Chenla

Chenla, also known as Zhenla, was a former country in Indochina, existing from around the late 6th to the early 9th century. This period is recognized by historians as the Pre-Angkor period in Cambodian history. The Chinese designation "Chenla" was used for a vassal of the kingdom of Funan, preceding the Khmer Empire. While the name continued to be used by Chinese envoys into the 13th century, modern historiography applies it specifically to the late 6th to early 9th century. Historians debate whether Chenla was a unitary kingdom or a series of loose confederations of principalities.