Jayavarman VII is the last large king of the Khmer empire. It reigned of 1181 with 1201 or 1218 (?). Its posthumous name is Mahā Paramasangata Pada . A statue of Jayavarman VII is visible with the Musée Guimet.

He was the son of Dharanindra Varman II. He drove out the Chams which had invaded the Kampuchea and Angkor and restores the power of the dynasty khmère. A Chinese text called of him that it " had sworn to draw from its enemies a bright revenge, which he managed to carry out after eighteen years of patient dissimulation". The troops khmères seize the capital cham about 1190. The overcome king is made prisoner and its kingdom becomes in 1203 a province khmère.

Jayavarman VII hoists Buddhism Mahāyāna with the row of religion of State and the large faces of the Bouddha smiling make their appearance to decorate his new capital Angkor Thom. It there rehabilitates the Royal palace and alters the Phimeanakas, raises the Bayon in the center of the city, then, near the ramparts, the temples Banteay Kdei and Your Prohm in the East and Preah Khan in North.

Jayavarman VII had several wire which shared its faith. Tamalinda was made monk and lived with Ceylon, then hearth of an important Buddhist reform. Vîrakumâra wrote the text of the large stele of the Preah Khan of Angkor Thom. A third (or perhaps the same one) succeeded to him under the name of Indra Varman II.