Jayavarman II

Jayavarman II was a prominent ancient Cambodian king who reigned in the early 9th century. He is considered the founder of the Khmer Empire, uniting various city-states and establishing official Khmer rule. His crowning in 802 AD marked the beginning of a powerful, centralized state that would flourish for centuries, building impressive architecture like Angkor Wat. Jayavarman II played a key role in shaping Cambodia's history, culture, and identity as a major Southeast Asian empire.