaja was seized the river and leading his forces to the Chenla capital, Vyadhapura. They took the capital with an unexpected attacks, they surrounded the palace. Mahipativarman successfully escaped but eventually got pursued and captured at Sambhupura, the capital of Land Chenla [km].[38] After that, they brought Mahipativarman to Aninditapura, near Vyadhapura. Khmer forces lately arrived and realized their kings was captured by the Javanese forces. After the capture of Khmer king, the Maharaja took him in palace of Aninditapura and Maharaja seated at throne place and also started conversations with Khmer king. The Maharaja said to the king:

> "What caused you to form a desire which was not into your powers for satisfy, which would not given you happiness if you realized it and which would not have been justified as it easily realizable."[39]

Khmer king did not replied if the Maharaja continued his conversations:

> "You have manifest the desire to see you before my head was on the plate; but if you also had an wished to seize my kingdom or only to ravage a part of it, i would have done the same to Khmer. As you have expressed only the first of these desires, I am going to apply to you the treatment you wished to apply to me and i will then return to my country, without taking anything belonging to Khmer, either of great or small value. My victory (will serve as a lesson) to your successors; no one will be again tempted to undertake a task above his power nor desire more than the share given to him by destiny; one will consider himself fortunate to have health when he can enjoy it."

Then he had the head of Mahipativarman cut off. He approached the Khmer minister and said to him:

> "I am going to reward you for the good (you tried to do) in acting as a good minister; for i know well how you wisely counselled your master. (What a pity for him) that he did not listen to you. Look now for some one who will make a good King after this fool, and put him in place of the latter." [39]

When the Maharaja returned to his own palace back home, he seated himself on the throne. Set before him was a plate upon which rested the head of the former Khmer king.[40]: 16–17

## Aftermath

[edit]

Water Chenla had become dependent on the thalassocratic Shailendra dynasty on Java and the Srivijaya city-state on Sumatra. The polity incorporated into the Javanese monarchy around the year 781. Land Chenla maintained its integrity under Jayavarman II.[41]

When the Maharaja cameback to Medang without accompanying him, and when he seated back on the throne which dominated the lake and had placed before him the plate containing the head of the Khmer king. Then he called the high officials of Medang and told them what had happened and his motives for making the expedition against Chenla. (On learning that), the people of Zabag (Java) prayed for their King and wished him all kinds of honors. The Maharaja then had the head of the King of the Chenla and placed his head into the vass and send it to the king who was the successor of Chenla's king. The Maharaja also send a letter to the successor, he said:[42]

> "I have been prompted to act as I have done against your predecessor because of the hatred he manifested against us, and we have chastened him (to give a lesson) to those who wish to imitate him. We have applied to him the treatment he wished to apply to us. We think it wise to send you his head,for it is not necessary now to keep it here. We do not draw any glory from the victory we have won over him."[42]

## References

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1. ^ Rooney, Dawn (16 April 2011). Angkor, Cambodia's Wondrous Khmer Temples. Hong Kong: Odyssey Publications. ISBN 978-9622178021. Retrieved 2019-01-21.
2. ^ Takashi Suzuki (25 December 2012). "Śrīvijaya―towards ChaiyaーThe History of Srivijaya". http://www7.plala.or.jp/seareview/newpage6JII.html
3. ^ a b Munoz, Paul Michel (2006). Early Kingdoms of the Indonesian Archipelago and Malay Peninsula. Singapore: Editions Didier Millet.
4. ^ Muhammad, Alnoza (2023-07-12). "Pahit Getir Hubungan Khmer dan Nusantara Kuno". Tirto.id (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2025-03-15.
5. ^ Risa, Herdahida Putri (2019-06-12). "Ekspedisi Mataram Kuno ke Luar Jawa". Historia.id (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2025-03-15.
6. ^ Lawrence 1951, p. 69.
7. ^ SEAMEO Project in Archaeology and Fine Arts (1984). Final report: Consultative Workshop on Research on Maritime Shipping and Trade Networks in Southeast Asia, I-W7, Cisarua, West Java, Indonesia, November 20–27, 1984. SPAFA Coordinating Unit. p. 66\. ISBN 9789747809107.
8. ^ David L. Snellgrove (2001). Khmer Civilization and Angkor. Orchid Press. ISBN 978-974-8304-95-3.
9. ^ David L. Snellgrove (2004). Angkor, Before and After: A Cultural History of the Khmers. Orchid Press. p. 24\. ISBN 978-974-524-041-4.
10. ^ Čhančhirāyuwat Ratchanī (M.C.) (1987). Towards a History of Laem Thong and Sri Vijaya. Institute of Asian Studies, Chulalongkorn University. p. 170\. ISBN 978-974-567-501-8.
11. ^ The Journal of the Siam Society. 1974. p. 300.
12. ^ George Cœdès (1968). The Indianized States of South-East Asia. University of Hawaii Press. pp. 91–. ISBN 978-0-8248-0368-1.
13. ^ Tōyō Bunko (Japan) (1972). Memoirs of the Research Department. p. 6.Tōyō Bunko (Japan) (1972). Memoirs of the Research Department of the Toyo Bunko (the Oriental Library). Toyo Bunko. p. 6.
14. ^ Proceedings of the Symposium on 100 Years Development of Krakatau and Its Surroundings, Jakarta, 23–27 August 1983. Indonesian Institute of Sciences. 1985. p. 8.
15. ^ Greater India Society (1934). Journal. p. 69.
16. ^ Ralph Bernard Smith (1979). Early South East Asia: essays in archaeology, history, and historical geography. Oxford University Press. p. 447\. ISBN 978-0-19-713587-7.
17. ^ Charles Alfred Fisher (1964). South-east Asia: a social, economic, and political geography. Methuen. p. 108\. ISBN 9789070080600. `{{cite book}}`: ISBN / Date incompatibility (help)
18. ^ Ronald Duane Renard; Mahāwitthayālai Phāyap (1986). Anuson Walter Vella. Walter F. Vella Fund, Payap University. University of Hawaii at Manoa. Center for Asian and Pacific Studies. p. 121.
19. ^ Bulletin de l'École française d'Extrême-Orient. L'Ecole. 1941. p. 263.
20. ^ Daniel George Edward Hall; Phút Tấn Nguyễn (1968). Đông Nam Á sử lược. Pacific Northwest Trading Company. p. 136.
21. ^ Paul Michel Munoz (2006). Early Kingdoms of the Indonesian Archipelago and the Malay Peninsula. National Book Network. p. 136\. ISBN 978-981-4155-67-0.
22. ^ Daigorō Chihara (1996). Hindu-Buddhist Architecture in Southeast Asia. Brill. pp. 88–. ISBN 90-04-10512-3.
23. ^ David G. Marr; Anthony Crothers Milner (1986). Southeast Asia in the 9th to 14th Centuries. Institute of Southeast Asian Studies. pp. 297–. ISBN 978-9971-988-39-5.
24. ^ The South East Asian Review. Institute of South East Asian Studies. 1995. p. 26.
25. ^ Our Heritage. Sanskrit College. 1980. p. 17.
26. ^ Warisan Kelantan. Perbadanan Muzium Negeri Kelantan. 1985. p. 13.
27. ^ Lafont 2007, p. 146.
28. ^ Journal of the Malaysian Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society. The Branch. 1936. p. 24.
29. ^ George Cœdès (1968). The Indianized States of South-East Asia. University of Hawaii Press. pp. 95–. ISBN 978-0-8248-0368-1.
30. ^ Jan M. Pluvier (1995). Historical Atlas of South-East Asia. E.J. Brill. p. 12\. ISBN 978-90-04-10238-5.
31. ^ Anthony Reid (2000). Charting the Shape of Early Modern Southeast Asia. Silkworm Books. ISBN 978-1-63041-481-8.
32. ^ D.G.E. Hall (1966). A History of South-East Asia. p. 96.
33. ^ Journal of the Malaysian Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society. The Branch. 1936. p. 8.
34. ^ Bijan Raj Chatterjee (1964). Indian Cultural Influence in Cambodia. University of Calcutta. p. 61.
35. ^ Bernard Philippe Groslier (1962). The art of Indochina: including Thailand, Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. Crown Publishers. p. 89.
36. ^ Vickery (1994), p. 6.
37. ^ Lawrence 1951, p. 67.
38. ^ Sharan, Mahesh Kumar (2003). Studies In Sanskrit Inscriptions Of Ancient Cambodia. Abhinav Publications. p. 31\. ISBN 978-81-7017-006-8.
39. ^ a b Lawrence 1951, p. 68.
40. ^ Chatterjee, Bijan Raj (1933). India and Java. Calcutta: Prabasi Press. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
41. ^ "Chenla - 550-800". Global Security. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
42. ^ a b Lawrence 1951, p. 70.

## Sources

[edit]

* Lawrence, Palmer Briggs (1950). "The Khmer Empire and the Malay Peninsula". The Far Eastern Quarterly. 9 (3). JSTOR.org: 256–305\. doi:10.2307/2049556. JSTOR 2049556.
* Lawrence, Palmer Briggs (1951). The ancient Khmer Empire (PDF). Philadelphia: American Philosophical Society.
* Vickery, Michael (1994), What and Where was Chenla?, École française d'Extrême-Orient, Paris
* Lafont, Pierre-Bernard (2007), Le Campā: Géographie, population, histoire, Indes savantes, ISBN 978-2-84654-162-6

*[c.]: circa