THE CYCLE OF FRAGMENTATION AND UNITY
•1. One of the major reasons for the tendency to fragmentation in all Southeast Asian kingdoms was the difficulty of transferring political power from one generation to another. The potential for conflict was particularly great in larger states where kings were likely to have numerous children by several women and where the rewards for success were high. on the death of a king his brother should inherit the throne, rather than his son.A practice had also been introduced of appointing a secondary king, who would be regarded as heir.