Ahom dynasty

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.

Ahom dynasty
1 Sukaphaa 1228–1268
2 Suteuphaa 1268–1281
3 Subinphaa 1281–1293
4 Sukhaangphaa 1293–1332
5 Sukhrangpha 1332–1364
Interregnum 1364–1369
6 Sutuphaa 1369–1376
Interregnum 1376–1380
7 Tyao Khamti 1380–1389
Interregnum 1389–1397
8 Sudangphaa 1397–1407
9 Sujangphaa 1407–1422
10 Suphakphaa 1422–1439
11 Susenphaa 1439–1488
12 Suhenphaa 1488–1493
13 Supimphaa 1493–1497
14 Suhungmung 1497–1539
15 Suklenmung 1539–1552
16 Sukhaamphaa 1552–1603
17 Susenghphaa 1603–1641
18 Suramphaa 1641–1644
19 Sutingphaa 1644–1648
20 Sutamla 1648–1663
21 Supangmung 1663–1670
22 Sunyatphaa 1670–1672
23 Suklamphaa 1672–1674
24 Suhung 1674–1675
25 Gobar Roja 1675–1675
26 Sujinphaa 1675–1677
27 Sudoiphaa 1677–1679
28 Sulikphaa 1679–1681
29 Supatphaa 1681–1696
30 Sukhrungphaa 1696–1714
31 Sutanphaa 1714–1744
32 Sunenphaa 1744–1751
33 Suremphaa 1751–1769
34 Sunyeophaa 1769–1780
35 Suhitpangphaa 1780–1795
36 Suklingphaa 1795–1811
37 Sudingphaa 1811–1818
38 Purandar Singha 1818–1819
39 Sudingphaa 1819–1821
40 Jogeswar Singha 1821–1822
41 Purandar Singha 1833–1838

In external medieval chronicles the kings of this dynasty were called Asam Raja, whereas the subjects of the kingdom called them Chaopha (Chao-ruler, Pha-heaven), or Swargadeo (the equivalent in Assamese).

Chao-Pha

The office of the Ahom king, was reserved exclusively for the descendants of the first king Sukaphaa (1228–1268) who came to Assam from Mong Mao in 1228.[1] Succession was by agnatic primogeniture. Nevertheless, following Rudra Singha's deathbed injunction four of his five sons became the king one after the other. The descendants of Sukaphaa were not eligible for ministerial positions—a division of power that was followed till the end of the dynasty and the kingdom. When the nobles asked Atan Burhagohain to become the king, the Tai priests rejected the idea and he desisted from ascending the throne.

The king could be appointed only with the concurrence of the patra mantris (council of ministers—Burhagohain, Borgohain, Borpatrogohain, Borbarua and Borphukan). During three periods in the 14th century, the kingdom had no kings when acceptable candidates were not found. The ministers could remove unacceptable kings, and it used to involve executing the erstwhile king. In the 17th century a power struggle and the increasing number of claimants to the throne resulted in kings being deposed in quick succession, all of whom were executed after the new king was instated. To prevent this bloody end, a new rule was introduced during the reign of Sulikphaa Lora Roja—claimants to the throne had to be physically unblemished—which meant that threats to the throne could be removed by merely slitting the ear of an ambitious prince. Rudra Sinha, suspecting his brother Lechai's intention, mutilated and banished him. The problem of succession remained, and on his deathbed he instructed that all his sons were to become kings. One of his sons, Mohanmala, was superseded, who went on to lead a rebel group during the Moamoria rebellion. The later kings and officers exploited the unblemished rule, leading to weak kings being instated. Kamaleswar Singha (2-year-old son of Kadam Dighala) and Purandar Singha (10-year-old son of Brajanath and one of the last kings of this dynasty) came into office because their fathers were mutilated.

The Ahom kings were given divine origin. According to Ahom tradition, Sukaphaa was a descendant of Khunlung, the grandson of the king of the heavens Leungdon, who had come down from the heavens and ruled Mong-Ri-Mong-Ram. During the reign of Suhungmung (1497–1539) which saw the composition of the first Assamese Buranji and increased Hindu influence, the Ahom kings were traced to the union of Indra (identified with Lengdon) and Syama (a low-caste woman), and were declared Indravamsa kshatriyas, a lineage created exclusively for the Ahoms.[2] Suhungmung adopted the title Swarganarayan, and the later kings were called Swargadeo's (Lord of the heavens). It was during his reign that the Buranji titled Sri Sri Swarganarayan Maharajor Jonmokotha was written wherein the source and lineage of the Ahom kings was connected to the Hindu God, Indra, Lord of the Heaven.

Coronation

The Swargadeo's coronation was called Singarigharutha, a ceremony that was performed first by Sudangphaa, (Bamuni Konwar) (1397–1407). This was the occasion when the first coins in the new king's name were minted. Kamaleswar Singha (1795–1811) and Chandrakanta Singha's (1811–1818) coronations were not performed on the advice of Prime minister Purnananda Burhagohain, due to the financial constraints of State treasury caused by the internal disturbances during Moamoria rebellion. Kings who died in office were buried in vaults called Moidam, at Charaideo. Some of the earlier Moidams were looted by Mir Jumla in the 17th century, and are lost. Some later kings, especially with Rajeswar Singha (1751–1769), who were cremated had their ashes buried instead.

On ascent, the king would generally assume an Ahom name decided by the Ahom priests. The name generally ended in Pha (Tai: Lord), e.g. Susenghphaa. Later kings also assumed a Hindu name that ended in Singha (Assamese: Lion): Susengphaa assumed the name Pratap Singha. Buranjis occasionally would refer to a past king by a more informal and colorful name that focused on a specific aspect of the king. Pratap Singha was also known as Burha Roja (Assamese: Old King) because when Pratap Singha became the king, he was quite advanced in age.

Royal offices

Subinphaa (1281–1293), the third Ahom king, delineated the Satghariya Ahom, the Ahom aristocracy of the Seven Houses. Of this, the first lineage was that of the king. The next two were the lineages of the Burhagohain and the Borgohain. The last four were priestly lineages. Sukhramphaa (1332–1364) established the position of Charing Raja which came to be reserved for the heir apparent. The first Charing Raja was Sukhramphaa's half-brother, Chao Pulai, the son of the Kamata princess Rajani, but who did not ultimately become the Swargadeo. Suhungmung Dihingia Raja (1497–1539) settled the descendants of past kings in different regions that gave rise to seven royal houses—Saringiya, Tipamiya, Dihingiya, Samuguriya, Tungkhungiya, Parvatiya and Namrupiya—and periods of Ahom rule came to be known after these families. The rule of the last such house, Tungkhungiya, was established by Gadadhar Singha (1681–1696) and his descendants ruled till the end of the Ahom kingdom.

Queens

Ahom queens (Kunworis) played important roles in the matter of state. They were officially designated in a gradation of positions, called the Bor Kuwori (Chief Queen), Parvatia Kuwori, Raidangia Kuwori, Tamuli Kuwori, etc. who were generally daughters of Ahom noblemen and high officials. Lesser wives of the Swargadeo were called Chamua Kunworis. Some of the queens were given separate estates that were looked after by state officials (Phukans or Baruas).[3] During the reign of Siba Singha (1714–1744), the king gave his royal umbrella and royal insignia to his queens—Phuleshwari Kunwori, Ambika Kunwori and Anadari Kunwori in succession— to rule the kingdom. They were called Bor-Rojaa. Some queens maintained office even after the death or removal of the kings, as happened with Pakhori Gabhoru and Kuranganayani who were queens to multiple kings.

One way in which the importance of the queens can be seen is that many of them are named on coins; typically the king's name would be on the obverse of the coin and the queen's on the reverse.

Court influences

Sukaphaa's ruling deity was Chum-Pha and Sheng-mung a pair of non-Hindu, non-Buddhist gods, and he was accompanied by classes of priests called Deodhai, Bailung etc. But the Ahom kings let themselves be influenced by the religion and customs of those they ruled over. Sudangphaa Bamuni Konwar (1397–1407) installed a Brahmin of Habung, in whose household he was born and raised, as his adviser, but he himself did not convert to Hinduism.[4] Susenphaa (1439–1488) constructed a temple at Negheriting.[5] Suhungmung Dihingia Rojaa (1497–1539) was the first Ahom king to expand the kingdom and the polity, allow Assamese influence in his court and accept a non-Ahom title—Swarganarayan.[6] Sukhaamphaa Khora Rojaa (1552–1603) began consulting Hindu astrologers alongside the traditional Deodhai-Bailung priests, and Pratap Singha (1603–1641) installed 13 Brahmin families as diplomats.[5] Assamese language coexisted with Tai language in the court till the reign of Pratap Singha, during whose rule Assamese became dominant. Sutamla (1648–1663) was the first Ahom king to be initiated into the Mahapuruxiya Dharma,[7] and Ahom kings till Sulikphaa lora roja (1679–1681) continued to be disciples of one sattra or the other.[8] Mahapuruxiya pontiffs belonging to different sects began playing a greater role in state politics. After the chaos of the late 17th century, Gadadhar Sinha (1681–1696), the first Tungkhungiya king began his rule with a deep distrust of these religious groups. His son and successor Rudra Singha (1696–1714) searched for an alternative state religion, and his son and successor Siba Sinha (1714–1744) formally adopted Saktism, the nemesis of the Mahapuruxiya sects. The persecution of the Mahapuruxiya Sattras under the Tunkhungiya rulers following Siba Singha was a crucial factor leading to the Moamoria rebellion that greatly depleted the Ahom kingdom.

King's Guards

The king was guarded by a six thousand strong household troop under a Bhitarual Phukan. A unit of musketeers consisting of the king's relatives was established by Sukhamphaa Khora Raja that protected the capital (under the Bajua Hilaidari Konwar) and the palace and environs (Bhitarual Hilaidari Konwar).[9]

Timeline
Purandar SinghaJogeswar SinghaSudingphaaPurandar SinghaSudingphaaSuklingphaaSuhitpangphaaSunyeophaaSuremphaaSunenphaaSutanphaaSukhrungphaaSupaatphaaSulikphaaSudoiphaaSujinphaaGobar RojaSuhungSuklamphaaSunyatphaaSupangmungSutamlaSutingphaaSuramphaaSusenghphaaSukhaamphaaSuklenmungSuhungmungSupimphaaSuhenphaaSusenphaaSuphakphaaSujangphaaSudangphaaTyao KhamtiSutuphaaSukhrangphaSukhaangphaaSubinphaaSuteuphaaSukaphaa

Swargadeo dynastic lineage

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).[10]

The list of Swargadeos of the Ahom Kingdom
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[11]
1369–1376 7y Sutuphaa brother of Sukhrangphaa[12] assassinated[13] Charaideo
1376–1380 4y Interregnum
1380–1389 9y Tyao Khamti brother of Sutuphaa assassinated[14] Charaideo
1389–1397 8y Interregnum
1397–1407 10y Sudangphaa Baamuni Kunwar son of Tyao Khaamti[15] 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[16]
1493–1497 4y Supimphaa son of Suhenphaa natural death
1497–1539 42y Suhungmung Swarganarayan,
Dihingiaa Rojaa I		 son of Supimphaa assassinated[17] 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[18] Garhgaon
1644–1648 4y Sutingphaa Noriyaa Rojaa brother of Suramphaa deposed[19] 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[20] natural death Bakata/Garhgaon
1670–1672 2y Sunyatphaa Udayaditya Singha brother of Supangmung[21] deposed[22]
1672–1674 2y Suklamphaa Ramadhwaj Singha brother of Sunyatphaa poisoned[23]
1674–1675 21d Suhung[24] Samaguria Rojaa Khamjang Samaguria descendant of Suhungmung deposed[25]
1675-1675 24d Gobar Roja great-grandson of Suhungmung[26] deposed[27]
1675–1677 2y Sujinphaa[28] Arjun Konwar,
Dihingia Rojaa II		 grandson of Pratap Singha, son of Namrupian Gohain deposed, suicide[29]
1677–1679 2y Sudoiphaa Parvatia Rojaa great-grandson of Suhungmung[30] deposed, killed[31]
1679–1681 3y Sulikphaa Ratnadhwaj Singha,
Loraa Rojaa		 Samaguria family deposed, killed[32]
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[33] natural death, smallpox Jorhat
1811–1818 17y Sudingphaa (1) Chandrakaanta Singha brother of Suklingphaa deposed[34] Jorhat
1818–1819 1y Purandar Singha (1) descendant of Suremphaa[34] deposed[35] Jorhat
1819–1821 2y Sudingphaa (2) Chandrakaanta Singha fled the capital[36]
1821–1822 1y Jogeswar Singha brother of Hemo Aideo, puppet of Burmese ruler[37] removed[38]
1833–1838 Purandar Singha (2)[39]

Notes
  1. See Sukaphaa for the origin and journey of the first Ahom king into Assam.
  2. (Gogoi 1968:283). In standard Hindu Puranic history the two accepted royal families are Chandravamsi and Suryavamsi.
  3. (Gogoi 1968:546–547)
  4. (Gogoi 2006, p. 64)
  5. (Gogoi 2006, p. 65)
  6. (Gogoi 1968, p. 283)
  7. Sutamla accepted Ekasarana initiation in 1654. (Gogoi 1968, p. 433)
  8. (Gogoi 2006, p. 66)
  9. (Baruah 1993, p. 19)
  10. (Gogoi 1968:534–535)
  11. Gogoi records that Sukhrangphaa died without leaving a son and the two ministers administered the kingdom without a king for five years (Gogoi 1968, p. 273). Gait and others do not record this (Gait 1906, p. 358), though Baruah does (Baruah 1983, p. 282)
  12. Sutuphaa was the younger brother of Sukhrangphaa, who was settled in a village called Lahanjing. He was invited by the Burhagohain and Borgohain to become the king and he set up his seat at Chapagurinagar (Gogoi 1968, p. 273)
  13. Sukhramphaa was assassinated by the king of the Chutiya kingdom on a barge ride on Suffry river (Gogoi 1968:273).
  14. Sukhangphaa and his chief queen were deposed and executed by the ministers for their autocratic rule (Gogoi 1968:274).
  15. Sudangphaa Bamuni Konwar was born to the second queen of Tyao Khamti in a Brahmin household of Habung (Gogoi 1968:274–275).
  16. Suhenphaa was speared to death in his palace by a Tai-Turung chief in revenge for being accused of theft (Gogoi 1968:282).
  17. Suhungmung was assassinated by a palace staff in a plot engineered by his son, Suklenmung (Gogoi 1968:309).
  18. Suramphaa was deposed by the ministers when he insisted on burying alive a son of each minister in the tomb of his dead step-son (Gogoi 1968:386). He was later murdered on the instructions of his nephew, the son of his brother and succeeding Swargadeo.
  19. Sutingphaa was a sickly king (Noriaya Raja), who participated in an intrigue by his chief queen to install a prince unpopular with the ministers. He was deposed and later murdered on the instructions of his son and successor king Sutamla (Gogoi 1968:391–392).
  20. Supangmung was grandson of Suleng (Deo Raja), the second son of Suhungmung (Gogoi 1968:448).
  21. The Maju Gohain, the brother of Chakradhwaj Singha, became the king. (Gogoi 1968, p. 470)
  22. Udayaaditya Sinha's palace was stormed by his brother (and successor king) with a thousand-strong contingent of men led by Lasham Debera, and the king was executed the next day. Udayaaditya's religious fanaticism under the influence of a godman had made him unpopular, and the three great gohains implicitly supported this group (Gogoi 1968:479–482). This event started a very unstable nine-year period of weak kings, dominated by Debera Borbarua, Atan Burhagohain and Laluk-sola Borphukan in succession. This period ended with the accession of Gadadhar Singha.
  23. Ramadhwaj Sinha was poisoned on the instructions of Debera Borbarua when he tried to assert his authority (Gogoi 1968:484).
  24. Deyell, John S. Ahom Language Coins of Assam.
  25. The Samaguria raja was deposed by Debera Borbarua, the de facto ruler, and later executed, along with his queen and her brother (Gogoi 1968:486).
  26. Gobar Rojaa was the son of Saranga, the son of Suten, the son of Suhungmung Dihingiya Roja.
  27. Gobar Raja was deposed and executed by the Saraighatias (the commanders of Saraighat/Guwahati), led by Atan Burhagohain (Gogoi 1968:486–488). Their target was the de facto ruler, Debera Borbarua, who was also executed.
  28. After Ramdhwaj Singha, Chamaguriya Khamjang Konwar alias Shujinpha ruled only 20 days from 10 April 1674 (e.i. Lakni Kat plao (or 26th year) of 18th Taosinga Circle) and on 30 April he was killed. There after Tungkhongiya Gobar Raja rose only 12 ruled. Both were killed by the powerful minister Debera Baruah. After Gobar Raja two more princes rose only for another 12 days who are not recorded in chronicles. The title of Suhung is suitable for Dihingia Arjun Konwar, who minted coins and ruled more than six months and the minted year 1675 is his rising year (e.i. Lakni khut ni (or 27th year) of 18th Taosinga Circle) -- (Phukan, J.N. (1987). Reattribution of the Coins of Suhung)
  29. Dihingia Arjun Konwar tried to assert control by moving against the de facto ruler, Atan Burhagohain, but was routed in a skirmish. Sujinphaa was blinded and held captive when he committed suicide by striking his head against a stone (Gogoi 1968:489).
  30. Sudoiphaa was the grandson of Suhungmung's third son, Suteng (Gogoi 1968:490).
  31. Sudoiphaa was deposed by Laluk-sola Borphukan, who styled himself as the Burhaphukan, and later executed. Atan Burhagohain, the powerful minister, had been executed earlier (Gogoi 1968:492–493).
  32. Sulikphaa Lora Roja was deposed and then executed by Gadadhar Singha (Gogoi 1968:496–497).
  33. Kamaleswar Singha was installed as the king by Purnananda Burhagohain when he was still an infant. He was the son of Kadam Dighala, the son of Ayusut, the son of Lechai, the second son of Gadadhar Singha. Kadam Dighala, who could not become the king because of physical blemishes, was an important influence during the reign (Baruah 1993:148–150).
  34. Chandrakanta Singha was deposed by Ruchinath Burhagohain, mutilated and confined as a prisoner near Jorhat (Baruah 1992:221). The Burhagohain choose Brajanath, a descendant of Suremphaa Pramatta Singha, as the king and coins were struck in the new king's name, but it was discovered that he had mutilations on his person and his son, Purandar Singha, was instated instead (Gait 1906:223).
  35. Purandar Singha's forces under Jaganath Dhekial Phukan defeated the forces led by the Burmese general Kee-Woomingee (Kiamingi or Alumingi Borgohain) on 15 February 1819, but due to a strategic mistake Jorhat fell into Burmese hands. Kiamingi brought back Chandrakanta Singha and installed him the king (Baruah 1992:221–222).
  36. Chandrakanta Singha fled to Guwahati when the army of Bagyidaw king of Burma, led by Mingimaha Tilwa, approached Jorhat (Baruah 1992:223).
  37. Jogeshwar Singha was the brother of Hemo Aideu, one of the queens of Bagyidaw. He was installed as the king by Mingimaha Tilwa (Baruah 1992:223).
  38. Jogeshwar Singha was removed from all pretense of power and Mingimaha Tilwa was declared the "Raja of Assam" toward the end of June 1822 (Baruah 1992:225).
  39. Purandar Singha was set up by the East India Company as the tributary Raja of Upper Assam (Baruah 1992:244).
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References
  • Baruah, S. L. (1993), Last Days of Ahom Monarchy, Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers Pvt Ltd, New DelhiCS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Gait, Edward (1906), A History of Assam, Thacker, Spink & Co, CalcuttaCS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Gogoi, Nitul Kumar (2006), Continuity And Change Among The Tai-Ahom, Concept Publishing CompanyCS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Gogoi, Padmeshwar (1968), The Tai and the Tai kingdoms, Gauhati University, GuwahatiCS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
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