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After they created the Chen-la state in the sec. IV, from sec. VII in today's Cambodia, they adopted Buddhism. After a period of decline, during which they were occupied by the Javanese, in 802 , Rajah Jayavarman created a new Khmer state, becoming a god king or devarajah. His armies included hundreds of elephants with which he conquered Thailand and southern Vietnam. It was based in Angkor Thom near Tonle Sap Lake. The Khmers wrote their books on paper, palm leaves and calfskin, writings they could not resist. But we learn a lot about their civilization from Chinese legends and the ruins and sculptures of Angkor Thom and Angkor Wat . [73] The Khmers traded with India and Chinachanging spices and rhino horns for porcelain. The empire reached its peak under Suryavarman I and Suryavarman II. After the 13th century, the workers grew tired of forced labor in favor of the Devarajahs and society declined. In 1444 , the invading Thai armies forced the Khmers to abandon their city of Angkor. Cambodia was thus annexed by the Thai kingdom of Siam.
