Matak rajya

Matak rajya or Matak kingdom was a 19th-century autonomous region within the Ahom kingdom in Assam. It was governed by the Barsenapati ("Great General").[1][2]

Matak Rajya
1805–1839
CapitalBengmara (present-day Tinisukia)
Area 
• 
4,661 km2 (1,800 sq mi)
History
Government
Barsenapati 
• 1791–1805
Mejera
• 1805–1839
Matibar
• 1839–1839
Maju Gohain
History 
• Foundation of the Matak Kingdom
1805
• Annexed to British India
12 November 1839
Today part ofIndia

History

This autonomous region was established by an agreement in 1805 between the Purnanada Burhagohain and Sarbananda Singha, the leader of the Moamorias in Bengmara (present-day Tinsukia town), where it was agreed that the Ahom kingdom would recognise the region as Matak rajya ("Matak kingdom") under the leadership of the Barsenapati ("Great General") and Sarbananda Singha would pay an annual tribute.[3] The agreement was the result of the Moamoria rebellion and the dangers the weakened Ahom kingdom was facing from different directions—and the establishment of the autonomous region resulted in the end of the rebellion and Moamoria antagonisms against the Ahom state.[4] Sarbananda was followed by his son, Matibar, as the Barsenapati who in turn remained loyal to the Ahom kingdom.[5]

In 1826, when the Ahom kingdom fell to the Burmese Konbaung dynasty, the Matak rajya was the only one to maintain its independence.[6]

Later, it came under the protection of the British rule and finally the British took complete control in 1839.[7]

Government

The Barsenapati was the nominal head of this region, with the actual power resting with the council of village headmen ("Council of Elders"). The people paid no tax, but paid personal service—a prime cause of immigration from the region under Purandar Singha.[8]

Notes
  1. "The Burhagohain, therefore, entered into an agreement with Sarbananda Singha, the chief of the Moamariyas of Bengmara, by which he ceded to the latter the territory between the Brahmaputra and the Buri Dihing on an autonomous basis and recognised his title Barsenapati or the 'Great General' (Baruah 1986:353)
  2. Dutta 1985, p. 188.
  3. "Accordingly, an agreement was made in 1805 ... The Moamariya chief, in his turn, agreed to pay the Ahom Government an annual tribute, consisting of ivory, muga silk, and such other articles produced in his territory." (Baruah 1993:164)
  4. (Baruah 1993:164)
  5. "Sarbananda was succeeded by his son Matibar, who remained loyal to the Ahom Government." (Baruah 1993:164)
  6. (Nag 2018:14)
  7. Dutta 1985, p. 187.
  8. Baruah 1993, p. 165.

References
  • Nag, Sajal (2018). "Devour thy Neighbour: Foreign Invasions and the Decline of States in Eighteenth Century North East India". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  • Baruah, S L (1986), A Comprehensive History of Assam, Munshiram Manoharlal
  • Baruah, S L (1993), Last Days of Ahom Monarchy, Munshiram Manoharlal
  • Dutta, Sristidhar (1985), The Mataks and their Kingdom, Allahabad: Chugh Publications
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