Chaolung Sukapha – the founder of Ahom Kingdom

The first Ahom ruler of Assam, Chaolung Chukapha also known as Sukapha was a Tai prince who belonged to Mong Mao which is presently a part of China, established the renowned Ahom Dynasty in the year 1228 that ruled over the state for approximately 600 years. The coming of Sukapha 1228 into the Assam is indisputably a turning point in the chronicles of Assam’s history. As per the fables associated with him, he is considered as the descendant of God Khunlung, who had come to earth from heaven.  During his reign, he unified the various tribal and non-tribal peoples of the region that left a deep impact on the region.

Chaolung Sukapha

Sukapha was the third son of Phu-Chang-Khang alias Chao Changnyeu,a scion of Mong-Ri mong-Ram line of kings of Khun-Long’s family. He along with about 9000 followers, 300 horses fitted with saddles and bridles and two elephants followed a known route from Yunnan to Assam that passed through Myitkyina, Mogaung and the upper Irrawaddy river valley and crossed the Patkai hills. On his way he stopped at various places and crossed the Khamjang River to reach the Nangyang Lake where he fought and defeated the Nagas and reached the Brahmaputra valley in the early 13th century. He moved from place to place, searching for a place but decided not to attack the Morans and Borahis and instead befriend them. His followers married the Borahi and the Moran ethnic groups. Although, The Borahis, a Tibeto-Burman ethnic group, were included into the Ahom clan, Moran upheld the sovereign ethnicity. He eventually in the year 1228 established the Ahom Kingdom.

In the quest of expanding his kingdom, he reached Namrup and constructed a bridge on the Sessa River, and went upstream along the Burhi Dihing River in order to establish a colony for wet rice cultivation. After a long search, when he could not find the region favorable to cultivation, he returned downstream to Tipam. In 1236, he left Tipam for Abhaypur and in the year 1240, the area was struck by flood, which made him move again down the Brahmaputra to Habung, which is present-day Dhakuakhana. In the year 1244, another flood made him move down the Brahmaputra to the Dikhowmukh, and then up the Dikhow river up to Ligirigaon. In the year 1246 departed from Ligirigaon with disinterest and moved again to Simaluguri. Finally, in the year 1253, the capital of Ahom Kingdom was established at Charaideo, which lies close to the present-day Sibasagar and eventually initiated the mission of building a state. However, in the year 1268, he breathed his last and in the year 1996, 2nd December was declared as Sukapha Divas to commemorate the arrival of the first king of the Ahom kingdom in Assam after his journey over the Patkai Hills.

Photo Courtesy: Wikipedia