Matak rajya explained

Conventional Long Name:	Matak Rajya
Common Name:	Matak kingdom
Subdivision:	Princely State
Year Start:	1805
Event Start:	Foundation of the Matak Kingdom
Year End:	1839
Date End:	12 November
Event End:	Annexed to British India
Flag P1:	Ahom_insignia_plain.svg
Flag S1:	Flag of British Bengal.svg
Capital:	Bengmara
Stat Area1:	4661
Today:	India
Leader1:	Mejera
Year Leader1:	1791–1805
Leader2:	Matibar
Year Leader2:	1805–1839
Leader3:	Maju Gohain
Year Leader3:	1839–1839
Title Leader:	Barsenapati

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]

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.^[2] 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. Sarbananda was followed by his son, Matibar, as the Barsenapati who in turn remained loyal to the Ahom kingdom.^[3]

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

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

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.

References

Nag. Sajal. Devour thy Neighbour: Foreign Invasions and the Decline of States in Eighteenth Century North East India. 2018.

Notes and References

"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'
"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."
"Sarbananda was succeeded by his son Matibar, who remained loyal to the Ahom Government."