A History of Assam c15.4

c15.4

Where the procedure was constitutional, and the new king was nominated by the great nobles acting in unison, they never passed over near relatives in favour of more distant kinsmen, except in cases where the former were admittedly unfit, or where, owing to the deposition of the previous king, it was thought desirable that his successor should not be too nearly related to him. But where one of these nobles obtained such a preponderance that he was able to proceed independently, and actually did so, the choice often depended more on his own private interest than on the unwritten law of the constitution; and he would usually select some one who, from his character or personal relations, or from the circumstances of his elevation to the throne, might be expected to support him, or to allow him to arrogate to himself much of the power which really belonged to the kingly office. Thus one of the Bar Baruas raised to the throne in turn Suhung and Gobar, neither of whom was nearly related to the previous ruler; Sujinphā and Sudaiphā owed their elevation to a Burhā Gohāin; Sulikphā to a Bar Phukan, and so on.