Ahom dynasty

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Ahom dynasty
List of Ahom kings
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
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The Ahom dynasty (1228–1826) ruled the

British East India Company following the Treaty of Yandabo
in 1826.

In external medieval chronicles the kings of this dynasty were called Asam Raja, whereas the subjects of the kingdom called them

Chaopha, or Swargadeo (in Assamese).[1]

Ahom Kingdom (Chao-Pha / Swargadeo)

Garhgaon Kareng Ghar royal residence of Ahom kings, 1872.

The office of the

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—

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.[3] Suhungmung adopted the title Swarganarayan, and the later kings were called Swargadeo's (literal meaning: 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

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 (

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

Gadadhar Singha
(1681–1696) and his descendants ruled till the end of the Ahom kingdom.

Queens

Siva Singha
.

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).

Siva 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

Siva Singha (left) and queen Ambika
(right) receiving a copy of Ms. Dharma Purana from the author.

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.

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

Bodyguards of Ahom kings.

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 Sukhaamphaa alias Khora Raja that protected the capital (under the Bajua Hilaidari Konwar) and the palace and environs (Bhitarual Hilaidari Konwar).[11]

The protection of the king was strictly taken into measure. Several classes of highly trusted guards were entrusted with the duty of protecting the king, which were duly supervised by the superior officers. (i) Hendangdhara or persons wielding hengdang were the personal bodyguards of the king. (ii) Chabukdhara, wielding whip, preceded the king whenever he moved out. (iii) Da-dhara or guards holding swords accompanied the king on his side. (iv) Dangdhara or guards carrying baton, moved around the side of the king.[12]

Patronage to Art

Main article: Painting of Assam
Ms. Brahma Vaivarta Purna, reproduced at the patronage of Ahom king Purandar Singha in 1836.

The Ahom kings particularly of the tungkhungia house were great patrons of art, they encouraged the art of manuscript painting. Under their patronage, a great number of highly illustrated manuscripts were produced and a new school of art emerged as the 'Garhgaon school'. This school of art broke away from the already existing 'Sattriya school', with much secular influence. Richly illustrated manuscripts such as– Gita Govinda, Dharma Purana, Sankachura Vadh, Hastividyarnava, Ananda Lahiri, Bhagavata Purana VI, Brhamavaivarta Purana, etc., are all products of the royal court.[13][14]

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

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).[15]

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[16]
1369–1376 7y Sutuphaa brother of Sukhrangphaa[17] assassinated[18] Charaideo
1376–1380 4y Interregnum
1380–1389 9y Tyao Khamti brother of Sutuphaa assassinated[19] Charaideo
1389–1397 8y Interregnum
1397–1407 10y Sudangphaa Baamuni Konwar son of Tyao Khaamti[20] 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[21]
1493–1497 4y Supimphaa son of Suhenphaa natural death
1497–1539 42y Suhungmung
Swarganarayan
,
Dihingiaa Rojaa I 		son of Supimphaa assassinated[22] 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[23] Garhgaon
1644–1648 4y Sutingphaa Noriyaa Rojaa brother of Suramphaa deposed[24] 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[25] natural death Bakata/Garhgaon
1670–1672 2y Sunyatphaa Udayaditya Singha brother of Supangmung[26] deposed[27]
1672–1674 2y Suklamphaa Ramadhwaj Singha brother of Sunyatphaa poisoned[28]
1674–1675 21d Suhung[29] Samaguria Rojaa Khamjang Samaguria descendant of Suhungmung deposed[30]
1675-1675 24d Gobar Roja great-grandson of Suhungmung[31] deposed[32]
1675–1677 2y Sujinphaa[33] Arjun Konwar,
Dihingia Rojaa II 		grandson of Pratap Singha, son of Namrupian Gohain deposed, suicide[34]
1677–1679 2y Sudoiphaa Parvatia Rojaa great-grandson of Suhungmung[35] deposed, killed[36]
1679–1681 3y Sulikphaa Ratnadhwaj Singha,
Loraa Rojaa 		Samaguria family deposed, killed[37]
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[38] natural death, smallpox Jorhat
1811–1818 7y Sudingphaa (1)
Chandrakaanta Singha
 brother of Suklingphaa deposed[39] Jorhat
1818–1819 1y Purandar Singha (1) descendant of Suremphaa[39] deposed[40] Jorhat
1819–1821 2y Sudingphaa (2)
Chandrakaanta Singha
 fled the capital[41]
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[42] removed[43]
1833–1838 Purandar Singha (2)[44]

Family tree

Ahom dynasty
Sukaphaa
(1)
r. 1228-1268
Suteuphaa
(2)
r. 1268-1281
Subinphaa
(3)
r. 1281-1293
Sukhaangphaa
(4)
r. 1293-1332
Sukhrangpha
(5)
r. 1332-1364		Sutuphaa
(6)
r. 1369-1376		Tyao Khamti
(7)
r. 1380-1387
Sudangphaa
(8)
r. 1397-1407
Sujangphaa
(9)
r. 1407-1422
Suphakphaa
(10)
r. 1422-1439
Susenphaa
(11)
r. 1439-1488
Suhenphaa
(12)
r. 1488-1493
Supimphaa
(13)
r. 1493-1497
Suhungmung
(14)
r. 1497-1539
Charingia
Branch		Samuguria
Branch		Tungkhungia
Branch		Parvatia
Branch
Suklenmung
(15)
r. 1539-1552		Sureng
Deoraja		Suteng
Namrupia
Raja		Parvatia
Deka Raja
Sukhaamphaa
(16)
r. 1552-1603		Namrupia
Raja		Narayan
Tipam Raja		Suhung
(24)
r. 1674-1675		Saranga
Gohain		Chukrang
Konwar
Susenghphaa
(17)
r. 1603-1641		Supangmung
(21)
r. 1663-1670		Sunyatphaa
(22)
r. 1670-1672		Suklamphaa
(23)
r. 1672-1674		Son of
Narayan
Tipam Raja		Gobar Roja
(25)
r. 1675		Sudoiphaa
(27)
r. 1677-1679
Suramphaa
(18)
r. 1641-1644		Sutingphaa
(19)
r. 1644-1648		Namrupia
Raja Tailai		Sulikphaa
(28)
r. 1679-1681		Supatphaa
(29)
r. 1681-1696		Jambar Gohain
Sutamla
(20)
r. 1648-1663		Sujinphaa
(26)
r. 1675-1677		Sukhrungphaa
(30)
r. 1696-1714		Lechai
Namrupia
Raja		Sriram
Sutanphaa
(31)
r. 1714-1744		Sunenphaa
(32)
r. 1744-1751		Suremphaa
(33)
r. 1751-1769		Sunyeophaa
(34)
r. 1769-1780		AyusutLangal
Ratneswar
Saru Gohain		Suhitpangphaa
(35)
r. 1780-1795		Kadamdighala
Gohain		Pirika
Bijoy
Barmura
Gohain		Suklingphaa
(36)
r. 1795-1811		Sudingphaa
(37)
r. 1811-1818,
1819-1821		Baga
Konwar
Tipam Raja
Brajanath
Gohain		Jogeswar
Singha
(39)
r. 1821-1822
Purandar
Singha
(38)
r. 1818-1819,
1833-1838

Notes

  1. ^ "Suhungmung adopted the title Swarganarayan. Later kings were known as Swargadeo". Archived from the original on 11 August 2023. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  2. ^ See Sukaphaa for the origin and journey of the first Ahom king into Assam.
  3. Puranic
    history the two accepted royal families are Chandravamsi and Suryavamsi.
  4. ^ "Standard Catalog of World Coins 1601-1700, "The earliest Ahom coins known therefore were struck during the reign of Jayadhwaj Singha."". Archived from the original on 9 April 2023. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  5. ^ (Gogoi 1968:546–547)
  6. ^ (Gogoi 2006, p. 64)
  7. ^ a b (Gogoi 2006, p. 65)
  8. ^ (Gogoi 1968, p. 283)
  9. ^ Sutamla accepted Ekasarana initiation in 1654. (Gogoi 1968, p. 433)
  10. ^ (Gogoi 2006, p. 66)
  11. ^ (Baruah 1993, p. 19)
  12. ^ (Sarkar 1992:13)
  13. ^ (Basu 1970:315)
  14. ^ (Sarkar 1992:393)
  15. ^ (Gogoi 1968:534–535)
  16. ^ 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 1993, p. 282)
  17. ^ 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)
  18. Chutiya kingdom on a barge ride on Suffry river (Gogoi 1968
    :273).
  19. ^ Sukhangphaa and his chief queen were deposed and executed by the ministers for their autocratic rule (Gogoi 1968:274).
  20. ^ Sudangphaa Bamuni Konwar was born to the second queen of Tyao Khamti in a Brahmin household of Habung (Gogoi 1968:274–275).
  21. ^ Suhenphaa was speared to death in his palace by a Tai-Turung chief in revenge for being accused of theft (Gogoi 1968:282).
  22. ^ Suhungmung was assassinated by a palace staff in a plot engineered by his son, Suklenmung (Gogoi 1968:309).
  23. ^ 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.
  24. ^ 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).
  25. ^ Supangmung was grandson of Suleng (Deo Raja), the second son of Suhungmung (Gogoi 1968:448).
  26. ^ The Maju Gohain, the brother of Chakradhwaj Singha, became the king. (Gogoi 1968, p. 470)
  27. Gadadhar Singha
    .
  28. ^ Ramadhwaj Sinha was poisoned on the instructions of Debera Borbarua when he tried to assert his authority (Gogoi 1968:484).
  29. ^ Deyell, John S. Ahom Language Coins of Assam.
  30. ^ 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).
  31. ^ Gobar Rojaa was the son of Saranga, the son of Suten, the son of Suhungmung Dihingiya Roja.
  32. ^ 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.
  33. ^ 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)
  34. ^ 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).
  35. ^ Sudoiphaa was the grandson of Suhungmung's third son, Suteng (Gogoi 1968:490).
  36. ^ 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).
  37. Gadadhar Singha (Gogoi 1968
    :496–497).
  38. 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).
  39. ^ a b Chandrakanta Singha was deposed by Ruchinath Burhagohain, mutilated and confined as a prisoner near Jorhat (Baruah 1993:221). 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).
  40. ^ 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 1993:221–222).
  41. ^ Chandrakanta Singha fled to Guwahati when the army of Bagyidaw king of Burma, led by Mingimaha Tilwa, approached Jorhat (Baruah 1993:223).
  42. ^ Jogeshwar Singha was the brother of Hemo Aideu, one of the queens of Bagyidaw. He was installed as the king by Mingimaha Tilwa (Baruah 1993:223).
  43. ^ 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 1993:225).
  44. ^ Purandar Singha was set up by the East India Company as the tributary Raja of Upper Assam (Baruah 1993:244).

References

  • Baruah, S. L. (1993), Last Days of Ahom Monarchy, Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers Pvt Ltd, New Delhi
  • Gait, Edward (1906), A History of Assam, Thacker, Spink & Co, Calcutta
  • Gogoi, Nitul Kumar (2006), Continuity And Change Among The Tai-Ahom, Concept Publishing Company
  • Gogoi, Padmeshwar (1968), The Tai and the Tai kingdoms, Gauhati University, Guwahati
  • Sarkar, J. N. (1992), "Chapter I The Ahom Administration", in Barpujari, H. K. (ed.), The Comprehensive History of Assam, vol. III, Guwahati: Assam Publication Board, pp. 1–86
  • Basu, NK (1970). Assam in the Ahom Age, 1228-1826: Being Politico-economic and Socio-cultural Studies. Sanskrit Pustak Bhandar.

External links

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