The Kingdom of Kangleipak with written constitution was established in 1110 CE by Loiyumba, ruler of Kangleipak State who incorporated most neighboring principalities.[2] The Kangleipak kings expanded their territory, reaching their zenith under king Khagemba (1597–1652 CE). 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 CE, and became a Princely State within the British Raj in 1825 CE till 1947 CE.[3]
On 11 August 1947 CE, Maharajah of Manipur Bodhchandra Singh signed the Instrument of Accession[4] agreeing to accede defense, communication and external affairs to Union of India on the assurance of autonomy of Manipur and further signed a merger agreement in October 1949 which is disputed to be an agreement made under duress.[5] It then became a part C state of the Republic of India in 1949 which is further upgraded to union territory in 1956 and a full fledged state in 1972.[6]
Ancient Rulers
A number of legendary kings are mentioned in the "Royal Chronicle", written in the 19th century.[7]
Note:–mentoined time period of rulers in epoch of the Meitei calendar
^"The manuscripts collected by W. Yumjao Singh consist of literary, historical, astronomical, astrological and miscellaneous other works of which mention may be made of Cheitharon Kumbaba, the Ningthourol Shingkak, the Poireiton Khunthokpa, Dharani Samhita, Srimat Bhagabat. "The Cheitharol Kumbaba or the royal chronicle has been the most valuable for historical investigations, as it professes to record all the important daily transactions and occurrences of the State... By orders of Jai Singh this book was rewritten as the former copy was no more available then". "The Nigthourol Shingkak is a work written in the way of prediction. It professes to predict all important events that would happen from the time of Khagemba downward. It, therefore, professes to be a work of the early 17th century. It is an anonymous work, and in this book, we see for the first time Gharib Niwaz's having had some Naga connection in his childhood." Jyotirmoy Roy, History Of Manipur, 1958, p. 8.
^KSHETRIMAYUM, JOGENDRO (2009). "Shooting the Sun: A Study of Death and Protest in Manipur". Economic and Political Weekly. 44 (40): 48–54. ISSN0012-9976. JSTOR25663656. Loiyamba Shinyen (ls), considered the first writ ten constitution of Manipur (Kabui 1988; Naorem 1988). Dated to 1110 ad, it was written during the reign of Loiyamba or Loiyumba
^'Royal' gamble by RSS pays off in Imphal valley, Times of India, 14 March 2014 ("The RSS's move to involve the titular 'king' of Manipur, Meidingu Leishemba Sanajaoba, in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's poll campaign").
