The Supreme Kings of the Khmer Empire were those kings that ruled over all the kings of the empire. At their consecration, these kings received their “royal name” whose main feature (which was inherited from India) was the use of the suffix varman, which means “shield” or “protection”. As an example, the name Jayavarman would translate to “he whose shield is victory” or “protected by victory”.

There are 26 known supreme kings of the Khmer Empire which are list below. On some occasions there was disruption of the kingship following the death of a supreme king which will result in time lapses between the ending date of one king and the beginning date of his successor.

1. Jayavarman II (802-850)
2. Jayavarman III (850-877)
3. Indravarman I (877-886)
4. Yashovarman (889-910)
5. Harshavarman I (910-923)
6. Ishanavarman II (923-928)
7. Jayavarman IV (928-941)
8. Harshavarman II (941-944)
9. Rajendravarman (944-968)
10. Jayavarman V (968-1000)
11. Udayadityavarman I (1001-1002?)
12. Suryavarman I [rival prince to Jayaviravarman (1002-1049)]
13. Jayaviravarman [rival prince to Suryavarman I (1002-1010?)]
14. Udayadityavarman II (1050-1066/1067)
15. Harshavarman III (1066/1067-1080)
16. Jayavarman VI (1080-1107)
17. Dharanindravarman I (1107-1113)
18. Suryavarman II (1113-1150)
19. Yashovarman II (1150-1165)
20. Tribhuvanadityavarman ‘the usurper’ (1165-1177?)
21. Jayavarman VII (1181-1220?)
22. Indravarman II (?-1243?)
23. Jayavarman VIII (1243?-1295)
24. Shrindravarman (1295-1307)
25. Shrindrajayavarman (1307-1327)
26. Jayavarma-Parameshvara (1327-??)