Sukhaamphaa

Ahom dynasty 1 Sukaphaa 1228–1268 2 Suteuphaa 1268–1281 3 Subinphaa 1281–1293 4 Sukhaangphaa 1293–1332 5 Sukhrangpha 1332–1364 Interregnum 1364–1369 6 Sutuphaa 1369–1376 Interregnum 1376–1380 7 Tyao Khamti 1380–1389 Interregnum 1389–1397 8 Sudangphaa 1397–1407 9 Sujangphaa 1407–1422 10 Suphakphaa 1422–1439 11 Susenphaa 1439–1488 12 Suhenphaa 1488–1493 13 Supimphaa 1493–1497 14 Suhungmung 1497–1539 15 Suklenmung 1539–1552 16 Sukhaamphaa 1552–1603 17 Susenghphaa 1603–1641 18 Suramphaa 1641–1644 19 Sutingphaa 1644–1648 20 Sutamla 1648–1663 21 Supangmung 1663–1670 22 Sunyatphaa 1670–1672 23 Suklamphaa 1672–1674 24 Suhung 1674–1675 25 Gobar Roja 1675–1675 26 Sujinphaa 1675–1677 27 Sudoiphaa 1677–1679 28 Sulikphaa 1679–1681 29 Supaatphaa 1681–1696 30 Sukhrungphaa 1696–1714 31 Sutanphaa 1714–1744 32 Sunenphaa 1744–1751 33 Suremphaa 1751–1769 34 Sunyeophaa 1769–1780 35 Suhitpangphaa 1780–1795 36 Suklingphaa 1795–1811 37 Sudingphaa 1811–1818 38 Purandar Singha 1818–1819 39 Sudingphaa 1819–1821 40 Jogeswar Singha 1821–1822 41 Purandar Singha 1833–1838

Sukhaamphaa (Assamese: স্বৰ্গদেউ চুখামফা ) (1552–1603) was a king of the Ahom kingdom of medieval Assam. He ruled for a period of fifty one years, the longest in the Ahom dynasty. Very fond of sports, he fell off an elephant soon after his ascension and the injury gave him a limp, and as a result the Buranjis often called him the khora roja.^[1]

Ascension and general rule

Sukhaamphaa became the king of the Ahom kingdom after his father, Suklenmung, died.

He was particularly fond of sports and personally took part in elephant catching expeditions (khedda). Unlike during his father's rule when Sankardev and Madhavdev had to flee the kingdom, the disciples of Madhavdev could come and establish centers of Ekasarana Dharma and it was during Sukhaamphaa's reign that the religion took firm root and began to flourish. Many common folks as well as high officials of the kingdom took initiation in this religion,^[2] a development with remarkable consequences.

Wars

With the Koch

A dispute in 1562 with the Koch kingdom led to a full-fledged invasion in January 1563 by the Koch general Chilarai. Aikhek, the Burhagohain who was the commander of the Ahom military, offered ineffectual opposition, and Chilarai was able to quickly occupy the Ahom capital Garhgaon. Sukhaamphaa fled to Namrup, which one of his successors, Sutamla, would be forced to do once again when Mir Jumla II occupies the capital hundred years later.

Peace negotiations began that year itself, and Chilarai agreed to hand back the capital in return for a large tract of land in the north bank of Brahmaputra river, sons of nobles for hostage and riches in gold, silver and fabric,^[3] as agreed upon in the Treaty of Majuli. Sukhaamphaa came back to the capital, and in the inquiry into the cause of defeat that followed, Aikhek was removed from the office the Burhagohain and replaced by Chaopet (Kankham). In due course, the Ahoms could recover Narayanpur, and up to Sala; and Nara Narayana, the Koch king, who was facing aggression from Bengal, released the hostages to ease relations with the Ahoms.^[4]

With others

Sukhaamphaa's long reign saw much other belligerence, but which did not alter the status quo much, or put him in as much distress as the Koch invasion did. Among many minor offensives from the Koch and Sutiya people, the most important conflict was with the Nara king of Mungkang, when he invaded the Ahom territory of Khamjang across the Patkai. This led to further belligerence in 1576, that finally lead to the Nara army defeating the Ahoms in Namrup and reaching the Sesa river, when the Ahom could finally push them back.

Death

Sukhaamphaa died of natural causes in 1603 at Khowang and his son Susenghphaa became the new Swargadeo.

Notes

1. (Gait 1906:97)
2. (Gait 1906:101–102)
3. (Gait 1906:98)
4. (Gait 1906:99)

References

• Gait, Edward A (1906), A History of Assam, Calcutta