Muslim invasions of Assam

Early invasions (c. 1206-1228)

Historians consider Muhammad Bakhtiyar Khalji's invasion of Tibet (1205–1206) that touched Kamarupa as the first invasion of Assam by a Muslim commander.^[8] His retreating army was annihilated by Raja Prithu in Kamarupa;^[9] the Kanai Boroxiboa rock inscription is a testament of this event.

Ghiyasuddin Iwaj Shah made an abortive attempt in 1226 to occupy Assam—he seem to have reached the Nagoan region where the Gachtal inscription mentions that he was defeated.^[10] He seem to have hastened back to Lakhnauti, his capital, but he was captured and killed by Nasiruddin Mahmud.^[11]

In 1228 AD, Nasiruddin crossing through Jalpaiguri advanced Kamrup. Raja Prithu erected fortifications for defence but faced a conspiracy of an assassination against him, and was killed by the son of Iltutmish, Nasiruddin Mahmud. Nasiruddin appointed a tributary king to the Kamarupa throne,^[12]^[13] but he died in 1229 and Bengal was plunged into political chaos till around 1251, Assam remained an unknown region to the Muslim rulers.^[14]

Yuzbak's invasion (c. 1257)

Yuzbak Khan, the governor of Lakhnauti (present day West Bengal) under Delhi Sultanate, invaded Kamarupa in 1257. In the beginning he gained some success. Ultimately, he was defeated, captured, and executed by the ruler of Kamarupa, Sandhya;^[15]^[16] though others have reported that Yuzbak died of his wounds.^[17]

Giyasuddin Bahadur Shah's campaign (c. 1321-22)

In 1321–1322, Ghiyasuddin Bahadur Shah of Bengal embarked on a military campaign from Sonargaon, advancing along the old course of the Brahmaputra River toward the southeastern frontier of Kamrupa,^[a] encompassing Enayetpur and Ghiyaspur. From this base, he launched an attack on the interior, targeting the region corresponding to modern-day Koch Bihar. The resistance led by Pratapdhwaj (r. 1305–1325), a usurping minister of Kamata, proved ineffective against the Sultan's forces. Continuing his campaign, Ghiyasuddin Bahadur Shah proceeded along the Brahmaputra and conducted a rapid, plundering raid as far as Nagaon. However, the Kacharis, who controlled the region at the time, repelled his forces, inflicting significant losses. Consequently, Ghiyasuddin Bahadur Shah's invasion yielded no lasting territorial gains. In 1327–1328, he was defeated and killed by the forces of Sultan Muhammad Tughlaq of Delhi, who subsequently annexed Bengal.^[18]

Ilyas Shahi campaigns (c. 1356-7)

In 1356-7 AD, Shamsuddin Ilyas Shah, who unified Bengal and established the Bengal Sultanate, carried out campaigns in Kamrup. The rulers of Kamata lacked the resources and capability to effectively counter the invasion. Their authority had been significantly weakened by repeated attacks from the Ahom king Sukrangpha (r. 1332–1364) in the east and pressures from the Kachari in the south of the Brahmaputra River. By 1329, a minor Hindu chieftain in Kamrup had declared independence, further eroding Kamata's control over peripheral regions. These conditions allowed the Sultan to advance rapidly up the Brahmaputra River through northern Mymensingh district, penetrating the core of Kamata-Kamrup between the Manas and Bornadi rivers. The Bengal Sultanate, under Ilyas Shah, made significant progress in conquering and occupying Kamrup, including its capital Guwahati, before his death around November 1357 AD. His son and succesor, Sikandar Shah (r. 1357–1393), completed the campaign. Numismatic evidence supports the occupation of Kamrup’s capital Guwahati. A coin issued by Sikandar Shah in 1357–1359 AD, bearing the mint name “Chawlistan urf Kamrup” or “arsat Kamri”, likely commemorates this victory. However, that after about five years during Sikandar's absence a few local Bhuya chiefs tried, together with the Kamata and Varaha ruler Mahamanikya, to organise an effective resistance against the Bengal army of occupation left by the Sultan. In 1362, Sikander Shah advancing along the Brahmaputra he reached up to the Kopili river in Nagaon district where the allied armies fought him at Gachtal near the river.^[19]

Giyasuddin Azam Shah's campaigns

Ghiyasuddin Azam Shah, the successor of Sikandar Shah, capitalized on the conflict between the Ahom ruler Sudangphaa and the Raja of Kamata to invade Kamrup. The invasion was facilitated by Kamrup's internal instability, as the Kamata ruler Indra Narayan had been overthrown by Arimatta, whose successors were weak, leading to a precarious hold over the region. Numismatic evidence, including coins dated 799 AH (1396–97 CE) found in Koch Bihar and 802 AH (1399–1400 CE) found in Guwahati, suggests a second invasion or significant political influence by Giyasuddin Azam Shah in Kamrup. The Kamata ruler, facing pressure, formed a matrimonial alliance with the Ahom ruler, and together they expelled the Sultan across the Karatoya River.^[20]

Alauddin Husain Shah's conquest (c. 1498-1502)

The conquest was instigated by Sachipatra, a Brahmin whose son was executed by King Nilambar for his promiscuity with the queen. In 1499, Sultan Alauddin Husain Shah dispatched an army under the command of Shah Ismail Ghazi to conquer Kamata. Ghazi's forces besieged the Kamatapur fort and destroyed the city. Hussain Shah imprisoned Nilambar of Kamata and ended the reign of the Khen dynasty. Though Kamatapur fell in 1498, Hussain Shah was able to annex up to Hajo not before 1502.^[21]^[22]

Turbak's invasion (c. 1532)

In 1532, a Muslim commander named Turbak invaded Ahom territory with a force comprising 1,000 cavalry, 30 elephants, and numerous guns and cannons. He set up camp near the fort at Singiri.^[23] Ahom forces, under Suklen, crossed the Brahmaputra and attacked the Muslim encampment, despite warnings from astrologers. However, the battle ended in disaster for the Ahoms, who suffered heavy losses, with eight commanders killed. Suklen barely escaped with a serious wound. The Muslim forces stopped advancing for the rainy season at Koilabar.^[24]^[25]

The Ahoms retreated to Sala after their initial setbacks,^[25] where they regrouped with reinforcements and appointed Senglung as the new Commander-in-Chief. By March 1533, however, the Ahoms turned the tide in their favor. In a naval battle at Duimunisila, they inflicted significant losses on the Muslim forces, The Muslim commanders, Taju and Sangal, were killed, The invading forces lost 2,500 men, 20 ships, and several large cannons, marking a turning point in the war in favor of the Ahoms.^[25]^[24]

During this time, Husain Khan, another Muslim general, arrived to reinforce Turbak's forces with six elephants, 100 cavalry, and 1,000 infantry troops. Reinforced by Hussain Khan, Turbak took position near the Dikrai River, across from the Ahom camp.^[26] However, the Ahoms were now better prepared and managed to defeat the Muslims in several engagements. The final confrontation occurred near the Bharali River, where Turbak was killed by a spear, and the Muslims were thrown into disarray. The Ahoms pursued the retreating forces all the way to the Karatoya River, where they achieved a complete victory.^{[citation needed]}

Mir Jumla's invasion of Assam which was occurred in January 1662, is the most successful Muslim invasion in the history of Assam where Ahom capital Garhgaon was captured by the Mughals, but the success of that invasion was short-lived. The Mughal army suffered difficulty in the weather during the expedition and Mir Jumla was obliged to abandon and retreat away.^{[citation needed]} The Battle of Samdhara which took place in 1616, was the first battle fought between the Ahoms and Mughals, followed by Battle of Alaboi in 1669, Battle of Saraighat in 1671 and Battle of Itakhuli in 1682, the final battles fought between the two powers.^{[citation needed]}

Muslim invasions of Assam

Pre-Mughal invasions

Early invasions (c. 1206-1228)

Yuzbak's invasion (c. 1257)

Giyasuddin Bahadur Shah's campaign (c. 1321-22)

Ilyas Shahi campaigns (c. 1356-7)

Giyasuddin Azam Shah's campaigns

Alauddin Husain Shah's conquest (c. 1498-1502)

Turbak's invasion (c. 1532)

Mughal campaigns

Notes

References

Sources

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