The Ahom Dynasty, also commonly termed as the Ahom Kingdom, ruled over the Northeast region of India, present-day Assam for nearly 600 years. Founded in the 13th century, the Ahom Dynasty saw the rise of a powerful kingdom that expanded its influence over neighbouring territories.
Ahom Dynasty: An Introduction
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Chaolung Sukaphaa was a 13th-century ruler who founded the Kingdom of Ahom, which ruled Assam for six centuries.
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The Ahom kingdom saw its first major clash with an imperial power in the form of the Mughal Empire in 1615. The Ahom capital of Garhgaon was occupied by the Mughals in 1662, but they were driven off in the latest clashes. Finally, during the Battle of Saraighat in 1671, the Ahom under Lachit Borphukan managed to repel a major Mughal invasion, expanding their borders west to the Manas River.
- The Ahom ruled the country until the province was annexed by British India in 1826 with the signing of the Treaty of Yandaboo.
Map of Ahom Dynasty
Political Structure:
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Ahoms created a new state by abolishing the old political system of bhuiyans (landlords).
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The Ahom state was dependent on forced labour. Those who had to work for the state were called paiks.
- Ahoms were not autocratic, As the King was the one-man authority. It was an inclusive government, with a king with five ministers. Ministers had the power to keep a check and ensure that the king delivers his duties. They also had the power to remove the king, if he was not doing his job.
Social Structure:
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Society was categorised into clans or khels. The Khel often controlled several villages.
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Ahoms worshipped their own tribal gods but accepted the Hindu religion and the Assamese language.
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However, the Ahom kings did not completely abandon their traditional beliefs after embracing Hinduism.
- Intermarriages with locals also reinforced the processes of assimilation of Ahoms into Assamese culture.
Military
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The Ahom king was the supreme commander of the state as well as the armed forces.
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The King himself led the state forces in times of war.
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The Paiks were the main army of the state. They were divided into two categories i.e serving and on standby.
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The off-duty Paiks formed a permanent militia that the Kheldar (an experienced military organizer) could mobilize at short notice.
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The entire contingent of the Ahom army consisted of infantry, marines, artillery, elephants, cavalry, and spies.
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The main weapons of war consisted of bows and arrows, swords, spears, pistols, bolts, and cannons.
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They sent spies into the enemy camp to study the enemy’s strength and war strategies before leading an expedition.
- Ahom soldiers were experts at fighting a guerrilla war.
Culture
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Land was granted to poets and scholars, and the theater was encouraged.
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Important Sanskrit works were translated into the vernacular.
- Historical works known as buranjis were also written first in the Ahom language and later in Assamese.
Causes of Decline of Ahom Dynastry
(a) Moamoria rebellion:
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A religio-political rebellion against the Ahoms and their cold attitude towards the Koch, Kachari, and Motok tribes.
- When the Ahoms established their rule in India, they were successful because of their flexibility and respect for local beliefs, and the people themselves had now become intolerant of change.
(b) Weak Successors and Economic Downfall
(c) Conflicts over internal issues.
(d) Invasion of Burma.
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FAQs on Ahom Kingdom
Q 1. What is the story of Ahom kingdom?
Answer:
The Ahom period is a glorious chapter in Assam’s history. Sukaphaa, a Shan prince from Mong Mao who came to Assam after crossing the Patkai Mountains, founded the Ahom dynasty. Between the 13th and 19th centuries, several tribal communities came into Assam’s historical spotlight.
Q 2. Who is the founder of Ahom kingdom?
Answer:
Sukaphaa, a Tai prince was the founder of Ahom Dynasty.
Q 3. Which was the first kingdom of Ahom?
Answer:
The first kingdom of the Ahom dynasty was the Kingdom of Charaideo.
Q 4. Who was the last king of Ahom kingdom?
Answer:
Purandar Singha (1818–19, 1833–1838) was the last king of the Ahom kingdom in Assam.