In tracing the reasons for these developments in mainland Southeast Asia,
it could be argued that the very process of centralization contained within
itself the seeds of fragmentation.
• Only a powerful centre could maintain its position in the face of the
cumulative tensions induced by continuing efforts to tighten supervision
of people and resources. Whenever the dominance of the capital was
questioned, it was reflected in the steady seepage of manpower away
from royal control. In societies where the king was heavily reliant on his
armies to maintain his own standing against potential opposition, this loss
of manpower was serious, especially if it coincided with conflicts over
succession or the sharing of power.