‘1620’, A Cautionary Tale

Diverging from prevalent historical approaches, such as David P. Chandler´s thesis, the author presents a much more balanced ratio of power between Cambodian and Siamese rulers from 1593-4, when the Ayuthya forces invaded the Lovek kingdom, and a more nuanced picture of the respective Siamese and Vietnamese influences in Cambodia at that time.

For instance, "Cambodia offered an alternative to Siam for the procurement of sapppanwood and deer hide, both in great demand on the Japanese market, and thanks to its convenient and regular traffic with Guangnam [Nguyên Viet Nam] it could provide Vietnamese silk which was highly valued in Japan", notes the author; "thus, far from isolating Cambodia, the Nguyên contact in mid- and late 17th century was of commercial benefit for Cambodia, and may have been instrumental for maintaining Cambodia’s relatively high position among Southeast Asian ports."

He adds: "We see some of the confusion in modern scholarship about the events of the 1620s. But what were the basic facts? Cambodia had quickly recovered from an Ayutthayan invasion of Lovek in 1593-94, which itself was perhaps conflict over domination of maritime relations with China and Japan. Prince Suriyopear/soriyopoa/ (sūryavarma) returned to Cambdia with Thai support in 1601/1602. He was king until he abdicated in 1618 for his son Jay Jettha. The capital was in Udong. Suriyopear was successful in reuniting Cambodia and making it a prosperous and strong kingdom."

This latter Cambodian king married a Vietnamese princess under these circumstances: "Vietnam was divided into two kingdoms after 1570, the Trịnh in the North and the Nguyê˜n in the South, and they were at war from about 1620 to 1670. Contact between Cambodia and Vietnam (South Vietnam of the Nguyên) began between 1613 and 1620, just when the two Vietnamese kingdoms began their war. The first official contact was a request from Vietnam for war elephants from Cambodia to fight against the Trịnh in the North. In exchange the Nguyên king sent a Vietnamese princess to marry the Cambodian King Jay Jettha."