Ancient Indian Colonies in the Far East (Vol. I: Champa; Vol. II: Suvarnadvipa) v1.c7.s8: Chapter VIII
Ancient Indian Colonies in the Far East (Vol. I: Champā; Vol. II: Suvarṇadvīpa) v1.c7.s8
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Chapter VIII
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The dynasty which came to power in 989 A. D. after the Annamite usurpation perished with Jaya Simhavarman II amid the disasters of the second Annamite invasion. But within six years a new dynasty was founded by Jaya Parameśvaravarmadeva Īśvaramūrti, descended from the old royal family of Campā¹
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¹ Cf. Phu-Qui Ins. (No. 57). Mespero's view that "his ancestors were simple warriors, vassals of the preceding kings" rests upon a somewhat wide interpretation of the verse 2 of the Po-Nagar Ins. (No. 60). It must be added, however, that the Phu Qui Ins. was not discovered when Maspero wrote.
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The new king had to face a very heavy task. For nearly seventy years (980—1050 A. D.) the kingdom was a prey to foreign invasions and internal dissensions. The repeated incursions of the Annamites had brought untold miseries upon the kingdom and exhausted its resources. As the central authority became weak, provincial revolts began. The southern province of Pāṇḍuraṅga, for example, repeatedly rebelled and set up a new king on the throne.² The Cambodgians also probably took advantage of the weakness of their neighbour to push on their plundering raids into the kingdom.³
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² cf. Po Klaun Garai Ins. Nos. 53, 54.
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³ This seems to be a legitimate inference from Po Klaun Garai Inscriptions Nos. 52, 53, 59. Otherwise we are to assume that the king of Champa made an aggressive raid on Cambodge which appears unlikely in view of the political condition of Champa.
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It reflects great credit on Jaya Parameśvara Varman that he bravely faced the dangers and restored peace and order in the kingdom to a considerable extent. He first turned his ted a crushing defeat upon the Cambodgians and took the town of Śambhupura. He destroyed a large number of temples there and distributed the Khmer captives among the temples of Śrīśānabhadreśvara.
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King Parameśvaravarman had to devote a great deal of attention to the restoration of the religious institutions which had suffered during the troublesome period that preceded his reign. In 1050 A. D. he re-installed the image of the famous goddess of Po Nagara and endowed her with lands, slaves and various other costly articles.¹ In 1055 he restored a cave at Lai Cham² and erected a *vihāra* at Phu-qui, endowing the latter with men, oxen, buffaloes, grains as well as all the vessels necessary for the worship of the gods.³ The Yuvarāja Mahāsenāpati, who had assisted his royal uncle in his military expeditions, also ably seconded his efforts in this direction. He erected or restored a number of temples and endowed them with necessary articles. He also installed many *Lingas* and made various gifts to temples, monasteries and *śālās* (Houses of Charity). He devoted special attention to the temple of Śrī śānabhadreśvara in the precincts of which he erected an image of *Linga* in 1056 A. D. (No. 59).
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¹ Po-Nagar Ins. Nos. 55, 58.
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² Lai cham Ins. No. 56.
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³ Phu-qui Ins. No. 57.
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Jaya Parameśvaravarman cultivated friendly relations with the Emperors of China and Annam. To the former he sent ambassadors in 1050, 1053 and 1056. On the last occasion his ambassador was shipwrecked and lost all his baggages, whereupon the Chinese Emperor sent him 1000 ounces of silver. His ambassador also visited the Court of the Annamite Emperor in 1047, 1050, 1055, 1060 and also sometime between 1057 and 1059 A. D. ⁴
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⁴ T'oung Pao 1911 p. 238. An ambassador sent from Champa
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Jaya Parameśvaravarman was probably succeeded by Bhadravarman IV. This name is only known from the Po Nagar inscription (No. 60) of his younger brother Rudravarman IV, but as no royal title is attached to the name, it is doubtful whether he actually ruled. If he did so, he must have ascended the throne sometime in 1060 or 1061 A. D. In that case we may look upon him as the king of Champā who sent tribute to China in 1061.
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Bhadravarman IV was succeeded by Rudravarman IV. He was born in the family of Jaya Parameśvara but the relationship between the two is not definitely known. From the very beginning he made preparations for attacking his northern neighbour. He organised his army and trained his soldiers for the purpose. He then sent an ambassador to China, in 1062 A. D., for securing assistance against the Annamites. But although the Chinese emperor was friendly and sent him some presents, he was not in a mood to send any effective aid against the Annamites. For some years, therefore, Rudravarman IV thought it politic to keep on friendly terms with the Annamite Emperor and regularly sent tributes to him in 1063, 1065 and 1068.¹ In 1064 he propitiated the goddess of Po Nagar with a variety of rich presents.²
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¹ T'oung Pao 1911, p. 241.
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² Po Nagar Ins. No. 60.
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But all the while Rudravarman IV continued his preparations and at last opened hostilities towards the end of 1068 A. D. The Annamite Emperor, Ly Thánh Ton, took up the challenge and moved his troops on the 16th February, 1069 A. D. He gradually arrived at the port of Śrī Banoy and there disembarked his troops. The cham army, drawn up on the
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to Annam in 1047 was imprisoned there but it is doubtful whether he was sent by king Paramesvaravarman.
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bank of the Tu Mao offered battle to the invader. They fought furiously for a long time, but their general being killed, they lost heart and fell back in disorder, leaving a large number on the field. As soon as Rudravarman learnt the news of the defeat, he left the capital with his family. He was, however, pursued and captured within the borders of Cambodge (1069 A. D.).
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The victor now took up his residence in the royal palace at Vijaya and celebrated his triumph by feasts and dances. He then gave orders to put to fire all the houses in the capital and its suburbs. This done, he gave orders for retreat. On the 17th July he made a triumphal entry into his capital. Escorted by two armies, and surrounded by his officers on horseback, he himself rode on a chariot behind which marched Rudravarman and his family accompanied by five executioners. About 50,000 Chams were taken to Tonkin as prisoners of war.
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Rudravarman was not kept in captivity for long. He obtained his release by ceding three northern districts of Champā viz. Dia Ly, Ma Linh and Bo Chanh (1069 A. D.). This meant the cession of the whole of Quang Binh and the northern part of Quang Tri and brought the frontier of Champā to the mouth of the river Viet. The Chams could never reconcile themselves to this cession of important territories and it gave rise to many a battle in future.
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On his return to Champā Rudravarman IV found it to be a seat of anarchy and civil war, as several persons had proclaimed themselves as kings in different parts of the kingdom. It is doubtful whether Rudravarman was able to re-establish his power to any extent. We hear of tributes being sent from Champā to Annam in 1071, 1072 and 1074 A. D. and to China in 1072, A. D., but we do not know definitely the name of the king or kings of Champā to whom these may be attributed. Amid these disorders Rudravarman IV passes from our view.¹
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¹ Maspero infers from an Annamite record that Rudravarman took refuge in the Annamese court with his family and lived there as an exile the rest of his life.
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1. Jaya Parameśvaravarman (c. 1050—c. 1060 A. D.)
2. Bhadravarman IV (c. 1060—1061 A. D.)
3. Rudravarman IV (c. 1061—1069 A. D.) (younger brother of No. 2)