A provincial captain atop an elephant leads his retainers to the capital to join the army in the dry season

As well as architects and builders, the ancient Khmer were a formidable fighting force.

Khmer military strength rested on local lords who had sworn an oath of allegiance to the king. In time of war captains of militia were expected to conscript peasants in their district and to lead them to Angkor to join the Khmer army.

The weaponry and decorative patterning of the insignia and parasols in this scene are based on studies of the bas reliefs of the Bayon and Banteay Chmar temples.