The history of Assam is the history of a confluence of people from the east, west, south and the north; the confluence of the Austroasiatic, Tibeto-Burman (Sino-Tibetan), Tai and Indo-Aryan cultures. Although invaded over the centuries, it was never a vassal or a colony to an external power until the third Burmese invasion in 1821 and subsequently the British ingress into Assam in 1824 during the First Anglo-Burmese War.
Later documented rulers, and dynasties who are deemed to have ruled a portion of Assam are included in this list.
Ancient Period (c. 1200 BCE – 350 CE)
Sonitpura (Asura) kingdom
The kingdom was contemporary of Pragjyotisha kingdom of Kamarupa.
Nu. Name of known rulers 1 Marichi 2 Kashyap 3 Hiranyakashipu 4 Prahlad 5 Virochana 6 Mahabali 7 Bana
Pragjyotisha kingdom
Danava dynasty
First legendary line of rulers in Pragjyotisha. The Danava dynasty consisted of Kirata chiefs; the last of whom, Ghatakasura, was killed and replaced by Naraka.
Known Danava rulers of Pragjyotisha are: Mahiranga Hatakasura Sambarasura Ratnasura Ghatakasura
Bhauma (Naraka) dynasty
Second legendary dynasty of Pragjyotisha. Known Bhauma rulers of Pragjyotisha are: Naraka Bhagadatta Pushpadatta Vajradatta
Davaka kingdom (c. 100 – 500 CE)
Less information is available about this kingdom.
Classical Period : Kamarupa dynesties (350 – 1100 CE)
Varman dynasty (350 – 650 CE)
The dynastic line as given in the Dubi copperplate inscription and Nidhanpur copperplate inscription are as: Reign Name Succession Queen 1 350–374 CE Pushyavarman (unknown) 2 374–398 CE Samudravarman son of Pushyavarman Dattadevi 3 398–422 CE Balavarman son of Samudravarman Ratnavati 4 422–446 CE Kalyanavarman son of Balavarman Gandharavati 5 446–470 CE Ganapativarman son of Kalyanavarman Yajnavati 6 470–494 CE Mahendravarman son of Ganapativarman Suvrata 7 494–518 CE Narayanavarman son of Mahendravarman Devavati 8 518–542 CE Bhutivarman son of Narayanavarman Vijnayavati 9 542–566 CE Chandramukhavarman son of Bhutivarman Bhogavati 10 566–590 CE Sthitavarman son of Chandramukhavarman Nayanadevi 11 590–595 CE Susthitavarman son of Sthitavarman Syamadevi 12 595–600 CE Supratisthitavarman son of Susthitavarman (Bachelor) 13 600–650 CE Bhaskaravarman brother of Supratisthitavarman (Bachelor) 14 650–655 CE Unknown"Though there exists no direct evidence, there are indirect evidence of a king who ruled for a short period after Bhaskaravarman, but was ousted by Salasthamba.". (unknown) (unknown)
The grants of Ratnapala give the list of 21 kings from Salastambha to his line.
Mlechchha dynasty (650 – 900 CE)
Salastamba (650–670 CE) Vijaya alias Vigrahastambha Palaka Kumara Vajradeva Harshadeva alias Harshavarman (725–745 CE) Balavarman II Jivaraja Digleswaravarman SalambhaPralambha, read from the Tezpur plates, can be corrected to Salambha, in light of the Parbatiya plates Harjjaravarman (815–832 CE) Vanamalavarmadeva (832–855 CE) Jayamala alias Virabahu (855–860 CE) Balavarman III (860–880 CE) Tyagasimha (890–900 CE)
Pala dynasty (Kamarupa) (900 – 1100 CE)
Brahma Pala (900–920 CE) Ratna Pala (920–960 CE) Indra Pala (960–990 CE) Go Pala also Gopalavarman (990–1015 CE) Harsha Pala (1015–1035 CE) Dharma Pala (1035–1060 CE) Jaya Pala (1075–1100 CE)
Medieval Period (c. 1100 – 1800 CE)
Ahom dynasty (1228 – 1838 CE)
Under the conventional chronology, the Ahom dynasty spans nearly six centuries and includes 39 Swargadeos. Its dynastic genealogy identifies three major progenitor kings from whom the principal later branches of the royal house descended. These are Sukaphaa, who established the kingdom; Suhungmung, who made the greatest territorial and political expansion of the kingdom; and Supaatphaa, who established the House of Tungkhugia kings that reigned the kingdom during its political and cultural zenith, as well as the period of decay and end (except for Jogeswar Singha, who was a descendant of Supaatphaa's father Gobar, and who was installed as a puppet king by the Burmese).
The dynastic history and dates that are accepted today are the result of a re-examination of Ahom and other documents by a team of Nora astronomers and experts who were commissioned to do so by Gaurinath Singha (1780–1795).