Langkasuka
Langkasuka | |||||||||
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| 2nd century–15th century | |||||||||
Possible extent of the Langkasuka kingdom | |||||||||
| Religion | Hindu-Buddhist | ||||||||
| Government | Monarchy | ||||||||
| Raja | |||||||||
• c. 2nd century | Merong Mahawangsa | ||||||||
• ? | Bhagadatta | ||||||||
| History | |||||||||
• Established | 2nd century | ||||||||
• Disestablished | 15th century | ||||||||
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| Today part of | Malaysia Thailand | ||||||||
| History of Thailand |
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| History of Malaysia |
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| Malaysia portal |
Langkasuka was an ancient Malay Hindu-Buddhist kingdom located in the Malay Peninsula. Langkasuka is generally believed to have existed from the 2nd to 15th century, and to have been established by descendants of Ashoka the Great.
The kingdom, along with Old Kedah, is among the earliest kingdoms founded on the Malay Peninsula. The exact location of the kingdom is of some debate, but archaeological discoveries at Yarang near Pattani, Thailand suggest a probable location. The kingdom is proposed to have been established in the 1st century, perhaps between 80 and 100 AD.
According to the legend given in the Kedah Annals, the kingdom was founded and named by Merong Mahawangsa. Another proposal suggests that the name may have been derived from langkha and Ashoka, the Mauryan Hindu warrior king who eventually became a pacifist after embracing the ideals espoused in Buddhism, and that the early Indian colonizers of the Malayic Isthmus named the kingdom Langkasuka in his honour. Chinese historical sources provided some information on the kingdom and recorded a king Bhagadatta who sent envoys to the Chinese court.