After the decline of the Pala dynasty, the once-unified Kamarupa kingdom gradually disintegrated. The region entered a phase of political fragmentation, witnessing the rise of regional dynasties, tribal kingdoms, and external invasions, which paved the way for the medieval political landscape of Assam.
Decline under Timgyadeva and Vaidyadeva
After the fall of the Palas, rulers like Timgyadeva and Vaidyadeva attempted to hold control over parts of the former Kamarupa territory.
Timgyadeva ruled from the west, issuing inscriptions in lower Assam, but lacked central legitimacy.
Vaidyadeva, who ruled around the mid-12th century, issued land grants and performed ritualistic ceremonies to project authority.
However, both rulers were feudal lords or regional chiefs rather than sovereign monarchs.
Their rule signals the final phase of Kamarupa, marked by decentralization and weakening central authority.
🔑 Their reigns are often considered epilogues to the classical Kamarupa state.
Central Kamarupa (Bhaskara to Vallabhadeva)
The region of central Assam, especially around Tezpur, saw the continuation of rule under localised successors of the Palas.
From Bhaskaradeva to Vallabhadeva, these rulers claimed royal titles but lacked the power and territory of earlier dynasties.
The lineage is known from inscriptions and land grants, which continued the use of Sanskritic royal epithets.
These kings possibly ruled semi-autonomous principalities rather than a unified kingdom.
🔑 This period reflects the residual identity of Kamarupa in its heartland but without true statehood.
Southern Kamarupa (Kharabana to Kesavadeva)
In the southern hills and plains, a parallel lineage emerged under rulers like:
Kharabana
Samalavarman
Kesavadeva
These kings ruled from undocumented capitals, possibly in the areas of present-day Goalpara and Meghalaya foothills.
Their rule is attested in a few donative inscriptions, where they also claim descent from earlier dynasties.
🔑 Southern Kamarupa represents a fragmented political region, disconnected from the central and eastern valleys.
Kamarupa Proper: Prithu and Turko-Afghan Invasions
The last major ruler of Kamarupa proper was King Prithu, who reigned in the mid-13th century.
He is best known for fighting against Bakhtiyar Khalji, the Turko-Afghan invader, who attempted to invade Assam around 1206 CE.
Prithu is credited with:
Defeating Bakhtiyar Khalji, who later died in the campaign.
Defending Assamese territory from Delhi Sultanate expansion.
Despite this victory, Kamarupa’s state structure collapsed soon after due to:
Continued external threats
Internal divisions
Lack of dynastic continuity
🔑 Prithu’s reign marks the last stand of classical Assam against Islamic expansion, symbolising both resistance and transition.
Rise of Sandhya and Formation of Kamata Kingdom
In the wake of Kamarupa’s fall, Sandhya, a ruler of the Kamarupanagara region, shifted the capital to Kamatapur (modern-day Cooch Behar area) around 1250 CE.
He founded the Kamata Kingdom, which:
Extended over parts of Western Assam, North Bengal, and eastern Bihar.
Became a powerful post-Kamarupa polity.
The Kamata Kingdom served as a link between the ancient and medieval periods, combining Brahmanical legitimacy with feudal control.
🔑 Sandhya’s move to Kamatapur laid the groundwork for future dynasties like the Koch.
Emergence of Regional Powers: Ahoms, Chutiyas, Baro Bhuyans, Koch
With the fragmentation of Kamarupa, several regional powers emerged, shaping the medieval history of Assam:
🔸 Ahoms (from 1228 CE)
Migrated from Upper Myanmar under Sukapha.
Established control over Upper Assam, eventually forming a strong kingdom that lasted nearly 600 years.
🔸 Chutiyas
Indigenous kingdom in eastern Assam, centred on Sadiya.
Known for temple construction, copperplate grants, and military clashes with Ahoms.
🔸 Baro Bhuyans
A confederation of twelve powerful landlords or chiefs, mostly in Lower and Central Assam.
Acted as a buffer between external threats and internal consolidation.
🔸 Koch Dynasty
Rose to prominence under Biswa Singha in the 16th century.
Established the Koch Kingdom, which included parts of western Assam and Bengal.
They claimed descent from the Kamata rulers, thereby reviving Assamese political heritage.
🔑 These regional powers filled the political vacuum left by Kamarupa, leading to the formation of distinct medieval states in Assam.