List of kings of the Ningthouja dynasty

This is a list of Meitei kings of the Ningthouja dynasty (alias Meitei dynasty), who ruled from 33 AD and later reigned over the Kingdom of Manipur after its establishment in 1110 AD as they are recorded in the Royal Chronicle of Manipur (Cheitharol Kumbaba).^[1] The Chronicle was reconstructed during the 18th century, with unknown provenance of the earlier sections and, according to scholars, its historicity is assured only for the portions after 1485.^[2]

The Ningthouja dynasty was founded by King Nongda Lairen Pakhangba in 33 AD, who assumed the title Meidingu for the later kings belonging to the dynasty, after defeating the once powerful Khabas.^[3][4] Before he took the throne, the salais or clans were already in existence and they each had their own kings and territories.^[5] Nongda Lairen Pakhangba initiated the process of unification of the warring ethnic groups and principalities groups, which led to the formation of Manipur realm, under the political supremacy of the Ningthouja dynasty in the first century AD.^[6][7]

The Kingdom of Kangleipak with written constitution was established in 1110 AD by King Loiyumba of the Ningthouja dynasty, who incorporated most neighboring principalities, with the Ningthouja dynasty as ruling house of the kingdom.^{[8][9][10][11]} The Kangleipak kings expanded their territory, reaching their zenith under king Khagemba (1597–1652 AD). In 1714, a king named Pamheiba adopted Hinduism. He adopted the name Gharib Nawaz, and in 1724 renamed the kingdom as "Manipur" (Sanskrit for "abode of jewels"). Manipur was conquered by Burma in 1819 AD, and became a Princely State within the British Raj in 1825 AD till 1947 AD.^[12]

On 11 August 1947 AD, Maharajah of Manipur Bodhchandra Singh signed the Instrument of Accession^[13] joining the Union of India while retaining internal autonomy. In October 1949, he further signed a merger agreement with India allegedly under coercion.^[14] Manipur then became a part C state of the Republic of India governed by the Constitution of India.^[15]