Battle of Mỹ Sơn

During the climax of the Khmer–Cham wars, a battle had been fought between king Jaya Harivarman I of Champa against his rebelling brother-in-law Vamsaräja somewhere near Mỹ Sơn, Central Vietnam in 1150. After driving Khmer forces out of Vijaya in 1149, Harivarman spent years to reconquer other parts of the kingdom and consolidate the monarchy of Vijaya.

Battle of Mỹ Sơn
Part of Khmer–Cham wars
Date 1150 Location Near Mỹ Sơn Result Decisive Harivarman I victory Champa reconsolidated under Harivarman I
Belligerents
Champa	Vamsaraja and his loyalists, assisted by Dai Viet
Commanders and leaders
Jaya Harivarman I	Vamsaraja  †
Strength
?	5,000 Dai Viet troops, ~100,000 in total according to Cham sources
Casualties and losses
?	"...died in great numbers"

In 1150, in northern Champa, Vamsaräja rebelled against Harivarman. Vamsaräja gathered highland tribes: "Rade, Mada and other barbarians (Mlecch'a)" and attacked Harivarman, but was beaten.

Vamsaräja then requested aid from the ruler of Dai Viet, king Ly Anh Tong, who gave him 5,000 troops from Thanh Hóa, Nghệ An. According to Cham sources, "the king of the yvan, because he learned that the king of Cambodia created obstacles for Jaya Harivarman, proclaimed Vamsaräja, a man of Champa as king." With lend troops from Dai Viet, Vamsaräja marched his army totaling 100,000 and a thousand Viet senäpati to challenge Harivarman. They advanced to the plains of Dalvä and of Lavang. Harivarman gathered all of his royal troops in Vijaya to confront Vamsaräja in a pitched battle and fought them in a terrible combat, which Harivarman outmaneuvered his brother-in-law. Both Vamsaräja and the Vietnamese commander were killed in battle. In the following year, Harivarman subdued Amarävati (Quảng Ngãi province).

References

Bibliography

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