Kamarupa
Kamarupa (/ˈkɑːməˌruːpə/; also called Pragjyotisha or Pragjyotisha-Kamarupa), an early state during the Classical period on the Indian subcontinent, was (along with Davaka) the first historical kingdom of Assam.
Kamarupa Kingdom | |||||||||||||||
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350–1140 | |||||||||||||||
The 7th and 8th century extent of Kamarupa kingdom, located on the eastern region of the Indian subcontinent, what is today modern-day Assam, Bengal and Bhutan. Kamarupa at its height covered the entire Brahmaputra Valley, North Bengal, Bhutan and northern part of Bangladesh, and at times portions of West Bengal and Bihar. | |||||||||||||||
Capital | Pragjyotishpura Haruppeswara Durjaya | ||||||||||||||
Common languages | Kamarupi Prakrit, Sanskrit, Austroasiatic, Tibeto-Burman | ||||||||||||||
Religion | Hinduism, Tribal religion | ||||||||||||||
Government | Absolute monarchy | ||||||||||||||
Historical era | Classical India | ||||||||||||||
• Established | 350 | ||||||||||||||
• Disestablished | 1140 | ||||||||||||||
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Today part of | India Bhutan Bangladesh Nepal |
Part of a series on the |
History of Assam |
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Categories |
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History of South Asia |
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Part of a series on the |
History of Kamarupa |
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Ruling dynasties |
Though Kamarupa prevailed from 350 to 1140 CE, Davaka was absorbed by Kamarupa in the 5th century CE. Ruled by three dynasties from their capitals in present-day Guwahati, North Guwahati and Tezpur, Kamarupa at its height covered the entire Brahmaputra Valley, North Bengal, Bhutan and northern part of Bangladesh, and at times portions of what is now West Bengal, Bihar and Sylhet.
Though the historical kingdom disappeared by the 12th century to be replaced by smaller political entities, the notion of Kamarupa persisted and ancient and medieval chroniclers continued to call a part of this kingdom Kamrup. In the 16th century the Ahom kingdom came into prominence and assumed for themselves the legacy of the ancient Kamarupa kingdom and aspired to extend their kingdom to the Karatoya River.