The Ningthouja dynasty comprises the descendants of the kings of Manipur. It has 125 extended families. It was the single ruling dynasty of the erstwhile kingdom of Manipur. It was one of the longest-lasting dynasties in the world. It was founded by King Nongda Lairen Pakhangba in 33 CE. The reign of Ningthouja Dynasty continued until the abolition of the privy purse and royal entitlements by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi through a constitutional amendment in 1971.
By the beginning of the 1st millennium CE, the Ningthouja Dynasty began to emerge in Imphal River valley, overrunning the territory of the Khaba clan. They established Kangla as their seat of power. From Kangla they absorbed the surrounding clan principalities of Luwang, Moirang, Khaba-Nganba, Angom, Sarang-Leishangthem and Khuman. Since 33 CE till the rule of the last King Bodhchandra, Manipur was ruled by seventy-four kings, of whom the hallowed reign of Pakhangba, Naothingkhong, Loiyumba, Kiyamba, Khagemba, Charairongba, Pamheiba, Maharaja Jai Singh, Maharaja Gambhir Singh, Maharaja Nara Singh, Chandrakirti and Churchand are outstanding.
Since 19th century the ruling family was divided into several royal houses. They are:
- The House of Nara Singh ( descendants of Maharaja Nara Singh (r. 1844-1850 CE) and Maharaja Devendra Singh (r.1850)) .
- The House of Karta ( descendants of Maharaja Bhagyachandra (r.1762-1799 CE)
- Mantrimayum ( descendants of Prince Ananta Sai)
- Laorungpurenmayum
- Urungpurenmayum
- Senapatimayum
The royal titles of Meitei princes are:-
- Wangam for male members of the Ningthouja Dynasty.
- Meidingu for king.
- Ningthem for king.
- Wangol Ningthou for crown prince.
- Ningthemcha, Ibungshija, Ibungo, Ningthoumacha for princes.
- Sanawapihal or Sanahal for the eldest son of the reigning king.
The royal titles for Meitei princesses are:-
- Wangamlon for the daughters of the Ningthouja Dynasty.
- Meetei Leima for head queen.
- Apambi Ahal for second queen
- Leimakhubi Ahal for third queen
- Apambi Naha for fourth queen.
- Shija and Ebemma for the princesses and wives of the princes.
- Tampha Wangamlon or Tamphasana for the eldest daughter of the reigning king.
Since the adoption of Hinduism in the 18th century the royal family of Manipur styled Hindu titles:
- Maharaja, Shrijut, Manipureswar, Mekleswar for king.
- Yuvaraj for crown prince.
- Rajkumar for princes.
- Rajkumari for princesses.
During the reigns of Maharaja Churchand Singh ( 1891–1941) and Maharaja Bodhchandra Singh ( 1941–1955) their sons and daughters were given the high-sounding titles such as Maharaj Kumar and Maharaj Kumari. On the inherent title and privilege of the princes Major Maxwell, the then British Political Agent in Manipur and the regent of the young Raja Churchand Singh writes: “Rajkumars , or as they are called in Manipur Ninthou Machas, a Rajas , are very numerous; if, for instance, a Raja had eight sons and these sons were equally well blessed with male issue, the whole 64 grandsons would be Ningthou Machas, and their sons again, and so on.”.” Rajkumars were a troublesome people, Major Maxwell observed and he gave them little encouragement.
The members of the Royal Family of Manipur since 1709 CE include:
Emperor Pamheiba (r. 1709-1748 CE), popularly known as Garibniwaz, Mayangamba, Gopal SinghKing Ajit Sai (r. 1748-1752), son of GaribniwazKing Bharat Sai (r. 1752-1753), son of GaribniwazPrince Shyam Sai, the Khurai Lakpa, son of GaribniwazPrince Ngaobram Bir Sai, the Senapati, also known as Theer Sai, son of GaribniwazPrince Ananta SaiKing Maramba, also known as Gourshyam (r. 1753-1759, 1762-1763 CE), son of Shyam SaiPrincess Kuranganayani, later the Queen of Assam.Princess Sheitamala, later the Queen of BurmaPrincess Haripriya, later the Queen of CacharKing Badra Singh (r. 1825), also known as Meetingu Nongpok Wairang Pamheiba, Maharaja Khaba, son of Ngaobram Bir SaiKing Yadu Singh (r. 1823), son of Badra SinghKing Ragav Singh (r. 1823-1834), Son of Yadu SinghKing Nara Singh ( r.1844-1850) also known as Chingthanglen Pamheiba, Meetingu Lairen Nongdren Sendreng Manik Khomba, son of King Badra Singh.Crown Prince Bubonsana, also known as BogendraPrince Barachaoba, the Yaiskullakpa (He rose in rebellion against Maharaja Surchandra. He was captured and exiled to Hazaribad)Prince Angou, the Senapati (He rose in rebellion against Maharaja Chandrakirti in 1851. He was defeated and fled to Cachar)Prince Haojao, the KhurailakpaPrince Puskar Sana, the Mantri (after the Anglo-British War he was recommended as the new king of Manipur under the British rule. He declined it and recommended his elder brother's youngest grandon son Churchand as the king of Manipur.)Prince Udendra also known as Sana Uriba, son of King Nara SinghPrince Megazing, son of King Nara SinghPrince ThebaPrince Bekendra, the Sangol Senba HanjabaPrince Keipha Sana or Keifa Singh, son of King Nara Singh (Keifa Singh introduced the modern polo game to the British in his exile to Hazaribad in 1862).Princess KonusanaPrincess ChaobitonPrincess Sana PukhrambiPrincess YumsangbiPrincess Thokchom OngbiPrincess Nongthonbi SanaPrincess Chaonu SanaKing Devendra Sing (r. 1850), also known as Maharaj Dhaka TabaPrincess Dhaka Rani, later the Queen of TripuraPrince Thangkok Sana, son of King Devendra (he was exiled for taking part in the uprising of 1904. He later became a Member of Darbar)Prince Dumbra Singh, also known as Chaobiyaima, son of BogendraDumbra Singh, son of Chaobiyaima and elder brother of King Churchand ( He was given the title of "Raja" by the British Govt. for his service to the state)Maharaja Sir Chura Chand Singh (r. 1891-1941) ( He died at Nabadwip, West Bengal), son of ChaobiyaimaPrince Priya Brata Singh, the first and last Chief Minister of independent Manipur.Princess TamphasanaPrincess TombisanaPrince Jai SinghPrince KhedasanaPrince MaipaksanaPrincess SanatombiPrincess Binodini, popularly known as M. K. Binodini Devi She was a novelist, short stories writer, film maker and social activist.Maharaja Bodh Chandra (r. 1941-1955)Princess TamphasanaMaharaja Okendra SinghMaharaja Bhayachandra, popularly known as Chingthang Khomba (r. 1759-1762, 1763-1798), son of Shyam SaiKing Labyanachandra (r. 1798-1801), son of BhayachandraKing Madhuchandra (r. 1801-1803), son of BhayachandraKing Chourjit (r. 1830-1813) (He died at Nabadwip, West Bengal), son of BhayachandraPrince Sana Chahi Ahum (popularly known as Rajkumar Norendra Singh, son of Maharaja Chourjit. He raised banner of rebellion against the British in North East India in 1857).King Marjit (r. 1813-1819), son of BhayachandraPrince Herachandra, popularly known as Daku Ningthou ( He was the first leader who mobilized the Meiteis against the Burmese occupation forces in 1819-1821)King YumjaotabaKing Gambhir Singh (He, accompanied by his second cousin Nara Singh drive out the Burmese occupation forces beyond Chinwin River in 1825. By the Treaty of Yandaboo he was declared as the independent ruler of Manipur, 1826-1834), son of BhayachandraPrincess Tamphasana ( Chingakham Ongbi) (today's Moirangkhom market was the dowry of the princess)King Chandra Kirti (r. 1834-1844, 1850-1886), son of Gambhir SinghPrincess Phandengsana ( she was a daughter of King Chandra Kirti. She lived at Thangmeiband and later at Nabadwip, Nadia, West Bengal)King Surchandra (r. 1886-1890) (He died in Calcutta), son of Chandra KirtiPrince Lukhoisana, the son of King Surchandra. (He died young after the Anglo Manipur War).Rajkumari Sanatombi, daughter of King Surchandra (She became the second wife of Major Maxwell, British political Agent in Manipur and the Regent to the young Raja Churchand. she was popularly known as Bor Sahib ongbi Sanatombi )King Kulachadra (r. 1890-1891) (He was exiled to Andaman Island and later settled down until his death at Radhakunda, U.P, India), son of Chandra KirtiCrown-Prince Tikendrajit, also known as Koireng the Senapati (He was hanged to death by the British in 1891 for waging war against the queen of England)Prince Paka Sana, the Sagol Hanjaba, also known as Bheirajit SinghPrince Thambou Sana, the Samu Hanjaba, also known as Kishorjit SinghPrince Gopal Sana, the Phunganai HanjabaPrince Zilla NgambaPrince Angou SanaBooks on the kings and rulers of Manipur
L.Ibungohal Singh and N. Khelchandra, Cheitharol Kumbaba ( Imphal: Manipur sahitya Parisad)Saroj Nalini Arambam Parratt, The Court Chronicle of the kings of Manipur ( London, 2005).Raj Kumar Somorjit Sana, The Chronology of Meetei Monarchs ( From 1666 CE to 1850 CE) ( Imphal: W. Ananda Meetei, 2010)L.Joychandra, The Lost Kingdom ( Imphal, 2005)Coronation of the Maharaja of Manipur ( dated 1944, 7 min, 35 mm)The Maharajah dancer ( dated 1945 )
