Historical Chronology of Kuki people from B.C 700-1919 A.D
- Part 2 -

TS Letkhosei Haokip *

A Tabulation Chart showing Khongsai-Kuki Dynasty (B.C 19-317 AD):

9. Kuki Kingdom of Taguong & Agaltala (A.D 80 & 200):
(i) *Khupling (80 A.D) Taguong Kuki Kingdom (Chittagong)-: During 80 A.D Khupling was the king of Taguong kingdom. His ruled over 27 big villages. There were another 12[7] different kingdoms in Chittagong, during the period. At that time, this ethnic Kuki people were called as Pong or poi by other kingdoms.

(ii). *Neitholla/Neithawthla (200 A.D) Agaltala Kuki Kingdom (Tripura): In the meantime, there emerged the kingship of Neitholla at Agaltala (Agartala). This king was said to be very rich, possessing large number of Mithuns and other household assets. His kingdom extended over an area of 7000 square miles.[7]

10. *Hangsai Kuki Kingdom (401-480 A.D): Hangsai was an expert magician and the most notable Kuki King of the period. His capital was at Chinbok. He was a well known rich king of the time. His kingdom covered a large area of Chindwin valley up to some portion of present day China, in the north.[7]

11. *Galngam Kingship (470-573 A.D): Galngam was more or less the comtemporary rival chieftain of Hangsai (401-480). Galngam on his bewitching magical mantra married Hangsai's daughter. He later assassinated Hangsai, his in-law-father through the same mantra. Galngam occupied the kingship of Hangsai. He further extended his kingdom up to 'Saihaphoh' of upper Chindwin.[7]

12. *Jamdil/Lamdil (1000 A.D): Jamdil was the Kuki king during 1000 A.D. He is said to be very robust and strong. His kingdom comprised of 700 houses.[7] Except this, nothing much about this king is available.

13. Chongthu Dynasty:

(i). *Lelse/Chongthu - Lendou Era (920-970 A.D): Lelse (Lersi) and brother was an orphan, staying at the house of their chief named Lawnkhara, a Lusei chieftain. Lelse was an obedient, sincere, polite and faithful person, since his boyhood. He was serving selflessly his ailing mistress, Cherchawngi wife of Lawnkhara. At the time of attaining maturity, luck favoured him that he became a chieftain of Chinbok.[7] Lelse became a famous chieftain.

At his celebration of success, 20 numbers of Mithun were slaughtered to feed his subjects. Large amount of food surplus became rotted (Athu, A-ui) that he got the new name, Chongthu, meaning 'Rotten/Rotted Celebrity'. Chongthu's territory covers an area of 40,000 square miles.[7] The literal meaning of 'Lelse' is distorted basket. Being an orphan, this name (Lelse) was given to mark his misfortune. This was a practice of Kuki Manmasis in olden days.

(ii).*Chon-mang (1134-1205 A.D): Chongthu was succeeded by his son Prince Chonmang. King Chonmang's territory covered the present Chittagong hill tracts, Mizoram, Tripura and Cachar hills. His three Sub-Capitals are Khampat (Burma), Champhai (Mizoram) and Vanlaiphai (Tripura-Chittagong). The main capital Chinbok, of his father's regime remained unchanged. [9]

(iii).* Pamang (1278-1340 A.D): Prince Pamang, the son of King Chonmang came to the throne by 1278, after his father. He improved the systems of governance of his kingdom in every respect. Every Kuki princely states and kingdoms of the time offered him annual obligatory taxes. He was said to be the greatest Kuki king of the time. A song in praise of Pamang's kingdom goes as, "Pamang's shopping complex rushes hither thither; Greatest is he of the kings of all". [16]

(iv). *Telenpa/phunsepa- Phuntiaha (1360-1480): Telenpa is the last ruler of Chongthu dynasty. This king is said to be very orderly in every respect and alert by keeping spies (CID) all over his kingdom. He could see the weaknesses and loopholes of his courtiers and their activities. As such he was known as "Phunsepa/ Phuntiaha", meaning 'Great Grumbler'. [17]

14. Guite/Nguite Dynasty (1017-1087 A.D): Genealogically, Guite is the head clan of Haokip-Kipgen-Doungel-Guite lineage. The Guite-Kuki dynasty started from early 1010s A.D to 1870 A.D. [7] Some of the recorded prominent Guite Kingdom and Kings are Mangsum, Mangson and Goukhothang @ Raja Goukhothang.

* Mangsum- Simnoi/Chimhnuai (1017-1087 A.D):
* Mangson – Simnoi/Chimhnuai (1780-1840 A.D):
*Raja Goukhothang –Simnoi/Chimhnuai (1830-1890 A.D):
*Raja Chengjapao Doungel - Aisan (1850-1919 A.D: Chengjapao is the Kuki Rajah [18] of Aisan territory. He was the overall leader of the Kuki Rising 1917-1919.

15. Second Era- Khongsai Dynasty (A.D 1350-1870): Khongsais are the leading clans of Kuki people. Khongsai-Kukis are one of the earliest settlers in India. Khongsai Kingdom and dynasty dates back to early 19 B.C. (Chongphut B.C 19-70). The first Era of Khongsai-Kuki Kingdom and dynasty flourished during 19-70 B.C. The second era started from 1350 A.D and lasted by 1870 A.D.[7] The notable recorded dynasties of the Khongsai clansmen in the second era are as under.

* Lenthang-II: Vangai Lhang & Halflong (1350-1417 A.D):
* Mangtinthang- Litan (1500-1580 A.D):
* Mangtinkhup- Molkoi/ Muolkawi (1580-1621 A.D):
* Mangtinkai@Pakai- Molkoi/ Muolkawi (1810-1870 A.D):

# Enjakhup Khollhou (1870-1919): Enjakhup was a Khongsai-Kuki clansmen chieftain, who was the Deputy Chief-in-Command of Kuki Army during the Kuki Rising 1917-1919.[18]

16. Thadou-Kuki Kingdom and Territories: * Thadou- Khochung (1200 A.D); Thadou was the son of Sehtha. He was the king of Khochung territory around 1200 A.D. His sons later on became Singson kings, Sitlhou Kings and Haokip kings.

# Vomjamang- Kholen (1489-1530 A.D): Vomjamang was a Singson clansmen chief of Kholen and Henglhang. During this period, there was a misunderstanding between Singson chiefs and Sitlhou Chiefs that he and his people had shifted to Lamka, Sadar Hills and Nagaland between 152-1528.[7]

# Demlukim- Lungthul (1500 A.D): Demlukim was another Singson clansmen chieftain of Lungthul, after Vomjamang. It is recorded that at this time, the Haokip clansmen had settled at 'Elmun', where some of the Singson clansmen took refuge in the continuing Singson-Sitlhou misunderstanding.

* Mangkhai-Champhai (1730-1750); Mangkhai was the king of Champhai kingdom. His territory comprised of 877 houses. The subjects of Mangkhai were composed of Ralte and Thadou clansmen tribes. Out of 877 houses, 300 belonged to the Ralte tribe. The remaining to Thadou.[7]

# Khotinmang-Jampi (1750-1820): Khotinmang is a Sitlhou clansmen chief of Jampi. He was one of the courageous and richest Kuki chiefs of the period.[4]

Khotinkai- (1820-1880): Khotinkai became a chief during 1750-1880 A.D. This chief is stated to have many daughters and no male issue. This according to Shaw, might be a curse for revolting the Sitlhous. Realising the sin, he went to the Sitlhou chief Khotinmang, getting blessing and got a son.[4]

# Thangkhohen-Sangnao (1880-1919): Thangkhohen, Sangnao Chief was the one who sent 1000 Kukis to help Raja Ngameingam/ Chandra Kirti in the latter's war against the Sukte Chief, Kamhau.[4]

# Khotinthang-Jampi (1880-1919): Khotinthang@ Kilkhong was the chief of Jampi. He was one of the leaders of Kuki Rising 1917-1919.[18]

16. Haokip Dynasty (1750-1897 A.D): The emergence of Haokip clansmen's dynasty starts from early 17th to the late 19th centuries.[7] Some recorded Haokip clansmen kingship and Kingdom are as under.

* Sutmang-Phaileng (1750-1847 A.D): The Kingdom of Sutmang had its capital at Phaileng. The Phaileng king and Sailo king Lalsavunga (1740-1820 AD), who died in 1820, were closed friends.

* Tongkho @ Pache-Chahsat (1830-1897): Tongkho @ Pache was the King of Chahsat Haokip-Kuki kingdom. Chahsat, the capital had 700 houses. Tongkho @ Pache was the deputed king. His territory extended from the present day Ukhrul district up to upper Chindwin and Homlin region in the present day Myanmar (Burma).

Some of the recorded prominent villages of the kingdom are Chahsat, Chatrik, Matejang and Molnoi, Phai-len, Khongkang, Pumjang , Phungtha and Saihaphoh of Burma. Chahsat Kingdom comprised of 40 villages. [7]

# Nehlam-Chahsat(1840-1862 A.D): Nehlam was a Haokip clansmen chieftain, within the territory of Chahsat kingdom. He was murdered by the Raja of Manipur in 1862, while going to pay his respects to the Raja and the Political Agent respectively.[4]

# Tintong Haokip- Laijang (1880-1919): Tintong chief of Laijang, Tamenglong was the Chief-in-Command of the Kuki Army during Kuki Rising 1917-1919.[18]Conclusion: The period, Chongthu and party come out from 'Khul' is believed to be between 420-425 A.D. This can be rectified by the settlement of Lenthang (100-182 A.D) and Lunkim in their so called upper earth, when they emerged out from 'Khul' and found the two clansmen.[4]

It is imperative to state that the 'Khongsai Kukis" have already left Khul after 'Thimzin' (25-40 A.D) and set up their kingdoms there. The ten Khongsai-Kuki dynasties, as had already mentioned above, have flourished from Chongphut@Chongpu (the first king (B.C 19-70) to the last king, Mangtinkai (1810-1870 A.D).

Concluded....