| occupation = Ruler of the [[Kangleipak Kingdom]]
| occupation = Ruler of the [[Kangleipak Kingdom]]
| religion = [[Sanamahism]]
| religion = [[Sanamahism]]
}}{{Copy edit|date=October 2025}}{{Kingdom of Manipur}}
}}
{{Kingdom of Manipur}}
”’Meidingu Thawanthaba”’ or ”’Thawan Thaba”’ (ꯊꯋꯥꯟꯊꯥꯕꯥ) was a [[Meitei people|Meitei]] ruler of the [[Ningthouja dynasty]] of [[Medieval Kangleipak]] who ruled from 1195 CE to 1131 CE.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rulers of Kangla and Ethnic Tribes of Manipur Part 1 By Naoroibam Indramani |url=https://e-pao.net/epSubPageExtractor.asp?src=manipur.History_of_Manipur.Rulers_of_Kangla_and_Ethnic_Tribes_of_Manipur_Part_1_By_Naoroibam_Indramani |access-date=2025-10-07 |website=e-pao.net}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last1=Ray |first1=Asok Kumar |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bjkBM3qyZ00C&q=Thawanthaba |title=Society, Politics, and Development in North East India: Essays in Memory of Dr. Basudeb Datta Ray |last2=Chakraborty |first2=Satyabrata |date=2008 |publisher=Concept Publishing Company |isbn=978-81-8069-572-8 |language=en}}</ref> He is the central figure in the historical [[Meitei language]] literary work, [[Thawanthaba Hiran]] (ꯊꯋꯥꯟꯊꯥꯕꯥ ꯍꯤꯔꯥꯟ), a tragedy based on a crime story.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Oinam |first1=Bhagat |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=X31aDwAAQBAJ&q=Thawanthaba%20Khuman |title=Northeast India: A Reader |last2=Sadokpam |first2=Dhiren A. |date=2018-05-11 |publisher=Taylor & Francis |isbn=978-0-429-95320-0 |language=en}}</ref> He ascended the throne during a relatively peaceful period in [[History of Manipur|Manipur’s history]] and also during a time of rivalry and occasional alliance between the [[Ningthouja|Meiteis]] ([[Ningthouja dynasty|Ningthoujas]]) and [[Khuman dynasty|Khumans]].<ref name=”:0″>{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=Ch Manihar |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yiBkAAAAMAAJ |title=A History of Manipuri Literature |date=1996 |publisher=Sahitya Akademi |isbn=978-81-260-0086-9 |pages=23, 29–36 |language=en}}</ref>
”’Meidingu Thawanthaba”’ or ”’Thawan Thaba”’ (ꯊꯋꯥꯟꯊꯥꯕꯥ) was a [[Meitei people|Meitei]] ruler of the [[Ningthouja dynasty]] of [[Medieval Kangleipak]] who ruled from 1195 CE to 1131 CE.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rulers of Kangla and Ethnic Tribes of Manipur Part 1 By Naoroibam Indramani |url=https://e-pao.net/epSubPageExtractor.asp?src=manipur.History_of_Manipur.Rulers_of_Kangla_and_Ethnic_Tribes_of_Manipur_Part_1_By_Naoroibam_Indramani |access-date=2025-10-07 |website=e-pao.net}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last1=Ray |first1=Asok Kumar |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bjkBM3qyZ00C&q=Thawanthaba |title=Society, Politics, and Development in North East India: Essays in Memory of Dr. Basudeb Datta Ray |last2=Chakraborty |first2=Satyabrata |date=2008 |publisher=Concept Publishing Company |isbn=978-81-8069-572-8 |language=en}}</ref> He is the central figure in the historical [[Meitei language]] literary work, [[Thawanthaba Hiran]] (ꯊꯋꯥꯟꯊꯥꯕꯥ ꯍꯤꯔꯥꯟ), a tragedy based on a crime story.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Oinam |first1=Bhagat |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=X31aDwAAQBAJ&q=Thawanthaba%20Khuman |title=Northeast India: A Reader |last2=Sadokpam |first2=Dhiren A. |date=2018-05-11 |publisher=Taylor & Francis |isbn=978-0-429-95320-0 |language=en}}</ref> He ascended the throne during a relatively peaceful period in [[History of Manipur|Manipur’s history]] and also during a time of rivalry and occasional alliance between the [[Ningthouja|Meiteis]] ([[Ningthouja dynasty|Ningthoujas]]) and [[Khuman dynasty|Khumans]].<ref name=”:0″>{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=Ch Manihar |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yiBkAAAAMAAJ |title=A History of Manipuri Literature |date=1996 |publisher=Sahitya Akademi |isbn=978-81-260-0086-9 |pages=23, 29–36 |language=en}}</ref>
Meitei Ningthou
Meidingu Thawanthaba or Thawan Thaba (ꯊꯋꯥꯟꯊꯥꯕꯥ) was a Meitei ruler of the Ningthouja dynasty of Medieval Kangleipak who ruled from 1195 CE to 1131 CE.[1][2] He is the central figure in the historical Meitei language literary work, Thawanthaba Hiran (ꯊꯋꯥꯟꯊꯥꯕꯥ ꯍꯤꯔꯥꯟ), a tragedy based on a crime story.[3] He ascended the throne during a relatively peaceful period in Manipur’s history and also during a time of rivalry and occasional alliance between the Meiteis (Ningthoujas) and Khumans.[4]
Matrimonial alliances
[edit]
To strengthen the relations with the Khumans, Thawanthaba decided to marry Khayoiron Tangja Samphabi, the daughter of the Khuman king Punshi Purenhanba, shortly known as Punshiba (c. 1230 CE – 1270 CE).[5] In exchange, Thawanthaba gave his own daughter, Wangamlon Chingkheithanbi in marriage to the Khuman king. Both marriages were commemorated with lavish ceremonies, lavish gift-giving, and symbolic acts of peace.[4]
Initially, the new brides became the young favourite queens of each king. However, internal palace rivalries and jealousies—especially within his large harem—would soon lead to a tragedy.[4]
According to scholar Wahengbam Ibohal, Thawanthaba was the father-in-law of King Punshi Purenhanba.[8]
War against Heirems
[edit]
Thawanthaba was asked by the Khuman King Punshi Purenhanba to support him in a battle against the Heirems. Thawanthaba agreed and went to help the Khumans with his soldiers. The Heirems (Heirems and Khunjans in other books) were completely defeated by the mixed forces of the Meiteis and Khumans.[10][8]
Unfortunate misjudgement
[edit]
During the time of a royal festival, Thawanthaba organised an archery competition and invited his younger brother, Leishapamba Tougaingamba, who was a great lover of flowers. He refused to attend as he did not have any intention of having fun after he lost his bunch of flowers. Meanwhile, Akong Langmeisu, a malicious maidservant, planted those same flowers in the bed of Queen Samphabi.[4]
That night, the king found the flowers and, suspecting her of adultery, became furious. Despite the queen’s tearful declaration of innocence, emotional appeals, and ritual oaths of royalty, the king sentenced her to death using a pointed iron weapon. This act was done in cold blood.[4]
The horrific chain of events began with Queen Samphabi’s murder. When the Khuman King Punshiba, her father, saw the weapon buried in her skull during her funeral, he vowed to exact retribution.[4]
Despite inviting Thawanthaba to accompany him on a military mission, Punshiba was secretly planning his murder. After being warned by his daughter, Thawanthaba managed to flee, but Khuman soldiers caught him in the act. After the Meiteis prevailed in that battle, they killed a Khuman noble in retaliation.[4]
In revenge, the Khuman king killed the daughter of Thawanthaba—his own wife—even though she was pregnant and innocent. As a result, the two kingdoms went on a full-scale war.[4][10]
Military campaigns and final conflict
[edit]
Thawanthaba led a string of military operations against the Khumans that were characterised by vicious clashes and well-planned ambushes. Using disguised spies, decoys, and scouts, he penetrated the Khuman territory.[4]
One Meitei warrior took the form of a lone hunter and ambushed the Khumans in a decisive attack. Even though the Khumans staged a counterattack, they were soundly crushed and many of their soldiers were murdered. At the end of the war, both sides suffered significant losses.[4]
- ^ “Rulers of Kangla and Ethnic Tribes of Manipur Part 1 By Naoroibam Indramani”. e-pao.net. Retrieved 2025-10-07.
- ^ Ray, Asok Kumar; Chakraborty, Satyabrata (2008). Society, Politics, and Development in North East India: Essays in Memory of Dr. Basudeb Datta Ray. Concept Publishing Company. ISBN 978-81-8069-572-8.
- ^ Oinam, Bhagat; Sadokpam, Dhiren A. (2018-05-11). Northeast India: A Reader. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 978-0-429-95320-0.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Singh, Ch Manihar (1996). A History of Manipuri Literature. Sahitya Akademi. pp. 23, 29–36. ISBN 978-81-260-0086-9.
- ^ Ibobi, Laikhuram (1998). Khuman Kangleiron Amasung Laikhuram Shageigee Meihouron.
- ^ a b Singh, Wahengbam Ibohal. The History Of Manipur.
- ^ a b Parratt, Saroj Nalini (2005). The Court Chronicle of the Kings of Manipur: 33-1763 CE. Routledge. pp. 34–35. ISBN 978-0-415-34430-2.
