ahom

The Tai Ahoms ruled parts of present day Assam for nearly 600 years: from 1228 to 1826. In 1228, Sukaphaa, a Shan (Mong Mao) prince originally befriended the Morans and Borahis in the Brahmaputra valley, defeated the Chutias and established a small kingdom. The Ahoms, who introduced wet rice cultivation in the region, soon expanded, subsuming some enthnic tribes (like the Borahis) and by subjugating others. Their power declined in 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 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. The Tai Ahoms who came into Assam followed their traditional religion and spoke the Tai language. Over time, they adopted the Assamese language and were converted to Hinduism. They kept good records, and are known for their chronicles, called Buranjis. The Buranjis were the first example of recorded history in India. One of its greatest achievements was the stemming of Mughal expansionism. In the celebrated battle of Saraighat, the Ahom general Lacit Borphukan defeated the Mughal forces on the outskirts of present day Guwahati in 1671. 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 Burha-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.

Ahom

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