Champa

The kingdom of Champa (or Lin-yi in Chinese records) controlled what is now south and central Vietnam from approximately 192 through 1697. The empire began to decline in the late 15th century, became a Vietnamese vassal state in 1697, and was finally dissolved in the 1720s.

Champa was established by the rebellion of a local official named Kiu-lien against the Chinese authority in 192 in the region of present-day Hue. Champa included thereafter the modern provinces of Quang Nam, Quang Tin, Binh Dinh, Khanh Hoa, Phan Rang, and Binh Thuan. Initially closely tied to Chinese cultural and religious traditions, wars with neighboring Funan and the acquisition of Funanese territory in the fourth century saw the infusion of Indian culture into Cham society.

Cham history was fraught with conflict against the Chinese, the Khmer, the Vietnamese, and the Mongols. Champa was periodically brought under Chinese vassalage but maintained her unique culture and territorial integrity. The Chams proved excellent warriors, using the mountains to great advantage. In 1471, the Chams suffered a severe defeat at the hands of the Vietnamese, suffering at least 60,000 dead and 30,000 taken into captivity. Champa continued to resist total conquest, existing in the mountains around Nha Trang until 1720, when the last Cham king fled with his family to Cambodia.

The dominant religion of the Cham people was Hinduism and the culture was heavily influenced by India. However, nowadays, most of them are Muslim, just like Javanese in Indonesia which are muslim but heavily influenced by Hindu.

Many Cham towers still stand in central Vietnam. The most significant example of Cham architecture was My Son near the Vietnamese city of Hoi An. My Son was destroyed by US bombing during the Vietnam War.

Even after the state's dissolution, the title of king continued to be passed down until 1822. Some of the kings were:

      1695 –        1728  Po Saktirai da putih
      1728 –        1730  Po Ganvuh da putih
      1731 –        1732  Po Thuttirai       
      1732 –        1735  vacant
      1735 –        1763  Po Rattirai
      1763 –        1765  Po Tathun da moh-rai
      1765 –        1780  Po Tithuntirai da paguh
      1780 –        1781  Po Tithuntirai da parang
      1781 –        1783  vacant       
      1783 –        1786  Chei Krei Brei
      1786 –        1793  Po Tithun da parang
      1793 –        1799  Po Lathun da paguh
      1799 –        1822  Po Chong Chan

See also

• History of Vietnam