Ahom Dynasty
Encyclopedia
The Ahom Dynasty ruled the Ahom Kingdom
in present-day Assam
for nearly 600 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.
In medieval chronicles, the kings of this dynasty were called Asam Raja, whereas the subjects of the kingdom called them Chaopha (Chao-god, Pha-heaven), or as Swargadeo (the equivalent in Assamese
) from the 16th century.
: Chao-Pha, Assamese language
: Swargadeo), were descendants of the first king Sukaphaa
(1228–1268) who came to Assam from Mong Mao
in 1228. 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 position of Swargadeo was reserved for the descendants of Sukaphaa and they 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 became 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 matris (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 Singha, 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 One of his sons, Mohanmala, was superseded, who went on to lead a rebel group during the Moamoria rebellion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 (son of Kadam Dighala) and Purandar Singha (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, 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 Khunlung) and Syama (a low-caste woman), and were declared Indravamsa kshatriya
s, a lineage created for the Ahoms. Suhungmung adopted the title Swarganarayan, and the later kings were called Swargadeos (Lord of the heavens).
. Some of the earlier Moidams were looted by Mir Jumla in the 17th century, and are lost. Some later kings, especially with Siba Singha
(1714–1744), who were cremated had their ashes buried.
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. Buranji
s 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.
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.
(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.
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.
household. 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. Assamese coexisted with Tai till the reign of Pratap Singha (1603–1641), during whose rule Assamese became dominant. Sutamla (1648–1663) was the first Ahom king to be initiated into the Mahapuruxiya Dharma
. Mahapuruxiya pontiffs belonging to different sects began playing a greater role in state politics. After the chaos of the late 17th century, Gadadhar Singha
(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 Singha (1714–1744) formally adopted Saktism, the nemesis of the Mahapuruxiya sects. The persecution of the Mahapuruxiya Sattra
s under the Tunkhungiya rulers following Siba Singha was a crucial factor leading to the Moamoria rebellion
that greatly depleted the Ahom kingdom.
, who established he 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.
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).
Ahom kingdom
The Ahom Kingdom was a medieval kingdom in the Brahmaputra valley in Assam that maintained its sovereignty for nearly 600 years and successfully resisted Mughal expansion in North-East India...
in present-day Assam
Assam
Assam , also, rarely, Assam Valley and formerly the Assam Province , is a northeastern state of India and is one of the most culturally and geographically distinct regions of the country...
for nearly 600 years. The dynasty was established by Sukaphaa
Sukaphaa
Chaolung Sukaphaa , also Siu-Ka-Pha, the first Ahom king in medieval Assam, was the founder of the Ahom kingdom. A Tai prince originally from Mong Mao, the kingdom he established in 1228 existed for nearly six hundred years and in the process unified the various tribal and non-tribal peoples of...
, a Shan prince of Mong Mao
Mong Mao
Mong Mao or Mao kingdom was an ethnically Dai state that controlled several smaller Tai states or chieftainships along the frontier of what is now Myanmar and China in the Dehong region of Yunnan with a capital near the modern-day border town of Ruili...
who came to Assam after crossing the Patkai
Patkai
The Pat-kai meaning to Cut Chicken in Tai Ahom language are the hills on India's North Eastern border with Burma. They were created by the same tectonic processes that resulted in the formation of the Himalayain the Mesozoic . They are not as rugged as the Himalayas and its peaks are much lower...
mountains. The rule of this dynasty ended with the Burmese invasion of Assam
Burmese invasion of Assam
The Burmese invasion of Assam denotes the period between 1817 and 1826 when the Ahom Kingdom in Assam was under the control of the Burmese rulers. This period, called the manor din by the Assamese and Chahi-Taret Khuntakpa in Manipuri, is remembered with horror. It was the climactic period of the...
and the subsequent annexation by the British East India Company
British East India Company
The East India Company was an early English joint-stock company that was formed initially for pursuing trade with the East Indies, but that ended up trading mainly with the Indian subcontinent and China...
following the Treaty of Yandabo
Treaty of Yandabo
The Treaty of Yandabo was the peace treaty that ended the First Anglo-Burmese War. The treaty was signed on 24 February 1826, nearly two years after the war formally broke out on 5 March 1824, by General Sir Archibald Campbell on the British side, and by Governor of Legaing Maha Min Hla Kyaw Htin...
in 1826.
In medieval chronicles, the kings of this dynasty were called Asam Raja, whereas the subjects of the kingdom called them Chaopha (Chao-god, Pha-heaven), or as Swargadeo (the equivalent in Assamese
Assamese language
Assamese is the easternmost Indo-Aryan language. It is used mainly in the state of Assam in North-East India. It is also the official language of Assam. It is also spoken in parts of Arunachal Pradesh and other northeast Indian states. Nagamese, an Assamese-based Creole language is widely used in...
) from the 16th century.
Swargadeo
The Ahom kings (Ahom languageAhom language
The Ahom language is an extinct Tai language spoken by the Ahom people who ruled the Brahmaputra river valley in the Indian state of Assam between the 13th and the 18th centuries.- Other names :...
: Chao-Pha, Assamese language
Assamese language
Assamese is the easternmost Indo-Aryan language. It is used mainly in the state of Assam in North-East India. It is also the official language of Assam. It is also spoken in parts of Arunachal Pradesh and other northeast Indian states. Nagamese, an Assamese-based Creole language is widely used in...
: Swargadeo), were descendants of the first king Sukaphaa
Sukaphaa
Chaolung Sukaphaa , also Siu-Ka-Pha, the first Ahom king in medieval Assam, was the founder of the Ahom kingdom. A Tai prince originally from Mong Mao, the kingdom he established in 1228 existed for nearly six hundred years and in the process unified the various tribal and non-tribal peoples of...
(1228–1268) who came to Assam from Mong Mao
Mong Mao
Mong Mao or Mao kingdom was an ethnically Dai state that controlled several smaller Tai states or chieftainships along the frontier of what is now Myanmar and China in the Dehong region of Yunnan with a capital near the modern-day border town of Ruili...
in 1228. 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 position of Swargadeo was reserved for the descendants of Sukaphaa and they 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
Atan Burhagohain
Atan Burhagohain was one of the most influential Burhagohains in the nearly 600 years of the Ahom kingdom. Atan Burhagohain Rajmantri Dangaria was the Prime Minister of Assam for more than seventeen years, January 1662 to March 1679...
to became 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 matris (council of ministers—Burhagohain
Burhagohain
Burhagohain was the first of the two original counsellors in the Ahom kingdom. He was selected by the Ahom king from members of the Ahom nobility , who was not eligible for the position of Ahom kingship. The other original counsellor is the Borgohain. Both the positions existed from the time of...
, Borgohain
Borgohain
Borgohain was the second of the two original counsellors in the Ahom kingdom. He was selected by the Ahom king from members of the Ahom nobility , who was not eligible for the position of Ahom kingship. The other original counsellor is the Burhagohain. Both the positions existed from the time of...
, Borpatrogohain
Borpatrogohain
Borpatrogohain was the third of the three great Gohains in the Ahom kingdom. This position was created by Suhungmung Dihingia Raja specially for an Ahom prince who grew up in a Naga chieftains house. This position was reserved for the descendant of the first Borpatrogohain, Kancheng, who was the...
, Borbarua
Borbarua
Borbarua was one of the five patra mantris in the Ahom kingdom, a position created by the Ahom king Prataap Singha...
and Borphukan
Borphukan
Borphukan was one of the five patra mantris 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...
). 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 Singha, 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
Moamoria rebellion
The Moamoria rebellion was the 18th century conflict between the Morans, adherents of the Moamara Sattra, and the Ahom kings. This led to widespread popular discontent against the Ahom king and the nobles and to two periods in which the Ahom king lost control of the capital...
. The later kings and officers exploited the unblemished rule, leading to weak kings being instated. Kamaleswar Singha (son of Kadam Dighala) and Purandar Singha (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, who had come down from the heavens and ruled Mong-Ri-Mong-Ram. During the reign of Suhungmung
Suhungmung
Suhungmung , was one of the most important 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...
(1497–1539) which saw the composition of the first Assamese Buranji
Buranji
Buranjis are a class of historical chronicles written in the Ahom and Assamese languages. The first such Buranji was written on the instructions of the first Ahom king Sukaphaa who established the Ahom kingdom in 1228...
and increased Hindu influence, the Ahom kings were traced to the union of Indra
Indra
' or is the King of the demi-gods or Devas and Lord of Heaven or Svargaloka in Hindu mythology. He is also the God of War, Storms, and Rainfall.Indra is one of the chief deities in the Rigveda...
(identified with Khunlung) and Syama (a low-caste woman), and were declared Indravamsa kshatriya
Kshatriya
*For the Bollywood film of the same name see Kshatriya Kshatriya or Kashtriya, meaning warrior, is one of the four varnas in Hinduism...
s, a lineage created for the Ahoms. Suhungmung adopted the title Swarganarayan, and the later kings were called Swargadeos (Lord of the heavens).
Coronation
The Swargadeo's coronation was called singari-ghar-utha, 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. Kamaleshwar Singha (1795–1811) and Chandrakanta Singha's (1811–1818) coronations were not performed on the instructions of Purnananda Burhagohain. Kings who died in office were buried in vaults called Moidam, at CharaideoCharaideo
Charaideo was the first capital of the Ahom kingdom established by the first Ahom king Chao Lung Siu-Ka-Pha in 1228. It is about 30 km from Sibsagar town off the Sibsagar-Simaluguri road.Though the capital of the Ahom kingdom moved many times, Charaideo remained the symbolic center...
. Some of the earlier Moidams were looted by Mir Jumla in the 17th century, and are lost. Some later kings, especially with Siba Singha
Siba Singha
Sutanphaa was a King in Assam in the early 18th Century.-The Reign:As per wish of Swargadeo Rudra Singha from his deathbed, he was succeeded by his eldest son Siba Singha ....
(1714–1744), who were cremated had their ashes buried.
On ascent, the king would generally assume an Ahom name decided by the Ahom priests. The name generally ended in Pha (Tai
Ahom language
The Ahom language is an extinct Tai language spoken by the Ahom people who ruled the Brahmaputra river valley in the Indian state of Assam between the 13th and the 18th centuries.- Other names :...
: Lord), e.g. Susenghphaa
Susenghphaa
Susenghphaa , also 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...
. Later kings also assumed a Hindu name that ended in Singha (Assamese
Assamese language
Assamese is the easternmost Indo-Aryan language. It is used mainly in the state of Assam in North-East India. It is also the official language of Assam. It is also spoken in parts of Arunachal Pradesh and other northeast Indian states. Nagamese, an Assamese-based Creole language is widely used in...
: Lion): Susengphaa assumed the name Pratap Singha. Buranji
Buranji
Buranjis are a class of historical chronicles written in the Ahom and Assamese languages. The first such Buranji was written on the instructions of the first Ahom king Sukaphaa who established the Ahom kingdom in 1228...
s 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
Assamese language
Assamese is the easternmost Indo-Aryan language. It is used mainly in the state of Assam in North-East India. It is also the official language of Assam. It is also spoken in parts of Arunachal Pradesh and other northeast Indian states. Nagamese, an Assamese-based Creole language is widely used in...
: 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 BurhagohainBurhagohain
Burhagohain was the first of the two original counsellors in the Ahom kingdom. He was selected by the Ahom king from members of the Ahom nobility , who was not eligible for the position of Ahom kingship. The other original counsellor is the Borgohain. Both the positions existed from the time of...
and the Borgohain
Borgohain
Borgohain was the second of the two original counsellors in the Ahom kingdom. He was selected by the Ahom king from members of the Ahom nobility , who was not eligible for the position of Ahom kingship. The other original counsellor is the Burhagohain. Both the positions existed from the time of...
. The last four were priestly lineages. Sukhramphaa (1332–1364) established the position of Charing Raja which came to be reserved for the heir apparent
Heir apparent
An heir apparent or heiress apparent is a person who is first in line of succession and cannot be displaced from inheriting, except by a change in the rules of succession....
. 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
Suhungmung
Suhungmung , was one of the most important 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...
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) . During the reign of Siba SinghaSiba Singha
Sutanphaa was a King in Assam in the early 18th Century.-The Reign:As per wish of Swargadeo Rudra Singha from his deathbed, he was succeeded by his eldest son 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.
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 Chomdeo a non-Hindu, non-Buddhist god, 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. The first Hindu influence was cast during the reign of Sudaangphaa Bamuni Konwar (1397–1407), who had grown up in a BrahminBrahmin
Brahmin Brahman, Brahma and Brahmin.Brahman, Brahmin and Brahma have different meanings. Brahman refers to the Supreme Self...
household. Suhungmung
Suhungmung
Suhungmung , was one of the most important 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...
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. Assamese coexisted with Tai till the reign of Pratap Singha (1603–1641), during whose rule Assamese became dominant. Sutamla (1648–1663) was the first Ahom king to be initiated into the Mahapuruxiya Dharma
Mahapuruxiya dharma
Ekasarana Dharma is a monotheistic religion founded and propagated by Srimanta Sankardeva in the 15th century. Most of the adherents of this religion today live in the Indian state of Assam...
. Mahapuruxiya pontiffs belonging to different sects began playing a greater role in state politics. After the chaos of the late 17th century, Gadadhar Singha
Supaatphaa
Supaatpha , or Gadadhar Singha, established the rule of the Tungkhungia clan of the Ahom kings that ruled the Ahom kingdom till its climactic end. He was the son of Gobar Raja, a descendant of Suhungmung, and who had become the king for a mere 20 days...
(1681–1696), the first Tungkhungiya king began his rule with a deep distrust of these religious groups. His son and successor Rudra Singha
Sukhrungphaa
Sukhrungphaa , or Rudra Singha, was a Tungkhungia king of the Ahom kingdom under whom the kingdom reached its zenith of power and glory. Rudra Singha, known as Lai before he became the king, was the son of the previous Ahom king Gadadhar Singha...
(1696–1714) searched for an alternative state religion, and his son and successor Siba Singha (1714–1744) formally adopted Saktism, the nemesis of the Mahapuruxiya sects. The persecution of the Mahapuruxiya Sattra
Sattra
Satras are socio-religious institutions in the Assam region of India that belong to the Mahapuruxiya Dharma. Monks, called bhakats, live in satras under a satradhikar. In some orders of the religion, the bhakats are celibate . The satras are not merely religious institutions but play cultural...
s under the Tunkhungiya rulers following Siba Singha was a crucial factor leading to the Moamoria rebellion
Moamoria rebellion
The Moamoria rebellion was the 18th century conflict between the Morans, adherents of the Moamara Sattra, and the Ahom kings. This led to widespread popular discontent against the Ahom king and the nobles and to two periods in which the Ahom king lost control of the capital...
that greatly depleted the Ahom kingdom.
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 SukaphaaSukaphaa
Chaolung Sukaphaa , also Siu-Ka-Pha, the first Ahom king in medieval Assam, was the founder of the Ahom kingdom. A Tai prince originally from Mong Mao, the kingdom he established in 1228 existed for nearly six hundred years and in the process unified the various tribal and non-tribal peoples of...
, who established he kingdom; Suhungmung
Suhungmung
Suhungmung , was one of the most important 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...
, who made the greatest territorial and political expansion of the kingdom; and Supaatphaa
Supaatphaa
Supaatpha , or Gadadhar Singha, established the rule of the Tungkhungia clan of the Ahom kings that ruled the Ahom kingdom till its climactic end. He was the son of Gobar Raja, a descendant of Suhungmung, and who had become the king for a mere 20 days...
, 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.
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).
| Years | Reign | Ahom name | Other names | succession | End of reign | Capital |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1228–1268 | 40y | Sukaphaa Sukaphaa Chaolung Sukaphaa , also Siu-Ka-Pha, the first Ahom king in medieval Assam, was the founder of the Ahom kingdom. A Tai prince originally from Mong Mao, the kingdom he established in 1228 existed for nearly six hundred years and in the process unified the various tribal and non-tribal peoples of... |
natural death | Charaideo Charaideo Charaideo was the first capital of the Ahom kingdom established by the first Ahom king Chao Lung Siu-Ka-Pha in 1228. It is about 30 km from Sibsagar town off the Sibsagar-Simaluguri road.Though the capital of the Ahom kingdom moved many times, Charaideo remained the symbolic center... |
||
| 1268–1281 | 13y | Sutephaa | son of Sukaphaa | natural death | Charaideo | |
| 1281–1293 | 8y | Subinphaa | son of Sutephaa | natural death | Charaideo | |
| 1293–1332 | 39y | Sukhaangphaa Sukhaangphaa Sukhaangphaa was the 4th Ahom king.-Reign:Under Sukhaangpha, the Ahom kingdom entered into the first major conflict with their neighbors. The Ahom kingdom fought a long war, beginning about 1324, against the Kamata king Pratapdhvaj. The war did not end in a win for either, but concluded in a... |
son of Subinphaa | natural death | Charaideo | |
| 1332–1364 | 32y | Sukhrampha | son of Sukhaangphaa | natural death | Charaideo | |
| 1364–1369 | 5y | Interregnum | ||||
| 1369–1376 | 7y | Sutuphaa | brother of Sukhramphaa | assassinated | Charaideo | |
| 1376–1380 | 4y | Interregnum | ||||
| 1380–1389 | 9y | Tyao Khaamti | son of Sukhaangphaa | assassinated | Charaideo | |
| 1389–1397 | 8y | Interregnum | ||||
| 1397–1407 | 10y | Sudangphaa | Baamuni Kunwar | son of Tyao Khaamti | 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 | ||
| 1493–1497 | 4y | Supimphaa | son of Suhenphaa | natural death | ||
| 1497–1539 | 42y | Suhungmung Suhungmung Suhungmung , was one of the most important 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... |
Swarganarayan, Dihingiaa Rojaa I |
son of Supimphaa | assassinated | Bakata Bakata Bakata was the capital of the Ahom kingdom established by the Ahom king Suhungmung. Since this capital was by the Dihing river, Suhungmung is also known as the Dihingia Raja. The next king, Suklenmung, moved the capital to Garhgaon.... |
| 1539–1552 | 13y | Suklenmung Suklenmung Suklenmung was a king of the Ahom kingdom in medieval Assam. Since he established his capital at Garhgaon , he is also called the Garhgaiya roja in the Buranjis... |
Garhgayaan Rojaa | son of Suhungmung | natural death | Garhgaon Garhgaon Garhgaon was the capital of the Ahom kingdom for many years. It was built by the Ahom king Suklenmung in 1540. It lies 13 km east of present-day Sibsagar town. The palace structures were made of wood and stones... |
| 1552–1603 | 51y | Sukhaamphaa | Khuraa Rojaa | son of Suklenmung | natural death | Garhgaon |
| 1603–1641 | 38y | Susenghphaa Susenghphaa Susenghphaa , also 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... |
Prataap Singha, Burhaa Rojaa, Buddhiswarganarayan |
son of Sukhaamphaa | natural death | Garhgaon |
| 1641–1644 | 3y | Suramphaa Suramphaa Suremphaa , or Rajeswar Singha, the fourth son of Rudra Singha, became the king of the Ahom kingdom after the death of his brother King Pramatta Singha. Rudra Singha's third son, Mohanmala Gohain, was considered ineligible for kingship as his face was pitted with smallpox marks... |
Jayaditya Singha, Bhogaa Rojaa |
son of Susenghphaa | deposed | Garhgaon |
| 1644–1648 | 4y | Sutingphaa Sutingphaa Sutingphaa was a king of the Ahom kingdom. He was sickly and had scoliosis, and thus was also known as noriya roja and kekura roja. He was often unable to attend to public duties and had to be carried in a palanquin.-Ascension:... |
Noriyaa Rojaa | brother of Suramphaa | deposed | Garhgaon |
| 1648–1663 | 15y | Sutamla Sutamla Jayadhwaj Singha' Sutamla was the 20th Ahom king who ruled the Ahom kingdom. During his reign the Mughal viceroy at Bengal Mir Jumla II invaded and occupied his capital Garhgaon as a result of which he had to retreat to the Namrup area, and because of this flight he is also known as the... |
Jayadhwaj Singha, Bhoganiyaa Rojaa |
son of Sutingphaa | natural death | Garhgaon/Bakata |
| 1663–1670 | 7y | Supangmung Supangmung Supangmung , also known as Chakradhwaj Singha, was an important Ahom king under whom the Ahom kingdom took back Guwahati from the Mughals following the reverses at the hands of Mir Jumla and the Treaty of Ghilajharighat... |
Chakradhwaj Singha | cousin of Sutamla | natural death | Bakata/Garhgaon |
| 1670–1672 | 2y | Sunyatphaa | Udayaaditya Singha | brother of Supangmung | deposed | |
| 1672–1674 | 2y | Suklamphaa | Ramadhwaj Singha | brother of Sunyatphaa | poisoned | |
| 1674–1675 | 21d | Suhunga | Samaguria Rojaa | Samaguria descendant of Suhungmung | deposed | |
| 1675-1675 | 24d | Gobar Rojaa | great-grandson of Suhungmung | deposed | ||
| 1675–1677 | 2y | Sujinphaa | Arjun Konwar, Dihingia Rojaa II |
grandson of Pratap Singha, son of Namrupian Gohain | deposed, suicide | |
| 1677–1679 | 2y | Sudoiphaa | Parvatia Rojaa | great-grandson of Suhungmung | deposed, killed | |
| 1679–1681 | 3y | Sulikphaa | Ratnadhwaj Singha, Loraa Rojaa |
Samaguria family | deposed, killed | |
| 1681–1696 | 15y | Supaatphaa Supaatphaa Supaatpha , or Gadadhar Singha, established the rule of the Tungkhungia clan of the Ahom kings that ruled the Ahom kingdom till its climactic end. He was the son of Gobar Raja, a descendant of Suhungmung, and who had become the king for a mere 20 days... |
Gadadhar Singha | son of Gobar Rojaa | natural death | Borkola |
| 1696–1714 | 18y | Sukhrungphaa Sukhrungphaa Sukhrungphaa , or Rudra Singha, was a Tungkhungia king of the Ahom kingdom under whom the kingdom reached its zenith of power and glory. Rudra Singha, known as Lai before he became the king, was the son of the previous Ahom king Gadadhar Singha... |
Rudra Singha | son of Supaatphaa | natural death | Rangpur Rangpur (Ahom capital) Rangpur, one of the capitals of the Ahom kingdom, was established by the Swargadeo Rudra Singha in 1707 . It is currently a part of the Sibsagar town. Many historical monuments of the Ahom era;the Kareng Ghar, Talatal Ghar, Rang Ghar are located here.... |
| 1714–1744 | 30y | Sutanphaa | Siba Singha Siba Singha Sutanphaa was a King in Assam in the early 18th Century.-The Reign:As per wish of Swargadeo Rudra Singha from his deathbed, he was succeeded by his eldest son Siba Singha .... |
son Sukhrungphaa | natural death | |
| 1744–1751 | 7y | Sunenphaa Sunenphaa Sunenphaa , or Pramatta Singha, Rudra Singha's second son, ascended the throne after the death of his brother Siba Singha. He assumed the Ahom name Sunenphaa. He was a kind and lenient ruler and his reign of seven years was peaceful and prosperous. In 1745 he initiated fresh land survey and census... |
Pramatta Singha | brother of Sutanphaa | natural death | |
| 1751–1769 | 18y | Suremphaa | Rajeswar Singha | brother of Sunenphaa | natural death | |
| 1769–1780 | 11y | Sunyeophaa Sunyeophaa Sunyeophaa , also called Lakshmi Singha, was an Ahom king. Shortly after he was installed he became a captive of the rebels of the Moamoria rebellion for a few months but soon regained his kingdom.... |
Lakshmi Singha | brother of Suremphaa | natural death | |
| 1780–1795 | 15y | Suhitpangphaa Suhitpangphaa Suhitpangphaa , also Gaurinath Singha, was an Ahom king of the Ahom kingdom. He lost his capital Rangpur to the Moamoria rebellion and camped in the Nagaon and Guwahati region till Captain Welsh removed the rebels. Thereafter he established his capital at Jorhat, the Burhagohain's base during the... |
Gaurinath Singha | son of Sunyeophaa | natural death | Jorhat |
| 1795–1811 | 16y | Suklingphaa Suklingphaa Suklingphaa , or Kamaleswar Singha, was a king of the Ahom kingdom. He was the great-grandson of Lechai, the banished brother of Rudra Singha. He was installed by Purnananda Burhagohain when he was a minor. The Burhagohain and the young king's father, Kadam Dighala, exerted considerable influence... |
Kamaleswar Singha | great-grandson of Lechai, the brother of Rudra Singha | natural death, small pox | Jorhat |
| 1811–1818 | 17y | Sudingphaa (1) | Chandrakaanta Singha | brother of Suklingphaa | deposed | Jorhat |
| 1818–1819 | 1y | Purandar Singha (1) | descendant of Suremphaa | deposed | Jorhat | |
| 1819–1821 | 2y | Sudingphaa (2) | Chandrakaanta Singha | fled the capital | ||
| 1821–1822 | 1y | Jogeshwar Singha | brother of Hemo Aideo, puppet of Burmese ruler | removed | ||
| 1833–1838 | Purandar Singha (2) |
External links
- A mighty clan's website An article by Saikh Md Sabah Al-Ahmed in The Assam Tribune "Horizon", Saturday special, dated September 19, 2009
- Coins of Ahom Dynasty