Delve into Assam’s historical tapestry with these brief Part 1 notes from the third chapter of the book, “Assam Year Book 2023 by Santanu Kaushik Baruah.” This chapter focuses on Assam’s political history, providing a thorough examination of the major dynasties that shaped this region. Travel through time as we study the Varman, Salasthambha, Pala, Chutia, Barobhuyans, Koch, Kachari, and Jayantia dynasties, providing an insightful glimpse into Assam’s rich history and cultural growth. Explore the history with us as we open the pages of the Assam Year Book 2023.

• The first known ruler of Assam was Mahiranga Danava of the Danava dynasty, who was succeeded in turn in the direct line by Hatakasur, Sambarasur, and Ratnasur.
• After them, there was a chief named Ghatakasur, the ruler of the Kirats. Ghatakasur, it is said, was defeated and slain by Narakasur. He made Pragjyotishpura (the modern Guwahati) his capital.
• His rule extended from the Karatoya on the west to the Dikrang on the east. Narakasur was killed by Lord Krishna of Dwarka. Narak’s descendants continued to rule for nineteen generations. The last king of his line was Suparua, who was afterwards killed by his ministers.
• Bhaluka, the grandson of Banasura, made his capital at Bhalukpung, not far from Balipara (near Tezpur), at the foothills of the Aka Hills.

• The first king who ruled over Kamrupa was Pushya Varman (350–380 AD), who was contemporary to Samudra Gupta (350–375 AD). He took on the title of Maharajadhiraj. He was followed by Samudra Varman (380–405/410 AD), Bala Varman (405–420 AD), Kalyan Varman (420–440 AD), Ganapati Varman (440–450 AD), and Mahendra Varman (450–485 AD).
• Mahendra Varman was the first king of Kamrupa who waged a successful war against the Gupta Army and also the first Varman king who performed the Ashvamedha Yagya.

• The rule of the Varman dynasty found its apex in the rule of Bhaskar Varman (594-650 AD), and a new epoch of Assam history opened. It was during his reign that Hiuen Tsang visited Kamrupa and wrote a memorable account of his visit to Kamrupa in his book Si-Yu-ki.
• Harshavardhan (606–648 AD) was a contemporary of Bhaskar Varman. Friendship was the keyword in the relationship between these two kings. Harshavardhan honoured  Bhaskar Varman at a conference held at Kanauj.
• He was a bachelor king, which is why he was known as Kumar Bhaskar Varman. The dynasty of the Varman ended with Bhaskar Varman (650AD)

• It began with the reign of a chieftain called Salasthambha.
• Among all the kings of this dynasty, it was Shri Harshadeva (725–750 AD) who acquitted himself as a good king.
• The last king of this dynasty was Tyaga Singha (970–990 AD)

• Brahmapala (990–1010 AD) founded the Pala dynasty.
• Ratnapal, the son of Brahmapala, was the most famous king of this dynasty.
• Jayapala (1120–1138 AD) was the last ruler of this dynasty.

• The first Mohammedan invasion (1206 and 1226) of Kamrup took place during the reign of king Prithu, who was killed in the battle with Iltutmish.
• During the second invasion by Ikhtiyaruddin Yuzbak, or Tughril Khan, about 1257, the king of Kamrup Saindhya (1250–1271) transferred the capital of Kamrup Nagar to Kamatapur in the west. From then on, Kamata’s rulers were called Kamateshwar.
• Lower Assam and adjacent part of Bengal formed a kingdom called Kamata and it’s ruler at the beginning of 14th century was Durlabh Narayan (1330–1350)
• After the invasion of the Mughals in the 15th century, many Muslims settled in the state and can be said to be the first Muslim settlers of this region.

• According to popular Chutia legend, Chutia king Birpal established his rule at Sadiya in 1189.
• Ahom king Suhungmung, or Dihingia Raja, annexed it to the Ahom kingdom.
• Nityapal was the last king of the Chutia dynasty.

• The title Baro is a title of honour given to the twelve chieftains who, even though they were not kings, established their independence and stood united against any common enemy.
• Ahom King Pratap Singha crushed the rebellion of the Barobhuyans.

• Hariya Mandal, a Koch or Mech, was the progenitor of the Koch Kingdom.
• The son of Hariya Mandal, Bishwa Singha (1515–1540), laid the foundation of the Koch dominion over Kamata Kingdom in the early part of the 16th century and established his capital in Coch-Bihar.
• His son, Malladeva, ascended to the name Naranarayan. Naranarayan’s rule was the most glorious epoch of the Koch Kingdom. It was during his rule that Ahom suffered defeat in 1562. During his rule, Assamese literature and culture flourished. Many Vaishnava hymns and homilies were written by Sankardev and Madhabdev. Purushottam Bidyabagish compiled a grammar; Bakul Kayashtha wrote a book on mathematics; Ram Saraswati translated the Mahabharata; Ananta Kandali translated the Bhagavat; and the other books were translated into Assamese. Naranarayan died in 1584.
• Naranarayan’s brother, Sukladhvaj, became his commander-in-chief. He was also called “Chilarai” because of his ability to attack the enemy like a Chila (hawk). He also annexed the Kachari Kingdom, Manipur, Tripura, Jayantia, and Srihatta and extended its boundaries. During the time of battle with the Nawab of Gour, Chilarai was attacked by small pox and died on the banks of the Ganga.
• In 1615, Koch kingdom was annexed to the Mughal Empire, but then Koch King Balinarayana, with the help of Ahom king, was able to get back the area between Bharali and Barnadi. He accepted the suzerainty of the Ahom king and assumed the name of Dharmanarayan as a vassal king, a tradition that continued till the time of the British occupation of Assam.

• The 13th century saw the rise of the Kachari Kingdom, which extended along the south bank of the river Brahmaputra from Dikhow to Kalang or beyond and also included the valley of the Dhansiri and the tract that now forms the North Cachar Hill district.
• The Kacharis claim descent from Ghatotkacha, the son of Bhima. Towards the end of the 15th century, the Kacharis had to surrender the capital, Hidimbapur (now Dimapur), and the areas adjoining it to the Ahoms.
• The Ahoms then put Detsung on the throne as vassal king, but Detsung rose to rebellion and was crushed by the Ahoms in a fierce battle that took place in 1536. During the days of Rudra Singha, Kachari king Tamradhvaj declared independence but was no match for the Ahom king.
• The third and final invasion of the Kachari Kingdom took place in 1803 because Kachari King Krishna Chandra refused to send back the Moamarias to the Ahom king.
• The last king of the Kachari Kingdom was Gobinda Chandra (1813–1830)

• The Jayantias established their kingdom in and around the Jayantia Hills.
• They had a matrimonial relationship with Ahom and fought alongside him during the invasion of the Mughals.
• In the 17th century, Jayantia King Dhanmanik helped the Ahoms in the war against the Kacharis.
• Jayantia King Jashomatta Rai was the contemporary of the Ahom king Nariya Raja (1644–1648). He claimed back the possessions of Dimoria, Gobha, Nellie, and Khola, which deteriorated the relationship between Jayantias and Ahoms.
• Bijayanarayan was the last king of the Jayantia kingdom, after whom the kingdom passed to the British.

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