About the Burmese Invasions (Maanor Akroman) — Assam's Darkest Decade
The Burmese invasions of Assam, remembered in Assamese as Maanor Akroman, took place between 1817 and 1826 and brought the six-hundred-year-old Ahom kingdom to its knees. The invasions were ordered during the rule of the Konbaung dynasty of Burma, and the Burmese king Bodawpaya first ordered the invasion of Assam. The immediate trigger was internal: the Ahom officer Badan Chandra Borphukan was exiled by the powerful chief minister Purnananda Burhagohain, and in revenge Badan Chandra went to Burma to persuade the Burmese king to invade Assam.
The first invasion came in 1817, during which the chief minister Purnananda Burhagohain died while fleeing from the advancing Burmese. The second invasion followed in 1819, when the last independent Ahom king, Chandrakanta Singha (Tai name Sudingpha), was deposed and fled to Guwahati. The third and most destructive invasion took place in 1821-22, led by the famous Burmese general Maha Bandula, whose forces sacked Jorhat and the royal capital and occupied Assam. In 1821 the Burmese installed Jogeswar Singha as a puppet king.
The Burmese then advanced toward Bengal, Cachar and Manipur, alarming the British East India Company. This led directly to the First Anglo-Burmese War (1824-1826), which ended with the Treaty of Yandabo signed on 24 February 1826. Under the treaty Assam passed to the British, ending both the Burmese occupation and independent Ahom rule. The Ahom king Gaurinath Singha (1780-1795) had earlier invited the Burmese into Assam, and the weakened state left behind by the Moamoria rebellion made the kingdom an easy target. The whole episode of Burmese rule is recalled as an era of looting, destruction of temples and houses, and killings.
Main Facts about the Burmese Invasions (Quick Revision Bullets)
- Assamese name: Maanor Akroman.
- Period: 1817 to 1826.
- Burmese dynasty: Konbaung; king Bodawpaya ordered the first invasion.
- Who invited the Burmese: Badan Chandra Borphukan, exiled by Purnananda Burhagohain.
- Purnananda Burhagohain: the chief minister who died during the first invasion (1817).
- Last independent Ahom king: Chandrakanta Singha (Tai name Sudingpha), who ruled with interruptions in 1811-1818 and 1819-1821.
- First invasion: 1817. Second invasion: 1819; Chandrakanta Singha deposed and fled to Guwahati.
- Third invasion: 1821-22, led by Maha Bandula; Jorhat and the royal capital were sacked.
- Puppet king installed by the Burmese: Jogeswar Singha in 1821.
- Ahom king who earlier sought Burmese help: Gaurinath Singha (1780-1795).
- War: First Anglo-Burmese War, 1824-1826.
- Treaty: Treaty of Yandabo, 24 February 1826; Assam passed to the British.
Why the Burmese Invasions Matter for Assam Competitive Exams
This is the closing chapter of medieval Assam and the bridge to British rule, so questions link the Burmese invasions to the Moamoria rebellion, the last Ahom king Chandrakanta Singha and the Treaty of Yandabo. Exams repeatedly ask the years of the three invasions (1817, 1819, 1821-22), the role of Badan Chandra Borphukan and Maha Bandula, and the fact that the invasions led to the First Anglo-Burmese War. Because it explains why Assam became British, this topic is also important for modern-Assam and general-knowledge questions.
How to Prepare the Burmese Invasions for Assam Exams
- Memorise the three invasions. 1817 (first), 1819 (second), 1821-22 (third, Maha Bandula).
- Link persons to roles. Bodawpaya (ordered first invasion), Badan Chandra Borphukan (invited the Burmese), Purnananda Burhagohain (exiled him, died 1817), Chandrakanta Singha (last independent king), Jogeswar Singha (puppet king, 1821).
- Remember the outcome. First Anglo-Burmese War (1824-1826) and Treaty of Yandabo (24 February 1826).
- Connect the causes. The Moamoria rebellion had already weakened the Ahom state.
- Fix the Assamese term. Maanor Akroman means the Burmese invasion and oppression.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is meant by Maanor Akroman?
Maanor Akroman is the Assamese term for the Burmese invasions and the oppression and atrocities suffered in Assam between 1817 and 1826.
Who invited the Burmese to invade Assam and why?
Badan Chandra Borphukan, after being exiled by chief minister Purnananda Burhagohain, went to Burma and persuaded the Burmese king Bodawpaya to invade Assam.
Who was the last independent Ahom king?
Chandrakanta Singha (Tai name Sudingpha), who ruled with interruptions during 1811-1818 and 1819-1821 and was deposed by the Burmese.
Which general led the third Burmese invasion and what did the Burmese do?
Maha Bandula led the third invasion in 1821-22; the Burmese sacked Jorhat and the royal capital and occupied Assam, installing Jogeswar Singha as a puppet king in 1821.
How did the Burmese invasions end for Assam?
They led to the First Anglo-Burmese War (1824-1826), which ended with the Treaty of Yandabo on 24 February 1826, after which Assam passed to the British.