Sdach Korn

Sdach Korn , also known as Srei Chettha II (, ), or Srei Chetha Thireach Reameathiptei (, ), was the King of Cambodia from 1512 to 1525. Korn dethroned the king and attempted to establish a new dynasty. Though little is known about his life as evidence from the 15th and 16th centuries in Cambodia is sparse, Sdach Korn remains a controversial figure in Cambodian history. While he can be considered as a brave soldier who overthrew a cruel king, he can also be seen merely as one of the three usurpers of the throne of Cambodia.

History The life of Sdach Korn as recorded in the Cambodian Royal Chronicles was first described at the beginning of the twentieth century by ethnologist Adhémard Leclère in French, while the collection of volumes of Documents on the Life of the Khmer Heroes compiled in 1959 by Ang Seng gives more details, especially of the important dreams that determined his life. The latter is the reference for the high school textbook on Khmer History printed by the Royal Ministry for Education and Youth in Cambodia.

Early life (1483–1508) Born as a commoner in 1483, Neay Korn was the son of a man named Bra Bijai Naga (Vijayanaka) and his wife Mé-Ban. Korn followed his sister Nang Pean to the Royal Palace when she became a concubine of Srey Sokonthor. Become a favourite of Srey Sokonthor, Korn irritated the king's younger half-brother Chan Reachea who was hoping to climb on the throne after Srey Sokunboth but was forced to flee westwards the Ayutthaya Kingdom with the help of a general known as Ta Mueng. In 1508, Srey Sokunboth had an ominous dream of a powerful dragon chasing him out of his Kingdom, and fleeing eastwards with the royal regalia, while another account of this dream as Srey Sokunboth seeing Korn with two dragons flying around his head. Consulting his oracles or houra achar, Srey Sokunboth learned that he would be overthrown by the young Sdach Korn. To prevent this from happening, Srey Sokunboth planned to order Sdach Korn to go fix a fishing net, then throw another fishing net to drown him in the river; having overheard Srey Skounboth's plan, Neang Pean rushed to tell Sdach Korn beforehand. Therefore, Sdach Korn was able to swim far away and escape eastwards while Srey Sokunboth thought Korn had drowned in the river.

Rise to power (1508–1513) In 1508, Korn proclaimed himself as king under the reign name of Srei Chetha Thireach Reameathiptei without ever being in possession of the necessary royal regalia or palladium of the kingdom, the Preah Khan Reach Royal sword. He set his capital city in Srolop Pichey Bateay Prey Nokor, later known as Banteay Prey Nokor, the fortress of Prey Nokor, nowadays located in Nokor Knong Village, Doung Tey Commune, Ponhea Kraek District, Tboung Khmum Province. In 1512, Sdach Korn led a rebellion against Srey Sokunboth from his new capital in Toul Basan taking control over the South and Eastern provinces of Cambodia. Srey Sokunboth had no choice but to flee to Kompong Svay. Sdach Korn set his camp at Phnom Santuk while Srey Sokunboth attempted to escape to Pursat province. One of Korn's generals, Meun Sorintkeo, caught him on the way and killed Srey Sokunboth. Victorious, Sdach Korn imposed an oath of loyalty to him from all the royal army under the command of general Kaw.

Politics Sdach Korn is considered as "being of merit" in Khmer culture and hailed as a charismatic political leader. Sdach Korn has won new popularity since ruling Prime Minister Hun Sen came to power. Many similarities exist between the two, from the peasant origin, to their birth in the year of the naga dragon to their ascension to power. Some have seen this as a political stunt:

Hun Sen has ordered the creation of the new province of Tbong Khmum where Sdach Korn started his rebellion and prefaced a biography of Sdach Korn, which criticized the bias of the Cambodian Royal Chronicles against the peasant king. In his preface to the official biography by Ros Chantrabot, Hun Sun claims that "[Sdach Korn] should be regarded as a great world hero who promoted and implemented, for the first time, the concepts of freedom right and class struggle among the public in the 16th century".