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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TheAhom dynasty (1228–1826) ruled theAhom Kingdom in present-dayAssam, India for nearly 598 years. The dynasty was established bySukaphaa, aShan prince ofMong Mao (present-dayYunnan,China) who came to Assam after crossing thePatkai mountains. The rule of this dynasty ended with theBurmese invasion of Assam and the subsequent annexation by theBritish East India Company following theTreaty of Yandabo in 1826.

In external medieval chronicles the kings of this dynasty were calledAsam Raja, whereas the subjects of the kingdom called themChaopha, orSwargadeo (inAssamese).^[1]

The office of theAhom king, was reserved exclusively for the descendants of the first kingSukaphaa (1228–1268) who came to Assam fromMong Mao in 1228.^[2] Succession was byagnatic primogeniture. Nevertheless, followingRudra 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 askedAtan 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 thepatra mantris (council of ministers—Burhagohain,Borgohain,Borpatrogohain,Borbarua andBorphukan). 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 Gohain, was superseded, who went on to lead a rebel group during theMoamoria rebellion. The later kings and officers exploited the unblemished rule, leading to weak kings being instated.Kamaleswar Singha (2-year-old son of Kadam Dighala) andPurandar 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 ofSuhungmung (1497–1539) which saw the composition of the first AssameseBuranji and increased Hindu influence, the Ahom kings were traced to the union ofIndra (identified with Lengdon) and Syama (a low-caste woman), and were declaredIndravamsakshatriyas, a lineage created exclusively for the Ahoms.^[3] Suhungmung adopted the titleSwarganarayan, and the later kings were called Swargadeo's (literal meaning:Lord of the Heavens). It was during his reign that theBuranji titledSri 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.

The Swargadeo's coronation was calledSingarigharutha, a ceremony that was performed first bySudangphaa (Bamuni Konwar) (1397–1407). The first coins in the new king's name were minted during the reign ofSutamla.^[4]Kamaleswar Singha (1795–1811) andChandrakanta Singha's (1811–1818) coronations were not performed on the advice of Prime ministerPurnananda Burhagohain, due to the financial constraints of State treasury caused by the internal disturbances duringMoamoria rebellion. Kings who died in office were buried in vaults calledMoidam, atCharaideo. Some of the laterMaidams, beginning from the reign ofRajeswar Singha (1751–1769) were constructed to bury the ashes of those cremated.

On ascent, the king would generally assume an Ahom name decided by the Ahom priests. The name generally ended inPha (Tai: Heaven), e.g.Susenghphaa. Later kings also assumed a Hindu name that ended inSingha (Assamese: Lion): Susengphaa assumed the namePratap Singha.Buranjis occasionally would refer to a past king by a more informal and colourful name that focused on a specific aspect of the kingPratap Singha was also known asBurha Roja (Assamese: Old King) because when Pratap Singha became the king, he was quite advanced in age.

Subinphaa (1281–1293), the third Ahom king, delineated theSatghariya 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 theBurhagohain and theBorgohain. The last four were priestly lineages.Sukhrangpha (1332–1364) established the position of Charing Raja which came to be reserved for theheir 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.SuhungmungDihingia 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 andNamrupiya—and periods of Ahom rule came to be known after these families. The rule of the last such house,Tungkhungiya, was established byGadadhar Singha (1681–1696) and his descendants ruled till the end of the Ahom kingdom.

Ahom queens (Kunworis) played important roles in the matter of state. They were officially designated in a gradation of positions, called theBor 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 calledChamua Kunworis. Some of the queens were given separate estates that were looked after by state officials (Phukans or Baruas).^[5] During the reign ofSiva 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 calledBor-Rojaa. Some queens maintained office even after the death or removal of the kings, as happened with Pakhori Gabhoru andKuranganayani 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.

Sukaphaa's ruling deity wasChum-Pha andSheng-mung a pair of non-Hindu, non-Buddhist gods, and he was accompanied by classes of priests calledDeodhai,Bailung etc. But the Ahom kings let themselves be influenced by the religion and customs of those they ruled over.SudangphaaBamuni Konwar (1397–1407) installed a Brahmin ofHabung, in whose household he was born and raised, as his adviser, but he himself did not convert to Hinduism.^[6]Susenphaa (1439–1488) constructed a temple atNegheriting.^[7]SuhungmungDihingia 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.^[8]SukhaamphaaKhora Rojaa (1552–1603) began consulting Hindu astrologers alongside the traditionalDeodhai-Bailung priests, andPratap Singha (1603–1641) installed 13 Brahmin families as diplomats.^[7]Assamese language coexisted with Tai language in the court till the reign ofPratap Singha, during whose rule Assamese became dominant.Sutamla (1648–1663) was the first Ahom king to be initiated into theMahapuruxiya Dharma,^[9] and Ahom kings till Sulikphaalora roja (1679–1681) continued to be disciples of onesattra or the other.^[10] Mahapuruxiya pontiffs belonging to different sects began playing a greater role in state politics. After the chaos of the late 17th century,Gadadhar Sinha (1681–1696), the first Tungkhungiya king began his rule with a deep distrust of these religious groups. His son and successorRudra Singha (1696–1714) searched for an alternative state religion, and his son and successorSiva Singha (1714–1744) formally adoptedSaktism, the nemesis of the Mahapuruxiya sects. The persecution of the MahapuruxiyaSattras under the Tunkhungiya rulers following Siba Singha was a crucial factor leading to theMoamoria rebellion that greatly depleted the Ahom kingdom.

The king was guarded by a six thousand strong household troop under aBhitarual Phukan. A unit of musketeers consisting of the king's relatives was established bySukhaamphaa alias Khora Raja that protected the capital (under theBajua 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 wieldinghengdang were the personal bodyguards of the king. (ii)Chabukdhara, wieldingwhip, preceded the king whenever he moved out. (iii)Da-dhara or guards holding swords accompanied the king on his side. (iv)Dangdhara or guards carryingbaton, moved around the side of the king.^[12]

The Ahom kings particularly of thetungkhungia 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]

In the nearly 600-years 39-Swargadeo dynastic history, there are three progenitor kings (all subsequent kings are descendants of these kings).^{[citation needed]} They areSukaphaa, who established the kingdom;Suhungmung, who made the greatest territorial and political expansion of the kingdom; andSupaatphaa, who established the House ofTungkhugia kings that reigned the kingdom during its political and cultural zenith, as well as the period of decay and end (except forJogeswar Singha, who was a descendant of Supaatphaa's fatherGobar, and who was installed as a puppet king by the Burmese).^{[citation needed]}

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]

• A mighty clan's website An article by Saikh Md Sabah Al-Ahmed in The Assam Tribune "Horizon", Saturday special, dated 19 September 2009
• Coins of Ahom Dynasty

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