The Four Centuries of War and Struggle in Cambodia

After the fall of the great Angkor Empire in the 15th century, Cambodia entered a long and difficult period that lasted nearly 400 years.

During this time, the kingdom struggled to survive between two expanding powers: Siam (modern Thailand) to the west and Vietnam to the east. Although there was no single war that lasted four centuries, Cambodia faced repeated invasions, civil wars, and foreign control, which deeply weakened the country.

In 1431, Siamese forces captured Angkor, marking the end of Cambodia’s golden age. The capital was abandoned, and Cambodia never fully recovered its former strength. From that point on, Siam frequently invaded Cambodian territory, looted cities, and took captives. Cambodian kings were often forced to pay tribute to Siam or accept Siamese-backed rulers.

At the same time, Vietnam began expanding southward. By the 17th century, Vietnamese settlers moved into areas that are now southern Vietnam but were once Khmer lands.

Vietnam increasingly interfered in Cambodian politics, sometimes installing kings who served Vietnamese interests. This led Cambodia to be pulled back and forth between Siam and Vietnam, with neither power allowing it to become fully independent or strong.

Internal problems made things worse. Cambodian royal families fought among themselves for the throne, often seeking military help from Siam or Vietnam. These alliances usually ended with Cambodia losing more control over its land and decisions. Many wars during this period devastated the population, destroyed agriculture, and weakened the economy.

By the 18th and early 19th centuries, Cambodia was almost a vassal state, sometimes controlled by Siam, sometimes by Vietnam, and occasionally divided between them. Cambodian culture, language, and religion survived, but the kingdom’s independence was constantly threatened.

This long era of conflict finally pushed Cambodia to seek protection from a new power. In 1863, King Norodom accepted French protection, beginning the French colonial period. While colonial rule brought its own problems, it also ended centuries of warfare between Siam and Vietnam over Cambodia’s territory.

In all these useless conflicts, nearly 3 million people died.