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It is believed that for nearly six centuries, the Ahom kings ruled the beautiful Brahmaputra Valley in Assam, creating a strong and unique culture. Their reign, starting in the 13th century, saw them fight off many enemies and build a lasting legacy. But like all great stories, the Ahom kingdom had its final chapter. This chapter centres around its last king, Purandar Singha. His story is a mix of hope, struggle, and the unavoidable rise of British power, marking the end of a long era. Let’s explore everything about the last king of the Ahom kingdom and the Brahmaputra Valley.
Table of Contents
List of Ahom Monarchs and Their Reigns
| Ahom Monarch Name | Reign (Approximate) | Notes |
| Sukaphaa | 1228 – 1268 CE | The first Ahom king started the kingdom. |
| Suteuphaa | 1268 – 1281 CE | Sukaphaa’s son. |
| Subinphaa | 1281 – 1293 CE | Suteuphaa’s son. |
| Sukhaangphaa | 1293 – 1332 CE | Subinphaa’s son. |
| Sudangphaa (Bamuni Konwar) | 1397 – 1407 CE | Known as the ‘Brahmin Prince’ because he grew up with Brahmins. |
| Suhungmung (Dihingia Raja) | 1497 – 1539 CE | Introduced the Hindu title ‘Swarganarayan’ and made important changes in how the kingdom was run. |
| Susenghphaa (Pratap Singha) | 1603 – 1641 CE | A strong king who fought against the Mughal Empire. |
| Sutamla (Jayadhwaj Singha) | 1648 – 1663 CE | Faced invasions from the Mughals. |
| Supaatphaa (Gadadhar Singha) | 1681 – 1696 CE | Brought order to the kingdom and supported Vaishnavism |
| Sukhrungphaa (Rudra Singha) | 1696 – 1714 CE | A powerful king who supported art and culture and was a good administrator. |
| Purandar Singha | 1818 – 1819 CE | His first time as king, after another king was removed. |
| Chandrakanta Singha | 1819 – 1821 CE | Briefly became king again during a Burmese invasion. |
| Purandar Singha | 1833 – 1838 CE | The Last King of the Ahom Kingdom. Restored by the British, but later took over. |
Who was the Last King of the Ahom kingdom
Purandar Singha was the last try to bring back the Ahom kings, as the British were getting more and more powerful. His story really shows how local kingdoms were fading away as the British East India Company kept expanding its control. His second time as king really shows how complicated things were back then. Local rulers like him were often just figureheads who didn’t have much real power because the British were really in charge.
Even though he couldn’t fight the British with an army, the way he tried to rebuild the Ahom government and customs can be seen as a kind of cultural fight – he was trying to keep the kingdom’s identity alive.
His story shows how it was pretty much impossible to stop the British from taking over more and more of India back then. Even when local rulers tried to work with the British or play by their rules, it didn’t save them in the end.
Purandar Singha: His Two Reigns and Efforts
The last king of the Ahom Kingdom, Purandar Singha, actually ruled the Ahom kingdom twice, though neither time with full independence:
- First Reign (1818-1819): The British initially helped put him on the throne after they got rid of the previous king, Chandrakanta Singha. But his time as king didn’t last long because things were still pretty shaky politically.
- Second Reign (1833-1838): This part of his rule is the really important one. After the British pushed out the Burmese, they decided to restore a limited Ahom monarchy in Upper Assam and chose Purandar Singha. During this time, even though he had to pay a large annual tribute to the British and they held significant power, Purandar Singha made efforts to:
- He tried to bring back some of the traditional Ahom systems of governance that had been disrupted by the civil war and Burmese occupation.
- He attempted to reinstate important Ahom customs and practices to bring back a sense of order and identity.
- He tried to exercise whatever power he had to improve the lives of his people within the constraints set by the British.
It’s important to understand that Purandar Singha’s second reign was not one of true independence. He was essentially a ruler under the watchful eye and control of the British East India Company. His actions were often dictated by their interests and the financial burden of the tribute.
The Troubles Before the Last King of the Ahom Kingdom
Things were really tough for the Ahom kingdom before Purandar Singha came back for his last time as king. The Moamoria rebellion had been going on for ages and had seriously messed things up from the inside. Because they were so weak, they couldn’t defend themselves when the Burmese invaded in the early 1800s. The Burmese took over and caused so much destruction and pain that the kingdom was a total mess when the British showed up.
The End of an Era – The British Take Over (1838)
In the end, the British decided to take over Upper Assam completely in 1838. They said it was because he wasn’t ruling well and hadn’t paid what he owed. This finally put an end to the Ahom kingdom, which had lasted for almost 600 years, and Purandar Singha was removed from power for good.
Even though the last king of the Ahom kingdom, Purandar Singha’s time as king was short and didn’t end with Assam staying independent, it sadly reminds us of the Ahom kingdom’s long and impressive past and how it eventually got swallowed up by British India. He’s like a symbol of a time that was ending, a king who tried to hold onto what was left of his kingdom when the British were just too powerful to stop. His story is a really important part of Assam’s history and a significant part of the bigger story of how the British took over India.
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