Moamoria rebellion

Moamoria Rebellion
Date1769–1770, 1782, 1786–1805
Location
Result
  • Severe weakening of the Ahom kingdom
  • Near-end of the Paik system
  • Creation of a standing army of mostly paid Hindustani sepoys to replace the Ahom paik based military force
  • One-half of the population perished
  • Economy of the Kingdom completely ruined
Territorial
changes
Creation of autonomous Matak rajya
Belligerents
Moamoria
Commanders and leaders
  • Ragha Neog 
  • Naharkhora Saikia Executed
  • Govinda Gaoburha Executed
  • Ramakanta Singha  Executed
  • Harihar Tanti
  • Howha
  • Parmananda
  • Pitambardev Executed
  • Sarbananda Singha
  • Bharath Singha Executed
  • Lephera  Executed
  • Paramananda  Executed
  • Obhotanumia
  • Tanganram
  • Phopai  
Casualties and losses

Prior to the rebellion the estimated population of Ahom Kingdom varies from 24,00,000 to 30,00,000

  • One-half of the country was depopulated

The Moamoria rebellion (1769–1805) was an 18th-century uprising in Ahom kingdom of present-day Assam that began as power struggle between the Moamorias (Mataks), the adherents of the Mayamara Sattra, and the Ahom kings.[1] This uprising spread widely to other sections of Ahom kingdom[2] including disgruntled elements of the Ahom aristocracy[3] leading to two periods in which the Ahom king lost control of the capital. Retaking the capital was accompanied by a massacre of subjects, leading to a steep depopulation of large tracts. The Ahom king failed to retake the entire kingdom; a portion in the north-east, Bengmara (modern-day Tinsukia district), became known as Matak Rajya ruled by a newly created office called Borsenapati, became a tribute-paying but virtually independent territory.[4]

The Ahom kingdom emerged from the rebellion much weakened. About one half of the population of the kingdom perished and the economy was totally destroyed.[5] The weakened Ahom kingdom fell to a Burmese invasion which ultimately led to colonization by the British.

  1. ^ "The first popular challenge to the Ahom monarchy was organized by the disciples of the Moamara satra." (Baruah 1993:46)
  2. ^ "As the rebellion was in progress, all who wanted to free themselves from the exploitative government joined hands with the Moamorias making it a mass uprising and creating a crisis for the Ahom monarchy" (Baruah 1993:46)
  3. ^ "The leaders of the Moamoriyas then resolved to form an alliance with three prominent exiled Ahom princes—Mohan Mala Gohain, the third son of Rudra Singha, and Charu Singha and Ratneswar, both sons of Rajeswar Singha." (Baruah 1993:46)
  4. ^ (Baruah 1993:164)
  5. ^ (Guha 1991:122)