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The documented history of Manipur begins with the reign of King Pakhangba (r. 33–154 AD), who unified the seven clans of Manipuri society. Introduction of theVaishnavism school of Hinduism brought about significant changes in the history of the state. Manipur's early history is set forth in the Cheitharon Kumpapa, a chronicle of royal events which claims to record events from the founding of the ruling dynasty in 33–AD. Since ancient times, the Meitei people and Meitei-Pangals (Muslims) have lived in the valleys of Manipur alongside the Nagas and Kukis in the hills.

Manipur became a princely state under British rule in 1891; the last of the independent states to be incorporated into British India. During the Second World War, Manipur was the scene of many fierce battles between Japanese and Allied forces. The Japanese were beaten back before they could enter Imphal, which proved to be one of the turning points of the War.

After the war, the Manipur Constitution Act, 1947, established a democratic form of government with the Maharaja as the Executive Head and an elected legislature. In 1949, King Prabodhchandra was summoned to Shillong, capital of the Indian province of Meghalaya where after much persuasion he signed a Treaty of Accession merging the kingdom into India. Thereafter the legislative assembly was dissolved and Manipur became part of the Republic of India in October, 1949. It was made a union territory in 1956 and a full-fledged state in 1972.

Manipur had been known throughout the ages as Meitrabak, Kangleipak or Meiteileipak^[1] as well as by more than twenty other names.^[2] Sanamahi Laikan wrote that Manipur's new nomenclature was adopted in the eighteenth century during the reign of Meidingu Pamheiba. According to Sakok Lamlen, the area had different names according to the era. During the Hayachak period it was known as Mayai Koiren poirei namthak saronpung or Tilli Koktong Ahanba, then in the Khunungchak period asMeera Pongthoklam. Thereafter during the Langbachak era, it became Tilli Koktong Leikoiren and finally Muwapalli in the Konnachak epoch.^[3] During the latter part of its history, Manipur and its people were known by different names to their neighbours. The Shans or Pongs called the area Cassay, the Burmese Kathe, and theAssamese Meklee. In the first treaty between the British East India Company and Meidingu Chingthangkhomba (Bhagyachandra) signed in 1762, the kingdom was recorded as Meckley. Bhagyachandra and his successors issued coins engraved with the title of Manipureshwar, or lord of Manipur and the name Meckley was discarded. Later on, the Sanskritisation work, Dharani Samhita (1825–34) popularized the legends of the derivation of Manipur's name.

Prehistory of Kangleipak or Manipur

Manipur is situated on the tertiary ranges of a branch of the eastern Himalayas running south and forms part of the compact physiographic unit following the great divide between the Brahmaputra and Chindwin valleys. North east India holds the key to the understanding the scope, depth, dimension and cultural diffusion between south and southeast Asia which played a crucial role in transforming the northeast Indian ethnographic canvas from prehistoric times onwards. Manipur appears to have absorbed Bronze Age cultural traits from Thailand and Upper Burma where indigenous early metal age culture developed at a comparatively early date around 4000 BC.

Old Stone Age

• Khangkhui Caves – These four caves are located near Khangkhui some 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) south east of Urkhul on the border with Upper Burma. Archaeological excavations have found stone and bone tools as well as animal remains as evidence of Stone Age habitation of these caves.^[5] The first evidence of Pleistocene man in Manipur dates back to about 30,000 BC. Other notable caves nearby include Hunding Caves, 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) south of Urkhul, Purul Cave in Purul and the Song Ring rock shelter at Beyang village in Tengnoupal.

• Machi – One of archaeologist O.K. Singh's most valuable finds is a pebble chopping tool discovered in Maring Naga Village, Machi in the Chandel district.^[6] TheMarings are the one the oldest tribes of Manipur and this find is considered a landmark in the Paleolithic archaeology of Manipur as it confirms that the area was inhabited by neolithic people from the early Stone Age or lower Paleolithic period.

New Stone Age

• Hoabinhian Culture – A large number of Neolithic celts have been discovered throughout Manipur and are now preserved in the State College Museum Archaeology Department. These celts are mostly edge-ground pebble and flake tools and show the presence of Neolithic culture in Manipur.

• Tharon Caves – Finds in these caves in the Tamenglong district provide the first concrete evidence of Hoabinhian culture in India, a Mesolithic southeast Asian cultural pattern based on historic finds from the village of Haobihian in North Vietnam. Similar relics have been found in Thailand at the Spirit Caves as well as in Burma and other places in Southeast Asia. Tharon is a Liangmei Naga village where the five caves and rock shelters were first explored in December 1979 by the State Archaeology Department.

The site is located at 93.32' longitude and 25.3' latitude in the midst of the thickly forested Reyangling Hills, about 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) north of Tharon Village. Locally, the caves are known as Kalemki (from Kalem (bat) and Ki (house), literally: The house of the bat). A stream called Kalem-ki-magu runs near the caves, which are composed of Barail series sandstone and were probably formed by rock weathering. Tharon's edge-ground pebble tools are similar to finds from Burma, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia and the Philippines where they were used about 7000–8000 BC. The Tharons have a distinct affinity with the Haobihian culture and before the advent of the present Tibeto-Burman inhabitants of the area, Proto-Australoid people occupied these caves around 5000–4000 BC.

• Napachik – A Stone Age site dating to the second millennium BC, Napachik is a small hillock near Meetei Village, Wangu in the southern part of the Imphal Valley, on the right bank of the Manipur River which flows into the Chindwin River in Burma. The edge-ground tools and corded wares of Napachik are similar to those found in the Spirit Cave in Thailand, the Padubtin Cave in Burma along with Haobihian sites in Vietnam although tripod wares were also found at one the Haobihian sites. Possible dates for the Neolithic age in north east India are between 500 BC 2000 BC. It is probable that while Napachik culture has an affinity with that of Haobihian while handmade corded tripod wares from Chinese Neolithic culture arrived in the area around the second millennium BC showing that the Manipur valley was already inhabited by Neolithic men in or around 2000 BC.

Early rulers

• Kangba, the First King – He was the first king about whom the chronicles provide details. Born in the Koubru hills of the northwest Manipur Valley, Kangba was the son of Tangja Lila Pakhangba. Meeteileipak (Manipur) was known as Tilli Koktong Leikoiren during the Kangba Period.

• Moriya or Maliya Phambalcha – The next confirmed king was Maliya (or Mariya) Phambalcha. According to the Kangbalon, Koikoi, the first son of Kangba, ascended the throne and assumed the regnal title of Mariya Phambalcha. Many scholars fix Maliya Phambalcha's era to 1379 BC and the time he established the Meetei Calendar.

According to the Thiren Layat, there were nineteen rulers up until the joint reign of Nongdanhan and Taohuireng. The ancient Numit Kappa text compares the two brothers as if they were two suns. The hymn of Numit Kappa used in the rite known as Chupsaba and sometimes sung as a ballad, narrates these events.

The source for this era is the Chaitharol-Kumbaba, the royal chronicle of Manipur or Kangleipak.

• Nongda Lairen Pakhangba (33–154 AD)

Nongda Lairen Pakhangba was an extraordinarily gifted ruler and the creator of Manipur (or Meeteileipak or Kangleipak). He was the first coroneted historical ruler whose reign began in 33 according to the Cheitharol Kumbaba. Meetei culture took root during the reign of Pakhangba as did sagol kangjei (Polo), with the first match played between the chiefs of different regions. Polo was played in imitation of a game from the traditional Hayachak era. Laisna took a great role in organizing the game.

• Khuiyoi Tompok

Pakhangba was succeeded by his son, Khuiyoi Tompok, in 154 AD. Known as the inventor of the drum (pung), his reign was a peaceful one. Technical innovation in metallurgy was also recorded in the chronicle.

• Naophangba (428–518 AD)

The treatise on the construction of the places of Kangla and Kangla Houba are believed to have been written by Ashangba Laiba. Muslims first came to Manipur in 615 as preachers led by Sa'ad ibn abi Waqqas. Shaikh Muhammad Sani led a thousand strong army of Pasha troops from Taraf (southern Sylhet) in 1606 AD. They settled in Manipur and took local wives while lands were provided to them under the royal directive of king Khagemba.

• Loiyamba (1074–1122 AD)

Known as the "Great law Giver", his reign was an important period in the history of Kangleibak. Along with the military consolidation of the kingdom, Loiyamba introduced administrative reforms, which provided the backbone of the kingdom's administration for the next seven centuries. He systematized the administrative divisions of the country by creating six lups or divisions as well as introducing the Pana System. Loiyamba Shinyen left a well-organized society and economy in Meeteileipak.

• Meidingu Ningthou Khomba (1432–1467)

The "Conqueror of Tamu", according to Ningthourol Lambuba he was originally knoen as Charairongba. One of the most well-known events of Charairongba's reign was a raid by the Tangkul tribe from Tuisem village while he was absent. His queen Linthoingambi demonstrated courage and skill, hoodwinking the raiding tribesmen into defeat and captivity. The Meitei state was completely established during his reign.

• Meidingu Kiyamba (1467–1508)

Known as the "Conqueror of Kabaw Valley", he was formerly called Thangwai Ningthouba. Credit for the military and territorial expansion of the kingdom was given to King Ningthou khomba and his son Kiyamba who had an equally colourful mother, Linthoingambi, the warrior queen in Manipur's history. This period sees the emergence of Medingu Senbi Kiyamba, who became king in 1476, at the age of 24. He was a friend of the King of Pong (Shan Kingdom), who presented him with a stone, known as PHEIYA (Almighty). After this, worship of God in the form of a sacred stone began.

• Meidingu Khagemba (1597&ndash1652)

The "Conqueror of the Chinese" (khagi: Chinese and Ngamba:conqueror), he consolidated and expanded his father's kingdom of Meitrabak, later successfully defending it from foreign invaders such as the Muslims, the Kachari and the Shans of the Kabaw Valley. Muslim settlement became more prominent after 1606 with the establishment of a Muslim Personal Law Board headed by a Qazi appointed by the king. According to the chronicle, the Meetei king attacked the principal Chinese village (or town) along with the many brave Meetei warrior and defeated their chief Chouopha Hongdei. Khagemba introduced bell metal currency in the kingdom and a number of coins from his reign have been found. His reign was considered to be the golden age of Manipuri literature. He was a great patron of the traditional Lainingthou Cult. A contemporary text, the Khagemba Langjei, expresses the supremecy of Sanamahi as the Universal God of the Meeteis. Learned scholars who were well-known authorities on religion and theology in attendance at Khagemba's court were Apoimacha, Konok Thengra, Salam Sana, Yumnam Tomba,Khongngakhul Toppa and Langon Lukhoi. Khagemba was succeeded by his son Khunjaoba in 1652 who fortified Kangla and excavated a moat in the front of the brick gateway constructed by his father. Paikhomba ascended the throne in 1666 and consolidated his power in the valley. His kingdom extended as far as Samjok to the east and Takhel Tripura to the west. In 1679 the two Mughal (Chaghtai Turk) princes Shah Shuja and Mirza Baisanghar led a 37 strong Mughal entourage and settled in Manipur by taking local wives.

• Meidingu Charairongba (1697–1709)

With the dawn of eighteenth century, Meitrabak achieved the full development of its culture, economy and state system. In this revolutionary period in the evolution of Meitrabak, three kings, father, son, and a great grandson: Charairongba, Pamheiba and Chingthangkhomba played significant roles. After the death of Paikhomba, his nephew Charairongba, the son of his younger brother Tonsenngamba ascended the throne in 1697. His reign began the transition period from traditional Meetei culture to a Hinduised Meetei Society. There were continual trade contacts and social relationships between Manipur and Burma. In 1702, the Toongoo dynasty of Awa(Burma) sent emissaries asking for the hand of a Meetei Princess. Charirongba gave his daughter Chakpa Makhao Ngambi in marriage to the Burmese King. He constructed several temples for Meitei deities such as Panthoibi, Sanamahi as well as ones dedicated to Hindu gods. Relations with Burma deteriorated and became stronger with India after the area's conversion to Vaishnavism.

Vaishnavism came to Manipur during this period and caused a significant change in the history of Manipur. The Meitei script was replaced with Bengali.

• Meidingu Pamheiba (Garibnawaz) (1709–1748):

Pamheiba ascended the throne on the 23rd Day of Thawan (August) 1709. His Persian name Garibniwaz, meaning "kind to the poor", was given to him by Muslim immigrants and was adopted to be used in the coinage he issued. Pamheiba's rise to prominence as a military conqueror can be divided into three phases. The first phase (1710–17) focused on internal consolidation of hill tribes. Phase two (1728–33) involved war against the Burmese kingdom of Ava, and the third and final phase (1745–48) saw a war against Tripura in the northeast. As a result, Pamheiba extended his kingdom from the Kabow Valley, to the east as far as Nongnang (Cachar) and Takhel (Tripura) in the west.

Conversion to Vaishnavism

Pamheiba was also a major religious reformer and under his royal patronage Shri Chaitanya's school of Gaudiya Vaishnavism gradually spread across Meitrabak. TheCheitharol Kumbaba records that in October 1717, Graibnawaz was initiated into Vaishnavism by Guru Gopal Das. Later in life he also took instruction from theRamanandi Sampradaya school of thought.

Meetei Puya Meithaba (Burning of the Meetei Puyas)

At the instigation of Santidas Gosain, Meetei Puya (holy books) were consigned to the flames at Kangla Uttra between 9 and 10 a.m. on the 23rd day of Wakching in 1729.

Sanskritisation

Sanamahi Laikan recorded the events surrounding Sanskritisation which paved the way for "Meeteikeipak" or "Kanggleibak" to become "Manipur". Many other Meeteileipak place names in the Manipuri language (Meeteilon) were also changed to Sanskrit. The Hinduised word "gotra" was introduced for the Seven Yek/Salais of Meeteis. Between 1717 and 1737, the Sanskrit epic parvas the Mahabharata and Ramayana were translated into Meeteilon while many other Sanskrit Parvas were written by Angom Gopi (1710–1780), the renowned scholar and poet at the court of Pamheiba. The king and all the Meeteis were converted as Kshatriya by relating to Mahabharata's Manipur. Pamheiba's forty year reign marked the zenith of Meeteileipak in all aspects – religious reform, military conquest, cultural and literary achievements and sound economics. He issued several coins during his reign engraved with his different names: 'Manipureswar', 'Mekeleswar', 'Garibaniwaza'. He abdicated the throne in favour of his son Chit Sai (1748–52) in 1748 and was then driven out to Cachar by his brother Bharat Sai in 1752. Gourashyam (1753–58) ousted Bharat Sai in 1753 and ascended the throne. In 1758, the Burmese king Alaungpaya invaded Meeteileipak.

• Meidingu Chingthangkhomba or Bhagyachandra (1749–1798)

In 1759, Gourashyam gave up the throne in favour of his brother Bhagayachandra who restored normalcy in the kingdom and tried to regain the lost glory of Meeteileipak/Kangleipak. In 1764, the new Burmese king Hsinbyushin invaded Manipur again through the Kabaw Valley. The Meetei force were defeated at Tamu and the king fled to the Ahom kingdom in Assam. He regained the throne of Kangleipak in 1768 with help of Ahom king Rajeshwar and went on to rule for more than 30 years, signing a treaty with East India Company in 1762. His reign was a landmark in the history of Meeteileipak for the propagation of Cheitanya's School of Vaishnavism. Afterwards, Meeteileipak came more under the influence of Bengali language and literature. Bhagayachandra earned the title of "Rajarshi" as a king who had become a royal sage.

Origin of the Meetei or Manipuri Classical Dance, Rasa lila

According to Cheitharol Kumpaba, in February 1776, the king went to Kaina Hill in search of the jackfruit tree. Four images of Krishna were then carved from jackfruit wood. The ritual installation of Shri Govindajee was performed at the Rashmondal of Langthabal palace in 1780. The Meeteis worshipped God through dance as performed in the Lai Haraoba (Merry Making of God). As revealed in the dream, and with the help of his daughter Princess Bimbabati known as Shija Laioibi who was symbolically married and dedicated her life to Shri Govindajee, he composed the Rasa lila. Meidingu Chingthangkhomba dedicated three forms of Rasa lila to Krishna — Kunja Ras, Maha Ras and Basanta Ras.

There were a number of significant wars during this era between the Manipuris, the Burmese and the British.

• Meidingu Marjit (1813–1819)

With the help from the Burmese kingdom of Ava, Marjit invaded Kangleipak in 1813 where he defeated his brother Chaurajit. He then ascended the throne in 1813 and ruled for six years.

Chahi Taret Khuntakpa, the Seven Years Devastation (1819–26)

Meitrabak had never before faced such a national catastrophe as that brought about by the Burmese conquest. The new king of Ava, Bagyidaw, invited Marjit to attend his coronation ceremony and to pay homage to him. Marjit refused to attend the coronation, which offended the Burmese king who then sent a large force under the command of General Maha Bandula to humble Marjit. Marjit was defeated and fled to Cachar. Meitrabak was then brought under the rule of Ava for the seven years between 1819 and 1826, which is known as Chahi Taret Kuntakpa in the history of Meitrabak. The flight of Marjit from Meitrabak and the conquest by Ava in 1819 marks the end of the mediaeval period in the history of Meitrabak.

Meitrabak Princes in Cachar

In the early nineteenth century, after being dislodged from Meitrabak, its princes made Cachar a springboard for the reconquest of the territory. In 1819, three brothers occupied Cachar and drove Govinda Chandra out to Sylhet. The kingdom of Cachar, divided between Govinda Chandra and Chaurajit in 1818, was repartitioned after the flight of Govind Chandra among the three Meitrabak princes. Chaurajit got the eastern portion of Cachar bordering Meitrabak which was ruled from Sonai. Gambhir Singh was given the land west of Tillain hill and his headquarters was at Gumrah, Marjit Singh ruled Hailakandi from Jhapirbond.

• Meidingngu Gambhir Singh (1826–1834)

With the 500 strong Meetei Levy and with help from the British East India Company, Gambhir Singh expelled the Burmese of Ava from Meitrabak beyond the Ningthi Turel (Chindwin River). He ruled the country from Langthabal and died on 9 January 1834 to be succeeded by his infant son Chandrakirti / Ningthem Pishak (1834–1844).

• Meidingngu Nara Singh (1844–1850)

He was the second cousin of Gambhir Singh and the regent. Kumidini, mother of Chandrakirti, was dissatisfied with the arrangement and fled to Cachar with her son. At the wish of the people of Meitrabak he ascended the throne in 1844 at the age of 51. He then shifted the capital from Langthabal to Kangla where he reconstructed the two statues of the Kangla Sha at Uttra made by Meidingngu Chaurajit and that the Burmese had dismantled and destroyed. Meidingngu Nara Singh died on 10 April 1850 and was succeeded by his brother Meidingngu Debendra Singh (1850).

• Meidingngu Chandrakirti (1850–86)

Chandrakirti came from Cachar, defeated Debendra and regained the throne in 1850. During his reign, all the sacred and holy places inside Kangla were developed and maintained. Kangla thus became a well-fortified palace surrounded by five layers of defences, including the inner and outer moats, brick walls, as well as an earthen rampart and citadel surrounding the palace in the centre. He died on Friday 20 May 1886.

The main entrance of theKangla Fort in Imphal.

• Meidingngu Surchandra (1886–90)

Surchandra succeeded his father to the throne in 1886 when there were revolts against him led by Sana Borachaoba and Dinachandra that proved unsuccessful. However, on 21 September 1890, Princes Zila Ngamba and Angusana with the support of Senapati Tikendrajit, revolted against Surchandra who abdicated and left Meitrabak for Brindaban (Vrindavan). His brother Kulachandra Dhaja ascended the throne in 1890 and Tikendrajit became the Yubaraj. Surchandra requested the government of India to reinstate him on the throne but the British refused his request and decided to recognized Kulachandra as king of Meitrabak and to arrest Yubaraj Tikendrajit. Chief Commissioner of Assam, James Wallace Quinton, came to Manipur to execute the order of the Government of India with a 400 strong escort under the command of Colonel Charles Mac Donald Skene, D.S.O. This event led to the The Anglo-Manipur War of 1891. On hearing the news, Meidingngu Kulachandra sent Kangabam Chidananda (Thangal General) with seven hundred Meetei sepoys to Mao Thana, a Meitrabak outpost on the border of Nagaland, then called the Naga Hills, to received the Chief Commissioner of Assam and to make arrangements for a large escort for the Chief Commissioner. On 22 March 1891, at about 10 a.m. Quinton arrived at Imphal with his escort. Meidingngu Kulachandra Dhaja and his younger brothers welcomed him at the western Gate of the Kangla Palace. Quinton informed Meidingngu Kulachandra that at noon there would be a Durbar (court) held at the Residency. Thus did Quinton attempt to apprehend Yubaraj Tikendrajit but he was not successful. Quinton then consulted The political agent Grimwood as well as Colonel Skene and decided to arrest the Yubaraj forcibly. Grimwood was then speared to death and Quinton, Colonel Skene, Mr. Cossins, Lieutenant Simpson and Bulger were subsequently beheaded by the public executioner in front of the Kangla Sha. As soon as the news of the failure of the plan to arrest Yubaraj Tikendrajit and the execution of the British officers reached the Government of India, three columns of troops were sent to Meitrabak from Kohima, Silchar and Tamu under the command of Major General Henry Collett, Col. R.H.F. Rennick and Brigadier General T. Graham respectively. The column moving in from Tamu faced the strongest resistance from Meitrabak and major hand-to-hand combat took place at Khongjom on 25 April. Maipak Sana, Wangkheirakpa, Yengkhoiba, Chongtha Miya, Paona Brajabasi, Khumbong Major, Wangkhie Meiraba, Chinglen Sana, Loitongba Jamadar, Keisam Jamadar, Heirang Khonja and number of other brave Meetei soldiers sacrificed their lives on the battlefield in defence of their motherland. Meitrabak lost its independence to the British on 27 April 1891.

• Meidingngu Churachand Singh (1891–1941)

The British government selected Meidingngu Churachand, minor son of Chaobiyaima as the king of Meitrabak. A new Kangla Palace was constructed at Wangkhei and Kangla was kept under British occupation. During British colonial rule, Kangla was known as Manipur Fort and a battalion of Assam Rifles was stationed there. Noted Manipuri writer, M. K. Binodini Devi (1922–2011) was the youngest daughter of the ruler.^[7] The British left Manipur in 1947 following Indian independence.

Meidingu Bodhchandra ascended the throne in 1941, after his father, Churachand, died at Nabadwip in November the same year. Bodhchandra's accession was to mark a new and traumatic period in the history of Manipur. Since the world political scenario had changed, it impacted directly on his administration of the country. In January 1942, he convened the first meeting of the National War Front in the palace and both he and his queen urged the people to support the war effort. In February 1942, Imphal was bombed for the first time. Many people were killed and a large percentage of the population, including most of the administrators and traders, fled from Manipur leaving the Imphal valley temporarily deserted. There was an inevitable escalation in prices, and the destruction of houses and goods. For the first time in the sub-continent, the Indian National flag was raised by Indian National Army General Malik at Moirang in the southern part of the Manipur Valley on 14 April 1944. The old world of feudalism and Brahmanism was passing while the end of colonial power resulted in democratic change in the princely state of Manipur. In January 1946, the council of princes recommended the establishment of popularly elected governments in Indian states. Within Manipur too, this movement was already under way. Hijam Irabot returned to Imphal in March 1946 and quickly reestablished contact with his former political colleagues from the Hindu nationalist Nikhil Manipuri Mahasabha, which would be the future political party in Manipur. On 12 December 1946, Meidingu Bodhchandra announced the formation of a committee that would draft the constitution for responsible government in Manipur. After a great deal of effort, the work of the constitution committee was completed by July 1947. On the eve of Indian independence, Bodhchandra issued the order promulgating the interim Manipur State Council. The brother of the Maharajah, M.K. Priyobarta was appointed as the first Chief Minister of Manipur. Thus Bodchandra declared that Manipur was now a sovereign state, linked to India only by the Act of Accession. Eventually, the Pakhangba flag was raised, first in Kangla and subsequently in the palace compound. The first election in Manipur was held in June 1948 with the participation of theCongress Party, Praja Shanti, Krishak Sabha and other alliances. The Praja Shanti were invited to form the government in coalition with Krishak Sabha. The post of Chief Minister was offered to Priyobarta who was the Chief Minister of the outgoing interim government. The democratically elected state government of Manipur was destined to endure for less than a year. On 15 October 1949, the Manipur State Assembly and council were dissolved with the handover ceremony taking place on the polo ground of Manipur. On the same day, Rawal Amar Singh became the first Indian Chief Commissioner of Manipur.