->Homogenie: /* King of Ahom kingdom */

2021-12-30T12:46:30Z

King of Ahom kingdom

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{{Infobox royalty
| name = '''Sukaphaa'''
| full name = Sukaphaa
| image = Sukapha.jpg
| caption = Sukaphaa
| succession = Founder [[Ahom dynasty]]
| reign = 1228–1268{{citation needed|date=May 2019}}
| coronation =
| successor = [[Suteuphaa]]
| issue = [[Suteuphaa]]
| house = Su clan (Tiger) [[Ahom dynasty]]
| father = Chao Chang-Nyeu
| mother = Blak Kham Sen
| birth_date = 1189
| birth_place = [[Mong Mao]]
| death_date = 1268
| death_place = [[Charaideo]], [[Ahom kingdom]]
| date of burial =
| place of burial = [[Charaideo]]
| religion = [[Ahom religion]]
}}
{{Ahom Dynasty}}
'''Sukaphaa''' ({{reign|1228|1268}}), also '''Siu-Ka-Pha''', the first [[Ahom kingdom|Ahom]] [[Ahom Dynasty|king]] in medieval [[Assam]], was the founder of the [[Ahom kingdom]] and the architect of Assam. A Tai prince<ref>"...the advance of the Tais under Sukapha (Siu-Ka-Pha) was a historical fact and is well documented by records and traditions." {{harvcol|Phukan|1992|p=51}}</ref> originally from present-day [[Mong Mao]], [[Yunnan Province]], China, the kingdom he established in 1228<ref>"...it is not until Sukapha became king in 1228 AD..." {{harvcol|Gait|1906|p=iv}}</ref> existed for nearly six hundred years and in the process unified the various ethnic groups of the region that left a deep impact on the region. In reverence to his position in Assam's history the [[honorific]] ''Chaolung'' is generally associated with his name (''Chao'': lord; ''Lung'': great).

Since 1996 December 2 has been celebrated in [[Assam]] as the Sukaphaa Divox, or Axom Divox (Assam Day), to commemorate the advent of the first king of the Ahom kingdom in Assam after his journey over the [[Patkai]] Hills.

==Ancestry==

===Legend===
According to [[Ahom people|Ahom]] tradition, Sukaphaa was a descendant of the god ''Khunlung'', who had come down from the heavens and had ruled Mong-Ri-Mong-Ram. During the reign of [[Suhungmung]], which saw the composition of the first [[Buranji|Assamese chronicles]].{{sfn|Baruah|1986|p=227}}Sukaphaa brings a divine diamond ''chum-Phra-rung-sheng-mung'' in a box, a divine tusked elephant, a divine chicken ''Kaichengmung'', a divine embroidered cloth, a divine pair of drums, a divine sword ''Hengdan''.

===Prince of Mong Mao===
The details of Sukaphaa's life and origins before his entry into Assam, available from different chronicles, both Ahom and non-Ahom, are full of contradictions. According to {{Harvcoltxt|Phukan|1992}} who has tried to hold up a consistent account, Sukaphaa was born to Chao Chang-Nyeu (''alias'' Phu-Chang-Khang) and Nang-Mong Blak-Kham-Sen in the [[Tai peoples|Tai]] state of [[Mong Mao]] (also called Mao-Lung, with the capital at Kieng Sen), close to present-day [[Ruili]] in [[Yunnan]], [[China]].<ref>{{Harvcol|Phukan|1992|p=67}} According to the ''Buranji'' by Kashinath Tamuli Phukan, Chao Tai Pung ruled Mong Mao, and had two sons, Pao Meo Pung (who finally ruled Mong Mao) and Phu Chang Khang (who finally ruled Mong Mit). Sukaphaa was born to Phu Chang Khang. This version is discounted by {{Harvcoltxt|Phukan|1992}}.</ref> Chao Chang Nyeu was a prince from Mong-Ri Mong-Ram, who had traveled to Mong Mao possibly on an expedition.<ref>{{Harvcol|Gogoi|1968}}</ref> Mong Mao was then ruled by Chao Tai Pung. Chao Chang Nyeu was later befriended by Pao Meo Pung, the son of the ruler, who gave his sister Blak Kham Sen in marriage. Sukaphaa was born of this union not later than 1189 CE and was brought up by his maternal grandparents.<ref>{{Harvcol|Gogoi|1968|p=251}}</ref> Pao Meo Pung, who eventually ruled Mong Mao, had no male heir and Sukaphaa, his nephew, was nominated to succeed him. A son born late to Pao Meo Pung's queen ended Sukaphaa's claim to the throne of Mong Mao.

===The search for a Kingdom===
After his 19 years as crown prince came to an end, Sukaphaa decided to leave Mong Mao. According to tradition, his grandmother advised him thus - "no two tigers live in the same jungle, no two kings sit on the same throne." Accordingly, Sukaphaa is said to have left Chieng-Sen the capital of Mong Mao in the year 1215 CE.
[[File:Sukafa.jpg|thumb|Chaolung Sukafa]]

==Journey into Assam==
Sukaphaa left Mong Mao in 1215. Most Buranjis attest to this version. Some Tai chronicles from outside Assam record the journey of Sukaphaa from Mong-Mit Kupklingdao (and not Mong Mao) in 1227 where he was the ruler.<ref>{{Harvcol|Gogoi|1968|p=253}}.</ref> Sukaphaa followed an older known route from [[Yunnan]] to Assam that passed through [[Myitkyina]], [[Mogaung]] and the upper [[Irrawaddy river]] valley. On his way, he stopped at various places and crossed the Khamjang river to reach the [[Lake of No Return|Nangyang lake]] in 1227. Here he subjugated the [[Naga people|Nagas]] very ferociously and established a [[Mueang|Mong]]. He left one Kan-Khrang-Mong there to guard the passage back, and proceeded to cross the [[Patkai]] hills at the [[Pangsau Pass|Pangsau pass]] and reached [[Namrup]] (in the Brahmaputra valley) in December 1228. The journey, from Mong Mao to Namrup thus took Sukaphaa about thirteen years and the year he reached Namrup is considered as the year the Ahom kingdom was established. The immediate cause of departure was the aggression of Su-Khan-Pha of Mong Mao. Sukaphaa's father had earlier divided his Mong among his three sons, and Sukaphaa became the ruler of Mong Mit about 1209. The immediate cause of departure was the aggression of Su-Khan-Pha of Mong Mao. According to Padmeswar Gogoi, he was accompanied by three queens: Ai-Me-Chao-Lo, Nang-Sheng-Chum-Hpa and Yi-Lo-Weng-Ching-Chum-Hpa, two sons and a daughter; chiefs from five other dependent Mongs;<ref>Mong-Hkang, Mong-Hkru-Dai, Mong-Hka Mong-Pun, Mong-Phu and Mong-Li {{Harvcol|Gogoi|1968|pp=256–257}}</ref> members of the priestly class and soldiers—a total contingent of about 9000.<ref>{{Harvcol|Gogoi|1968|pp=256–257}}</ref><ref>{{harvtxt|Phukan|1992|p=51}}</ref> Some commoners are recorded as having joined this core group on the way. Sukaphaa had with him 300 horses fitted with saddles and bridles and two elephants. Heavy arms were transported along a different route.<ref>{{Harvcol|Phukan|1992|p=51}}</ref>

==King of Ahom kingdom==
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:left"
|+Political boundaries of extant states/territories in east Assam<ref>{{Harvcol|Gogoi|1968|p=266}}, based on a manuscript called ''Borgohain Vamsavali''.</ref>
|-
! State/Territory !! North !! South !! East !! West
|-
| [[Chutiya kingdom]]
| Mountain || Kakodonga river || Brahmakunda || [[Bharali River|Bharali river]]
|-
| [[Moran people|Moran]] territories (Subordinate to [[Chutiya kingdom|Chutiyas]])<ref name="shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in">Edward Gait, pp =253 [http://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/jspui/bitstream/10603/116186/4/04_chapter%204.pdf "Moran and Borahi were Chutia vassals"]</ref>
| [[Dihing River|Buridihing river]]|| Disang river || Suffry river || [[Brahmaputra river]]
|-
| Barahi territories (Subordinate to [[Chutiya kingdom|Chutiyas]])<ref name="shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in"/>
| Disang river || [[Dikhow River|Dikhau river]] || Nagahat || Barahi Fika
|-
| [[Kachari kingdom]]
| Kakodonga river || Patkai Hills || Patkai Hills || [[Dhansiri river]]
|-
| [[Bhuyan chieftains|Bara Bhuyan territories]]
| Mountain || Brahmaputra river || Bharali river || Gangbihali river
|-
| [[Nyishi people|Dafla]] (Sungi) territories
| Mountain || Brahmaputra river || Gangbihali river || Bhairabi river
|-
| [[Darrang district|Darrang]] kingdom
| Mountain || Brahmaputra river || Bhairabi river || [[Manas river|Manas River]]
|}
[[File:King Sukaphaa.jpg|thumb|Sukapha statue at Sukapha Samannay Kshetra]]
Having reached Namrup, Sukaphaa bridged the Sessa river, and went upstream along the Burhi Dihing river looking to establish a colony for wet rice cultivation. He did not find the region conducive to cultivation and returned downstream to Tipam. In 1236, he left Tipam for Abhaypur. A flood made his move again in 1240 down the Brahmaputra to [[Habung]] (present-day [[Dhakuakhana]]). Another flood and he moved again in 1244, down the Brahmaputra to the Dikhowmukh, and then up the [[Dikhow River]] to Ligirigaon. Leaving a detachment at Ligirigaon, he moved again in 1246 to Simaluguri. In 1253, he abandoned Simaluguri for Charaideo, his final capital, where he finally died in 1268.

Even though Sukaphaa treated the people of the Patkai hills very severely on his way to the Brahmaputra valley, his approach to the population in Assam was conciliatory and non-confrontational. He married the daughters of Badaucha, the Moran Chief and Thakumatha, the Barahi chief and established cordial relations with them. As he began establishing his domain, he avoided regions that were heavily populated.<ref>{{Harvcol|Gogoi|1968|p=264}}</ref> He encouraged his soldiers as well as members of the Ahom elite to marry locally. A process of [[Ahomisation]] (whereby locals who adopted Ahom methods of wet rice cultivation and statecraft were accepted into the Ahom fold) bolstered the process of integration.<ref>{{Harvcol|Guha|1983|p=12}}. "...the Ahoms assimilated some of the Nagas, Moran and Barahi neighbors and later also large sections of the Chutiya and the Kachari tribes. This Ahomisation process went on until the expanded Ahom society itself began to be Hinduised from the mid-16th century onwards." The Ahomization of neighbors, thus, began with Sukaphaa himself.</ref> The local Borahi and the Moran people, speakers of [[Tibeto-Burman language]]s, addressed Sukaphaa's people as "Ha-Cham", that later on developed into "Assam" or "Ahom" (see [[Etymology of Assam]]), the name of the kingdom; and "Ahom", the name of the people.

===Search for a capital===
[[File:Sukafa kshetra.jpg|thumb|Artist's depiction of the court of Sukaphaa.]]
Over the next few years, he moved from place to place searching for the right capital, leaving behind his representative at each stage to rule the colonized land. Then he went up the Burhidihing river and established a province at Lakhen Telsa.<ref>{{Harvcol|Phukan|1992|p=52}}</ref> Then he came back down the river and established his rule at Tipam. In 1236 he moved to Mungklang (Abhoipur), and in 1240 down the Brahmaputra to [[Habung]] ([[Dhemaji]]). In 1244 he went further down to Ligirigaon (Song-Tak), a few miles from present-day Nazira, and in 1246 to Simaluguri (Tun Nyeu), a place downstream from the present-day Simaluguri.<ref name="Phukan1992">{{Harvcol|Phukan|1992|p=53}}</ref> Finally in 1253 he built himself his capital city at [[Charaideo]] near present-day [[Sibsagar]] town. The capital of the Ahom kingdom changed many times after this, but Charaideo remained the symbolic center of Ahom rule.

With the help of local recruits, he established three large farms for ''sali'' rice cultivation, called ''Barakhowakhat'', ''Engerakhat'' and ''Gachikalakhat''.<ref>{{harv|Gogoi|2002|p=27}}</ref>

In 1268 Sukaphaa died. At the time of his death, his kingdom was bounded by the [[Brahmaputra River]] in the west, the Disang River in the north, the [[Dikhow River]] ({{coord|26.970732|94.636745|type:river_source:wikimapia|format=dms}}) in the south and the Naga Hills in the east.<ref name="Phukan1992" />

===Memorial===
* December 2, Assam celebrates as the Sukaphaa Divas, or Asom Divas (Assam Day). An award is given by State Govt. that day to a prominent personality.
* Sukapha Samannay Kshetra ({{coord|26.7161399|N|94.0782113|E|type:landmark|format=dms}}) : Inaugurated on December 2, 2015, at Mohbondha, Jorhat.<ref name="Inaugurates Sukapha Samannay Kshetra in Jorhat">{{cite web | url=http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=dec0315/at050 | title=Gogoi inaugurates Sukapha Samannay Kshetra in Jorhat | publisher=Assam Tribune}}</ref>
*A 100-feet long statue of Chaolung Siu Ka Pha was unveiled in Nazira, Assam on February 26, 2021 by Assam Health, Finance and Education Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma. It stirred controversy because of its "weird looking" face. <ref>{{Cite web|last=Desk|first=Digital|date=2021-02-25|title=100-foot Chaolung Siu Ka Pha statue at Nazira » News Live TV » Assam|url=https://newslivetv.com/100-foot-chaolung-sukaphaa-statue-at-nazira/|access-date=2021-04-15|website=News Live TV|language=en-US}}</ref>
* Sukaphaa Bhawan at Khanapara, Guwahati ({{coord|26.1254446|N|91.8036044|E|type:landmark|format=dms}})
* Sukaphaa Bhawan at Borbaruah, Dibrugarh. ({{coord|27.346944|N|94.865833|E|type:landmark|format=dms}})
* A cruise in the name of RV Sukafa plying on Brahmaputra.

==See also==
* [[Ahom Dynasty]]
* [[Ahom kingdom]]
* [[Kingdom of Pong]]
[[File:Chaolung Sukapha Statue.jpg|thumb|Sukapha Statue]]

==Notes==
{{reflist|2}}

==References==
{{refbegin}}
* {{Citation |last=Gait |first=Edward A. |year=1906 |title=A History of Assam |place=Calcutta}}
* {{Citation |last=Gogoi |first=Jahnabi |year=2002 |title=Agrarian System Of Medieval Assam |publisher=Concept Publishing Company |place=New Delhi}}
* {{Citation |last=Wade |first=Dr.John Peter |year=1800 |title=An account of Assam |publisher=Kuntaline Press |place=Calcutta}}
* {{Citation |last=Phukan |first=Kashinath |year=1906 |title=Assam Buranji |publisher=Majumdar Press |place=Calcutta}}
* {{Citation |last=Bhuyan |first=Surya Kumar |year=1932 |title=Deodhai Buranji |publisher=D.H.A.S|place=Shillong}}
* {{Citation |last=Barua Sadar-amin |first=Harakanta |year=1930 |title=Assam Buranji or a History of Assam|publisher=D.H.A.S. |place=Shillong}}
* {{Citation |last=Mahanta|first=Sukumar |year=1945 |title=Assam Buranji |publisher=D.H.A.S. |place=Shillong}}
* {{Citation |last=Gogoi |first=Padmeshwar |year=1968 |title=The Tai and the Tai Kingdoms |publisher=Gauhati University |place=Guwahati}}
* {{Citation| last = Guha| first = Amalendu| title = The Ahom Political System: An Enquiry into the State Formation Process in Medieval Assam (1228-1714)| journal = Social Scientist| volume = 11 |pages = 3–34| date = December 1983| doi = 10.2307/3516963| issue = 12| jstor = 3516963 | url = http://opendocs.ids.ac.uk/opendocs/handle/123456789/3259}}
* {{Citation |last=Phukan |first=J. N. |contribution=The Tai-Ahom Power in Assam |editor-last=Barpujari |editor-first=H. K. |title=The Comprehensive History of Assam |volume=2 |pages=49–60 |publisher=Assam Publication Board |place=Guwahati |year=1992}}
*{{citation |type=book |last=Baruah |first=S L |title=A Comprehensive History of Assam |publisher=Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers |place=New Delhi |year=1986}}
{{refend}}

==External links==
* [http://www.assamtribune.com/dec0307/edit4.html Siu-Ka-Pha – a great visionary] An article by Babul Tamuli published in The Assam Tribune on the occasion of Siu-Ka-Pha Divas.
* [http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/details.asp?id=dec0208/edit2 Siukapha–an epitome of harmony] An article by Dr Sikhamoni Konwar published in The Assam Tribune on the occasion of Siu-Ka-Pha/Assam Divas on 2 December 2008.

[[Category:Ahom kings]]
[[Category:1189 births]]
[[Category:1268 deaths]]
[[Category:History of Assam]]
[[Category:Ahom kingdom]]
[[Category:13th-century Tai people]]
[[Category:12th-century Tai people]]

Sukaphaa - Revision history

->Homogenie: /* King of Ahom kingdom */