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 Historical documents do not call the kingdom "Ahom".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. Assam (Assamese: অসম Ôxôm) is a northeastern state of India with its capital at Dispur. ... Events The Sixth Crusade is launched by Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor, after delays due to sickness and an excommunication from Pope Gregory IX. Conrad IV of Germany becomes titular King of Jerusalem, with Frederick II as regent. ... The oldest surviving photograph, Nicéphore Niépce, circa 1826 1826 (MDCCCXXVI) was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ... Buranjis are historical literatures written in Assamese. ...

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. (12th century - 13th century - 14th century - other centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 13th century was that century which lasted from 1201 to 1300. ... The Shan (Burmese: ) are an ethnic group of Southeast Asia. ... The Patkai or the Purvachal are the hills on Indias eastern border with Myanmar. ... The word Naga can refer to several different things. ... The Brahmaputra is one of the major rivers of Asia. ... Events The Sixth Crusade is launched by Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor, after delays due to sickness and an excommunication from Pope Gregory IX. Conrad IV of Germany becomes titular King of Jerusalem, with Frederick II as regent. ... Sibsagar is an administrative district in the state of Assam in India. ... For broader historical context, see 1250s and 13th century. ...

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. Events January 9 - Adrian Dedens becomes Pope Adrian VI. February 26 - Execution by hanging of Cuauhtémoc, Aztec ruler of Tenochtitlan under orders of conquistador Hernán Cortés. ... Events February 2 - Spaniard Pedro de Mendoza founds Buenos Aires, Argentina. ... Dimapur is Indian state of Nagalands largest city. ... (15th century - 16th century - 17th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 16th century was that century which lasted from 1501 to 1600. ... (16th century - 17th century - 18th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 17th century was that century which lasted from 1601-1700. ... The Mughal Empire (alternative spelling Mogul, which is the origin of the word Mogul) of India was founded by Babur in 1526, when he defeated Ibrahim Lodi, the last of the Delhi Sultans at the First Battle of Panipat. ... Events March 11 – Chelsea hospital for soldiers is founded in England May 6 - Louis XIV of France moves his court to Versailles. ...

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. (17th century - 18th century - 19th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 18th century refers to the century that lasted from 1701 through 1800. ... Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ... The First Anglo-Burmese War lasted from 1823 to 1826. ... The Treaty of Yandaboo between the British East India Company and the Burmese King of Ava, signed on February 24, 1826 marked the end of the First Burmese War. ... The oldest surviving photograph, Nicéphore Niépce, circa 1826 1826 (MDCCCXXVI) was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ...

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. Assam (Assamese: অসম Ôxôm) is a northeastern state of India with its capital at Dispur. ... The Tai languages are a subgroup of the Tai Kadai language family. ... Assamese (অসমীয়া) or Asamiya is the language spoken by some of the natives of the state of Assam in northeast India. ... This article is about the Hindu religion. ... Buranjis are historical literatures written in Assamese. ...

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. The Mughal Empire (alternative spelling Mogul, which is the origin of the word Mogul) of India was founded by Babur in 1526, when he defeated Ibrahim Lodi, the last of the Delhi Sultans at the First Battle of Panipat. ... The Battle of Saraighat was fought between the Mughal forces lead by Raja Ram Singh and the Ahoms lead by Lachit Borphukan, the Ahom governor of Guwahati in 1671. ... Lachit Borphukan was a great general from Assam, India. ... Guwahati is a city in India, often considered to be the gateway to the north-east part of the country. ... Events May 9 - Thomas Blood, disguised as a clergyman, attempts to steal the Crown Jewels from the Tower of London. ...

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

• Ahom Dynasty

The Ahom Dynasty ruled parts of Assam for nearly 600 years, from the thirteenth century to the nineteenth century. ...

External links

• The Tai-Ahom connection by Yasmin Saikia in Gateway to the East, June 2005.