A History of Assam c13.24

c13.24

Since the death of Chakradhvaj Singh in 1670, i.e., in the short space of eleven years, there had been no less than seven kings, not one of whom had died a natural death. Udayāditya was deposed and poisoned by his brother, Rāmdhvaj, who succeeded him. Debera, who had headed the conspiracy, was rewarded for his infamous services with the post of Bar Barua; but he was a born intriguer, and not long afterwards, Rāmdhvaj himself met his death at his hands. He then set up Suhung, but subsequently caused him also to be assassinated. Having thus been responsible for the death of three kings, Debera at last met the end he deserved at the hands of the Burhā Gohāin, who, however, was equally false and unscrupulous. He put to death Suhung's successor Gobar, and placed Sujinphā on the throne. He afterwards caused the latter to be deprived of his sight and put to death, and appointed Sadaiphā as his successor. This king and the Burhā Gohāin himself next suffered the death penalty at the hands of Lāluk Bar Phukan, and Sulikphā became king. The Bar Phukan, growing more ambitious, was preparing to seize the throne for himself, when the other nobles caused him to be assassinated. Sulikphā was soon afterwards deposed and put to death on the ground of his unfitness to rule, a circumstance which had probably constituted his chief qualification in the eyes of the ambitious Lāluk. With his death, and the accession of Gadāpāni, the era of weak and incompetent princes, and of unscrupulous and ambitious ministers came to an end; internal corruption and dissensions ceased, and the Ahoms were once more able to present a united front against their external foes.