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| == Modern period == | | == Modern period == |
| {{See|History of modern Manipur}} | | {{See|History of modern Manipur}} |
| === Till fifteenth century === | | [[File:FB7A9290.jpg|thumb|center|The Temple of Shri Govindaji in [[Imphal]], is the center of [[Meitei Vaishnavism]] of the [[Meitei Hindus]] in [[Manipur|Meitei world]].]] |
| | === fifteenth century === |
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| ==== Sources ==== | | Historical documentations exists in the form of written records about Manipuri history in these spans (contra mainland India) — the geopolitical history of the region along with the ethno-linguistic background of the inhabitants are largely recorded.{{sfnp|Parratt|2005|pp=2,13}}{{sfnp|Brandt|2017|pp=122}}{{sfnp|Sebastian|2019|pp=55}} The primary source has always been found in the [[Cheitharol Kumbaba]] (henceforth, Ch.K.) — the court history of the Kings of Manipur — which dates the first king to 33 C.E.{{sfnp|Parratt|2005|pp=2,13}}{{sfnp|Sebastian|2019|pp=45-46}} Ch.K. is a Meitei chronicle — Meitei was one of the clans, the [[Ningthouja dynasty]].{{sfnp|Parratt|2005|pp=4}}{{sfnp|Sebastian|2019|pp=57-58}} |
| There has been a marked absence of historical evidence, governing the span between Iron Age and the first millennium in North East India.{{sfn|Hazarika|2017|p=16}} Chronicles of other nations impress upon us that trade networks with mainland India and South China were likely operating in Manipur across these spans; pilgrims are reported to have entered India from China via these territories.{{sfn|Hazarika|2017|p=69,70}}
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| Little documentation exists in the form of written records about Manipuri history in these spans (contra mainland India) — the geopolitical history of the region along with the ethno-linguistic background of the inhabitants are largely unknown.{{sfnp|Parratt|2005|pp=2,13}}{{sfnp|Brandt|2017|pp=122}}{{sfnp|Sebastian|2019|pp=55}} The primary source has always been near-exclusively the [[Cheitharol Kumbaba]] (henceforth, Ch.K.) — the court history of the Kings of Manipur — which dates the first king to 33 C.E.{{sfnp|Parratt|2005|pp=2,13}}{{sfnp|Sebastian|2019|pp=45-46}} Ch.K. is however a Meitei chronicle — Meitei was one of the migrant clans, originally named Ningthouja, who (at some unknown point of time) assimilated others into a confederacy, and gained the monarchy — with the early sections being essentially themed on the expansion of Meiteis across Manipur and their exploits.{{sfnp|Parratt|2005|pp=4}}{{sfnp|Sebastian|2019|pp=57-58}}
| | The initiation date of 33 CE was arrived upon by the scribes via astrological calculations.{{sfnp|Parratt|2005|pp=6}} |
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| Notwithstanding this inherent bias, the parts till the reign of King Kyampa (1467-1508 CE) were redrafted during the reign of [[Ching-Thang Khomba]] because those leaves were "lost" and, in the opinion of Saroj N. Parratt, became "extremely sketchy" and "legendary".{{sfnp|Parratt|2005|pp=4,}} The kings are assigned extraordinary spans of length, there is a scarcity of objective information, and there are random gaps in narration.{{sfnp|Parratt|2005|pp=4,13}}{{sfnp|Sebastian|2019|pp=46}} Parratt hypothesizes that many of these earlier monarchs were probably borrowed from the cultural pantheon and interspersed with religious myths to fit into their collective memory of intra-clan conquests and legitimize the current rule by Meiteis.{{sfnp|Parratt|2005|pp=5,13}} Parratt as well as [[Gangmumei Kamei]] propose that the initiation date of 33 CE was arrived upon by the scribes via astrological calculations.{{sfnp|Parratt|2005|pp=6}}
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| Some local authors have used [[Puya (Meitei texts)|Puyas]], archaic Manipuri manuscripts in their reconstruction of Manipuri History. This tendency has been criticized by Parratt and others; none of these texts are yet dated by professional historians or subject to serious textual-critical scrutiny, and hence are not suitable for purposes other than commenting on Meitei traditions.{{sfnp|Parratt|2005|pp=10,11}}{{sfnp|Sebastian|2019|pp=52-53}}{{efn|Bryce Beemer writes, "Manipur developed a textual tradition on par with that of Upper Burma or Java. The continued existence of clan identities and leadership is one reason for the bewilderingly diverse historical traditions of Manipur. Each clan wrote its own creation myths, religious histories, clan genealogies, and dynastic accounts of noble houses. Although many of these historical texts contradict each other, they represent a rich ore yet to be mined by most Southeast Asianists."{{sfn|Beemer|2013|pp=266}}}} Scholars have also found Puyas to have been (potentially) forged by [[Meitei nationalism|Meitei Nationalists]] in support of their [[Invented tradition|reinvention of history and tradition]].{{sfnp|Parratt|2005|pp=11,17}}{{sfnp|Brandt|2005|pp=128}}{{sfnp|Naorem|2015|pp=219}}
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| | Many authors have used [[Puya (Meitei texts)|Puyas]], archaic Manipuri manuscripts in their reconstruction of Manipuri History.{{sfnp|Parratt|2005|pp=10,11}}{{sfnp|Sebastian|2019|pp=52-53}}{{efn|Bryce Beemer writes, "Manipur developed a textual tradition on par with that of Upper Burma or Java. The continued existence of clan identities and leadership is one reason for the bewilderingly diverse historical traditions of Manipur. Each clan wrote its own creation myths, religious histories, clan genealogies, and dynastic accounts of noble houses. |
| ==== Summary ==== | | ==== Summary ==== |
| Pakhangpa, a primordial dragon god in Meitei mythology, is credited in Ch.K. for having established the Meitei rule by subjugating (?) the Poireitons.{{sfn|Parratt|2005|pp=24-25}} The first seven kings mentioned over Ch.K. — Pakhangpa, Tompok, Taothingmang, Khui Ningngongpa, Pengsipa, Kaokhongpa & Naokhampa — allegedly ruled till 411 C.E.{{sfn|Parratt|2005|pp=23-27}} Barring Pakhangpa and Taothingmang, the chronicle only records the regnal span of each king.{{sfn|Parratt|2005|pp=23-27}} Parratt notes that there's not even any evidence of these seven rulers belonging to the same dynasty, and in all probabilities they were reconstructed from oral legends of varying origins.{{sfn|Parratt|2005|pp=27}} The chronicle itself mentions that nothing much is known about these "divine"-like kings.{{sfn|Parratt|2005|pp=27}} | | [[Nongta Lailen Pakhangpa]] established the Meitei rule by subjugating [[Poireiton]].{{sfn|Parratt|2005|pp=24-25}} The first seven kings mentioned over Ch.K. — Pakhangpa, Tompok, Taothingmang, Khui Ningngongpa, Pengsipa, Kaokhongpa & Naokhampa — ruled till 411 C.E.{{sfn|Parratt|2005|pp=23-27}} |
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| Naokhampa was succeeded by Naophangpa, about whom nothing significant is mentioned.{{sfn|Parratt|2005|pp=27}} He was succeeded by his son Sameirang, who fought a successful battle over Aangom, a fellow clan.{{sfn|Parratt|2005|pp=28}} The next ruler was Konthoupa and his reign saw some devastating warfare with "Senloi Langmai".{{sfn|Parratt|2005|pp=28}} After a monarch-less span of five years, Naothingkhong became the next king.{{sfn|Parratt|2005|pp=28,29}} During his reign the chieftain of Pong Kingdom is noted to have engaged in an annexation spree before returning back via Manipur.{{sfn|Parratt|2005|pp=29}}
| | [[Naokhamba]] was succeeded by [[Naophangba]], and was succeeded by his son [[Sameirang]], who fought a successful battle over the [[Angom]]s, a fellow clan.{{sfn|Parratt|2005|pp=28}} The next ruler was [[Ura Konthouba]] and his reign saw some warfare with "Selloi Langmai".{{sfn|Parratt|2005|pp=28}} After his reign, [[Naothingkhong]] became the next king.{{sfn|Parratt|2005|pp=28,29}} |
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| Khongtekcha was the next king; a successful battle over the Moirang clan is noted, and he ruled for ten years.{{sfn|Parratt|2005|pp=29,30}} After a gap of eleven years, the next king was Keirencha, who ruled for fifteen years.{{sfn|Parratt|2005|pp=30}} He was succeeded by Yarepa, who reigned for twenty two years.{{sfn|Parratt|2005|pp=30}} Nothing else is noted about these two kings.{{sfn|Parratt|2005|pp=30}} The next four kings were Aayangpa, Ningthoucheng, Chenglei Yipan Lanthapa and Yirengpa, who ruled for a combined total of 253 years.{{sfn|Parratt|2005|pp=30,31}} All of them are noted to have emerged victorious in varied kinds of warfare over fellow clans — Aayangpa subdued the Nongyai Khumans, Ningthoucheng raided Houkei, Lanthapa captured a group of Luwangs, and Yirengpa defeated the Moirangs as well as Khumans.{{sfn|Parratt|2005|pp=30,31}} | | Khongtekcha was the next king; a successful battle over the Moirang clan is noted, and he ruled for ten years.{{sfn|Parratt|2005|pp=29,30}} After a gap of eleven years, the next king was Keirencha, who ruled for fifteen years.{{sfn|Parratt|2005|pp=30}} He was succeeded by Yarepa, who reigned for twenty two years.{{sfn|Parratt|2005|pp=30}} Nothing else is noted about these two kings.{{sfn|Parratt|2005|pp=30}} The next four kings were Aayangpa, Ningthoucheng, Chenglei Yipan Lanthapa and Yirengpa, who ruled for a combined total of 253 years.{{sfn|Parratt|2005|pp=30,31}} All of them are noted to have emerged victorious in varied kinds of warfare over fellow clans — Aayangpa subdued the Nongyai Khumans, Ningthoucheng raided Houkei, Lanthapa captured a group of Luwangs, and Yirengpa defeated the Moirangs as well as Khumans.{{sfn|Parratt|2005|pp=30,31}} |