202-ASSIGNMENT PAPER

ON

SUHUNGMUNG AS ONE OF THE GREATEST AHOM KINGS

DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY

BODOLAND UNIVERSITY

SUBMITTED BY

NAME= NANDITA DAS

Class = M.A 2nd semester

ROLL NO= 53

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CONTENT

Sl.No. Chapters. Pages

1. Introduction 3

2. Suhungmung as one of the greatest 3-8

Ahom kings

3. Conclusion 8

4. Notes and Refferences 8-9

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Introduction

My assignment topic is suhungmung as one of the greatest Ahom kings. I am trying that
briefly discuss the Suhungmung was the greatest Ahom kings.

The Ahom kingdom also known as kingdom of Assam was a late medieval kingdom in the
Brahmaputra valley in Assam. The Ahom kingdom was established by Sukapha, a Tai prince
from Mongoloid Mao. Ahom kingdom is well known for maintaining it's sovereignty for nearly
600 years and successfully resisting Mughal expansion in northeast India. It expanded suddenly
under Suhungmung in the 16th century and became multi-ethnic in character, casting a
profound effect on the political and social life of the entire Brahmaputra valley. Suhungmung
was one of the most important Ahom kings belonging to the Dihigia clan, who ruled at the cusp
of Assam medieval history. His reign broke from the early Ahom rule established a multi-ethnic
polity in his kingdom. Under him the Ahom kingdom expanded greatly for the first time since
sukapha at the cost of the chutiya and the kachari kingdom. He also successfully defended his
kingdom against the first Muslim invasions under Tribal khan during his time, the legend
dynasty collapsed and the Koch dynasty ascended in the kamata kingdom.

Suhungmung as the greatest Ahom king

In 1497,Suhungmung became the king,whose reign marks another new epoch in the
political and cultural history of the Ahom.Suhungmung was popularly called the dihingia Raja,as
he shifted his capital to Bakata on the bank of the Dining. He assumed the Hindu title
Swarganarayan and as Gait point out, thenceforth the Home kings used this new designation in
their official documents. The compromising attitude of Suhungmung towards the Hindu and the
possible support of the descendants of the Habungia Brahmans, who was so highly honoured
by his predecessor Sudangpha,enabled him to lead a successful expedition against Having in
1510,which was then ruled by a Bhuyan.Both Habung and panbari, neighbouring it, which was
also,presumably ruled by a Bhuyan, we're subjugated and annexed to the Shop kingdom.

In 1504,the Aitonia Nagas revolted, and the Bar Gohain and the Burha Gahain were placed
in charge of an expedition against them. The Bags were defeated, and acknowledged the
supremacy of the Shop King, to whom they sent a daughter of their chief and a present of four
elephants as a peace offering. They also agreed to pay a yearly tribute of axes,gongs and amber.

In 1510 an enquiry was made into the number,condition and distribution of the
people,and they were divided into clans. In 1512 the Having country was annexed.

In 1513 the chutiya Raja, Dhir Narayan,invaded the country with an army and a flotilla of
boats. His land forces were defeated at Dikhu Mukh by the Ahom,who were also victorious in a
naval encounter at siraati. The chutiyas lost heavily in both engagement and were compelled to

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retreat, whereupon Suhungmung took possession of Mungkhrang, and of the country round
Namdang,where he built a town. Dhir Narayan now invoked the aid of the Raja of Mungkang,
who was at first disposed to held him. He was, however dissuaded by a Banpara chief, and
eventually sent presents to Suhungmung and Nadean alliance with him.

In 1523 the chutiyas laid siege to this fort, but met with a stubborn resistance.
Suhungmung,hurried to the place with strong reinforcements, and arrived on the very day on
which the chutiyas were delivering their assault.He at once made a counter-attack,and the
chutiyas were utterly routed. They sved for peace and sent valuable presents, but Suhungmung
would accept nothing less than the heirlooms of the chutiya, king, his gold cat, gold
elephant,and gold unbrella.These being refused, the war was continued. The chutiyas fortified a
position at the mouth of one of the rivers near Sadiya,but were easily dislodged by the
Ahom,who crossed the river on a bridge of boats and pursued the retreating chutiyas as for as
the kaitara hill. The latter then occupied the hill chautan and for some time kept the Ahom in
check by rolling down heavy stones. As it was found impossible to win the position by a brontal
attack, a force was detailed to take the enemy in the near. The back of the mountain was
precipitous, and at first, the ascent seemed impracticable ;but the Ahom soldiers were not to
be denied and, by hiding on to creepers,they at last gained the summit. The chutiyas,taken by
surprise, fled hastily to jangmungkham,when another engagement was forced on them. Their
king was killed by an arrow and his eldest son, who rushed forward to avenge his death, was
also slain The chutiyas then gave way,and fled, hotly pursued by the Ahom,who look a great
number of prisoners, including the whole of the royal family except the principal queen
who,preferring death to captivity, killed herself with a spear. The captives and loot were
presented to Suhungmung together with the heads of the chutiyas king and his son. These were
buried under the steps of the temple at charaideo,so that the Ahom King might walk over them
whenever he entered the temple.

The whole chutiya country was annexed,and a new officer of state,known as the sadiya
knowa Gohain,was appointed to administer it. In order to streng then his position, three
hundred Ahoms of the Gharphaliya clan,with their families, and another contingent of the same
clan were settled on the banks of the Dining river. The royal family, with the leading men
amongst the chutiyas,were deported to pakariguri while a number of Brahmans and of
blacksmiths and other artisans were taken from sadiya to the Ahom capital. Having settled all
these matters,Suhungmung returned to charaideo where he performed the Rikkhvam
ceremony.

Subjugation of the Bhuyans

Emboldened by his success against the chutiyas,Suhungmung subjugation a number of

eastern Bhuyans one after another. Some of them were given offices under the Ahom

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government, whereas some others were disorganised and settled in different parts of the
kingdom. Few of them were also put to the sword. Despite such measures, some Bhuyans
reorganised their strength and rose in rebellion towards the end of his reign. But his son and
successor suklebgmung (1539-52)suppressed the rebellion.

Kachari war

In November 1526 suhungmung marched against the kacharis,and ascended the

Dhansiri to Barduar,where a bathing ghat was constructed under his orders. He caused a fort
with brick walls to be built at Marangi, and spent several nights there. He then advanced with
his army, the leaders of which were mounted on elephants, to Maiham or kathkatia. The
vanguard was here surprised and put to flight with the loss of 40 men killed, and Maiham was
reoccupied by the Kacharis. The Ahoms were rallied and advanced again to the attack;and this
time, although the Kacharis defended themselves valiantly with bows and arrows, they were at
last overpowered and forced to retreat with heavy loss. They were closely followed by the
Ahom, and a fresh engagement was forced on them,in which they sustained a decisive defeat,
leaving, according to one account,1,700 dead upon the field.

Chutiya revolt

Early in 1527 the Chutiyas revolted. They were soon reduced to submission, but the
Dihingia Gohain lost his life during the disturbances.

Muhammad and invasion

Suhungmung hardly could have finished his diplomatic measures by transferring and
appointing important officials on the eastern frontier. When his attention was drown towards
the west. In the same year, 1527,the first Muhammad an invasion, mentioned in the Ahom
Buranji took place. The name of the Muhammadan general is not known, but he is mentioned
as 'Baraujir'(chief Minister or camander-in-chief).This invasion seems to have been a naval raid
accompanied by efficient cavalry. Near the river, Nursing, an engagement between the Ahoms
and the Muhammadans occured, in which the latter had to retreat after a heavy defeat. Forty
horses and twenty cannon were captured by the Ahom soldiers. Suhungmung, in expectation of
further raids of this kind,took some precautionary measures.He himself stopped at sala and
despatched a battalion to take possession of Duimunisila. A fort was erected at the end of the
Burai river and a garrison was mobilised at phulbari. This is the earliest refference in the
Buranjis to cannon, from this time they are often mentioned and it appears therefors that their
use quickly spread among the Ahom.

In connection with this Muslim invasion, Bharttacharyya says that Assam was
unsuccessfully invaded by Alau-d-din Hussain shah soon after the conquest of kamrupa,

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probably in 1493 at least, earlier than 1497 A. D the first regnal year of the Dihingia Raja. He
further states that the expedition was led by Ruknu-d-din Ruin khan, the vizier and general of
Alau-d-din Hussein Shah. For the latter he quotes the authority of an inscription dated 918
A.H.1812A.D.and commemorating of the construction of a building discovered at sylhet.We
have already suggested the inconsistency of Bhattacharyya's first contention on the authority of
the Riyaz-us-salatin, that Hussain Shah invaded kamata in 1498,after his military engagements
in Bihar and orissa.In 1493,Hussain was heavily engaged with the internal administration,
clearing away the legacy of anarchy left by the Habshi regime,the fact of which Bhattacharyya
does not mention. As to his second contention ,we have sufficient in the inscription to show
that his presumption is incredible. The inscription records that "this building (has been erected
by) Running khan, the conqueror of Hasht Gamhariyam who being wazir and general for many
months at the time of conquest of kamru,kamata,Jaznagab and Urisha,served in the army in
several places in train of the king. The inscription does not mention anything of Hussein's
expedition to the Ahom territory, but it only clearly indicates that Ruin khan was one of the
generals or wazirs of Hussain in the campaign against kamrup or kamata. He also accompanied
Hussain in his other military expeditions to Jaznagar and orissa. It was only in the beginning of
the 17th century that kamru or kamata formed an integral part of the Ahom dominion. So the
Bara wazir or Bara ujir of the Buranji and the wazir of the Inscription cannot be identical.
Moreover, the statement of the inscription that Rukhan khan was a general of Hussein in his
orissa and Jaznagar campaigns, shows the improbability of Bhattacharyya's first contention that
Hussain invaded Assam unsuccessfully in 1493,the year of his accession.

Another general, Turbak khan,invaded Assam in 1532.Turbak had under his command
thirty elepha5, one thousand horse and a large artillery. He was a very efficient general and the
Ahom took three years to defeat him finally. The main theartres of the war were the kalang and
the Kapili valleys in south bank of the Brahmaputra and the Dikrai and the Bharali valleys in the
north bank. The first battle was fought at Kaliabar near the confluence of the kalang and the
Brahmaputra,where the Ahom general phrasenmung killed a Muslim commander Hayat khan
by name. The second battle in the Kapili valley which was fought at a place opposite to the
Ahom fort at Singri was a very decisive one, which cost lives of eight Ahom commanders,
including the general phrasenmung. Prince suklen had a hair-breadth escape with a severe
wound. The Buranji narrate that on hearing the death of phrasenmung, his valiant wife, Mula
Gabharu, herself proceeded to the battle -field on elephant back along with five other women
and died fighting against Turbak. The third scene of the war was Sala on the South bank
between kaliabar and Dergaon. The Muslim defeated the Ahoms but failed to take possession
of their fort even after making a combined attack by land and water. The next encounter took
place at Duimunisila, above Kaliabar. The Ahom won a great naval victory killing a commander
of the invading force named Shyam Nath, with 2,500 men and capturing many boats and
materials.

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 At this crucial moment, there arrived strong reinforcement from Bengal under a
general named Hussain khan. The next scene of the war was the Dikrai river, in which the
Muslim fleet was completely defeated and most of the enemy soldiers were slaughtered. The
last clash of arms took place near the Bharali river. Hussain khan made a desperate attack on
the Ahom army, but the battle cost him his life. "Turbak tried to save the day by leading a
cavalry charge in person but in vain. He was transfixed by a spear and when he fell, the defeat
became a route."The Ahom seized 28 eleph5, 850 horses, large number of guns and cannons, a
box full of gold and 80 bags of silver coins. The captives included Turbak's daughter Sawalai,
who was taken to the king's seraglio. The heads of Turbak and Hussain khan were entombed on
the charaideo hill.

The victorious Ahom army pursued after the retreating Muslim soldiers as far as the
Karatoya. In course of their march,the Ahom soldiers appeared on the border of Gauda where
the ruler lost no time to make overtures of peace by offering two of his daughter khanbibi
Harmati and khanbibi Darmati to the Ahom kings seraglio, with the five paraganas of
Ghoraghat,Fariabad,patladoh,Eghara Sendur and Sherpur as dowries. It was at this time that
Suhungmung sent a peace mission to the Orissan ruler Vikramasena. The mission offered
worship to the Jagannath temple and excavated a tank nearby. Vikramasena might be another
name of king prataprudra of Orissa(1497-1540),who was contemporary to the Ahom king
Suhungmung.The peace, no doubt, had a political motive of forming an alliance between Assam
and orissa against Muslim expansion in the east. On their return journey, the Ahom army
secured the submission of the newly grown koch power.

In December, 1537, the koch king Viswa Singha along with his brother Siba Singha came
to the Ahom court and offered valuable presents to Suhungmung. In the same year, there was
exchange of envoys and gifts between the Manipuri king and the Ahom king. Suhungmung is
said to havemet his death in 1539 as a result of a conspiracy plotted by Suklenmung his eldest
son.

Conclusion

Thus died Suhungmung after an eventful reign of forty-two years. He was a bold
enterprising and resourceful ruler,and the Ahom dominions were extended by him in all
directions. His reign was one of the most eventful in Assam history. He can be credited as the
real builder of the Ahom kingdom. He converted the small kingdom of Mung-dun-sun-kham
into a big and powerful one extending as far as kajalimukh in the present Nowgong district.
Repulsing the attacks of the Muslim invaders, he proved the strength of the Ahom power and
made this power felt as far as Gauda and Orissa. It was to his credit that he could subjugate
both the Chutiyas and the kacharis and bring the eastern Bhuyan under his control. He had also
established friendship with Manipur through marriage ties. A shrewd diplomat,he had

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statesmanlike qualities. He took a census of the population and reorganised the society on the
basis of clans. The princes descending from the former kings were settled in the districts of
Dihing, Charing, Tipan, Chamaguri, Tungkhung and Namrup. From this arrangement, arose the
royal houses called Dihingia, Charingia, Tipamiya, Chamaguria, Tungkhungia and Namrupia,
respectively .His reign saw the growing influence of the Brahmanas and the spread of the Neo-
Vaisnavite movement under sri Sankaradeva and his disciple Madhavadeva. Nevertheless, the
king continued to perform the Ahom rites. Thus he celebrated the Rikkhvan ceremony after
conquering the Chutiyas, a ceremony performed to obtain longevity.

NOTES AND REFFERENCES

1.S.L.Baruah "A Comprehensive History of Assam ",Munshiram Manoharlal publishers Pvt. Ltd.
1986,p.227.

2.E.A.Gait,"A History of Assam "LBS publication panbazar,Guwahati-Assam,1983,pp.87,88,89.

3.S.L.Baruah op.cit, pp. 230,231.

4.E.A.Gait, op.cit, 91.

5.Nagendra Nath Acharyya,"The History of Medieval Assam (A. D. 1228 to 1603),publication

-1st june, 1957,pp.91,92,93.

6.S.L.Baruah, op. cit, pp. 232,233.

7.Nagendra Nath Acharyya, op.cit, pp. 93,94.

8.E.A.Gait,op.cit, p. 98.

9.S.L.Baruah,op .cit, pp. 233,234.