Bhavavarman II (Khmer: ព្រះបាទភវវរ្ម័នទី២ ) Chinese: 撥婆跋摩; pinyin: Bópóbámó) was King of the Chenla Kingdom, predecessor polity of the Khmer Empire, from 639 to 657.
| Bhavavarman II | |
|---|---|
| King of Chenla | |
| Reign | 639–657 AD |
| Predecessor | Isanavarman I |
| Successor | Jayavarman I |
| Died | 657 |
| Issue | Jayavarman I |
| Dynasty | Varman |
| Religion | Hindu |
Biography
editKing Bhavavarman II reigned shortly from 639 to 657 AD between Isanavarman I and Jayavarman I. He was of unknown origin, neither the son nor the approved successor to Isanavarman I. He was the successor to the throne from King Isanvarman I (Khmer: ឦសានវម៌្មទី១), but there is no evidence as to whether he was the son of Ishavarman I. Scholars speculate that he may have been one of the princes in the royal family or was one of the sons of Issavaraman I, which still has no consensus on this assumption. He made many inscriptions, but none of them mentioned his history.[1][2]
When King Bhavavarman II died, King Jayavarman I, his son, succeeded to the throne. When King Jayavarman I died without a male heir, his granddaughter, Jayadevi, ascended to the throne. During this time, the Chenla was in full swing with political turmoil and her reign was disputed, leading to the division of the state of Upper Chenla and Lower Chenla.[1]