Yaśovarman I

king of Angkor

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July 15, 2026

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Yaśovarman I, who ruled from approximately 890 to 910 CE, was a significant king of the Khmer Empire, also known as the Angkorian civilization. He moved the capital to a location that would become known as Angkor, a name derived from the Sanskrit word for "city". The city he founded, Yaśodharapura, served as Cambodia's capital until the 16th century.12

Yaśovarman I constructed a temple mountain, now called Bakheng, on a natural hill, symbolizing the mythical Mount Meru at the center of the universe. He also built a large reservoir nearby. His reign was characterized by religious tolerance, accommodating various Buddhist and Hindu sects. The ambitious building projects required a substantial labor force.1

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Cambodia
Angkorean civilization
Indravarman’s son and successor, Yaśovarman I (ruled c. 890–c. 910), moved the capital again, now closer to Siĕmréab, to a location that subsequently became Angkor—a name derived from the Sanskrit word nagara, meaning “city”—which has become one of the world’s most-celebrated archaeological sites (as well as a UNESCO World…
Read More
Indravarman’s son and successor, Yaśovarman I (ruled c. 890–c. 910), moved the capital again, now closer to Siĕmréab, to a location that subsequently became Angkor—a name derived from the Sanskrit word nagara, meaning “city”—which has become one of the world’s most-celebrated archaeological sites (as well as a UNESCO World…
Read More