After Rajendravarman's death in 968, his son Jayavarman V succeeded to the throne, moving the capital slighty to the W to a more defensible location. Calling it Jayendranagari, he had a new state temple built at its centre - Ta Keo. At this time, his priest and mentor Yajhavaraha built the exquisite small temple of Banteay Srei, which was dedicated in the last year of Rajendravarman's life. Jayavarman V's reign, which lasted three decades, began with armed struggle to quell rebellions, but eventually settled down to be relatively peaceful. Jayavarman was succeeded by Udayadityavarman I, who ruled for only a few months, after which there was a nine-year war between Jayaviravarman and Suryavarman I, both pretending to have been consecrated in 1002. The war ended around 1010 with the final victory of Suryavarman I. This king built the Royal Palace at Angkor Thom and, most probably, a new reservoir, the West Baray, measuring 8km x 2km and still in use. He was succeeded by his son, Udayadityavarman II (1050-1066), who built the Bapuon, a spectacular temple-mountain, and the West Mebon in the middle of the West Baray. His younger brother Harshavarman III (1066-about 1080) was the last of this dynasty; the throne then changed hands to a line of kings who came from the Khorat Plateau in present-day Thailand. After two reigns (Jayavarman VI and Dharanindravarman, both brothers), a grandnephew seized power - Suryavarman II, builder of Angkor Wat and commander of many military campaigns to expand the empire. His rule, from 1112 to about 1150, marks the peak of Angkor's power and influence. Thereafter, there were increasing revolts in the provinces. There were both alliances and conflicts between some Khmer and Cham princes, rendering the political situation very confused. In 1165 the throne was taken by a usurper, Tribhuvanadityavarman, who was killed 12 years later when a Cham and Khmer group mounted a surprise naval attack from the Great Lake and took Angkor.
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