Chenla (Kambuja) was an early kingdom of Cambodia.
It was a more direct ancestor of the Khmer Empire.

At first a vassal state to Funan (AD 550), over the next 60 years it achieved its independence and eventually conquered all of Funan, absorbing its people and culture.

In 613, Isanapura became the first capital of the new empire, at Sambor Prei Kuk in Kompong Thom province of modern Cambodia.

Chenla later divided into northern and southern states, known as "Chenla of the Land" and "Chenla of the Sea", respectively.

The Champassak province of modern-day Laos was the center of the northern part, while the territory of the Mekong Delta and the coast belonged to the southern part.

Several smaller states broke off from Northern and Southern Chenla in 715, further weakening the region. The Java Empire effectively conquered Chenla and the rest of the Malay Peninsula around 775.

Ironically, the fate of Chenla and the invasion of Java Empire planted the actual seed for the establishment of the Angkor Empire.