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{{Infobox military conflict | {{Infobox military conflict | ||
|conflict | | conflict = Moamoria Rebellion | ||
|image | | image = | ||
|caption | | caption = | ||
|date | | date = {{Start date|df=yes|1769|11|25}} – 1805<br /> ({{Age in years, months, weeks and days|month1=11|day1=25|year1=1769|month2=|day2=|year2=1805}}) | ||
|place | | place = [[Assam]] | ||
|territory | | territory = Creation of a near-independent Matak tract | ||
|result | | result = Severe weakening of the Ahom kingdom | ||
* Near-end of the [[Paik system]] | * Near-end of the [[Paik system]] | ||
* Creation of a standing army of mostly paid Hindustani sepoys to replace the Ahom paik based military force | * Creation of a standing army of mostly paid Hindustani sepoys to replace the Ahom paik based military force | ||
* | * One-half of the population of the kingdom perished | ||
|combatant1 = [[Moamoria]] | | combatant1 = [[Moamoria]] | ||
|combatant2 = [[Ahom kingdom]] | | combatant2 = [[Ahom kingdom]] | ||
|commander1 = | | commander1 = {{unbulleted list | ||
{{unbulleted list | |||
| Ragh Neog | | Ragh Neog | ||
| Naharkhora Saikia | | Naharkhora Saikia | ||
| Govinda Gaoburha | | Govinda Gaoburha | ||
| Harihar Tanti | | Harihar Tanti | ||
| [[Sarbananda Singha]] | |||
}} | }} | ||
|commander2 = | | commander2 = {{unbulleted list | ||
{{unbulleted list | |||
| [[Lakshmi Singha]] | | [[Lakshmi Singha]] | ||
| [[Gaurinath Singha]] | | [[Gaurinath Singha]] | ||
| Line 31: | Line 25: | ||
| [[Kamaleswar Singha]] | | [[Kamaleswar Singha]] | ||
}} | }} | ||
}} | | strength1 = 800,000 | ||
The '''Moamoria rebellion''' (1769–1805) was the 18th century uprising in [[Ahom kingdom]] of present-day [[Assam]] that began as power struggle between the [[Moamoria|Moamorias (Mataks) | | casualties1 = 700,000 | ||
}} | |||
The '''Moamoria rebellion''' (1769–1805) was the 18th century uprising in [[Ahom kingdom]] of present-day [[Assam]] that began as power struggle between the [[Moamoria|Moamorias]] (''Mataks''), the adherents of the Moamara [[Sattra]], and the [[Ahom Dynasty|Ahom king]]s.<ref>"The first popular challenge to the Ahom monarchy was organized by the disciples of the Moamara ''satra''." {{harvcol|Baruah|1993|p=46}}</ref> This uprising spread widely to other sections of Ahom kingdom<ref>"As the rebellion was in progress, all who wanted to free themselves from the exploitative government joined hands with the Moamorias making it a mass uprising and creating a crisis for the Ahom monarchy" {{harvcol|Baruah|1993|p=46}}</ref> including disgruntled elements of the Ahom aristocracy<ref>"The leaders of the Moamoriyas then resolved to form an alliance with three prominent exiled Ahom princes—Mohan Mala Gohain, the third son of [[Rudra Singha]], and Charu Singha and Ratneswar, both sons of Rajeswar Singha." {{harvcol|Baruah|1993|p=46}}</ref> leading to two periods in which the Ahom king lost control of the capital. Retaking the capital was accompanied by a massacre of subjects, leading to a steep depopulation of large tracts. The Ahom king failed to retake the entire kingdom; a portion in the north-east, Bengmara (modern-day [[Tinsukia district]]), became known as ''[[Matak rajya|Matak Rajya]]'' ruled by a newly created office called ''Borsenapati'', became a tribute-paying but virtually independent territory.<ref>{{harvcol|Baruah|1993|p=164}}</ref> | |||
The [[Ahom kingdom]] emerged from the rebellion much weakened. About one half of the population of the kingdom perished and the economy was totally destroyed.<ref>{{Harvcol|Guha|1991|p=122}}</ref> The weakened Ahom kingdom fell to a [[Burmese invasions of Assam|Burmese invasion]] which ultimately led to [[Colonial Assam|colonization]] by the British. | The [[Ahom kingdom]] emerged from the rebellion much weakened. About one half of the population of the kingdom perished and the economy was totally destroyed.<ref>{{Harvcol|Guha|1991|p=122}}</ref> The weakened Ahom kingdom fell to a [[Burmese invasions of Assam|Burmese invasion]] which ultimately led to [[Colonial Assam|colonization]] by the British. | ||
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==Background== | ==Background== | ||
{{main|Moamoria|Paik system}} | {{main|Moamoria|Paik system}} | ||
This rebellion was primarily among the [[Moamoria]] ''Paiks'' against the [[Ahom kingdom]]. The Moamorias were the followers of the Moamaria sattra that was predominantly [[Moran people|Morans]] (the mainstay of the Ahom militia), but there were also the [[Sonowal Kacharis]] (gold-washers), [[Chutia people|Chutia]]s (expert archers and matchlockmen), professional castes such as Hiras (potters), | This rebellion was primarily among the [[Moamoria]] ''Paiks'' against the [[Ahom kingdom]]. The Moamorias were the followers of the Moamaria sattra that was predominantly [[Moran people|Morans]] (the mainstay of the Ahom militia), but there were also the [[Sonowal Kacharis]] (gold-washers), [[Chutia people|Chutia]]s (expert archers and matchlockmen), professional castes such as Hiras (potters), [[Tanti]]s (weavers), [[Jalia Kaibarta|Kaibartas]] (fishermen), [[Brittial Bania|Bania]] (artisans) and [[Ahom people|Ahom]] nobles and officers.<ref>{{harvcol|Baruah|1993|p=53}}</ref> The rising popularity of Moamoria sattra had siphoned off the power of orthodox Hindu groups and [[Shakti]] sect which supported the Ahom kings. The sattras provided refuge for those seeking to escape the [[Paik system]] under which, any able-bodied person who was not a Brahmin or a noble could be used for labour, services or conscripted into the army. The [[Ahom kingdom]] was entering a crisis, as the [[Paik system]] on which the state was based was unable to adapt to the changing economy and the emerging social classes. The rise of the sattras was one of the reason for the leakage of manpower from the Paik system, and as a result the Ahom kingdom and the sattras came into increasing conflict. Moamara sattra belonged to the non-conformist [[Ekasarana Dharma#Kala sanghati|Kala-samhati]] sect that competed against the royalist sattras belonging to other sects. The Ahom kingdom watched the growth of this sattra with discomfort and heaped insult and repression on the followers of this sattra. The Moamoria Rebellion started during the reign of [[Swargadeo]] [[Lakshmi Singha]] and ended during the reign of Swargadeo [[Kamaleswar Singha]]. It continued up to 36 years, from 1769 to 1805. | ||
In the course of time, the Moamoria guru compromised with the Ahom rulers and the rebels drew inspiration from magico-religious cult of night worshipers, a mixture of tribal fertility rites and [[Tantrism]].<ref>{{Harvcol|Guha|1991|pp=124–125}}</ref> | In the course of time, the Moamoria guru compromised with the Ahom rulers and the rebels drew inspiration from magico-religious cult of night worshipers, a mixture of tribal fertility rites and [[Tantrism]].<ref>{{Harvcol|Guha|1991|pp=124–125}}</ref> | ||
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[[Srimanta Sankardeva]] established the [[Mahapuruxiya Dharma]] in the 16th century, a proselytizing religion that opened itself to all including the Muslims and tribesmen. The religion provided opportunities for social and economic improvements to common tribesmen, and the sattras provided a safe haven from mandatory labor under the [[Paik system]]. | [[Srimanta Sankardeva]] established the [[Mahapuruxiya Dharma]] in the 16th century, a proselytizing religion that opened itself to all including the Muslims and tribesmen. The religion provided opportunities for social and economic improvements to common tribesmen, and the sattras provided a safe haven from mandatory labor under the [[Paik system]]. | ||
The Ahom rulers saw a threat and Sankardeva himself had to escape to the [[Koch kingdom]] during the reign of Suklenmung to avoid persecution. A later king, [[Prataap Singha]], demolished the Kalabari and Kuruabahi sattras and his successors followed a similar policy of oppression. Jayadhwaj Singha reversed this policy and his successors up to Sulikphaa Lora Roja tried to come to terms with the sattras. This policy was again reversed during the reign of [[Gadadhar Singha]], who began persecuting the sattras. His son, [[Rudra Singha]] tried to isolate the more liberal—and thus most threatening to the Ahom state—of the non-Brahmin sattras by encouraging the Brahmin sattras. When he realized this policy was not bearing fruit, he initiated a policy to accord state support to saktism, the historical and theological ''bete noire'' of the Mahapuruxiya dharma, to contain further sattra influence. This led to more persecutions, the most notable under Bor Roja Phuleshwari Kunwonri during the reign of [[Siva Singha]]. This unresolved conflict finally exploded into the Moamoria rebellion in the 18th century that so weakened the Ahom kingdom that it collapsed in the 19th century. | The Ahom rulers saw a threat and Sankardeva himself had to escape to the [[Koch kingdom]] during the reign of [[Suklenmung]] to avoid persecution. A later king, [[Prataap Singha]], demolished the Kalabari and Kuruabahi sattras and his successors followed a similar policy of oppression. Jayadhwaj Singha reversed this policy and his successors up to Sulikphaa Lora Roja tried to come to terms with the sattras. This policy was again reversed during the reign of [[Gadadhar Singha]], who began persecuting the sattras. His son, [[Rudra Singha]] tried to isolate the more liberal—and thus most threatening to the Ahom state—of the non-Brahmin sattras by encouraging the Brahmin sattras. When he realized this policy was not bearing fruit, he initiated a policy to accord state support to saktism, the historical and theological ''bete noire'' of the Mahapuruxiya dharma, to contain further sattra influence. This led to more persecutions, the most notable under Bor Roja Phuleshwari Kunwonri during the reign of [[Siva Singha]]. This unresolved conflict finally exploded into the Moamoria rebellion in the 18th century that so weakened the Ahom kingdom that it collapsed in the 19th century. | ||
==First phase== | ==First phase== | ||
On September 15, 1769, Ragh Neog, a leading disciple of the sattra, was flogged by Ahom officials for not supplying the required number of elephants. By November, the Mataks led by Ragh Neog, Naharkhora Saikia and his two wives Radha and Rukmini, promised the throne to three Ahom princes (Mohanmala, a brother, and two others, nephews of Lakshmi Singha the king) and with their help liberated the territory north of the [[Dihing|Burhidihing]] river. On November 21, 1769 the rebels occupied the Ahom capital and placed Ramananda, son of Naharkhora, on the throne. The Ahom king, [[Lakshmi Singha]], was captured and kept a prisoner. All high officers were executed and three common Mataks became the three great Gohains. Ragh Neog became the [[Borbarua]], a ''kanri paik'' became the [[Borphukan]] and two common Ahoms became the Gohains at Sadiya and Marangi. | On September 15, 1769, Ragh Neog, a leading disciple of the sattra, was flogged by Ahom officials for not supplying the required number of elephants. By November, the Mataks led by Ragh Neog, Naharkhora Saikia and his two wives Radha and Rukmini, promised the throne to three Ahom princes (Mohanmala, a brother, and two others, nephews of Lakshmi Singha the king) and with their help liberated the territory north of the [[Dihing|Burhidihing]] river. On November 21, 1769 the rebels occupied the Ahom capital and placed Ramananda, son of Naharkhora, on the throne. The Ahom king, [[Lakshmi Singha]], was captured and kept a prisoner. All high officers were executed and three common Mataks became the three great Gohains. Ragh Neog became the [[Borbarua]], a ''kanri paik'' became the [[Borphukan]] and two common Ahoms became the Gohains at [[Sadiya]] and Marangi. | ||
The rebels, inexperienced in statecraft, failed to usher in a new order. Instead, they began imitating the unpopular practices of their erstwhile leaders. Ragh Neog seized the wives and daughters of many nobles and kept them in his harem. As some of the rebel officers took on the airs of the old nobility, many rebels were dissatisfied and, led by Govinda Gaoburha, left the capital and reached Sagunmuri. Taking advantage of this, some of the old nobility killed Ragh on April 14, 1770 with the help of [[Kuranganayani]], an Ahom queen from Manipur, and retook the capital. In the purge that followed, Ramananda the rebel king, Naharkhora, Radha, Rukmini, Astabhujdev, the Moamara sattradhikar and his son Saptabhuj were all executed. | The rebels, inexperienced in statecraft, failed to usher in a new order. Instead, they began imitating the unpopular practices of their erstwhile leaders. Ragh Neog seized the wives and daughters of many nobles and kept them in his harem. As some of the rebel officers took on the airs of the old nobility, many rebels were dissatisfied and, led by Govinda Gaoburha, left the capital and reached Sagunmuri. Taking advantage of this, some of the old nobility killed Ragh on April 14, 1770 with the help of [[Kuranganayani]], an Ahom queen from [[Manipur]], and retook the capital. In the purge that followed, Ramananda the rebel king, Naharkhora, Radha, Rukmini, Astabhujdev, the Moamara sattradhikar and his son Saptabhuj were all executed. | ||
After the capital was recaptured the remaining rebel forces in Sagunmuri under Govinda Gaoburha attempted to overthrow the king again. This movement too had the signs of a popular uprising. The main weapons used by the rebels were bamboo staves and clubs, and their slogan was ''praja-oi joroiroa, chekani-oi sopai dhora'' ("Ye oppressed subjects, hold your stave close"), and this uprising was called ''chekani kubua ron'' ("The war of the staves"). In one of the engagements, the Borpatrogohain and the Dhekial Phukan were killed, and the Borgohain made a hair breath escape. The rebels advanced toward Rangpur and they were met at Thowra by the forces of the Burhagohain, the new Borpatrogohain, the Borgohain and a detachment cavalry from the Manipur king. In this battle the rebels were defeated; Govinda Gaoburha was captured and executed,<ref>{{Harvcol|Baruah|1993|p=72}}</ref> | After the capital was recaptured the remaining rebel forces in Sagunmuri under Govinda Gaoburha attempted to overthrow the king again. This movement too had the signs of a popular uprising. The main weapons used by the rebels were bamboo staves and clubs, and their slogan was ''praja-oi joroiroa, chekani-oi sopai dhora'' ("Ye oppressed subjects, hold your stave close"), and this uprising was called ''chekani kubua ron'' ("The war of the staves"). In one of the engagements, the Borpatrogohain and the Dhekial Phukan were killed, and the Borgohain made a hair breath escape. The rebels advanced toward Rangpur and they were met at Thowra by the forces of the Burhagohain, the new Borpatrogohain, the Borgohain and a detachment cavalry from the Manipur king. In this battle the rebels were defeated; Govinda Gaoburha was captured and executed,<ref>{{Harvcol|Baruah|1993|p=72}}</ref> | ||