Ahom
From Free net encyclopedia
| Revision as of 08:13, 5 April 2006 Jagged 85 (Talk | contribs) recorded history in India existed since the time of Buddha ← Previous diff |
Current revision Jagged 85 (Talk | contribs) recorded history in India existed since the time of Buddha |
Current revision
The Ahoms ruled parts of present-day Assam (in India) for nearly 600 years: from 1228 to 1826. Historical documents do not call the kingdom "Ahom". They call it "Asam" (or Assam), and the subjects of this kingdom "Assamese" or "Asamiya". After the advent of the British, the meanings of these categories changed. "Ahom" as a term appears in the Buranjis to denote the collection of civil and military officers under the Ahom king, all of which were non-hereditary offices.
Contents |
The beginning
In early 13th century, Sukaphaa, a Shan (Mong Mao) prince began his journey with about 9000 followers. He crossed the Patkai hills, fought and defeated the Nagas and reached the Brahmaputra valley in 1228. He moved from place to place, searching for a seat. He decided not to attack the Morans and Borahis but befriend them instead. His followers, much depleted from the original 9000, married into the Borahi and the Mataks. He finally established his capital at Chariadeo near present-day Sibsagar in 1253 and began the task of state formation.
Expansion
The Ahom kingdom then consolidated its powers for the next 300 years or so. The first major expansion was at the cost of the Chutiya kingdom, which was annexed in 1522 under Suhungmung. The expansion was not just a success of Ahom military prowess, but also a result of changes in the Ahom social and political outlook. For example, Suhungmung was the first Ahom king to adopt a Hindu name: Swarga Narayan. The Chutiya region was placed under the Sadiyakhowa Gohain a new position that was created. In 1536 the Kacharis were uprooted from their capital at Dimapur. Thus by the middle of the 16th century, the Ahoms were in control over eastern Assam. In early 17th century, the Ahoms came into conflict with the Mughals over the control of Koch Hajo. In the battle of Itakhuli in 1682 the Mughals were finally removed and the Ahoms got control over most of the Brahmaputra valley.
End of Ahom rule
Their power declined in later half of the 18th century. The capital city was taken for a short period during the Moamoria rebellion. In the first part of the 19th century, the Burmese army invaded their kingdom who set up a puppet Ahom king. The Burmese were defeated by the British in the First Anglo-Burmese War resulting in the Treaty of Yandaboo in 1826, which paved the way for the British to convert the Ahom kingdom into a principality and which marked the end of the Ahom rule.
The Ahoms
The Tai Ahoms who came into Assam followed their traditional religion and spoke the Tai language. They were a very small group numerically and after the first generation, the group was a mixture of the Tai and the local population. Over time the Ahom state adopted the Assamese language and kings and other high officials converted to Hinduism. Except for some special offices (the king and the raj mantris), other positions are open to members of all tribes and religion. They kept good records, and are known for their chronicles, called Buranjis.
One of its greatest achievements was the stemming of Mughal expansionism. In the celebrated battle of Saraighat, the Ahom general Lachit Borphukan defeated the Mughal forces on the outskirts of present day Guwahati in 1671.
State officials
The Ahom kings were called Swargadeos, and they did not necessarily rule from a single line. The kings were often selected from a small number of families, which were descendents of the first Ahom king. The selection was done by the two patro montris (the Bura-Gohain and Bor-Gohain). Later, three more offices was added to the patro montris (Borpatro-Gohain, Borborua and Borphukan). In times of long disputes, the patro montris ruled the country, which contributed to the long reign of Ahom kings. It also lead to much palace intrigues in the 17th and the 18th centuries contributing to the instability and finally the end of the Ahom kingdom.
See also
External links
- The Tai-Ahom connection by Yasmin Saikia in Gateway to the East, June 2005.