Sdach Korn

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.

[4] Born as a commoner in 1483, Neay Korn was the son of a man named Bra Bijai Naga (Vijayanaka) and his wife Mé-Ban.

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.

In fact, after spending eight years at the Royal Court of Ayatthaya and hearing the news about Srey SokunBoth's death, Chan Reachea and Ponhea Oung resolved to return to Cambodia and overthrow the usurper.

On the other side, Chan Reachea promoted Ta Moeung also known as Khleang as the governor of Pursat province and asked him to lead his army.

According to the legend, General Ta Moeung sacrificed himself in other to gather demon soldiers from hell to help Chan Reachea in battle against the Siamese army that had come to support the Khmer usurper Korn.

Chan Reachea easily took back the Eastern part of Cambodia including Krokor, Khlong Krang, Boribo River, Kompong Siem, Cheungoprei, Stung Treng.

On top of his fiscal reforms in favour of low taxation, Sdack 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 (or 'vehicle') of Brahma.

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".