| Battle of Duimunisila | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of Turbak's invasion of Assam | |||||||
 Statue of Ahom warriors near Sivasagar town, Assam. | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 Ahom Kingdom
|
 Bengal Sultanate | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
|
Suhungmung Suklen (WIA) Senglung |
Turbak Taju † Sangul † | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
|
Large 700 ships |
1,000 cavalry Unknown infantry 36 elephants many guns and canons | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| Unknown |
2500 men 28 ships | ||||||
The Battle of Duimunsilla took place at Duimunisila, Assam in 1533, was an engagement which was the part of Turbak's invasion of Assam. The battle was fought between the forces of Bengal Sultanate led by Turbak, and Suhungmung of Ahom Kingdom. Despite the initial setbacks, the Ahom forces emerged victorious in this naval battle, inflicting many casualties on the Bengal Sultanate.
Background
In Turbak's invasion of Assam, after the initial setbacks in the at Singri, the Ahoms retreated to Sala, where they regrouped with reinforcements and appointed Senglung as the new commander-in-chief. Meanwhile, the Muslim forces advanced and set up camp at Kaliabar. Recognizing that the previous defeat was largely due to their weak naval capabilities, King Suhungmung ordered the preparation of a stronger navy. By June, the Ahoms had assembled 700 ships, and the Kachari army joined forces with them to strengthen their position.
Battle
In October, the Muslims advanced to Ghiladhari, and by November, Suklenmung had recovered from his injuries and took command of the Ahom forces at Sala. The Muslim forces launched an attack, setting fire to houses outside the fort, but were caught off guard and routed in a surprise counterattack by the Ahoms. However, in subsequent confrontations, the Muslims deployed cavalry and artillery, creating confusion among the Ahom ranks. The elephants leading the Ahom forces failed to hold the enemy, leading to significant losses and the retreat of the Ahom army.
Despite the Muslims maintaining their cautious advance in the following months, the tide of the conflict shifted in March 1533, When they were attacked again, but this time they successfully defended the fort by pouring boiling water over the enemy. Despite this, the Muslims managed to gain some ground in subsequent encounters. By March 1533, however, the Ahoms turned the tide in their favor. In a naval battle at Duimunisila, they inflicted significant losses on the Muslim forces, The Muslim commanders, Taju and Sangal, were killed, The invading forces lost 2,500 men, 20 ships, and several large cannons, marking a turning point in the war in favor of the Ahoms.
Legacy
The triumph at Duimunisila was a game-changer for the Ahoms. They reportedly started using firearms taken from the defeated Muhammadan forces, shifting away from bows and spears. Stories suggest that Muslim prisoners helped the Ahoms learn to forge cannons and make gunpowder. By the time Mir Jumla invaded Assam a century later, the Ahoms were skilled in making and using these weapons. Even the French traveler Tavernier wrote about their expertise.
See also
References
Citations
- ^ Shakespear 2012, p. 31–32.
- ^ Acharyya 1966, p. 95.
- ^ Basu 1970, p. 25.
- ^ Acharyya 1966, p. 96.
- Nath 2019, p. 20.
- Nag 2023, p. 449.
- Shakespear 2012, p. 32.
Sources
- Nath, Pratyay (2019). Climate of Conquest: War, Environment, and Empire in Mughal North India. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-949555-9.
- Shakespear, Leslie (26 April 2012). History of Upper Assam, Upper Burmah and North-Eastern Frontier. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-1-108-04607-7.
- Nag, Sajal (17 July 2023). The Mughals and the North-East: Encounter and Assimilation in Medieval India. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 978-1-000-90525-0.
- Basu, Nirmal Kumar (1970). Assam in the Ahom Age, 1228-1826: Being Politico-economic and Socio-cultural Studies. Sanskrit Pustak Bhandar.
- Acharyya, Nagendra Nath (1966). The History of Medieval Assam, from the Thirteenth to the Seventeenth Century: A Critical and Comprehensive History of Assam During the First Four Centuries of Ahom Rule, Based on Original Assamese Sources, Available Both in India and England. Dutta Baruah.