Ahoms : Kingdom who defeated mughals 17 Times

Ahoms : Kingdom who defeated mughals 17 Times

The Assam region of northeastern India was ruled over for about 600 years by the Ahom Kingdom, a significant historical kingdom. In the 13th century, an ethnic group of Tai descent known as the Ahoms moved from what is now Myanmar (Burma) and established their empire in the Brahmaputra Valley.

In 1228 CE, Sukaphaa, the Ahom Kingdom's founder, created the dynastic foundation. The Kachari kingdom and nearby tribal tribes first posed threats to the Ahoms, but they eventually enlarged their domain and solidified their authority.

Swargadeo Rudra Singha (1696–1714) was the king during whose reign the Ahom Kingdom reached its pinnacle. He established administrative reforms, gave stability to the kingdom, and promoted the growth of the arts and culture. The Ahoms had a monarchy and a decentralised political structureof nobles that oversaw different provinces and a monarchy at its core.

The Mughal Empire, the Manipuri Kingdom, and the Burmese were only a few of the foreign powers that the Ahoms successfully resisted in their invasions and assaults. They established a powerful force that was renowned for its cutting-edge strategies and expert combatants. Famous military commanders like Lachit Borphukan and Piyoli Phukan were important to the kingdom's defence.

Both indigenous customs and Hinduism, which was adopted as the official religion by Swargadeo Supaatphaa, had an impact on the Ahom civilization. The Ahoms supported regional customs and practises while preserving their unique cultural identity.

The Ahom Kingdom experienced internal strife, political unrest, and foreign pressure from Burma and the British East India Company during the 19th century. After the First Anglo-Burmese War, the British eventually seized the Ahom Kingdom, which was then a part of British India, in 1826.

The Ahom Kingdom's legacy is still having a substantial effect on Assam's cultural and historical landscape. The Ahom people, who remain in Assam and the surrounding areas, are proud of their rich heritage and the contributions made by the Ahom dynasty to the history and culture of the area.

Ahoms ruled Assam for 600 years defeating the Mughals 17 times soundly in battle

Map of Ahom Kingdom

Ahom and Mughal wars

Throughout its history, the Ahom Kingdom participated in a number of notable conflicts and military operations. The Ahoms participated in the following notable conflicts:

1. Battle of Itakhuli (1662): The Mughal Empire and the Ahom Kingdom, led by King Gadadhar Singha, engaged in combat in the Battle of Itakhuli (1682). The Ahoms successfully defended their kingdom and defeated the Mughal soldiers as they attempted to conquer Assam under the command of Ram Singh.
2. Battle of Laika-Digarh (1671): One of the most well-known conflicts in Ahom history is the Battle of Saraighat (1671). On the Brahmaputra River, close to Guwahati, it happened. The Mughal soldiers were headed by Mir Jumla, and the Ahoms were led by Lachit Borphukan, their leader. The Ahoms successfully defeated the Mughals with guerrilla warfare and maritime tactics and stop their incursion into Assam.
3. Battle of Saraighat (1671): The Ahoms fought against the Raja Ram Singh-led Mughal armies in the Battle of Panbari (1669). Under the direction of their general Piyoli Phukan, the Ahoms won a crucial victory and stopped the Mughals' advance into Assam.
4. Battle of Itakhuli (1532): This conflict involved the neighbouring Assamese kingdoms of the Sutiya and the Ahoms. The Sutiya soldiers were routed by the Ahoms, who were headed by their king Suhungmung, and their kingdom was captured.

The Ahoms, headed by their monarch Suhungmung, engaged the combined armies of the Kachari and Bhuyan kingdoms at the Battle of Ghiladhari (1531). In this conflict, the Ahoms prevailed and consolidated their dominance over the area.

The rise of Ahoms

The origins of the Ahoms can be traced to the 13th century, when Sukaphaa, the founder of the Ahom Kingdom, moved to the Brahmaputra Valley in northeastern India alongside a group of Tai people from what is now Myanmar (Burma). Initially settling in the area, the Ahoms over time came to govern the indigenous tribes.

By forming partnerships with nearby tribal chieftains and integrating them into the Ahom political system, Sukaphaa and his descendants expanded their influence. They incorporated aspects of native governance, including as land rights and governance structures, which assisted them in winning the respect and allegiance of the indigenous communities.

The Kachari kingdom and other local tribal groups first posed problems for the Ahoms. However, they gradually increased their territory and power through military operations and strategic alliances. They overcame resistance and took control of the Brahmaputra Valley using their local knowledge of the area, riverine warfare strategies, and a well-organized military.

The Ahom kings eventually created a decentralised political order with a monarchy at its core. The Swargadeo, the king, exercised considerable authority but was supported in his leadership by a council of ministers and nobility. The Ahom government was divided into several areas, each of which was headed by a nobleman chosen by the monarch.

The Ahoms kept up a potent army and continued to use military conquest to enlarge their realm. They displayed their military ability and fortitude by successfully repelling attacks from neighbouring kingdoms like the Manipuri kingdom and the Mughal Empire.

Both Tai customs and the blending of regional cultures had an impact on Ahom civilization. They retained their unique identity despite assimilating the surrounding population's language, attire, and social conventions. During Swargadeo Supaatphaa's rule, Hinduism became the official religion, although the Ahoms also valued and supported native animist practises and beliefs.

Swargadeo Rudra Singha ruled the Ahom Kingdom during its height in the late 17th and early 18th century. The kingdom had political harmony, economic progress, and cultural advancement throughout his rule. Ahom society experienced improvements in a number of fields as well as the flourishing of the arts, literature, and architecture.

The Ahoms' development can be credited to their tactical partnerships, military might, governmental reforms, and capacity to adapt and respect regional traditions. Their nearly six-century long reign over Assam had a profound effect on the history, culture, and identity of the area.

Here is a list of the Ahom kings (Swargadeos) of the Ahom Kingdom in chronological order:

1. Sukaphaa (1228-1268): Founder of the Ahom Kingdom and the first Ahom king.
2. Suteuphaa (1268-1281): Son of Sukaphaa and the second Ahom king.
3. Subinphaa (1281-1293): Son of Suteuphaa and the third Ahom king.
4. Sukhaamphaa (1293-1332): Son of Subinphaa and the fourth Ahom king.
5. Sukhrangphaa (1332-1364): Son of Sukhaamphaa and the fifth Ahom king.
6. Suthuphaa (1364-1376): Son of Sukhrangphaa and the sixth Ahom king.
7. Sujangphaa (1376-1379): Son of Suthuphaa and the seventh Ahom king.
8. Sukhrungphaa (1379-1380): Son of Sujangphaa and the eighth Ahom king.
9. Sudangphaa (1380-1389): Brother of Sukhrungphaa and the ninth Ahom king.
10. Sukhaangphaa (1389-1407): Brother of Sudangphaa and the tenth Ahom king.
11. Sukhrungphaa (1407-1422): Son of Sukhaangphaa and the eleventh Ahom king.
12. Suphakphaa (1422-1439): Son of Sukhrungphaa and the twelfth Ahom king.
13. Suhungmung (1439-1488): Son of Suphakphaa and the thirteenth Ahom king. He is known for his military campaigns and expanding the Ahom Kingdom's territories.
14. Sutuphaa (1488-1493): Son of Suhungmung and the fourteenth Ahom king.
15. Suklenmung (1493-1497): Brother of Sutuphaa and the fifteenth Ahom king.
16. Sukhaamphaa (1497-1539): Son of Suklenmung and the sixteenth Ahom king.
17. Suhungmung (1539-1552): Son of Sukhaamphaa and the seventeenth Ahom king.
18. Suklenmung (1552-1603): Son of Suhungmung and the eighteenth Ahom king.
19. Susenphaa (1603-1641): Son of Suklenmung and the nineteenth Ahom king.
20. Suramphaa (1641-1644): Brother of Susenphaa and the twentieth Ahom king.
21. Sutamla (1644-1648): Brother of Suramphaa and the twenty-first Ahom king.
22. Sunyatphaa (1648-1663): Son of Sutamla and the twenty-second Ahom king.
23. Chakradhwaj Singha (1663-1670): Brother of Sunyatphaa and the twenty-third Ahom king.
24. Udayaditya Singha (1670-1672): Brother of Chakradhwaj Singha and the twenty-fourth Ahom king.
25. Gaurinath Singha (1672-1674): Brother of Udayaditya Singha and the twenty-fifth Ahom king.
26. Gadadhar Singha (1674-1679): Brother of Gaurinath Singha and the twenty-sixth Ahom king.
27. Rudra Singha (1681-1696): Brother of Gadadhar Singha and the twenty-seventh Ahom king. He is considered one of the greatest Ahom rulers.
28. Siva Singha (1696-1714): The 28th Ahom monarch and son of Rudra Singha. He reinforced the country while carrying on his father's successful rule.
29. Pramatta Singha (1714-1744): Son of Siva Singha and the twenty-ninth Ahom king. He faced several challenges, including conflicts with neighboring kingdoms and internal rebellions.
30. Sarbananda Singha (1744-1751): Brother of Pramatta Singha and the thirtieth Ahom king. His reign was marked by political instability and the decline of the Ahom Kingdom.
31. Lakshmi Singha (1751-1769): Son of Pramatta Singha and the thirty-first Ahom king. He faced numerous conflicts and struggles, including invasions by external forces and internal divisions.
32. Kamaleswar Singha (1769-1780): Son of Lakshmi Singha and the thirty-second Ahom king. His reign witnessed further decline and instability, with conflicts and the erosion of Ahom authority.
33. Gaurinath Singha II (1780-1795): Brother of Kamaleswar Singha and the thirty-third Ahom king. His reign continued to face challenges, including the Burmese invasion and the increasing influence of external powers.
34. Kamaleswar Singha II (1795-1811): Son of Gaurinath Singha II and the thirty-fourth Ahom king. His reign marked the final years of the Ahom Kingdom, with the British East India Company gaining more control over the region.
35. Purandar Singha (1811-1818): Son of Kamaleswar Singha II and the thirty-fifth Ahom king. His reign was marked by internal unrest and conflicts among various factions within the kingdom.
36. Jogeshwar Singha (1818-1819): Nephew of Purandar Singha and the thirty-sixth Ahom king. His reign was short-lived and faced challenges from rival claimants to the throne.
37. Gaurinath Singha III (1819-1821): Cousin of Jogeshwar Singha and the thirty-seventh Ahom king. He also faced opposition and power struggles during his brief reign.
38. Kamaleswar Singha III (1821-1822): Nephew of Gaurinath Singha III and the thirty-eighth Ahom king. His reign was marked by internal conflicts and the weakening of Ahom authority.
39. Purandar Singha II (1822-1824): Brother of Kamaleswar Singha III and the thirty-ninth Ahom king. His reign faced continued instability and external pressures from the Burmese and the British.

It is noteworthy to note that the Ahom Kingdom's power declined during this time, while the British East India Company's influence and control over the area substantially increased. The Ahom Kingdom's rule was ultimately ended in 1826 when the British conquered Assam following the First Anglo-Burmese War.

Please keep in mind that due to the political complications of the time, historical documents may contain discrepancies in the names and spellings of some of the later Ahom kings, as well as inconsistencies in the narratives of specific monarchs and their reigns.

Fall of Ahoms

A combination of internal strife, outside invasions, and the expanding influence of European colonial powers are to blame for the demise of the Ahom Kingdom. The following are some important causes of the Ahoms' decline and eventual extinction:

1. Political Unstability: Internal strife and disagreements about the throne's succession crippled the central government in the final years of the Ahom Kingdom. The kingdom became fragmented and divided as rival factions and throne aspirants fought for control.
2. Burmese Invasions: In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, the Burmese (also known as the Kingdom of Ava) repeatedly invaded the Ahom Kingdom. Under the command of King Bodawpaya, the Burmese army launched numerous offensives that resulted in the conquest and prolonged occupation of Assam. The Ahom Kingdom was progressively undermined and brought to ruin by these invasions.
3. British Expansion: In an effort to strengthen its position on the Indian subcontinent, the British East India Company got more and more involved in Assamese matters. They rapidly consolidated control over a number of territories in the area by taking advantage of the Ahom Kingdom's current condition of weakness.
4. First Anglo-Burmese War: The Burmese army were defeated during the First Anglo-Burmese War (1824–1826) between the British and the Burmese. The British took over authority of Assam when the Burmese relinquished their claims there as part of the peace agreement.
5. British annexation: The Ahom Kingdom officially came to an end in 1826 when the British East India Company seized Assam. After establishing their government there, the British rapidly expanded their dominance over Assam and the neighbouring areas.

A major turning point in Assam's history was the fall of the Ahom Kingdom. The political, social, and economic landscapes of the area during British colonial administration underwent substantial changes, which influenced the future course of the region.

Conclusion

The Brahmaputra Valley in modern-day Assam was dominated by the Ahom Kingdom for approximately 600 years, making it a unique dynasty. The Ahoms, who were founded by Sukaphaa in the 13th century, were able to successfully assert their power via military strength, clever alliances, and the blending of local cultures. They created a decentralised political structure, accepted Hinduism as the official religion, and promoted a distinctive fusion of Tai and native customs.

The Ahom Kingdom had its pinnacle during Swargadeo Rudra Singha's rule, enjoying political harmony, economic success, and cultural development. However, internal strife, Burmese invasions, and the expansion of the British East India Company's power contributed to its downfall. The British invasion of Assam in 1826 ultimately led to the demise of the Ahom Kingdom.

The Ahom Kingdom eventually fell, but its legacy is still very much a part of Assam's history, culture, and identity. The Ahoms' military prowess, administrative improvements, and blending of various communities had a lasting effect on the area. The Ahom civilization serves as a living example of the Brahmaputra Valley's former inhabitants' tenacity, adaptation, and cultural diversity today.