Far East Kingdoms

Kachari Kingdom (Dimasa)
c.AD 835 - 1830

The first of the Kachari kings claimed to rule in the town of Dimapur in Assam in the early ninth century, although he was probably little more than a powerful chieftain. The Kacharis belonged to the Dimasa Bodo Kachari group and called themselves descendents of Ghatotkacha, the son of the Pandava Prince Bhima. They also appear to have had links to their cousins, the Mlechha kings. They ruled from their capital at Hidimbapur (Dimapur).

The Kachari kingdom emerged as a recognisably powerful entity on the south bank of the River Brahmaputra while the Chutiya kings were dominant in north-eastern Assam and the fading Kamarupa kings to the west were struggling to hold onto their territory. During the sixteenth century, they were forced out by the Ahoms and moved to Maibong, where they adopted a Brahmanical lifestyle. Later in the eighteenth century, the Koch rule of Khaspur (near Silchar) died out and the wandering Kachari kings were able to merge that kingdom within theirs, shifting their capital to Khaspur.

(Information by Abhijit Rajadhyaksha.)

c.835 - 885

First of the Dimasa kings of the Hirimba kingdom.

c.885 - 925

c.925 - 1010

Also known as Khamaoto.

Prasanto establishes a capital at Kachomari on the banks of the River Daiyang in Golaghat district. This is a short-term measure, however, and the king soon founds the kingdom's primary capital at Dimapur in Assam.

A photograph of a Kachari male, illustrating his Tibetan origins

c.1010 - 1040

c.1040 - 1070

c.1070 - 1100

c.1100 - 1125

c.1125 - 1155

c.1155 - 1180

c.1180 - 1210

c.1210 - 1286

Also known as Raogena.

Makardhwaj oversees an age of glory in the kingdom, with some great architectural works taking place in Dimapur.

1286 - 1316

1316 - 1336

1336

The Kachari kings emerge as a recognisably independent kingdom based at Dimapur in Assam.

1336 - 1386

Ruled from Dimapur.

1386 - 1411

1411 - 1436

1436 - 1461

1461 - 1486

1486 - 1511

1498

The Khen dynasty is ended although it is unclear just how. The king's death is perhaps either caused by, or encourages an invasion by the sultan of Bengal.

1500

The Jayantiya kingdom emerges, perhaps due to the chaos caused by the Bengalese invasion of Assam.

1510

The Koch kings emerge in Assam to replace the Khen kings.

1511 - 1536

1536

The Kacharis move their capital to Maibong, perhaps as part of the process by which they are forced out of Dimapur by the Ahoms, a process which certainly seems to be complete by 1586.

1536 - 1550

Ruled from Maibong / Maibang.

1550 - 1576

1576 - 1583

1583 - 1613

Also known as Jasa Narayan.

1583

During his reign, Satrudaman is responsible for an invasion of the Jayantiya kingdom which apparently begins a period of increased Kachari dominance there, although they are rivalled by the Ahoms. This dominance cannot last for long, however, due to the events of 1586.

1586

By this date the Kacharis have been forced out by the Ahoms and migrate to Maibong (although they may already have started this process by the 1540s), where they adopt a Brahmanical lifestyle. The city of Khaspur, which had been under their control, is taken by a branch of the Koch kings. Ultimately, the wandering Kacharis are apparently able to return to Khaspur after the death of the last of the Koch rulers there by 1772, shifting their capital there.

1613 - ?

The Koch ruler of Khaspur.

? - 1637

1637 - ?

? - 1681

1673

The Chutiyas fall under the domination of the Ahom kings, and are absorbed into their state.

1681 - ?

? - 1699

1699 - 1708

1708 - ?

? - 1730

1730 - 1735

Also known as Harishchandra Narayan, Harishchandra I.

1735 - 1745

1745 - 1757

1757 - 1772

Ruled from Khaspur.

by 1772

Bhimasingha is the last Koch ruler of Khaspur. His daughter, Kanchani, marries Laxmichandra, prince of the Kachari kingdom, and once the king dies the Kacharis are able to migrate to Khaspur, merging the two kingdoms into one and establishing their capital in the city.

1772 - 1813

1813 - 1830

Last Kachari king. Assassinated without an heir.

1830

Raja Gobind Chandra is assassinated by a group of seditious 'persons' with the help of some of his personal attendants on 24 April,  at Haritikar. Without a heir to succeed him, the British East India Company annexes the Kachari kingdom under the details of its Doctrine of Lapse. Only the Jayantiya and Ahom kings survive in Assam.

Khaspur
AD 1586 - c.1772?

The Koch kings formed a successful kingdom in 1510, when Chandan Narayan quickly built up an expanded area of territory under his control. Chandan's grandson, Naranarayan, was the last king of a single Koch kingdom. Upon his death, the territory was greatly divided, with Koch Bihar one of the bigger slices. Naranarayan's brother, Kamal Narayan, took the opportunity provided by the fading of the Kachari dynasty to take over their former kingdom at Khaspur (near Silchar).

(Information by Abhijit Rajadhyaksha.)

1586? - ?

Apparently also ruled the Kacharis from 1613.

1673

The Chutiyas fall under the domination of the Ahom kings, and are absorbed into their state.

The Baro Dwari in Khaspur

Last Koch king of Khaspur.

by 1772

Bhimasingha is the last Koch ruler of Khaspur. His daughter, Kanchani, marries Laxmichandra, prince of the Kachari kingdom, and once the king dies the Kacharis are able to migrate to Khaspur, merging the two kingdoms into one and establishing their capital in the city.