18 Facts About Sdach Korn

Sdach Korn, known as Srei Chettha II, or Srei Chetha Thireach Reameathiptei, was the King of Cambodia from 1512 to 1525.

The life of Sdach Korn as recorded in the Cambodian Royal Chronicles was first described at the beginning of the twentieth century by ethnologist Adhemard Leclere 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.

Sdach Korn followed his sister Nang Pean to the Royal Palace when she became a concubine of Srey Sokonthor.

Therefore, Sdach Korn was able to swim far away and escape eastwards while Srey Sokunboth thought Korn had drowned in the river.

In 1508, Sdach 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.

Sdach Korn 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.

Sdach Korn set his camp at Phnom Santuk while Srey Sokunboth attempted to escape to Pursat province.

Victorious, Sdach Korn imposed an oath of loyalty to him from all the royal army under the command of general Kaw.

In 1514, Sdach Korn, ruling as Srei Chetha Thireach Reameathiptei expanded his territory to the North to Champasak Province, the east-side to the Champa kingdom, to the South all the way to the sea and West to confront the Reach Seima kingdom.

Sdach Korn's benevolence saw peace and prosperity come back to the kingdom, as he lowered taxes and tariffs to please the population.

One night, Sdach Korn dreamed of the moon rising from the West would pierce through his heart, which was interpreted by the houra achar as an ominous sign: Chan Reachea, whose name "Chan" means 'moon' in Khmer as he was born during a lunar eclipse, would return from Ayatthaya and take revenge from him.

Sdach Korn's army walked from Longvek to the fortress of Pursat where Chan Reachea had.

In 1517, Sdach Korn failed in an attempt to assassinate Chan Reachea.

On top of his fiscal reforms in favour of low taxation, Sdack Sdach Korn introduced the first national currency in the kingdom of Cambodia, the sleung, with the image of a dragon imprinted on it, or rather of the mythological hamsa, the vahana of Brahma.

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.

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.