Koch dynasty

Koch Kingdom
Koch Dynasty
1515–1949–1956
Flag of Koch dynasty
Flag of Koch Bihar
Historical map of Cooch Behar
Historical map of Cooch Behar
Statushistorical kingdom
CapitalChiknabari
Hingulabas
Bijni
Dumuria
Jogighopa
Abhayapuri
Kamatapur (present-day Gosanimari)
Cooch Behar
Common languages
Religion
Hinduism
Other ethnic religion[3]
Governmenthereditary monarchy
Maharaja 
• 1515–1540
Biswa Singha
• 1540–1587
Nara Narayan
• 1581–1603
Raghudev
• 1586–1621
Lakshmi Narayan
• 1922–1947
Jagaddipendra Narayan
Historical eraEarly modern period
• Established by Biswa Singha
1515
• Expansion
1510–1577
• Division into Koch Hajo and Koch Bihar
1587
• princely state of British India
1775
• Joined India Union
1949–1956
CurrencyNarayani
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Baro-Bhuyan
Republic of India
Ahom kingdom
Mughal Empire
Kachari kingdom
Today part ofIndia
Bangladesh
Bhutan

The Koch dynasty (/kɒ/; 1515–1949) ruled parts of eastern Indian subcontinent in present-day Assam and Bengal. Biswa Singha established power in the erstwhile Kamata Kingdom which had emerged from the decaying Kamarupa Kingdom.[4][5] The dynasty came to power by removing the Baro-Bhuyans, who had earlier removed the short-lived rule established by Alauddin Hussain Shah.

The dynasty split into three among the descendants of Biswa Singha's three sons; two antagonistic branches Koch Bihar and Koch Hajo and a third branch at Khaspur. Koch Bihar aligned with the Mughals and the Koch Hajo branch broke up into various sub-branches under the Ahom kingdom. Koch Bihar became a princely state during British rule and was absorbed after Indian independence. The third branch at Khaspur disappeared into the Kachari kingdom. Raikat is a collateral branch of the Koch dynasty that claim descent from the Sisya Singha, the brother of Biswa Singha.

  1. ^ a b (Nath 1989:23–24)
  2. ^ a b (Shin 2021:33)
  3. ^ (Sheikh 2012:252)
  4. ^ (Nath 1989:2–11)
  5. ^ "Kamarupa was reorganized as a new state. 'Kamata' by name with Kamatapur as capital. The exact time when the change was made is uncertain. But possibly it had been made by Sandhya (c1250-1270) as a safeguard against mounting dangers from the east and the west. Its control on the eastern regions beyond the Manah (Manas river) was lax." (Sarkar 1992, pp. 40–41)