Mahendra Manikya | |
---|---|
Maharaja of Tripura | |
Reign | 1712–1714 |
Predecessor | Ratna Manikya II |
Successor | Dharma Manikya II |
Born | Ghanashyam Thakur |
Died | 1714 |
House | Manikya dynasty |
Father | Rama Manikya |
Religion | Hinduism |
Mahendra Manikya (d. 1714) was the Maharaja of Tripura from 1712 to 1714.
Originally named Ghanashyam Thakur, he was born the second son of Maharaja Rama Manikya. [1] His elder brother was Ratna Manikya II who, [2] after having been previously overthrown by a cousin, was restored to the throne by the Mughals in 1695. However, in return Ghanashyam was temporarily sent to the Mughal court as a hostage. [3] At some point, he was awarded the title of Barathakur by his brother. [4] [note 1]
In 1712, Ghanashyam launched a conspiracy against his brother, having gained the assistance of Murad Beg, an influential member of the royal court. The latter was sent to Dhaka, where he recruited some itinerant forces as well as the assistance of Muhammad Sapi, a local high-ranking officer. [6] Ratna Manikya was forcibly removed from power and Ghanashyam claimed the throne, assuming the regnal name Mahendra Manikya. He had his predecessor first confined to the palace apartments and then killed soon after, with two of the latter's prominent officers also being beheaded. [7] [8]
Though little is known about his reign, with the Rajmala only describing him as being an "impious ruler", Mahendra appears to have enacted some reforms to the administration. His brothers Durjoy Singh and Chandramani were named Yuvraj and Barathakur respectively. [8] He also attempted to strengthen ties with the neighbouring Ahom kingdom, located in what is present-day Assam. Assamese envoys, already present in Tripura at the time of his ascension, [8] were formerly received at court, with Mahendra sending his own representative, Aribhima Narayana, back with them to Rangpur. Subsequently, a series of warm correspondence, embassies and gifts were dispatched between Mahendra and the Ahom king, Rudra Singha. [7]
However, in August 1714, soon after a third embassy to Tripura was sent, Rudra Singha died, with his successor Siva Singha having little interest in continuing his father's habits. By the time these envoys had arrived in Tripura, in January 1715, Mahendra too had died, having reigned for only 14 months. [7] He was succeeded by his Yuvraj, Durjoy Singh, who took the name Dharma Manikya II. [1]
Lachit Barphukan (1622–1672) was an Ahom Borphukan, but known primarily for commanding the Ahom forces and the victory in the Battle of Saraighat (1671) that thwarted an invasion by the vastly superior Mughal forces under the command of Ramsingh I. He died about a year later in April 1672.
The Ahom kingdom was a late medieval kingdom in the Brahmaputra Valley. It maintained its sovereignty for nearly 600 years having successfully resisted 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.
Sukhrungphaa or Rudra Singha,, was the 30th King of Ahom kingdom, who ruled from 1696 until his death in 1714. He is considered as the most illustrious of the Ahom King's, under whom the kingdom reached its zenith of power and glory. He was the eldest son of Gadadhar Singha and mother Joymoti, he ascended the throne at his father's death. He had subjugated the Kingdoms of Dimasa and Jaintia and is best known for building a coalition of rulers in the region and raising a vast composite army against the Mughal Empire. He died on the eve of his march west from Guwahati. During Rudra Singha's reign the Ahom nobility far better organized than ever stood behind the king representing the cherished feudal values and aspiration.
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