Ahom–Mughal conflicts
Ahom–Mughal conflicts | |||||||||
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Ahom artillerymen | |||||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||||
Ahom Kingdom |
Jaipur State | ||||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
Atan Buragohain Lachit Borphukan Alun Dihingia Borbarua |
Jahangir Shah Jahan Aurangzeb Qasim Khan Chishti Syed Hakkim Allah Yar Khan Mir Jumla Ram Singh I Munnawar Khan † Mansur Khan |
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History of Assam |
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Ahom–Mughal conflicts (January 1616–August 1682) refers to the series of 17th-century conflicts between the
Overview
A group of
From the beginning the relationship between the
Conflict inception
From the time the Mughals appeared in the north-eastern frontier, a state of indirect rivalry and hostility began between the Mughals and the Ahoms. After the final defeat of Parikshit (1613) the first organised Mughal attack upon
The first organised open encounter with the Ahom kingdom was the well-deserved punishment meted out by the Ahom government to an unauthorised trader from Mughal India named Ratan Singh. His illicit trade was detected, his goods were confiscated and he was expelled from Assam. The Mughals got the necessary pretext for
Conflict development
After the first disastrous failure in Assam, the Mughals henceforth continued to follow a defensive and conciliatory policy in regards to the Assam state. Because of their heavy engagement in Kamrup, the Mughals henceforward were very cautious not to offend their mighty neighbour. But the Ahoms being encouraged at their recent brilliant success continued to pursue hostile policy against the Mughals and proceeded to take advantage of the prevailing political confusion in Kamrup. The Assam disaster encouraged
During Shah Jahan's reign
The reign of Shah Jahan (1628–1655) marked a new epoch in Ahom-Mughal relations. After a decade of informal hostility, circumstances paved the way for the renewal of open conflict between the two powers. Two factors, both political, appear to have been responsible for the conflict. The first was the asylum given by the Ahom king to the hill-chiefs of Dhanikal who had sought his protection against the ill-treatment of the Bengal Subahdar Qasim Khan Chishti. The second factor, which precipitated the crisis, was the wickedness and treachery of Satrajit, the Thanadar of Pandu who made a common cause with Balinarayan and instigated him to take advantage of the change of governor in Bengal in order to attack Kamrup. The invasion of Kamrup by Balinarayan compelled the Mughals to resort to arms. The Ahoms gained initial success. A fierce encounter took place, which ultimately ended with the total discomfiture of the imperialists. Thereupon, the Mughals fell back to their frontier post of Hajo. The Ahoms laid siege to Hajo and fighting continued for some time.[clarification needed] At last both sides having been thoroughly worn out, the fighting was stopped for some time.[5]
The Ahom-Mughal conflict started afresh towards the end of December 1636. The Mughals entered Kamrup proper. The decisive defeat inflicted by the imperialists on Balinarayan and the Ahoms in November 1637 turned the tide of fortune in favour of the imperialists. The whole of Kamrup was cleared and re-annexed to the Pan-Mughalia. The third round of conflict began soon. The imperialists advanced up the
Both sides became eager for
The Ahom-Mughal relations following the peace of 1639 was far from satisfactory. However, it would be wrong to assume that both sides strictly honoured the peace treaty of 1639. The keynote of the political history of this period is the endless criminations and recriminations of the Mughals and the Assamese on various rounds, such as, 'Kheda' operations, trade and commercial intercourse, boundary disputes, extradition of political offenders, and violation of personal liberty and privileges of the subject people. On these issues frictions continued mounting without, of course, any open armed-clash. It was really a period of armed peace between the Mughals and the Ahoms.[citation needed]
In 1648, the Mughal Faujdar of Gauhati sent a message of congratulations to the Ahom king
During Aurangzeb's reign
Aurangzeb, after ascending on the throne of Delhi, ordered Mir Jumla to invade Cooch Behar and Assam and re-establish Mughal prestige in eastern India. After having occupied Koch Behar had also declared its independence. Mir Jumla entered Assam in the beginning of 1662. He easily repulsed the feeble resistance offered by the Assamese at the garrisons between Manaha and Guwahati. He occupied one garrison after another, and Pandu, Guwahati, and Kajali fell into the hands of the Mughals practically unopposed.
The easy success of Mir Jumla was due to dissatisfaction in the Assam camp. The leading commanders and the officers were the exclusive monopolies of the Tai-Ahom. But, King Jayadhwaj Singha had appointed a Kayastha as viceroy of Western Assam and commander-in-chief of the Ahom army despatch against Mir Jumla leading to resentment among the ranks. This officer was Manthir Bharali Barua of the Bejdoloi family. He was also appointed Parbatia Phukan. This appointment caused bitter resentment among the hereditary Ahom nobles and commanders and the resistance which they offered to the invaders was neither worthy of the efficient military organisation of the Ahoms nor of the reputation which they acquired by repeated success in their enterprises against foreigners, and Mir Jumla's march into Assam was an uninterrupted series of triumph and victories through the real secret of his success, namely, defection in Ahom camp, which has not been touched upon by any historian of the expedition.
The Ahoms, however, recovered their senses when the hostile force reached the neighbourhood of Kaliabor. They concentrated their defence at Simalugarh and Samdhara. In February 1662, Mir Jumla laid siege to Simalugarh and after a severe hand-to-hand fight, the Ahoms abandoned the fort and took to flight. The Ahom forces at Samdhara on the opposite bank, being unnerved by the fall of Simalugarh, left their charge without any opposition. After this brilliant success, Mir Jumla entered the Ahom capital Garhgaon on 17 March 1662. The Ahom king Jayadhwaj took shelter in the eastern hills abandoning his capital and all his treasures. Immense spoils fell into the hands of the Mughal Empire – 82 elephants, about 300,000 coins in gold and silver, 675 big guns, about 4750 maunds of gunpowder in boxes, 7828 shields, 1000 odd ships, and 173 stores of rice.
But, Mir Jumla conquered only the soil of Ahom capital and neither the king nor the country. Lines of outposts were established as they further advanced in order to maintain the lines of connection with Bengal, to desist Ahom raids and to keep a check over the territory. Mir Jumla adopted measures to win over the people by forbidding his expeditionaries from plundering property, rape/molestation of women etc., yet there were strong counter-narratives which alienated peoples feeling like the sacking of numerous temples and exhumation of graves.
The
The Ahoms took the fullest advantage of the unspeakable hardship of the Mughals. With the progress of
By the end of September, the worst was over. The rains decreased, and flood went down, roads reappeared and communications became easier. The contact with the Mughal fleet at Lakhau was restored which cheered the long-suffering Mughal garrison. The Mughal army under Mir Jumla joined the fleet at Devalgaon. The Ahom king Jayadhwaj Singha took refuge in the hills again. But in December, Mir Jumla fell seriously ill and the soldiers refused to advance any further. Meanwhile, the Ahom king became extremely anxious for peace. At last a treaty was concluded at Ghilajharighat in January 1663, according to which the Ahoms ceded western Assam to the Mughals and promised a war indemnity of three lakhs of rupees and ninety elephants. In addition, the king had to deliver his only child and daughter Ramani Gabharu, as well as his niece, the daughter of the Tipam Raja, to the harem of the Mughal emperor. Thus, according to the treaty Jayadhwaj Singha transferred Kamrup to the possession of the Mughals and promised to pay a heavy war indemnity.[12][13]
The question of prompt payment of war indemnity of elephants and cash became a source of friction between the Ahoms and the Mughals. The first installment was paid by Jayadhwaj promptly. But as soon as Mir Jumla withdrew from Assam the Ahoms began to default. Jayadhwaj Singha's successor
A large portion of the war indemnity still remained undelivered for which the Ahom king had to receive threatening letters from
Ram Singh's campaign
In December 1667, the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb received intelligence of the capture of Guwahati by the Ahoms, and he at once resolved to dispatch a strong army to reestablish Mughal prestige on their North-East frontier. He commissioned Raja
Also, the Ahoms had not quite completed their preparations for resisting
The result was that in the first two battles of the campaign were fought near Tezpur in the beginning of April 1669. The Ahoms were worsted on both occasions, but they won a naval battle, and soon afterwards repulsed the Muhammadans and Ram Singha was compelled to retire to Hajo where he quarreled with Rashid Khan. Eventually, Ram Singha cut his tent ropes and ordered him out of the camp.[29] Soon afterwards the Muhammadans were again defeated near Sualkuchi, both on land and water.
In the meantime
But Ram Singha repeated his demands for the evacuation of Guwahati and reversion to the status quo ante of the year 1639. The Barphukan remained firm in the position he had previously maintained. So war was inevitable between the two parties. But when the war was taking a more critical turn,
Although the negotiations with the Mughals continued, but Ram Singha suspected the sincerity of the Barphukan and returned to attack. Udayaditya renewed the war and ordered the Barphukan to march with 20,000 men from Samdhara to Saraighat. The Ahoms were successful on land but their navy was forced to retreat. Barphukan arrived with more ships and the Mughal army was beaten and the Ahoms also gained a second land victory. The Mughals could not stand the dash and fury of the Assamese onset. The Assamese were fighting for their life and liberty, and the Mughals for the mere luxury of triumph and territorial expansion. The Barphukan intended to chase them further still, but he was dissuaded by Achyutanda Doloi. The combat came to an end, and it was a decisive victory for the Assamese.[35][36] This battle is known in history as the Battle of Saraighat. Ram Singha, weakened by the repeated losses, retreated to Rangamati in March 1671. Hadira opposite to Goalpara became the Ahom frontier outpost. Thus the Mughals were evicted from Kamrup, strong fortifications were constructed at Guwahati. Thus Ahoms remained in undisturbed possession of their territories till 1679 A.D.[37]
Post-conflict
In 1679, during the reign of Sudoiphaa or Parvatiya Raja,
In 1681,
List of Conflicts
- Ahom victory
- Mughal victory
- Another result
Date | Conflict | Ahoms | Mughals (and allies) | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
1615 | Ahom–Mughal Wars (1615) | Ahom kingdom | Mughal empire
|
Initially Mughal gains but were unable to consolidate hold. Ahoms regained lost outposts. |
1615 | Capture of Barnagar | Ahom kingdom | Mughal empire
|
Ahoms regained lost outpost. |
1615 | Capture of Hajo | Ahom kingdom | Mughal empire
|
Ahoms regained lost outpost. |
1615 | Capture of Kajali | Ahom kingdom | Mughal empire
|
Ahoms regained lost outpost. |
1615 | Capture of Samdhora | Ahom kingdom | Mughal empire
|
Ahoms regained lost outpost. |
1616 | Battle of Samdhara | Ahom kingdom | Mughal empire
|
Decisive Ahom victory. |
1619 | Early Ahom-Mughal conflicts
|
Ahom kingdom | Mughal empire
|
Initially Mughals regained lost outposts.
|
1625 | Early Ahom-Mughal conflicts
|
Ahom kingdom | Mughal empire
|
Cease-fire at Kamrupa .
|
1636 | Early Ahom-Mughal conflicts
|
Ahom kingdom | Mughal empire
|
Mughals wins outposts.
|
1637 | Battle of Barepaita | Ahom kingdom | Mughal empire
|
Mughal victory.
|
1638 | Early Ahom-Mughal conflicts
|
Ahom kingdom | Mughal empire
|
Ahoms retains fort, Mughal retreats, Treaty of Asurar Ali signed. |
1638 | Capture of Samdhora | Ahom kingdom | Mughal empire
|
Ahoms retained fort, Mughals retreated. |
1648 | Battle of Kamrup | Ahom kingdom | Mughal empire
|
Ahoms routed Mughal forces. |
1648 | Battle of Dacca | Ahom kingdom | Mughal empire
|
Ahoms routed Mughal forces. |
1648 | Assam–Bengal border clashes | Ahom kingdom | Mughal empire
|
Ahoms forced Mughals to retreat near Assam-Bengal border. |
1648 | Ahom–Mughal wars (1648) | Ahom kingdom | Mughal empire
|
Ahoms routed Mughal forces near Assam-Bengal Border.
|
1662 | Mir Jumla II's campaigns on Ahom | Ahom kingdom | Mughal empire
|
Jayadhwaj Singha, Ahom king retreats, abandoned capital.
|
1662 | Mir Jumla II's campaigns on Ahom | Ahom kingdom | Mughal empire
|
Ahoms regained capital, Mughals retreated to Kamrup. |
1662 | Battle of Guwahati | Ahom kingdom | Mughal empire
|
Ahoms defeated Mughal forces. |
1662 | Battle of Mathurapur | Ahom kingdom | Mughal empire
|
Ahoms defeated Mughal forces. |
1663 | Mir Jumla II's campaigns on Ahom (1663) | Ahom kingdom | Mughal empire
|
Both parties are exhausted from the war and signs the Treaty of Ghilajharighat. |
1665 | Ahom Rebellion under Neog phukan | Ahom kingdom | Mughal empire
|
Mughal victory
|
1667 | Ram Singh I's campaigns on Ahom | Ahom kingdom | Mughal empire
|
Ahoms loses outposts, makes strategic retreat to Guwahati .
|
1667 | Battle of Guwahati | Ahom kingdom | Mughal empire
|
Ahoms routed Mughal forces. |
1667 | Battle of Itakhuli | Ahom kingdom | Mughal empire
|
Ahoms routed Mughal forces. |
1667 | Battle of Hajo | Ahom kingdom | Mughal empire
|
Ahoms routed Mughal forces. |
1667 | Assam–Bengal border clashes | Ahom kingdom | Mughal empire
|
Ahoms forces Mughals to retreat near Assam-Bengal border. |
1667 | Ram Singh I's campaigns on Ahom | Ahom kingdom | Mughal empire
|
Mughals to retreat to near Assam-Bengal Border
|
1669 | Battle of Tezpur | Ahom kingdom | Mughal empire
|
Mughal victory.[43]
|
1669 | Battle of Sualkuchi | Ahom kingdom | Mughal empire
|
Ahom defeated Mughal forces at Sualkuchi[44] |
1670 | Battle of Alaboi | Ahom kingdom | Mughal empire
|
Ahoms
|
1671 | Battle of Saraighat | Ahom kingdom | Mughal empire
|
Decisive win by Ahom, Ram Singh I retreats to Rangamati |
1679 | Capture of Guwahati | Ahom kingdom | Mughal empire
|
Mughals Captured the outpost.
|
1682 | Battle of Itakhuli | Ahom kingdom | Mughal empire
|
Ahom regains Kamrup up to Manas river and establishes firm reign over the area till advent of British in 1826 |
See also
- Ahom Dynasty
- Ahom kingdom
- Battle of Alaboi
- History of South Asiaseries)
Notes
- ^ "In the Battle of Itakhuli in September 1682, the Ahom forces chased the defeated Mughals nearly one hundred kilometers back to the Manas river. The Manas then became the Ahom-Mughal boundary until the British occupation." (Richards 1995, p. 247)
- ^ Abdul Hamid Lahori, Padshahanamah, vol.II, p.65
- ^ S.K. Bhuyan (ed), Kamarupar Buranji, pp.24, 25
- ^ Barua, Padmanath Gohain, Asamar Buranji, p.134
- ^ a b A. C. Roy, History of Bengal, pp. 162,163
- ^ S.K. Bhuyan, Lachit Barphukan And His Times, p.5
- ^ S.N. Bhattacharya, Mughal North-East Frontier Policy. pp. 285,286
- ^ A.C. Roy, History of Bengal, p.163.
- ^ Stewart Charles, History of Bengal, p.319
- ^ S.K. Bhuyan, Lachit Barphukan and His Times, p.5
- ^ A.C. Roy, History of Bengal, p.167
- ^ MS, Assam Buranji. No.6
- ^ S.K. Bhuyan, Lachit Barphukan And His Times, p.8
- ^ S.K. Bhuyan, Kamarupar Buranji, p.80
- ^ MS, Assam Buranji Nos. 7, 10, 15
- ^ MS, Assam Buranji, No.41
- ^ S.K. Bhuyan (ed), Assam Buranji, p.89
- ^ S.K. Bhuyan (ed), Aton Buragohain and His Times, pp. 35, 36, 53-55
- ^ H.K. Barpujari (ed), The Comprehensive History of Assam, vol. II, p.201
- ^ E.A. Gait, A History of Assam, p. 153
- ^ S.K. Datta, Assam Buranji, pp. 28-29
- ^ S.K. Bhuyan, Lachit Barphukan And His Times, pp. 28, 29
- ^ S.K. Bhuyan (ed), Assam Buranji (SM), pp. 112,113
- ^ S.K. Bhuyan (ed), Assam Buranji (SM), p.114
- ^ S.K. Datta, Assam Buranji, p.29
- ^ S.K. Bhuyan, Lachit Barphukan And His Times, pp. 47,48
- ^ S.K. Bhuyan, Lachit Barphukan And His Times, p. 48
- ^ E.A. Gait, A History of Assam, p. 155
- ^ a b E.A. Gait, A History of Assam, p. 156
- ^ MS, Assam Buranji, No. 12
- ^ S.K. Bhuyan, Lachit Barphukan And His Times, pp. 55, 58
- ^ Golap Chandra Barua, Ahom Buranji, pp. 208-209
- ^ S.K. Bhuyan, Lachit Barphukan And His Times, p. 65
- ^ S.K. Bhuyan, Lachit Barphukan And His Times, pp. 65,66,69,70.
- ^ S.K. Bhuyan (ed), Assam Buranji (SM), pp. 121-24
- ^ S.K. Bhuyan, Lachit Barphukan And His Times, p. 83
- ^ N.K. Basu, Assam in the Ahom Age, p.49
- ^ S.K. Bhuyan, Atan Buragohain And His Times
- ^ S.K. Bhuyan, Anglo-Assamese Relations, 1771-1826, p.5
- ^ S.K. Bhuyan, Lachit Barphukan And His Times, p. 89
- ^ Sir Edward Albert Gait, Edward Gait (1984). A History of Assam. LBS. p. 114.
- ^ Albert Gait, Sir Edward (1984). A History of Assam. LBS. p. 145.
- ISBN 9788126907038.
- ^ Edward Gait, Edward Albert Gait (1906). A History of Assam. Thacker, Spink & Co. p. 149.
- ^ History Association. Session, North East India (2000). Proceedings of North East India History Association Volume 21. The Association. p. 92.
References and further reading
- Roy, Kaushik. "Small Wars, Ecology, and Imperialism in Precolonial South Asia: A Case Study of Mughal-Ahom Conflict, 1615-1682." Journal of Military History 87.1 (2023) pp 1–31.
- Acharyya, N. N. The history of medieval Assam : (from the thirteenth to the seventeenth century) ; a critical and comprehensive history of Assam during the first four centuries of Ahom rule, based on original Assamese sources, available both in India and England (1992) online
- Richards, John F. (1995). The Mughal Empire. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0521566037. Retrieved 26 January 2013.
- Gogoi, Jahnabi (2002). Agrarian system of medieval Assam. Concept Publishing Company, New Delhi.
- Baruah, S L (1985), A Comprehensive History of Assam, Munshiram Manoharlal
- Barpujari, HK (1992). Barpujari, H K (ed.). The Comprehensive History of Assam. Vol. 2. Guwahati: Publication Board Assam.