Koch kingdom
Also called: Koch kings · Topic: Regional Resistance: Rajputs, Ahoms, Sikhs · NCERT: Class 12, Ch 4 "Peasants, Zamindars and the State"
Meaning
The Koch kingdom was a state ruled by the Koch people in present-day north Bengal and western Assam. In the 16th and 17th centuries the Koch kings fought long wars with neighbouring tribes and brought them under their rule. It is a clear example of a tribal chiefdom turning into a monarchy, which means rule by a king. The Kochs also resisted outside attempts to take their land and tax them, though over time they came under Mughal pressure.
Example
In the 16th century, Koch king Naranarayan (c. mid-16th century) and his brother, the general Chilarai, spread Koch power across the Brahmaputra region. Their capital was Koch Bihar, in present-day West Bengal.
Don't confuse with
- Ahom kingdom: the Ahoms were a separate group who migrated from present-day Myanmar in the 13th century and ruled the eastern Brahmaputra Valley. The Kochs ruled further west.