During the 14th and 15th centuries, Cambodia was in a state of eclipse. Following the almost total destruction of Angkor, Longvek was chosen as the new capital of the now minor state of Cambodia. Longvek was located halfway between
Phnom Penh and the southern end of the
Tonlé Sap and it was chosen by King
Outey Reachea III (1516–1566) as his official capital. Longvek became the nation's capital in the 16th century after the
civil war between King Ang Chan I and Sdach Korn. After Ang Chan's I victory, he became the new king of Cambodia.
Spanish and
Portuguese adventurers and missionaries, like
Blas Ruiz de Hernán González from
Ciudad Real, first visited the kingdom during this period. Blas became a friend of King Satha of Longvek, who was well-disposed towards foreigners, and while in the kingdom got to know Portuguese adventurer Diogo Beloso from
Amarante. The
Iberians referred to
Chaktomuk as "Churdumuco" and to
Srei Santhor as "Sistor". Not long thereafter Longvek was invaded by the Siamese ruler of
Ayutthaya. King
Naresuan of Siam
conquered Longvek in 1593. This conquest marked a downturn in the kingdom's fortunes. In the historical period that followed Cambodia became a pawn in a power struggle between its two increasingly powerful neighbours,
Siam and
Vietnam. == In popular culture ==