This article covers the history of Manipur, India. Manipur was also known as Kangleipak after Kangla, its former capital city.
This article covers the history of Manipur, India. Manipur was also known as Kangleipak after Kangla, its former capital city.
The imperial history of Ancient Kangleipak began with the reign of Tangja Leela Pakhangba in 1445 BC. The game of polo (Sagol Kangjei) was invented during the reign of King Kangba (1405 BC-1359BC), the successor of Tangja Leela Pakhangba. This remarkable achievement was recorded in many ancient Meitei scriptures including the Kangbalon and the Kangjeirol.
There is a genealogy of ten successive foremost rulers in ancient Kangleipak kingdom.
| Name of the rulers | Period (in Christian year) | Period (in Maliyapham year) |
|---|---|---|
| Taang-jaa Lee-La Pakhangpa | 1445 BC- 1405 BC | - |
| Ningthou Kangba | 1405 BC- 1359 BC | 00 MF- 39 MF |
| Maliyapham Palcha | 1359 BC- 1329 BC | 39 MF- 69 MF |
| Ningthou Kaksuba | 1329 BC- 1297 BC | 69 MF- 101 MF |
| Ningthou Tonkonba | 1297 BC- 1276 BC | 101 MF- 122 MF |
| Ningthou Pottingkoi | 1276 BC- 1251 BC | 122 MF- 147 MF |
| Ningthou Laanbichaa | 1251 BC- 1229 BC | 147 MF- 169 MF |
| Ningthou Sapaiba | 1229 BC- 1209 BC | 169 MF- 189 MF |
| Ningthou Puthiba | 1209 BC- 1199 BC | 189 MF- 199 MF |
After the reigns of these ten kings, there is a great historical gap, from 1199 BC to 44 BC.
| Name of the rulers | Period (in Christian year) | Period (in Maliyapham year) |
|---|---|---|
| Samlungphaa | 44 BC- 34 BC | 1354 MF- 1364 MF |
| Poireiton | 34 BC- 18 BC | 1364 MF- 1380 MF |
| Singtabung | 18 BC- 08 BC | 1380 MF- 1390 MF |
| Paangminnaba | 08 BC- 01 BC | 1390 MF- 1397 MF |
| Luwang Khunthiba | 01 BC- 05 AD | 1397 MF- 1403 MF |
| Luwang Punshiba | 05 AD- 33 AD | 1403 MF- 1431 MF |
After this, the reign of Nongta Lailen Pakhangpa started from 33 AD, with the annexation of the Kangla by the Ningthouja dynasty.
There were seven independent kingdoms ruled by the seven clan dynasties in Ancient Kangleipak. These seven principalities had their own capital cities.
| Capital cities | Respective kingdoms | Ruling dynasties |
|---|---|---|
| Imphal Kangla | Imphal | Ningthouja (Mangang) |
| Luwangsangbam Kangla | Luwangsangbam | Luwang |
| Nongyai Leikoipung | Mayang Imphal | Khuman |
| Kongba Maru Kangla | Kongba Maru | Angom |
| Moirang Kangla | Keke Moirang | Moirang Salai |
| Taknakha Puruk Soupi Kangla | Taknakha Puruk Soupi | Kha Nganpa |
| Leishangkhong Kangla | Leishangkhong | Salai Leishangthem |
Most people of ancient Kangleipak were farmers tied to their lands. Their dwellings were restricted to immediate family members.
The ancient architectural designs of common houses were believed to be sustainable, eco friendly and affordable. It gives a cooling effect during hot summer and a warming effect during chilling winter.
The ancient religion of the indigenous ethnicities of the hills and the plains is the Sanamahism. The abstract concept of the space time entity is the ultimate God creator of the universe. Beliefs in the divine and in the afterlife were ingrained in ancient Kangleipak from its inception. The ancient rulers were based on the divine right of kings.
Lal-lup system (literally, Lal means war; lup means club or association or organization) was a predominant system in ancient Kangleipak. According to the system, every men of indigenous ethnicity of above 16 years of age was a member.
The development of metallurgy was well advanced in the Kakching region in Ancient Manipur. It used various techniques and methods to extract iron ores and convert them into usable forms.
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The Medieval period of history of Manipur was between the "ancient period" and the "modern period". It encompasses the 15th century AD to the 19th century AD.
The start of the period is typically taken to be the slow collapse of the Ancient Meitei faith, during the reign of Meidingu Senbi Kiyamba (1467-1507). It was during his reign the Brahmin people migrated to the kingdom and the microscopic volume of Vaishnavism proceeded with the worship of the Pheiya (sacred stone from Pong kingdom) as Hindu God Vishnu.
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During the reign of Emperor Pamheiba Garib Niwaz (1709-1748), the name of the kingdom was changed from "Kangleipak" into "Manipur". It is during his regime the religion of the entire Meitei ethnicity was forcibly converted from Sanamahism into Hinduism. In 1729 AD, Puya Mei Thaba, the historic burning of the sacred scriptures of Sanamahism took place.
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The modern history of Manipur is the period from the Seven Years Devastation from the Burmese Empire to the present day.
The Burmese invaded Manipur several times but the most notable one was in 1819, during the reign of King Marjit. The Burmese occupied Manipur from 1819 to 1826. During this time, Manipur was devastated and there was chaos and anarchy everywhere. This dark period is called Chahi Taret Khuntakpa (Seven Years Devastation).
There were exploitations of the Manipuri Levy, which was the first standing army of Manipur, born out of Manipur National Struggle against the Burmese rule during the Seven Years Devastation.
In the year 1891, the historic Anglo-Manipuri war (Manipur's National Liberation Struggle) took place. The Manipuri soldiers showed their might in the losing battle, sacrificing their lives for the motherland. The combat ended with British victory.
Japanese bombing in Imphal took place several times in the history of Manipur, thereby creating high casualties to the people of Manipur. The first bombing was in the year 1942, heralding the beginning of the Second World War in Manipur.