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| ===Governors=== | ===Governors=== | ||
| Forward governors, who were military commanders, ruled and administered forward territories. The ''Sadiya Khowa Gohain'' and the ''Marangi khowa Gohain'' are examples of these positions. Others |
Forward governors, who were military commanders, ruled and administered forward territories. The ''Sadiya Khowa Gohain'' and the ''Marangi khowa Gohain'' are examples of these positions. Others were called ''Rajkhowas''. | ||
| ===Paik Officials=== | ===Paik Officials=== | ||
Revision as of 13:24, 5 October 2006
The Ahom Kingdom (1228-1826) was established by Sukaphaa, a Tai prince from Maulung in the upper reaches of the Brahmaputra river, between the extant Chutiya kingdom in the east and the Kachari kingdom in the west. The kingdom established a multi-ethnic polity, beginning especially under Suhungmung Dihingia Raja in the 16th century. It made major advances under Susenghphaa Pratap Singha, under whom the administration was revamped and the Mughal incursions were thwarted. Mughal influence was completely removed under Godadhar Singha and the Ahom kingdom reached its zenith under his son, Rudra Singha. The kingdom became weaker with the rise of the Moamoria rebellion, and subsequently fell to a succession of Burmese invasions. With the defeat of the Burmese after the first Anglo-Burmese War and the Treaty of Yandaboo, control of the kingdom passed into British hands.
Ahom Administration
Swargadeo and Patra Mantris
The Ahom kingdom was ruled by a king, called Swargadeo, who had to be a member of the Ahom princely families and a descendant of the first king Sukaphaa. Strict progeniture was not maintained and the three great Gohains (see below) occasionally had an influence on the choice of the next king. Sukaphaa had two great Gohains to aid him in administration: Burhagohain and the Bargohain. They were selected from specific families. Princes who were eligible for the position of Swargadeo were not considered for these positions and vice versa. The Burhagohain wielded strong influence in the Ahom kingdom. Suhungmung added a third Gohain, Barpatragohain, and this position was reserved for the desendent of the first. Pratap Singha added two more offices: the Barbarua and the Barphukan. The Barbarua was in command of the region east of Kaliabor not under the command of the Gohains and the Barphukan was in command over the region west of it. The five positions constituted the patra mantris.
Other officials
The Barbarua and the Barphukan had military and judicial responsibilities, and they were aided by a council of Phukans.
Governors
Forward governors, who were military commanders, ruled and administered forward territories. The Sadiya Khowa Gohain and the Marangi khowa Gohain are examples of these positions. Others were called Rajkhowas.
Paik Officials
The Ahom kingdom was dependent on the Paik system, a form of corvee labor. Every common subject was a paik, and four paiks formed a got. At any time of the year, one of the paiks in the got rendered direct service to the king, as the others in his got tended to his fields. The Paik system was administered by the Paik officials: Bora was in charge of 20 paiks, a Saikia of 100 and a Hazarika of 1000.