The history of Assam is the history of a confluence of people from the east, west, south and the north; the confluence of the Austroasiatic, Tibeto-Burman (Sino-Tibetan), Tai and Indo-Aryan cultures. Although invaded over the centuries, it was never a vassal or a colony to an external power until the third Burmese invasion in 1821 and subsequently the British ingress into Assam in 1824 during the First Anglo-Burmese War.
Later documented rulers, and dynasties who are deemed to have ruled a portion of Assam are included in this list.
Ancient Period (c. 1200 BCE – 350 CE)
Sonitpura (Asura) kingdom
The kingdom was contemporary of Pragjyotisha kingdom of Kamarupa.
| Nu. | Name of known rulers |
|---|---|
| 1 | Marichi |
| 2 | Kashyap |
| 3 | Hiranyakashipu |
| 4 | Prahlad |
| 5 | Virochana |
| 6 | Mahabali |
| 7 | Bana |
Pragjyotisha kingdom
Danava dynasty
First legendary line of rulers in Pragjyotisha. The Danava dynasty consisted of Kirata chiefs; the last of whom, Ghatakasura, was killed and replaced by Naraka.
Known Danava rulers of Pragjyotisha are:
- Mahiranga
- Hatakasura
- Sambarasura
- Ratnasura
- Ghatakasura
Bhauma (Naraka) dynasty
Second legendary dynasty of Pragjyotisha. Known Bhauma rulers of Pragjyotisha are:
- Naraka
- Bhagadatta
- Pushpadatta
- Vajradatta
Davaka kingdom (c. 100 – 500 CE)
Less information is available about this kingdom.
Classical Period : Kamarupa dynesties (350 – 1100 CE)
Varman dynasty (350 – 650 CE)
The dynastic line as given in the Dubi copperplate inscription and Nidhanpur copperplate inscription are as:
| Reign | Name | Succession | Queen | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 350–374 CE | Pushyavarman | (unknown) | |
| 2 | 374–398 CE | Samudravarman | son of Pushyavarman | Dattadevi |
| 3 | 398–422 CE | Balavarman | son of Samudravarman | Ratnavati |
| 4 | 422–446 CE | Kalyanavarman | son of Balavarman | Gandharavati |
| 5 | 446–470 CE | Ganapativarman | son of Kalyanavarman | Yajnavati |
| 6 | 470–494 CE | Mahendravarman | son of Ganapativarman | Suvrata |
| 7 | 494–518 CE | Narayanavarman | son of Mahendravarman | Devavati |
| 8 | 518–542 CE | Bhutivarman | son of Narayanavarman | Vijnayavati |
| 9 | 542–566 CE | Chandramukhavarman | son of Bhutivarman | Bhogavati |
| 10 | 566–590 CE | Sthitavarman | son of Chandramukhavarman | Nayanadevi |
| 11 | 590–595 CE | Susthitavarman | son of Sthitavarman | Syamadevi |
| 12 | 595–600 CE | Supratisthitavarman | son of Susthitavarman | (Bachelor) |
| 13 | 600–650 CE | Bhaskaravarman | brother of Supratisthitavarman | (Bachelor) |
| 14 | 650–655 CE | Unknown | (unknown) | (unknown) |
The grants of Ratnapala give the list of 21 kings from Salastambha to his line.
Mlechchha dynasty (650 – 900 CE)
- Salastamba (650–670 CE)
- Vijaya alias Vigrahastambha
- Palaka
- Kumara
- Vajradeva
- Harshadeva alias Harshavarman (725–745 CE)
- Balavarman II
- Jivaraja
- Digleswaravarman
- Salambha
- Harjjaravarman (815–832 CE)
- Vanamalavarmadeva (832–855 CE)
- Jayamala alias Virabahu (855–860 CE)
- Balavarman III (860–880 CE)
- Tyagasimha (890–900 CE)
Pala dynasty (Kamarupa) (900 – 1100 CE)
- Brahma Pala (900–920 CE)
- Ratna Pala (920–960 CE)
- Indra Pala (960–990 CE)
- Go Pala also Gopalavarman (990–1015 CE)
- Harsha Pala (1015–1035 CE)
- Dharma Pala (1035–1060 CE)
- Jaya Pala (1075–1100 CE)
Medieval Period (c. 1100 – 1800 CE)
Ahom dynasty (1228 – 1838 CE)
In the nearly 600-years 39-Swargadeo dynastic history, there are three progenitor kings (all subsequent kings are descendants of these kings). They are Sukaphaa, who established the 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 (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).
| 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 | ||||
| 1369–1376 | 7y | Sutuphaa | brother of Sukhrangphaa | assassinated | Charaideo | |
| 1376–1380 | 4y | Interregnum | ||||
| 1380–1389 | 9y | Tyao Khamti | brother of Sutuphaa | assassinated | Charaideo | |
| 1389–1397 | 8y | Interregnum | ||||
| 1397–1407 | 10y | Sudangphaa | Baamuni Konwar | 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 | Swarganarayan, Dihingiaa Rojaa I | son of Supimphaa | assassinated | 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 | Garhgaon |
| 1644–1648 | 4y | Sutingphaa | Noriyaa Rojaa | brother of Suramphaa | deposed | 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 | natural death | Bakata/Garhgaon |
| 1670–1672 | 2y | Sunyatphaa | Udayaditya Singha | brother of Supangmung | deposed | |
| 1672–1674 | 2y | Suklamphaa | Ramadhwaj Singha | brother of Sunyatphaa | poisoned | |
| 1674–1675 | 21d | Suhung | Samaguria Rojaa Khamjang | Samaguria descendant of Suhungmung | deposed | |
| 1675–1675 | 24d | Gobar Roja | 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 | 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 | natural death, smallpox | Jorhat |
| 1811–1818 | 7y | 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 | Jogeswar Singha | 5th descendant of Jambor, the brother of Gadadhar Singha. Jogeswar was brother of Hemo Aideo, and was puppet of Burmese ruler | removed | ||
| 1833–1838 | Purandar Singha (2) |
Kachari (Dimasa) dynasty (1250 – 1832 CE)
| Capital | King | Date of Accession | Reign in Progress | End of reign |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dimapur | La-wang-pa | 1406 | ||
| Manipha | ||||
| Ladapha | ||||
| Viravijay Narayana (or Khorapha) | 1520? | 1526 | ||
| Khuntara | 1526 | 1531 | ||
| Detsung/Dersung | 1531 | 1536 | ||
| Interregnum? | ||||
| Maibong | Nirbhay Narayan | 1558? | 1559 | |
| Durlabh Narayan | ||||
| Megha Narayan | 1568 | 1578 | 1583? | |
| Yasho Narayan (Satrudaman) | 1583? | 1601 | ||
| Indrapratap Narayan | 1601 | 1610 | ||
| Nar Narayan | ||||
| Bhimdarpa Narayan | 1618? | |||
| Indraballabh Narayan | 1628 | 1644? | ||
| Birdarpa Narayan | 1644? | 1681 | ||
| Garurdhwaj Narayan(Thaosen Clan) | 1681 | 1695 | ||
| Makardhwaj Narayan( Thaosen Clan) | 1695 | |||
| Udayaditya(Thaosen Clan) | ||||
| Tamradhwaj Narayan( Thaosen Clan/Sengphong) | 1706 | 1708 | ||
| Suradarpa Narayan ( Thaosen clan/Sengphong) | 1708 | |||
| Harischandra Narayan -1 (Thaosen Sengphong) | 1721 | |||
| Kirtichandra Narayan( Hasnusa Sengphong) | 1736 | |||
| Sandikhari Narayan alias Ram Chandra) | 1736 | |||
| Khaspur | Harischandra-2 (Hasnusa Sengphong) | 1771 | ||
| Lakshmichandra Narayan | 1772 | |||
| Krishnachandra Narayan | 1790 | 1813 | ||
| Govindachandra Narayan | 1814 | 1819 | ||
| Chaurajit Singh (from Manipur) | 1819 | 1823 | ||
| Gambhir Singh (from Manipur) | 1823 | 1824 | ||
| Govindachandra Narayan | 1824 | 1830 | ||
| British Annexation | 1832 |
Kamata dynasty (1228/1257 – 1365 CE)
- Sandhya (1228/1257–1260)
- Sindhu Rai (1260–1285)
- Rup Narayan (1285–1300)
- Singhadhwaj (1300–1305)
- Pratapdhvaj (1305–1325)
- Dharma Narayan (1325–1330)
- Durlabh Narayan (1330–1350)
- Indra Narayan (1350–1365)
Chutia (Sadiya) dynasty (1350 – 1523 CE)
Known rulers of the Chutia kingdom are:
- Nandisvara (late 14th century)
- Satyanarayana (late 14th century)
- Lakshminarayana (early 15th century)
- Dharmanarayana (early 15th century)
- Durlabhnarayana (early 15th century)
- Muktadharmanarayana (mid 15th century)
- Pratyakshanarayana (mid 15th century)
- Yasanarayana (mid 15th century)
- Purandarnarayana (late 15th century)
- Dhirnarayana (unknown – 1524)
- sati Sadhini (unknown)
Baro-Bhuyan rulers of Assam (1365 – 1440 CE)
- Sasanka or rimatta (1365–1385)
- Gajanka (1385–1400)
- Sukranka (1400–1415)
- Mriganka (1415–1440)
Khen dynasty (1440 – 1498 CE)
- Niladhwaj (1440–1460)
- Chakradhwaj (1460–1480)
- Nilambar (1480–1498)
Koch dynasty (1515 – 1949 CE)
Rulers of undivided Koch kingdom (1515 – 1586)
- Biswa Singha (1515–1540)
- Nara Narayan (1540–1586)
Rulers of Koch Bihar (1586 – 1949)
- Lakshmi Narayan
- Bir Narayan
- Pran Narayan
- Basudev Narayan
- Mahindra Narayan
- Roop Narayan
- Upendra Narayan
- Devendra Narayan
- Dhairjendra Narayan
- Rajendra Narayan
- Dharendra Narayan
- Harendra Narayan
- Shivendra Narayan
- Narendra Narayan
- Nripendra Narayan
- Rajendra Narayan II
- Jitendra Narayan (father of Gayatri Devi)
- Jagaddipendra Narayan (ruled till 1949)
Rulers of Koch Hajo (1581 – 1616 CE)
- Raghudev (son of Chilarai, nephew of Nara Narayan)
- Parikshit Narayan
Rulers of Darrang
- Balinarayan (brother of Parikshit Narayan)
- Mahendra Narayan
- Chandra Narayan
- Surya Narayan
Rulers of Beltola
- Gaj Narayan Dev (brother of Parikshit Narayan, ruler of Koch Hajo, brother of Balinarayan, first Koch ruler of Darrang).
- Shivendra Narayan Dev (son of Gaj Narayan)
- Gandharva Narayan Dev (son of Shivendra Narayan)
- Uttam Narayan Dev (son of Gandharva Narayan Dev)
- Dhwaja Narayan Dev (son of Uttam Narayan Dev)
- Jay Narayan Dev (son of Dhwaja Narayan Dev)
- Lambodar Narayan Dev (son of Jay Narayan Dev)
- Lokpal Narayan Dev (son of Lambodar Narayan Dev)
- Amrit Narayan Dev (son of Lokpal Narayan Dev)
- Chandra Narayan Dev (son of Lokpal Narayan Dev) (died 1910 CE)
- Rajendra Narayan Dev (son of Chandra Narayan Dev) (died 1937 CE)
- Lakshmipriya Devi (wife of Rajendra Narayan Dev) (reign:1937–1947 CE died: 1991 CE)
Rulers of Bijni
The Bijni rulers reigned between the Sankosh and the Manas rivers, the region immediately to the east of Koch Bihar.
- Chandra Narayan (son of Parikshit Narayan)
- Joy Narayan
- Shiv Narayan
- Bijoy Narayan
- Mukunda Narayan
- Haridev Narayan
- Balit Narayan
- Indra Narayan
- Amrit Narayan
- Kumud Narayan
- Jogendra Narayan
- Bhairabendra Narayan
Rulers of Khaspur
The independent rule of the Khaspur rulers ended in 1745 when it merged with the Kachari kingdom.
The rulers of the Koch kingdom at Khaspur are:
- Kamal Narayan (Gohain Kamal, son of Biswa Singha, governor of Khaspur)
- Udita Narayan (declared independence of Khaspur in 1590)
- Vijay Narayana
- Dhir Narayana
- Mahendra Narayana
- Ranjit
- Nara Singha
- Bhim Singha (his only issue, daughter Kanchani, married a prince of Kachari kingdom, and Khaspur merged with the Kachari kingdom)
Modern period (c. 1800 – 1947 CE)
British colonial Assam (1826 – 1947 CE)
Chronology of British colonial reign on Assam:
- Bengal Presidency (1826–1873 CE)
- Chief Commissioner's Province (1874–1905 CE)
- Eastern Bengal and Assam under Lt. Governor (1906–1912 CE)
- Assam Legislative Council (1912–1920 CE)
- Dyarchy (1921 – 1937 CE)
- Assam Legislative Assembly (1937–1947 CE)
Republic of India
See also
- History of Assam
Sources
- Baruah, S L (1986), A Comprehensive History of Assam, Munshiram Manoharlal
- Baruah, S. L. (1993), Last Days of Ahom Monarchy, New Delhi
{{citation}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - Bhattacharjee, J.B. (1994), Milton S. Sangma (ed.), "The Pre-Colonial Political Structure of Barak Valley", Essays on North-east India: Presented in Memory of Professor V. Venkata Rao, New Delhi: Indus Publishing, ISBN 978-81-7387-015-6
{{citation}}: CS1 maint: work parameter with ISBN (link) - Gait, Edward A (1906), A History of Assam, Calcutta
{{citation}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - Gogoi, Padmeshwar (1968), The Tai and the Tai kingdoms, Guwahati: Gauhati University
- Rhodes, N G (1986). "The Coinage of Kachar". The Numismatic Chronicle. 146: 155–177. ISSN 0078-2696. JSTOR 42667461.
- Sharma, Mukunda Madhava (1978), Inscriptions of Ancient Assam, Gauhati University, Assam
- Shin, Jae-Eun (2018), "Region Formed and Imagined: Reconsidering temporal, spatial and social context of Kamarupa", in Dzüvichü, Lipokmar; Baruah, Manjeet (eds.), Modern Practices in North East India: History, Culture, Representation, London & New York: Routledge, pp. 23–55
- Shin, Jae-Eun (2020). "Descending from demons, ascending to kshatriyas: Genealogical claims and political process in pre-modern Northeast India, The Chutiyas and the Dimasas". The Indian Economic and Social History Review. 57 (1): 49–75. doi:10.1177/0019464619894134. S2CID 213213265.
- Urban, Hugh (2009), The Power of Tantra: Religion, Sexuality and the Politics of South Asian Studies, Bloomsbury, ISBN 9780857715869
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