In 1177, a surprise attack by the Chams resulted in the sacking of Angkor. The throne was regained in 1181 by King Jayavarman VII, a socially minded king and a prolific builder. He converted his people to Buddhism and centred his kingdom on the Bayon, in the middle of Angkor Thom. He built the temples of Prah Kahn, dedicated to his father, and Ta Prohm, dedicated to his mother, as well as numerous other temples, hospitals, roads and bridges. Following a period of decadence, Angkor exhausted itself and fell into decline.