Ang Chan I

Ang Chan I
Ang Chan I
Conflicts	See battles Cambodian Civil War Battle of Toul Basan; Battle of Kampong Chhnang; Battle of Chaktomuk; Battle of the Four Rivers; Battle of Kampong Cham; Battles of the Conclusion Battle at Tonle Bet; Battle of Sralop Pichey; ; ; First Cambodian-Siamese War (1530-1531) Battle of Siemreap; ; Second Cambodian-Siamese War (1549) Battle of Pursat; Battle of Battambang; ;

Chan Reachea the Great
ចន្ទរាជា
Chan Reachea the Great; ចន្ទរាជា
	Buddha Statue in Siem Reap, Cambodia.
King of Cambodia
Reign	1516–1566
Coronation	1516 (first); 1553 (second)
Predecessor	Srei Chedtha
Successor	Barom Reachea I
Born	1486; Chaktomuk, Cambodia
Died	1566 (aged 80); Longvek, Cambodia
Burial	1567; Phnom Santuk
Spouse	Botum Bopha
Issue	Prince Reameathiptei ; Prince Barom Reachea I; Princess Moha Tevi
House	Varman Dynasty
Father	Thommoreachea I
Mother	Tep Bopha
Religion	Buddhism

Ang Chan I, also known as Chan Reachea the Great (Khmer: ចន្ទរាជា, Candarājā; 1486–1566) was a Cambodian king who reigned from 1516 to 1566. According to Encyclopædia Britannica, he was one of the most illustrious Cambodian kings of the post-Angkor period. He was appointed the ouparach (heir apparent or viceroy) by Damkhat Sokonthor in 1507. As viceroy, he ruled the region of Phnom Penh and the eastern provinces.

He was ousted by a pretender named Sdach Korn in 1512. He fled to Siam and returned with a Siamese army in 1516. In the same year, he was crowned at Pursat after putting down several rebellions inspired by Neay Kan. He regained the city of Longvek from the Siamese and built the new capital there. In 1525, Ang Chan used firearms and cannons when attacking Sdach Korn. Within 3 months, Ang Chan was able to kill Sdach Korn and his followers and decapitated him.

Portuguese missionary Gaspar da Cruz visited Longvek in 1556 during Ang Chan's reign and preached the gospel. The next year, disappointed, he left the country, since most Cambodians were devout Buddhists and refused to convert to Roman Catholicism.

Since 1547, Siam was at war with Burma. Seizing the opportunity, the Cambodian army launched a counter-offensive. Angkor was regained from the Siamese. In 1553, he was crowned again in Longvek. During the period of 1559–1564, Ang Chan's army led a number of border raids on the nearby regions of Ayuttaya.