Manikya dynasty

The Manikya dynasty was the ruling house of the Twipra Kingdom and later the princely Tripura State, what is now the Indian state of the same name. Ruling since the early 15th century, the dynasty at its height controlled a large swathe of the north-east of the Indian subcontinent. After coming under British influence, in 1761 they transitioned from feudal monarchs into rulers of a princely state, though the Manikyas maintain control of the region until 1949, when it ascended in union with India.

Manikya
Parent houseLunar dynasty (legendary)
Country
Foundedc.1400
FounderMaha Manikya
Current headKirit Pradyot Manikya (titular)
Final rulerKirit Bikram Kishore Manikya
Titles
Deposition1949

History

Tracing a descent from the mythological Lunar dynasty,[1] the Rajmala royal chronicle records an unbroken line of 144 (likely legendary) monarchs of Tripura up to the ascension of one Ratna Fa, who is stated to have become the first Manikya after being granted the cognomen by the Sultan of Bengal.[2] However, it is now believed that the Rajmala had been mistaken in the genealogy and chronology of the initial Manikya rulers.[3] Numismatic evidence suggests that the first historical Manikya was in fact Maha Manikya,[4] a Tripuri chief who founded the kingdom after establishing dominance over neighbouring tribes in the early 1400s.[5] This monarch then took the title "Manikya" in honour of a historic victory over Bengal, with the name being inherited by his descendants.[6]

Maha Manikya's early successors achieved considerable military success, conquering territory in Bengal, Assam and Burma. Tripura reached its zenith in the 16th century under such prominent kings as Dhanya Manikya and Vijaya Manikya II,[7] with its lands stretching from the Garo Hills in the north to the Bay of Bengal in the south. As monarchs of a Hindu kingdom, the Manikyas developed a rivalry with the successive Muslim rulers of Bengal, coming into conflict with Sultans, governors and Nawabs before being brought under Mughal suzerainty in the early 17th century. As Mughal power waned, the antagonism with Bengal re-erupted, which drove the Manikyas to first approach the British for aid. In 1761, Tripura had succumb to British influence, becoming a princely protectorate, though control of the region remained under the Manikya dynasty.[8]

In 1870, Bir Chandra Manikya ascended the throne and began a series of political reforms to his kingdom, modelling his government on the British system. A lover of the culture of Bengal, Bengali was adopted by the court under his rule and he developed a friendship with the celebrated poet, Rabindranath Tagore. After Tripura was briefly incorporated into the province of Eastern Bengal and Assam at the beginning of the 20th century, the last Manikya monarch, Maharaja Bir Bikram Kishore, chose to come under the jurisdiction of the predominantly Hindu Dominion of India in 1947. The final ascension of Tripura into the modern Indian nation was signed by his widow, Kanchan Prava Devi, in place of the minor Kirit Bikram Kishore, bringing to an end five centuries of Manikya rule.[8]

List of rulers
Tripura princely state in 1909
Kingdom of Tripura
Part of History of Tripura
Maha Manikyac. 1400–1431
Dharma Manikya I1431–1462
Ratna Manikya I1462–1487
Pratap Manikya1487
Vijaya Manikya I1488
Mukut Manikya1489
Dhanya Manikya1490–1515
Dhwaja Manikya1515–1520
Deva Manikya1520–1530
Indra Manikya I1530–1532
Vijaya Manikya II1532–1563
Ananta Manikya1563–1567
Udai Manikya1567–1573
Joy Manikya I1573–1577
Amar Manikya1577–1585
Rajdhar Manikya I1586–1600
Ishwar Manikya1600
Yashodhar Manikya1600–1623
Interregnum1623–1626
Kalyan Manikya1626–1660
Govinda Manikya1660–1661
Chhatra Manikya1661–1667
Govinda Manikya1661–1673
Rama Manikya1673–1685
Ratna Manikya II1685–1693
Narendra Manikya1693–1695
Ratna Manikya II1695–1712
Mahendra Manikya1712–1714
Dharma Manikya II1714–1725
Jagat Manikya1725–1729
Dharma Manikya II1729
Mukunda Manikya1729–1739
Joy Manikya II1739–1744
Indra Manikya II1744–1746
Vijaya Manikya III1746–1748
Lakshman Manikya1740s/1750s
Interregnum1750s–1760
Krishna Manikya1760–1783
Rajdhar Manikya II1785–1806
Rama Ganga Manikya1806–1809
Durga Manikya1809–1813
Rama Ganga Manikya1813–1826
Kashi Chandra Manikya1826–1829
Krishna Kishore Manikya1829–1849
Ishan Chandra Manikya1849–1862
Bir Chandra Manikya1862–1896
Radha Kishore Manikya1896–1909
Birendra Kishore Manikya1909–1923
Kirit Bikram Kishore Manikya1947–1949
1949–1978 (titular)
Kirit Pradyot Manikya1978–present (titular)
Tripura monarchy data
Manikya dynasty (Royal family)
Agartala (Capital of the kingdom)
Ujjayanta Palace (Royal residence)
Neermahal (Royal residence)
Rajmala (Royal chronicle)
Tripura Buranji (Chronicle)
Chaturdasa Devata (Family deities)
Shamsher Gazi (Usurper)
Rulers of the Manikya dynasty (c.1400 – 1949)[9]
Name Reign start Reign end Claim Notes
Maha Manikya c.1400 1431
Dharma Manikya I 1431 1462 Son of Maha Manikya
Ratna Manikya I 1462 c.1487 Son of Dharma Manikya I
Pratap Manikya c.1487 c.1487 Son of Ratna Manikya I
Vijaya Manikya I 1488 1488 Possibly son of Pratap Manikya
Mukut Manikya 1489 1489 Son of Ratna Manikya I
Dhanya Manikya 1490 1515 Son of Ratna Manikya I
Dhwaja Manikya 1515 1520 Son of Dhanya Manikya
Deva Manikya 1520 1530 Son of Dhanya Manikya
Indra Manikya I 1530 1532 Son of Deva Manikya
Vijaya Manikya II 1532 1563 Son of Deva Manikya
Ananta Manikya 1563 1567 Son of Vijaya Manikya II
Udai Manikya 1567 1573 Father-in-law of Ananta Manikya Claimed the throne following the death of his predecessor, briefly supplanting the ruling dynasty with his own line.[10]
Joy Manikya I 1573 1577 Son of Udai Manikya
Amar Manikya 1577 1585 Son of Deva Manikya Restored the Manikya dynasty after killing his predecessor.[11]
Rajdhar Manikya I 1586 1600 Son of Amar Manikya
Ishwar Manikya 1600 1600 Possibly son of Amar Manikya or Rajdhar Manikya I
Yashodhar Manikya 1600 1618 Son of Rajdhar Manikya I Monarchy temporarily overthrown by the Mughal Empire.[12]
Kalyan Manikya 1626 1660 Descendant of Maha Manikya From a cadet branch of the dynasty.[13] Elected as monarch after Mughal interregnum.[14]
Govinda Manikya 1660 1661 Son of Kalyan Manikya First reign
Chhatra Manikya 1661 1667 Son of Kalyan Manikya
Govinda Manikya 1667 1673 Son of Kalyan Manikya Second reign
Rama Manikya 1673 1685 Son of Govinda Manikya
Ratna Manikya II 1685[15] 1693[15] Son of Rama Manikya First reign
Narendra Manikya 1693[15] 1695[15] Grandson of Govinda Manikya
Ratna Manikya II 1695[15] 1712[15] Son of Rama Manikya Second reign
Mahendra Manikya 1712[16] 1714[16] Son of Rama Manikya
Dharma Manikya II 1714[16] 1725[16] Son of Rama Manikya First reign
Jagat Manikya 1725[17] 1729[17] Great-grandson of Chhatra Manikya
Dharma Manikya II 1729[17] 1729[17] Son of Rama Manikya Second reign
Mukunda Manikya 1729 1739 Son of Rama Manikya
Joy Manikya II 1739 1744 Descendant of Chhatra Manikya
Indra Manikya II 1744 1746 Son of Mukunda Manikya
Vijaya Manikya III 1746 1748 Brother of Joy Manikya II, descendant of Chhatra Manikya
Lakshman Manikya ? ? Grandson of Dharma Manikya II Ruled as a puppet-monarch under Shamsher Gazi for three years before the latter took the throne for himself.[18]
Krishna Manikya 1760 1783 Son of Mukunda Manikya
Rajdhar Manikya II 1785 1806 Grandson of Mukunda Manikya
Rama Ganga Manikya 1806 1809 Son of Rajdhar Manikya II First reign
Durga Manikya 1809 1813 Son of Lakshman Manikya
Rama Ganga Manikya 1813 1826 Son of Rajdhar Manikya II Second reign
Kashi Chandra Manikya 1826 1829 Son of Rajdhar Manikya II
Krishna Kishore Manikya 1829 1849 Son of Rama Ganga Manikya
Ishan Chandra Manikya 1849 1862 Son of Krishna Kishore Manikya
Bir Chandra Manikya 1862 1896 Son of Krishna Kishore Manikya
Radha Kishore Manikya 1896 1909 Son of Bir Chandra Manikya
Birendra Kishore Manikya 1909 1923 Son of Radha Kishore Manikya
Bir Bikram Kishore Manikya 1923 1947 Son of Birendra Kishore Manikya
Kirit Bikram Kishore Manikya 1947 1949 Son of Bir Bikram Kishore Manikya
Pretenders (1949 – present)
Kirit Bikram Kishore Manikya 1949 2006 Son of Bir Bikram Kishore Manikya
Kirit Pradyot Manikya 2006 Son of Kirit Bikram Kishore Manikya

References
  1. Singh Rana (1998), p. 210.
  2. Bhattacharyya (1977), p. 13.
  3. Saha (1986), p. 168.
  4. Sarma (1987), p. 39.
  5. Momin, Mawlong & Qādrī (2006), p. 81.
  6. Lahiri (1999), p. 53.
  7. Nayar (2005), p. 70.
  8. Boland-Crewe & Lea (2005), p. 238.
  9. Sarma (1987), pp. 233–34.
  10. Sarma (1987), pp. 75–76.
  11. Sarma (1987), p. 77.
  12. Chib (1988), p. 11.
  13. Gan-Chaudhuri (1980), p. 25.
  14. Sarma (1987), p. 96.
  15. Friedberg & Friedberg (2009), p. 498.
  16. DebBarma (2006), p. 24.
  17. DebBarma (2006), p. 25.
  18. Sur (1986), p. 14.

Bibliography
  • Bhattacharyya, A. K. (1977). District Census Handbook: North Tripura. Director of Census Operations.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Boland-Crewe, Tara; Lea, David (2005) [2002]. The Territories and States of India. London: Routledge. ISBN 978-1-135-35625-5.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Chib, Sukhdev Singh (1988). This beautiful India: Tripura. Ess Ess Publications. ISBN 978-81-7000-039-6.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • DebBarma, Chandramani (2006). Glory of Tripura civilization: history of Tripura with Kok Borok names of the kings. Parul Prakashani.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Friedberg, Arthur L.; Friedberg, Ira S. (2009). Gold Coins of the World: From Ancient Times to the Present : an Illustrated Standard Catalogue with Valuations (8 ed.). New Jersey: Coin & Currency Institute. ISBN 978-0-87184-308-1.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Gan-Chaudhuri, Jagadis (1980). Tripura, the land and its people. Leeladevi Publications.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Lahiri, Bela (1999). "Numismatic Evidence on the Chronolgy and Succession of the rulers of Tripura". The Journal of the Numismatic Society of India. Numismatic Society of India.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Momin, Mignonette; Mawlong, Cecile A.; Qādrī, Fuz̤ail Aḥmad (2006). Society and economy in North-East India. New Delhi: Regency Publications. ISBN 978-81-87498-83-4.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Nayar, V. K. (2005). Crossing the Frontiers of Conflict in the North East and Jammu and Kashmir: From Real Politik to Ideal Politik. New Delhi: Shipra Publications. ISBN 978-81-7541-218-7.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Saha, Sudhanshu Bikash (1986). Tribes of Tripura: A Historical Survey. Rupali Book House.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Sarma, Ramani Mohan (1987). Political History of Tripura. Puthipatra.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Singh Rana, J. P. (1998). Marriage and Customs of Tribes of India. New Delhi: M.D. Publications Pvt. Ltd. ISBN 978-81-7533-087-0.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Sur, Hirendra Kumar (1986). British Relations with the State of Tripura, 1760-1947. Saraswati Book Depot.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
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