ABSTRACT
During the nineteenth century north-western Cambodia was ruled as a Thai dependency, and old Battambang was originally the provincial capital. In 1835, and again according to Pavie, the Vietnamese invaded Cambodia, and the decision was taken in Bangkok to pull dowm the old town of Battambang and to rebuild it on the site of the Sangke village. Professor Del vert suggests that the Dambang River had been the more important arm of the Sangke River. The physical environment north of the river system, dividing the region, would have encouraged the formation of small and independent territorial units, situated above the flooded zone and nestling around small hills, today often occupied by temple remains. An excellent description of the geography of north-western Cambodia is given by Lunet de Lajonquire; he stresses the dividing effect of this river system. To the north of the river system, we have suggested, were the seventh-century kingdoms of Vanapura, Kum-, and Gajapura.
