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Burmese Invasion during Sudingphaa’s Rule
Burmese invasion during Sudingphaa’s Rule had caused much political instability and transfer of powers in the kingdom. The rule of this Ahom ruler had witnessed Burmese invasion thrice.

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Burmese Invasion during SudingphaaSudingphaa`s rule witnessed the Burmese invasion thrice. The Ahom officer Badan Chandra was responsible for the first invasion as he deceived the ruler owing to internal conflicts and thus invited and helped the Burmese to invade the kingdom. In this way he attained the real authority of the kingdom while installing Sudingphaa on the throne. The second invasion was followed by the demise of Badan Chandra, deposal of Sudingphaa and installation of Purandar Singha on the throne. After the second invasion, Sudingphaa once again attained the position of the monarch of Ahom dynasty. However over time the relation between the Burmese and Sudingphaa grew hostile which led to the third Burmese invasion after which Jogeswar Singha was installed on the throne but the real power over the kingdom remained with the Burmese.

First Burmese Invasion
In 1816 a large force with eight thousand men were dispatched from Burma along with Badan Chandra Borphukan under the commandership of General Maha Minhla Minkhaung. The army was joined by a number of other forces in route. From the camp of Barphukan at Meleng ultimatums were dispatched to the Ahom court about the Burmese intention of installing Garbhe Sing Raja on the throne. An army was sent by Purnananda Burhagohain and consequently a battle was fought at Ghiladhari in which Purnananda Burhagohain died. His son Ruchinath was then appointed at his post. The Ahom army however decided to continue the war and thus another troop of army was sent to battle against the Burmese army but in vain. Once again they were defeated and the Burmese army captured the capital Jorhat. After occupying the region Badan Chandra, the Ahom officer who deceived the kingdom by inviting Burmese forces, interviewed Chandrakanta Singha or Sudingphaa and offered him the power to run the stately affairs as Mantri-Phukan. Sudingphaa had no choice and accepted the proposal. Badan Chandra took this opportunity to remove all the officers who were in support of Purnananda Burhagohain. Friendly alliances were also made in which an Ahom princess Hemo Aideo was married to the Burmese Monarch Bodawpaya. For this expedition, the Burmese were paid a huge sum of money and they returned to their own country in April 1817.

Second Burmese Invasion
Owing to the possession of power followed by wicked activities, Badan Chandra earned many enemies in the royal palace. Consequently he was killed through a conspiracy by the royal officers of the kingdom and Sudingphaa was disposed from the throne. Purandar Singha was then installed as the monarch by Ruchinath Burhagohain. Following this the friends of Badan Chandra reached Burma to inform the king about the happenings in Assam. The Burmese ruler Badawpaya dispatched another troop of army for invading Assam for the second time under the guidance of an Assamese noble Momai Baruah who had gained prominence in the Burma court. The Ahom army resisted the Burmese army at Phulpanichiga but were unfortunately defeated which led to their retreat to Jorhat. Following this Ruchinath Burhagohain and Purandar Singha escaped to Guwahati along with their valuables and royal treasury. The victorious Burmese army then reinstalled Sudingphaa on the throne.

Third Burmese Invasion
Over time the amicability between Sudingphaa and the Burmese obliterated in an effort of Sudingphaa to free himself from the influence of the Burmese. After the demise of King Bodawpaya the Burmese throne was succeeded by his grandson Bagyidaw. When the new monarch heard about the same he dispatched an army to Assam under the disguise of sending some presents to Sudingphaa. On approaching the borders of Assam, they witnessed the fortifications in Jaypur and also killed Patalang Borbarua without any provocation in addition to severely assaulting his wife, Majiu Aideo. These incidents were however suppressed by the Burmese and invitation was sent to Sudingphaa for receiving the presents. The suspicion of Sudingphaa followed by the escape of Majiu Aideo from the Burmese captivity to narrate the truth to the monarch led to the dispatch of Ahom army against the Burmese and the retreat of Sudingphaa to Guwahati. The Ahom soldiers were overpowered by the Burmese and were gravely defeated. However the Burmese wanted to place a native ruler on the throne to appease the Assamese subjects and thus they tried to invite Sudingphaa to the capital but he refused. Thus they installed Jogeswar Singha as the ruler for the Assamese subjects but the real power or authority remained with the Burmese.


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