Historical figure
Stec Kan
Stec Kan was a Khmer ruler of the early 16th century who took the throne at Basan, in Srei Santhor, and held it until Ang Chan I defeated him. The royal chronicles call him a usurper, while in Srei Santhor he is remembered as a local hero.[1] The historian Nhim Sotheavin writes his name Sṭec Kan (Sdec Kan), and Kitagawa Takako writes it Sdec Kon.[1][2]
Origins
The chronicles disagree on who he was. In Nhim Sotheavin's account his father was Preah Chei Neak, a low-ranking official. His mother, Neang Ban, served a pagoda. His sister Neang Bau married King Sri Sugandhapad, and through her he gained power at the palace.[1] Kitagawa Takako sets out the other versions. Garnier's French translation makes him the son of a courtier named Bas. A manuscript kept in Bangkok makes him a minister's son with the title Khun Luong Kong, who came to Basan from elsewhere. Moura's translation gives him the title Neay Can and places him in the royal family.[2]
Rise and reign
By Nhim Sotheavin's account of the chronicles, Stec Kan rose against Sri Sugandhapad at Basan in 1508. In 1512 the king fled the fighting and was killed at Stung Saen, in Kompong Svay province. His brother Ang Chan fled to Siam, and Stec Kan took the throne under the name Sri Jettha.[1]
The chronicle of Vāṃṅ Juon describes a peaceful and prosperous reign that drew settlers to his lands. It says he minted silver and gold coins bearing a naga. Nhim Sotheavin notes that no such coins have been found.[1]
Defeat
Ang Chan returned from Siam in 1516, settled at Pursat and gathered support against him.[1] In the chronicle of Vāṃṅ Juon the war lasted until 1525, when Stec Kan was captured and killed. Ang Chan then had a new capital built at Longvek, where he was crowned in 1529.[1] Nhim Sotheavin reads the choice of Longvek as a way to avoid Srei Santhor, the stronghold of a ruler who was popular there.[1]
Dates in the chronicles
Kitagawa Takako compares the manuscripts.[2]
- Garnier's translation, the Bangkok manuscript and the chronicle of Vāṃṅ Juon put Sri Sugandhapad's crowning in 1504, the revolt in 1508 and the king's death in 1512. Ang Chan returned in 1516 and defeated Stec Kan in 1525 (Vāṃṅ Juon) or 1526 (the others).[2]
- Moura's translation puts the crowning in 1494, the revolt in 1498 and Stec Kan's defeat in 1505.[2]
- Nhim Sotheavin's chart of the kings who ruled at Srei Santhor gives his reign as 1512 to 1525.[1]
Kitagawa Takako concludes that whether the usurpation happened as the chronicles tell it cannot be settled. She reports two points from the historian Michael Vickery. Khun Luong is a Thai title, not found in Cambodia outside the chronicles. Vickery reads Stec Kan as a descendant of Ponhea Yat on the side tied to Ayutthaya, who stood against Ang Chan's faction.[2]
In Srei Santhor
In the stories told around Srei Santhor, Stec Kan came into the world in a naga year, and as a newborn he was swallowed by a great fish and found alive inside it. Among the chronicles, only that of Vāṃṅ Juon tells this birth story.[1][2] Kitagawa Takako, who collected these stories in the district, concludes that he is remembered less as a usurper than as a legendary hero native to Srei Santhor, tied to the Mekong and protected by a naga.[2]
Several sites are tied to him locally. At the brick temple Preah Theat Baray, villagers take a lintel of Vishnu lying on a naga to be his image. The great stupa at Wat Sokunream, in Turi village, is called Chedei Stec Kan. Other places, such as Wat Prei Bang and Wat Mae Ban, are linked to his family.[1][2]
References
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 Institute of Asian Culture, Sophia University, Nhim Sotheavin, Factors that Led to the Change of the Khmer Capitals from the 15th to 17th century (undated)
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 Kyoto University, Kitagawa Takako, History of the Water Kings in Srei Santhor (in Japanese), Southeast Asian Studies 38(1): 50-73 (2000)