After Funan’s decline, Khmer influence appears to have shifted in the late 6th century to the enigmatic kingdom of Chenla (also known as “Zhenla”). Like Funan, Chenla was likely not a single, centralized state but rather a loose federation of smaller fiefdoms. Historical records are scarce, and even Chenla’s exact boundaries are uncertain. It likely encompassed areas along the Mekong Valley and surrounding regions, from the coastal areas around modern Kampot in the south to Tonle Sap, possibly reaching as far north as Laos. Indian cultural influence persisted, but evidence suggests an emerging Khmer identity, as seen in numerous stone inscriptions from this period. The oldest Khmer inscription dates back to 612 AD, toward the end of Funan’s reign.

Chenla’s first significant ruler was Bhavavarman I (c. 550–590), who may have initiated attacks against Funan. His successor, Ishanavarman I (610–625), established the capital city of Ishanapura (following the Indian practice of adding “-pura,” meaning “town,” to the king’s name), which housed the impressive state temple at Sambor Prei Kuk, then the largest in Southeast Asia. Chenla’s power likely peaked under Ishanavarman’s great-grandson, Jayavarman I (c. 657–690), who ruled a vast region from modern Battambang to Prey Veng. Upon his death, reportedly at the hands of Javanese invaders, the throne passed to his daughter, Jayadevi, one of the few queens in Cambodian history. Despite her rarity as a female ruler, women in Chenla were regarded as equals, and inheritance—including property, slaves, and lands—typically passed through the maternal line.