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The History of Assam is the history of a confluence of people from the east, west, south and the north; the confluence of the Austroasiatic, Tibeto-Burman (Sino-Tibetan), Tai and Indo-Aryan cultures. Although invaded over the centuries, it was never a vassal or a colony to an external power until the third Burmese invasion in 1821 and subsequently the British ingress into Assam in 1824 during the First Anglo-Burmese War. [1]
Later documented rulers, and dynasties who are deemed to have ruled a portion of Assam are included in this list.
The kingdom was contemporary of Pragjyotisha kingdom of Kamarupa. [3]
Nu. | Name of known rulers |
---|---|
1 | Marichi |
2 | Kashyap |
3 | Hiranyakashipu |
4 | Prahlad |
5 | Virochana |
6 | Mahabali |
7 | Bana |
First legendary line of rulers in Pragjyotisha. The Danava dynasty consisted of Kirata chiefs; the last of whom, Ghatakasura, was killed and replaced by Naraka. [4]
Known Danava rulers of Pragjyotisha are:
Second legendary dynasty of Pragjyotisha. Known Bhauma rulers of Pragjyotisha are:
Less information is available about this kingdom.
The dynastic line as given in the Dubi copperplate inscription and Nidhanpur copperplate inscription are as:
Reign | Name | Succession | Queen | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 350–374 CE | Pushyavarman | (unknown) | |
2 | 374–398 CE | Samudravarman | son of Pushyavarman | Dattadevi |
3 | 398–422 CE | Balavarman | son of Samudravarman | Ratnavati |
4 | 422–446 CE | Kalyanavarman | son of Balavarman | Gandharavati |
5 | 446–470 CE | Ganapativarman | son of Kalyanavarman | Yajnavati |
6 | 470–494 CE | Mahendravarman | son of Ganapativarman | Suvrata |
7 | 494–518 CE | Narayanavarman | son of Mahendravarman | Devavati |
8 | 518–542 CE | Bhutivarman | son of Narayanavarman | Vijnayavati |
9 | 542–566 CE | Chandramukhavarman | son of Bhutivarman | Bhogavati |
10 | 566–590 CE | Sthitavarman | son of Chandramukhavarman | Nayanadevi |
11 | 590–595 CE | Susthitavarman | son of Sthitavarman | Syamadevi |
12 | 595–600 CE | Supratisthitavarman | son of Susthitavarman | (Bachelor) |
13 | 600–650 CE | Bhaskaravarman | brother of Supratisthitavarman | (Bachelor) |
14 | 650–655 CE | Unknown [5] | (unknown) | (unknown) |
The grants of Ratnapala give the list of 21 kings from Salastambha to his line.
In the nearly 600-years 39-Swargadeo dynastic history, there are three progenitor kings (all subsequent kings are descendants of these kings). They are Sukaphaa, who established the kingdom; Suhungmung, who made the greatest territorial and political expansion of the kingdom; and Supaatphaa, who established the House of Tungkhugia kings that reigned the kingdom during its political and cultural zenith, as well as the period of decay and end (except for Jogeswar Singha, who was a descendant of Supaatphaa's father Gobar, and who was installed as a puppet king by the Burmese).
The dynastic history and dates that are accepted today are the result of a re-examination of Ahom and other documents by a team of Nora astronomers and experts who were commissioned to do so by Gaurinath Singha (1780–1795). [7]
Years | Reign | Ahom name | Other names | Succession | End of reign | Capital |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1228–1268 | 40y | Sukaphaa | natural death | Charaideo | ||
1268–1281 | 13y | Suteuphaa | son of Sukaphaa | natural death | Charaideo | |
1281–1293 | 8y | Subinphaa | son of Suteuphaa | natural death | Charaideo | |
1293–1332 | 39y | Sukhaangphaa | son of Subinphaa | natural death | Charaideo | |
1332–1364 | 32y | Sukhrangpha | son of Sukhaangphaa | natural death | Charaideo | |
1364–1369 | 5y | Interregnum [8] | ||||
1369–1376 | 7y | Sutuphaa | brother of Sukhrangphaa [9] | assassinated [10] | Charaideo | |
1376–1380 | 4y | Interregnum | ||||
1380–1389 | 9y | Tyao Khamti | brother of Sutuphaa | assassinated [11] | Charaideo | |
1389–1397 | 8y | Interregnum | ||||
1397–1407 | 10y | Sudangphaa | Baamuni Konwar | son of Tyao Khaamti [12] | natural death | Charagua |
1407–1422 | 15y | Sujangphaa | son of Sudangphaa | natural death | ||
1422–1439 | 17y | Suphakphaa | son of Sujangpha | natural death | ||
1439–1488 | 49y | Susenphaa | son of Suphakphaa | natural death | ||
1488–1493 | 5y | Suhenphaa | son of Susenphaa | assassinated [13] | ||
1493–1497 | 4y | Supimphaa | son of Suhenphaa | natural death | ||
1497–1539 | 42y | Suhungmung | Swarganarayan, Dihingiaa Rojaa I | son of Supimphaa | assassinated [14] | Bakata |
1539–1552 | 13y | Suklenmung | Garhgayaan Rojaa | son of Suhungmung | natural death | Garhgaon |
1552–1603 | 51y | Sukhaamphaa | Khuraa Rojaa | son of Suklenmung | natural death | Garhgaon |
1603–1641 | 38y | Susenghphaa | Prataap Singha, Burhaa Rojaa, Buddhiswarganarayan | son of Sukhaamphaa | natural death | Garhgaon |
1641–1644 | 3y | Suramphaa | Jayaditya Singha, Bhogaa Rojaa | son of Susenghphaa | deposed [15] | Garhgaon |
1644–1648 | 4y | Sutingphaa | Noriyaa Rojaa | brother of Suramphaa | deposed [16] | Garhgaon |
1648–1663 | 15y | Sutamla | Jayadhwaj Singha, Bhoganiyaa Rojaa | son of Sutingphaa | natural death | Garhgaon/Bakata |
1663–1670 | 7y | Supangmung | Chakradhwaj Singha | cousin of Sutamla [17] | natural death | Bakata/Garhgaon |
1670–1672 | 2y | Sunyatphaa | Udayaditya Singha | brother of Supangmung [18] | deposed [19] | |
1672–1674 | 2y | Suklamphaa | Ramadhwaj Singha | brother of Sunyatphaa | poisoned [20] | |
1674–1675 | 21d | Suhung [21] | Samaguria Rojaa Khamjang | Samaguria descendant of Suhungmung | deposed [22] | |
1675–1675 | 24d | Gobar Roja | great-grandson of Suhungmung [23] | deposed [24] | ||
1675–1677 | 2y | Sujinphaa [25] | Arjun Konwar, Dihingia Rojaa II | grandson of Pratap Singha, son of Namrupian Gohain | deposed, suicide [26] | |
1677–1679 | 2y | Sudoiphaa | Parvatia Rojaa | great-grandson of Suhungmung [27] | deposed, killed [28] | |
1679–1681 | 3y | Sulikphaa | Ratnadhwaj Singha, Loraa Rojaa | Samaguria family | deposed, killed [29] | |
1681–1696 | 15y | Supaatphaa | Gadadhar Singha | son of Gobar Rojaa | natural death | Borkola |
1696–1714 | 18y | Sukhrungphaa | Rudra Singha | son of Supaatphaa | natural death | Rangpur |
1714–1744 | 30y | Sutanphaa | Siba Singha | son Sukhrungphaa | natural death | |
1744–1751 | 7y | Sunenphaa | Pramatta Singha | brother of Sutanphaa | natural death | |
1751–1769 | 18y | Suremphaa | Rajeswar Singha | brother of Sunenphaa | natural death | |
1769–1780 | 11y | Sunyeophaa | Lakshmi Singha | brother of Suremphaa | natural death | |
1780–1795 | 15y | Suhitpangphaa | Gaurinath Singha | son of Sunyeophaa | natural death | Jorhat |
1795–1811 | 16y | Suklingphaa | Kamaleswar Singha | great-grandson of Lechai, the brother of Rudra Singha [30] | natural death, smallpox | Jorhat |
1811–1818 | 7y | Sudingphaa (1) | Chandrakaanta Singha | brother of Suklingphaa | deposed [31] | Jorhat |
1818–1819 | 1y | Purandar Singha (1) | descendant of Suremphaa [31] | deposed [32] | Jorhat | |
1819–1821 | 2y | Sudingphaa (2) | Chandrakaanta Singha | fled the capital [33] | ||
1821–1822 | 1y | Jogeswar Singha | 5th descendant of Jambor, the brother of Gadadhar Singha. Jogeswar was brother of Hemo Aideo, and was puppet of Burmese ruler [34] | removed [35] | ||
1833–1838 | Purandar Singha (2) [36] |
Capital | King | Date of Accession | Reign in Progress | End of reign |
---|---|---|---|---|
Dimapur | La-wang-pa [38] | 1406 | ||
Manipha | ||||
Ladapha | ||||
Viravijay Narayana [39] (or Khorapha) | 1520? | 1526 | ||
Khuntara | 1526 | 1531 | ||
Detsung/Dersung | 1531 | 1536 | ||
Interregnum? | ||||
Maibong | Nirbhay Narayan | 1558? | 1559 | |
Durlabh Narayan | ||||
Megha Narayan | 1568 | 1578 | 1583? | |
Yasho Narayan (Satrudaman) | 1583? | 1601 | ||
Indrapratap Narayan | 1601 | 1610 | ||
Nar Narayan | ||||
Bhimdarpa Narayan | 1618? | |||
Indraballabh Narayan | 1628 | 1644? | ||
Birdarpa Narayan | 1644? | 1681 | ||
Garurdhwaj Narayan(Thaosen Clan) | 1681 | 1695 | ||
Makardhwaj Narayan( Thaosen Clan) | 1695 | |||
Udayaditya(Thaosen Clan) | ||||
Tamradhwaj Narayan( Thaosen Clan/Sengphong) | 1706 | 1708 | ||
Suradarpa Narayan ( Thaosen clan/Sengphong) | 1708 | |||
Harischandra Narayan -1 (Thaosen Sengphong) | 1721 | |||
Kirtichandra Narayan( Hasnusa Sengphong) | 1736 | |||
Sandikhari Narayan alias Ram Chandra) | 1736 | |||
Khaspur | Harischandra-2 (Hasnusa Sengphong) | 1771 | ||
Lakshmichandra Narayan | 1772 | |||
Krishnachandra Narayan | 1790 | 1813 | ||
Govindachandra Narayan | 1814 | 1819 | ||
Chaurajit Singh (from Manipur) | 1819 | 1823 | ||
Gambhir Singh (from Manipur) | 1823 | 1824 | ||
Govindachandra Narayan | 1824 | 1830 | ||
British Annexation | 1832 |
Known rulers of the Chutia kingdom are:
The Bijni rulers reigned between the Sankosh and the Manas rivers, the region immediately to the east of Koch Bihar.
The independent rule of the Khaspur rulers ended in 1745 when it merged with the Kachari kingdom. [41]
The rulers of the Koch kingdom at Khaspur are: [42]
Chronology of British colonial reign on Assam:
The Ahom dynasty (1228–1826) ruled the Ahom Kingdom in present-day Assam, India for nearly 598 years. The dynasty was established by Sukaphaa, a Shan prince of Mong Mao who came to Assam after crossing the Patkai mountains. The rule of this dynasty ended with the Burmese invasion of Assam and the subsequent annexation by the British East India Company following the Treaty of Yandabo in 1826.
The Koch dynasty ruled parts of eastern Indian subcontinent in present-day Assam and Bengal. Biswa Singha established power in the erstwhile Kamata Kingdom which had emerged from the decaying Kamarupa Kingdom. The dynasty came to power by removing the Baro-Bhuyans, who had earlier removed the short-lived rule established by Alauddin Hussain Shah.
Suhungmung, or Dihingia Roja was one of the most prominent Ahom Kings who ruled at the cusp of Assam's medieval history. His reign broke from the early Ahom rule and established a multi-ethnic polity in his kingdom. Under him the Ahom Kingdom expanded greatly for the first time since Sukaphaa, at the cost of the Chutia and the Dimasa kingdoms. He also successfully defended his kingdom against Muslim invasions, first by a general called Bar Ujjir and another by Turbak Khan. During his time, the Khen dynasty collapsed and the Koch dynasty ascended in the Kamata kingdom. His general, Ton-kham, pursued the Muslims up to the Karatoya river, the western boundary of the erstwhile Kamarupa Kingdom, the farthest west an Ahom military force had ventured in its entire six hundred years of rule.
Susenghphaa or Pratap Singha, was the 17th and one of the most prominent kings of the Ahom kingdom. As he was advanced in years when he became king, he is also called the burha Raja. His reign saw an expansion of the Ahom kingdom to the west, the beginning of the Ahom-Mughal conflicts, and a reorganization of the kingdom with an expanded Paik system and reoriented village economy designed by Momai Tamuli Borbarua. His expansion to the west is underlined by the two new offices that he created: that of the Borbarua and the Borphukan. The alliances he formed with the rulers of Koch Hajo resulted in formation that successfully thwarted Mughal expansion. The administrative structure that he created survived until the end of the Ahom kingdom in 1826.
The Ahom kingdom or the Kingdom of Assam was a late medieval kingdom in the Brahmaputra Valley that retained its independence for nearly 600 years despite encountering Mughal expansion in Northeast India. Established by Sukaphaa, a Tai prince from Mong Mao, it began as a mong in the upper reaches of the Brahmaputra based on wet rice agriculture. It expanded suddenly under Suhungmung in the 16th century and became multi-ethnic in character, casting a profound effect on the political and social life of the entire Brahmaputra valley. The kingdom became weaker with the rise of the Moamoria rebellion, and subsequently fell to repeated Burmese invasions of Assam. With the defeat of the Burmese after the First Anglo-Burmese War and the Treaty of Yandabo in 1826, control of the kingdom passed into East India Company hands.
Choapha Supatpha also Swargadeo Gadadhar Singha, was the twenty-ninth king of Ahom kingdom, who reigned from 1681 to 1696. He established the rule of Tungkhungia royal house of Ahom kings, whose descendants continued to rule till the climactic end of the Ahom kingdom in 1826. He was earlier known as Gadapani Konwar and was a son of Gobar raja, a descendant of Suhungmung, and who had become king for twenty days. Gadadhar Singha stabilized the Ahom kingdom, which was going through a long decade of political turmoil and instability. This period saw the ruthless power grab of Debera Borbarua and Laluksola Borphukan's abandonment of Guwahati to the hands of Mughals and oppression via Sulikphaa alias Lora Roja.
Sukhrungphaa or Swargadeo Rudra Singha was the 30th Ahom king, reigning from 1696 to 1714 A.D. His father Gadadhar Singha freed Assam from the Mughal disturbances and internal conspiracies, thereby Rudra Singha inherited a stable state and government and had the advantage of the solid foundations laid by his father. He devoted his time to transform Assam into a first-rate power in India. He stopped the persecution of the Neo-Vaisnava sect and built temples, several public works, and patronized art, literature, and culture. Rudra Singha is also famed for being the real father of Ahom architecture. He giving up the isolationist policy of his predecessors forged diplomatic ties with various states of that time and established extensive trade with Bengal.
Borboruah was one of the five patra mantris (councillors) in the Ahom kingdom, a position created by the Ahom king Prataap Singha in 1621. The position included both executive and judicial powers, with jurisdiction of the Ahom kingdom east of Kaliabor river and those regions not governed by the three great Gohains, and the princely estates. The region to the west of Kaliabor was governed by the Borphukan.
Borphukan was one of the five patra mantris (councillors) in the Ahom kingdom, a position that was created by the Ahom king Prataap Singha. The position included both executive and judicial powers, with jurisdiction of the Ahom kingdom west of Kaliabor river. The headquarters of Borphukan was based in Kaliabor and after the Battle of Itakhuli in 1681 in Itakhuli in Guwahati. This position was particularly important and powerful because of its distance from the Ahom capital, giving it a semblance of independence. The region to the east of Kaliabor was governed by the Borbarua. Lachit Deka later became Borphukan or the ruler of Lower Assam according to the fifth chronicles of the Satsori Asom Buranji.
Buragohain was the one of the two original counsellors in the Ahom kingdom. He was selected by the Ahom king from members of the Ahom nobility ,who vowed not to fight for the position of Ahom kingship, rather act as a guide to the Ahom king in matters of administering his province in an efficient manner. The other original counsellor is Chao Thao Lung or Borgohain. Both the positions existed from the time of the first Ahom king, Sukaphaa.
Sunenphaa also, Pramatta Singha, was the king of Ahom Kingdom. He succeeded his elder brother Swargadeo Siva Singha, as the king of Ahom Kingdom. His reign of seven years was peaceful and prosperous. He constructed numerous buildings and temples. The most famous of his buildings was the Rang Ghar, which is also considered as the oldest amphitheatre in Asia.
Suklingphaa, or Kamaleswar Singha, was a king of the Ahom kingdom. He came to power when he was a toddler, and died in his teens during a small pox epidemic. The de facto ruler during his reign was Purnanada Burhagohain, who was able to consolidate power after installing him on the throne; and his parents Kadamdighala and Numali also were very powerful. Kamaleswar Singha's reign witnessed the suppression of Moamoria rebellion and restoration of Ahom rule over Upper Assam. The Dundiya Revolution in Kamrup was also suppressed during his reign. In Nagaon, the Ahom army also managed to defeat a coalition of Moamoria rebels and the Kacharis of Kachari Kingdom. Much of this was the handiwork of Purnananda Burhagohain and not Kamaleshwar Singha.
Suklamphaa also Ramadhwaj Singha was a king of the Ahom kingdom. His reign is known for the rise in power of Debera Borbarua and the beginning of a ten-year period of power struggles among high officials of the kingdom that saw quick changes in kings via court intrigues and internal armed conflicts.
Sudingphaa also, Chandrakanta Singha, was a Tungkhungia king of the Ahom dynasty, who ruled at the climactic of the Ahom kingdom. His reign witnessed the invasion of Burmese on Assam and its subsequent occupation by British East India Company. He was installed as King twice. His first reign ended when Ruchinath Burhagohain deposed him and installed Purandar Singha in his stead. His second reign ended with his defeat at the hands of the invading Burmese army. He continued his militant efforts to regain his kingdom as well as to keep Purandar Singha at bay. Finally he submitted himself to Burmese who induced him to believe that they will make him king. Instead he was seized and placed in confinement at Rangpur. After the defeat of Burmese in the First Anglo-Burmese War and subsequent peace Treaty of Yandabo on 24 February 1826 CE, Assam passed into the hand of British. Most of the members of Ahom Royal family were granted pensions. Chandrakanta Singha received a pension of 500 rupees. He first lived in Kaliabor and later on at Guwahati. He visited Calcutta in order to request the restoration of his kingdom but in vain. He died in 1839 CE soon after his return to Guwahati.
Sunyatphaa also Udayaditya Singha was the king of Ahom Kingdom from 1670 CE to 1672 CE. After his elder brother Swargadeo Chakradhwaj Singha died in the middle of Ahom-Mughal war, Udayaditya Singha succeeded to the throne. His reign witnessed the end of Ahom-Mughal war, which started during the reign of Chakradhwaj Singha, when the Mughal army led by Rajput prince, Ram Singh I of Amber, was decisively defeated by the Ahom forces led by Ahom commander Lachit Borphukan in the Battle of Saraighat. The later part of his reign was characterized by the failure of military expedition against the Dafala tribes and the influence of Paramananda Sannyasi, a saintly figure from Brindaban, over Udayaditya Singha. Udayaditya's over exerted devotion towards Paramananda Sanyasi, aroused dissatisfaction among the nobles, which ultimately caused his deposition and execution. His reign was followed by a series of political anarchy and internal disturbances in the Ahom kingdom which continued till the accession of Gadadhar Singha in 1681 CE.
Suhung also known as Samaguria Rojaa Khamjang was a king of the medieval Indian Ahom kingdom who ruled for a very short period. While most of the chronicles put the number of days of his reign as 20, in some chronicles the duration of his reign was shown as one month and fifteen days. Suhung was installed as king of Ahom kingdom by Debera Borbarua after the latter poisoned Ahom king Ramdhwaj Singha. His reign was characterized by the atrocities committed by his minister Debera Borbarua. Finally, Suhung decided to get rid of Debera Borbarua and put an end to his reign of tyranny, but the powerful minister outsmarted the king, by secretly poisoning his medicine and killing him.
Gobar was the king of the Ahom kingdom for a duration of about three weeks. He was the first king from Tungkhungia line of Ahom dynasty, and the father of Gadadhar Singha, a later Ahom king. He was installed by Debera Borbarua, a powerful officer in the capital Garhgaon. Gobar was the last king installed by Debera before both were removed and executed by the Saraighatia Ahom officers under the leadership of Atan Burhagohain.
Sujinphaa also Arjun Konwar, was a Namrupiya king of the Ahom kingdom. Atan Burhagohain installed him on the throne after removing Debera Borbarua from power and deposing the previous king, Gobar Roja. Sujinphaa began his reign well with proper advice and support from Atan Burhagohain and other nobles. But soon, acting on the advice of his wife and other advisors, the king began to defy the authority of the Burhagohain, which resulted in a head-on collision between both sides. The king successfully defended the first onslaught of Atan Burhagohain's forces, but fell to the second, which was reinforced with troops from Guwahati. Sujinphaa was deposed and blinded. Some sources state that he killed himself, while some sources maintain that he was murdered by Bhatdhara Phukan, the brother of Laluksola Borphukan.
Sulikphaa also, Ratnadhwaj Singha was the twenty-eighth king of the Ahom Kingdom. He was only 14 years of age when Laluksola Borphukan, the Ahom viceroy of Guwahati and Lower Assam, raised him to the throne, after deposing the former king, Sudoiphaa. Due to his young age at the time of his accession, he was generally known as Lora Raja or the Boy-king. His reign was characterized by the atrocities committed by Laluksola Borphukan, who held the real authority behind the throne, in his name. The most notorious act which occurred during his reign was the mutilation of Ahom princes belonging to different phoids or clans of the Royal Ahom Dynasty. While most of the Ahom princes suffered mutilation, Prince Gadapani, the future king Gadadhar Singha, from the Tungkhungia branch of the Royal Ahom Dynasty, escaped, due to the efforts of his illustrious wife, Joymoti Konwari, who refused to divulge any information regarding her husband's whereabouts even in face of the tortures inflicted by the henchmen of Lora Raja. After Laluksola Borphukan was assassinated in court intrigues, the nobles at Kaliabar decided to get rid of the incompetent Lora Raja and put an able prince on the throne. Prince Gadapani, who was living incognito at a place called Rani in Kamrup at that time, was nominated for the throne. Sulikphaa or Lora Raja was deposed and exiled to Namrup, only to be executed later on.
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