History of the Cham–Vietnamese wars

These wars are considered principal parts of the Vietnamese's supposed Nam tiến (March to the South) theory.

Over the next centuries, conflicts between the two combatants intensified as a result of the Vietnamese Nam tiến policy, or "march to the south" by penetrating Champa.

After two peaceful centuries, and even an alliance during the Mongol invasions of Vietnam, tensions erupted once more due to the continued influx of Vietnamese settlers marching southward.

[2] Conversion to Islam among Chams started at the same time the restored Vietnamese Kingdom re-emerged as stronger and more aggressive, invading Champa in 1446.

Two notable Cham revolts against Vietnamese encroachment in the early 19th century before the annexation of Champa by Dai Viet, Ja Lidong rebellion and Nduai Kabait rebellion, both featured indigenous Degar (highlander) tribes allying with indigenous Chams in struggle against pre-colonial Vietnamese colonisation.

While French imperialism largely ended the overt conflicts between Chams and Vietnamese, the two communities remained hostile to each other.

The French government aggravated the mistrust between the two communities by favoring the Islamization of the Chams to counter the more populous Buddhist Vietnamese people.

This led to Cham participation in various separatist struggles against both regimes, including the United Front for the Liberation of Oppressed Races, or FULRO, founded in 1964.

Champa becomes a vassal state of Đại Việt and moves its capital city to Panduranga (Phan Rang).