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Shah dynasty

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This article is about the Nepali dynasty. For other dynasties which used the title "Shah", see Shah.
Shah dynasty
शाह वंश

House of Shah
Royal House of Gorkha
Royal House
Parent houseThakuri dynasty[1]
Country
FoundedSeptember 1559; 466 years ago (1559-09)[1]
FounderKulamandan Khand Shah
Current headGyanendra Bir Bikram Shah
Final rulerGyanendra Bir Bikram Shah
Titles
Style(s)Shree Paanch Badā Mahārājadhirāja
Motto
Bidya Mai Chha Maha Shakti; Karma Mai Chha Supujan

(Great power lies in knowledge; Better worship lies in action)
EstateKingdom of Nepal
Deposition28 May 2008[2]
Cadet branchesChautariya family

The Shah dynasty (Nepali: शाह वंश), also known as the Shahs of Gorkha or the Royal House of Gorkha, was the ruling Chaubise Thakuri dynasty[1] and the founder of the Gorkha Kingdom from 1559 to 1768 and later the unified Kingdom of Nepal from 1768 to 28 May 2008.[3]

The Shah dynasty traces its historical ancestor to King of Kaski, Kulamandan Shah Khand, whose grandson Dravya Shah captured the throne of Ligligkot from Magars King Dalsur Ghale Magar[4] with the help of accomplices from six resident clans of Majhkot and Ligligkot. Dravya Shah named his new kingdom Gorkha.[5]

The origins of Shah dynasty is deeply rooted in the historical landscape of Magarat and Tamuwan, an ancient confederation in western Nepal inhabited primarily by the Magars in the Western and Central hills (Palpa, Tanahu, Gulmi, Arghakhanchi, Syangja, Myagdi, Parbat, Baglung, Pyuthan, Rukum, Rolpa, Kushma, Musikot, Ghiring, Rising, Liglig, and Gorkhakot—Gorkha), which were historically part of the Magarat region as it was known as the Magar homeland before the unification of Nepal, and Gurung in the Central hills (Lamjung, Gorkha, Kaski, Tanahu).[6] Before the Shah came to power, 12 Magarat—located in the Western and Central hills—was ruled by various Magar kings, including the powerful Magar kings of Palpa.[7][8] Meanwhile, 18 Magarat, located west of the Kali Gandaki river and primarily inhabited by the Kham Magar, was governed by Magar rulers,[9][10] alongside Malla-Khas influence in some areas, and Tamuwan was ruled by Native Gurung tribal chief. After the decline of Magarat's unity, the region fragmented into two groups of small kingdoms: the Baise Rajya (22 principalities) in the far west and the Chaubisi Rajya (24 principalities) in central Nepal. These kingdoms were mostly ruled by local Thakuri and Magar chieftains. Among the Chaubisi Rajya states was Gorkha, where the Shah dynasty rose to power by replacing local chief. In 1559 CE, Dravya Shah, the son of a Lamjung ruler, seized control of Gorkha by defeating the Magar king Mansingh Khadka Magar with the support of local elites.[11] The Shah dynasty combined their Khas-Thakuri heritage with the martial traditions of Magarat, gradually expanding their influence by conquering neighboring principalities. This process of unification culminated in 1768 CE under Prithvi Narayan Shah, who established the modern Kingdom of Nepal, marking the Shah dynasty as both inheritors and transformants of Magarat's legacy.[12]

Coronation of Dravya Shah

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Dravya Shah was the youngest son of Yasho Brahma Shah, Raja (king) of Lamjung and grandson of Kulamandan Shah Khad, Raja of Kaski.[13] He became the king of Gorkha with the help of his accomplices: Gangaram Rana Magar, Narayan Das Arjyal, Kaji Ganesh Pandey. He ascended the throne of Gorkha in 1559 A.D.[14] The loose translation of the Nepali work known as the "Wright Chronicle"[15] describes the coronation of Dravya Shah thus:

On Wednesday the 8th of Bhadon Badi, Saka 1481 (A.D. 1559) Rohini Nakshatra (i.e. the moon in the Rohini mansion) being an auspicious day, Drabya Shah aided by Bhagirath Panth, Ganesa Pande, Gangaram Rana Magar, Narayan Das Arjyal, Khanal Bohra and Murli Khawas of Gorkha, concealed himself in a hut. Ganesa Pande had collected all the people of who wore the brahmanical thread such as the Thapas, Busals, Ranas and Maski Ranas of the Magar tribe, they went by the Dahya Gauda route and the Durbar. Drabya Shah killed the King Mansingh Khadka Magar[note 1] his own hand, with a sword, during the battle ensued. At the same auspicious moment Drabya took his seat on the gaddi, amidst the clash music.

— History of Nepal[13]

Absolute monarchy (1768–1846)

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King Prithvi Narayan Shah, the last king of Gorkha Kingdom (1743–1768) and the first Shah king of Nepal (1768–1775)

In 1743, Prithvi Narayan Shah became the ruler of Gorkha. He declared war on other principalities, defeating them one by one.[16] On 25 September 1768, he established the unified kingdom of Gorkha, entering Kathmandu and finally capturing Bhaktapur in November of the same year.[16] He became the first king of the unified kingdom named as Asal Hindustan. He, his sons and their successors continued fighting and defeating other kingdoms and enlarging the kingdom of Gorkha. In 1814, the Anglo–Nepalese War between Gorkha and the East India Company began.[17] By 1815, the Shah king had been thoroughly defeated. By 1816, Gorkha had lost approximately one-third of its territory under the Treaty of Sugauli, signed on 4 March 1816.[18][19] The Shah kings continued to rule as absolute monarchs until 1846, when the political order changed from absolute monarchy to constitutional monarchy.

Hereditary prime ministers (1846–1951)

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In 1846, the Rana dynasty gained power in Nepal through the Kot massacre on 14 September 1846, when Jung Bahadur Rana seized control and established the hereditary rule of the Ranas as prime ministers.[20][21] The Ranas reduced the King's status to a figurehead position, ruling Nepal as hereditary prime ministers for 104 years.[20] In 1950, the Shah king King Tribhuvan went into exile in India. On 6 November 1950, he took refuge at the Indian embassy in Kathmandu, and subsequently flew to New Delhi with Indian support.[22][23] He and his family, including the crown prince Mahendra, later returned. After India became a secular state in 1950, and the remaining rajas retired, Nepal was the only remaining Hindu kingdom. On 18 February 1951, King Tribhuvan returned to Nepal as head of state, ending the 104-year Rana regime.[24] King Tribhuvan ruled until 1955 and King Mahendra ruled until 1972. Mahendra's son, Birendra, became king.[21]

Constitutional monarchy (1990–2008)

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King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah; the first constitutional monarch of Nepal

In 1990, under King Birendra, Nepal became a constitutional monarchy after a mass movement from people forced Birendra Shah to restore democracy.[25][26] The 1990 People's Movement (Jana Andolan) compelled King Birendra to lift the ban on political parties and introduce a parliamentary monarchy.[12]

Massacre of the royal family

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On 1 June 2001, some members of the Shah dynasty were murdered in the royal palace. A high-level inquiry report concluded that the royal family was slaughtered by Crown Prince Dipendra, who opened fire during a family dinner at Narayanhiti Palace.[27] This remains controversial.[28] Among the dead were the Crown Prince's father, King Birendra and his brother, Prince Nirajan. After the attack, Dipendra was in a coma and was declared king for a short time. He died a few days later. Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev, Dipendra's uncle, took the throne.[29] In February 2005, he dismissed the parliament in order to govern in his own right.[30]

Abolition of the Shah monarchy

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King Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah; The Last Monarch of Nepal. After a decade of Civil War, monarchy was abolished. (2001-2008)

On 24 December 2007, Nepal's Provisional Parliament met. It was decided that the monarchy would be abolished in 2008 after the Constituent Assembly elections.[31] The motion enjoyed overwhelming support in the chamber, passing by a 270-vote majority. Of the 329 sitting members of parliament, only three voted against abolishing the monarchy.[32] It was decided that for the time being, Gyanendra would retain his title and continue residing in the Royal Palace, albeit stripped of all political power and authority.[32]

On 28 May 2008, following scheduled elections, the 1st Nepalese Constituent Assembly declared Nepal a Federal Democratic Republic and the monarchy was abolished, removing the Shah dynasty from power.[2] Kul Bahadur Gurung said of the 601 member assembly, 560 voted in favour, 4 were against and 37 were absent or abstained.[2][33] Following an Assembly agreement involving the Nepali Congress and both Nepalese Communist parties (the Leninists and the much larger Maoist faction), Gyanendra stepped down.[2]

Gyanendra vacated the palace in Kathmandu which later became a museum. The Constituent Assembly gave him 15 days to leave the Narayanhiti Royal Palace, which he did on 11 June 2008.[34][35] The palace was subsequently reopened as a national museum. Until they could find permanent accommodation, the royal couple were offered residence as commoners at the Nagarjuna Palace, a former royal summer residence located about eight kilometres (five miles) northwest of Kathmandu.[36]

Post-Abolition Loyalism

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The dynasty was conclusively deposed in 2008 due to the Nepalese royal massacre and the subsequent Nepalese Civil War. However, there are still loyalists to the dynasty, as evidenced by the Rastriya Prajatantra Party, the 2023 Nepalese pro-monarchy protests and 2025 Nepalese pro-monarchy protests.[37][38] During the 2025 Nepalese Gen Z protests, a group of protesters also expressed loyalty to the abolished monarchy and rallied in support of its restoration, despite the fact that the majority of protesters do not want a monarchy.[39][40]

Monarchs of Shah dynasty (1559–2008)

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Ancestral rulers of Kaski and Lamjung (pre‑1559)

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Before the establishment of Gorkha, the Shah family ruled the hill principalities of Kaski and Lamjung.[41]

Name Reign Notes Ref.
Kulamandan Shah Khad c. mid‑15th century Founder of the Shah dynasty; conquered Kaski and received the title "Shah". [41][42]
Yasho Brahma Shah c. late 15th – early 16th century Youngest son of Kulamandan Shah; King of Lamjung and Kaski; father of Dravya Shah. [41][43]

Monarchs of Shah dynasty of Gorkha (1559–1768)

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The following is a complete list of all ten kings of the Gorkha hill principality.[44]

NameLifespanReign startReign endNotesFamilyImage
Dravya Shahdied 157015591570Youngest son of Yasho Brahma Shah.Shah
Purna Shah / Purendra Shahdied 160515701605Son of Dravya Shah.Shah
Chatra Shah / Chhatra Shahdied 1606 (heirless)16051606First son of Purna Shah.Shah
Ram Shah
  • Ram Shah The Just
died 163616061633 (abdicated)Second son of Purna Shah.ShahRam Shah of Gorkha
Dambar Shahdied 164516331645Son of Ram Shah.Shah
Krishna Shahdied 166116451661Son of Dambar Shah.Shah
Rudra Shahdied 167316611673Son of Krishna Shah.Shah
Prithvipati Shahdied 171616731716Son of Rudra Shah.Shah
Nara Bhupal Shah1697 – 3 April 174317161743Grandson of Prithvipati Shah; son of Crown Prince Birbhadra Shah.Shah
Prithvi Narayan Shah(1723-01-07)7 January 1723 – 11 January 1775(1775-01-11) (aged 52)174325 September 1768Son of Nara Bhupal Shah.ShahPrithvi Narayan Shah of Gorkha

Monarchs of Shah dynasty of Patan (1761–1765)

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During the unification campaign, a branch of the Shah dynasty briefly ruled the Malla kingdom of Patan (Lalitpur).[42]

NameLifespanReign startReign endNotesFamilyImage
Dal Mardan Shah?—?17611765Younger son of Nara Bhupal Shah.Shah

Monarchs of Shah dynasty of Nepal (1768–2008)

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The unified Kingdom of Nepal was proclaimed on 25 September 1768. The following lists all sovereign monarchs from that date until the abolition of the monarchy on 28 May 2008.[16][2]

NameLifespanReign startReign endNotesFamilyImage
Prithvi Narayan Shah(1723-01-07)7 January 1723 – 11 January 1775(1775-01-11) (aged 52)25 September 176811 January 1775Son of Nara Bhupal Shah.ShahPrithvi Narayan Shah of Nepal
Pratap Singh Shah(1751-04-16)16 April 1751 – 17 November 1777(1777-11-17) (aged 26)11 January 177517 November 1777Eldest son of Prithvi Narayan Shah.ShahPratap Singh Shah of Nepal
Rana Bahadur Shah(1775-05-25)25 May 1775 – 25 April 1806(1806-04-25) (aged 30)17 November 17778 March 1799
(abdicated)		Son of Pratap Singh Shah.ShahRana Bahadur Shah of Nepal
Girvan Yuddha Bikram Shah(1797-10-19)19 October 1797 – 20 November 1816(1816-11-20) (aged 19)8 March 179920 November 1816Son of Rana Bahadur Shah.ShahGirvan Yuddha Bikram Shah of Nepal
Rajendra Bikram Shah(1813-12-03)3 December 1813 – 10 July 1881(1881-07-10) (aged 67)20 November 181612 May 1847
(abdicated)		Son of Girvan Yuddha Bikram Shah.ShahRajendra Bikram Shah of Nepal
Surendra Bikram Shah(1829-10-20)20 October 1829 – 17 May 1881(1881-05-17) (aged 51)12 May 184717 May 1881Son of Rajendra Bikram Shah.ShahSurendra Bikram Shah of Nepal
Prithvi Bir Bikram Shah(1875-08-18)18 August 1875 – 11 December 1911(1911-12-11) (aged 36)17 May 188111 December 1911Grandson of Surendra Bikram Shah; son of Crown Prince Trailokya Bir Bikram Shah.ShahPrithvi Bir Bikram Shah of Nepal
Tribhuvan Bir Bikram Shah
(1st reign)		(1900-06-30)30 June 1900 – 13 March 1955(1955-03-13) (aged 54)11 December 19117 November 1950
(went into exile)		Son of Prithvi Bir Bikram Shah.ShahTribhuvan Bir Bikram Shah of Nepal
Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah
(1st reign)		 (1947-07-07) 7 July 1947 (age 78)7 November 19507 January 1951
(stepped down)		Grandson of Tribhuvan.Shah
Tribhuvan Bir Bikram Shah
(2nd reign)		(1900-06-30)30 June 1900 – 13 March 1955(1955-03-13) (aged 54)7 January 195113 March 1955Son of Prithvi Bir Bikram Shah.ShahTribhuvan Bir Bikram Shah of Nepal
Mahendra Bir Bikram Shah(1920-06-11)11 June 1920 – 31 January 1972(1972-01-31) (aged 51)14 March 195531 January 1972Son of Tribhuvan.ShahMahendra Bir Bikram Shah of Nepal
Birendra Bir Bikram Shah(1945-12-28)28 December 1945 – 1 June 2001(2001-06-01) (aged 55)31 January 19721 June 2001
(assassinated)		Son of Mahendra.ShahBirendra Bir Bikram Shah of Nepal
Dipendra Bir Bikram Shah(1971-06-27)27 June 1971 – 4 June 2001(2001-06-04) (aged 29)1 June 20014 June 2001
(declared brain‑dead)		Son of Birendra.ShahDipendra Bir Bikram Shah of Nepal
Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah
(2nd reign)		 (1947-07-07) 7 July 1947 (age 78)4 June 200128 May 2008
(monarchy abolished)		Son of Mahendra and younger brother of Birendra.ShahGyanendra Bir Bikram Shah of Nepal

Timeline

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Paternal roots of Shah dynasty

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Family tree of the all Shah kings of Nepal (not of previous Gorkha Kingdom) except Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah, brother of King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah:[12]

Prithvi Narayan ShahNarendra Rajya Lakshmi Devi
(Rajput)[45][46]
Pratap Singh ShahRajendra Rajya Lakshmi Devi
(Thakuri)
Rana Bahadur ShahKantavati Devi
(Maithil Brahmin)
Girvan Yuddha Bikram ShahGorakshya Rajya Lakshmi Devi
(unknown)
Rajendra Bikram ShahSamrajya Lakshmi Devi
(Rajput)
Surendra Bikram ShahTrailokya Rajya Lakshmi Devi
(Thakuri)
Trailokya, Crown Prince of Nepal (died as prince)Lalit Rajeshwari Rajya Lakshmi Devi
(Chhetri)
Prithvi Bir Bikram ShahDivyeshwari Rajya Lakshmi Devi
(Rajput)
Tribhuvan Bir Bikram ShahKanti Rajya Lakshmi Devi
(Rajput)
Mahendra Bir Bikram ShahIndra Rajya Lakshmi Devi
(Chhetri)
Birendra Bir Bikram ShahAishwarya Rajya Lakshmi Devi
(Chhetri)
Dipendra Bir Bikram Shah

See also

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References

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Footnotes

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  1. ^ Mansingh Khadka Magar was the Magar king of Majhakot and Uppalokot in Gorkha until 1559.

Notes

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  1. ^ a b c Karl J. Schmidt (20 May 2015). An Atlas and Survey of South Asian History. Routledge. pp. 138–. ISBN 978-1-317-47681-8.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Nepal abolishes monarchy, declares republic". ABC News. 29 May 2008. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  3. ^ Whelpton, John (2005). A History of Nepal. Cambridge University Press. pp. 35–42. ISBN 9780521804707.
  4. ^ "King Dalsur Ghale Magar of LigligKot - The Tradition of selecting the Magar King". The Himalayan Times. Retrieved 17 October 2025.
  5. ^ Wright, Daniel (1877). History of Nepal. Cambridge University Press. p. 278.
  6. ^ "Magars". Wikipedia. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  7. ^ Vansittart 1915, pp. 15–24, 81–82.
  8. ^ Lecomte-Tilouine 2009, pp. 92–93, 101–103.
  9. ^ Lecomte-Tilouine 2009.
  10. ^ Vaidya, Tulasi Rama (1993). Social History of Nepal. Anmol Publications. pp. 122–125. ISBN 978-8170417996.
  11. ^ "Gorkha Kingdom". Wikipedia. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  12. ^ a b c Whelpton, John (2005). A History of Nepal. Cambridge University Press. pp. 35–54. ISBN 9780521804707.
  13. ^ a b Wright 1877, p. 278. sfn error: multiple targets (3×): CITEREFWright1877 (help)
  14. ^ "CoAS Thapa unveils statute of 16th-century monarch Yasho Brahma Shah". The Himalayan Times. 14 October 2018. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  15. ^ On the historicity and publication history of the "Wright Chronicle," see pp. 86–92 of Manik Bajracharya and Axel Michaels, "On the Historiography of Nepal: The 'Wright' Chronicle Reconsidered," European Bulletin of Himalayan Research 40: 83–98 (2012). [1] Archived 12 November 2023 at the Wayback Machine
  16. ^ a b c "Unification and sanskritisation, 1743 – 1885". A History of Nepal. Cambridge University Press. 2016. doi:10.1017/CBO9781107050860.
  17. ^ "Anglo-Nepalese War". Wikipedia. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  18. ^ "Must-read books on Nepal: The Story of Silent Years". Spotlight Nepal. 3 April 2012. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  19. ^ "Treaty of Sugauli". Wikipedia. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  20. ^ a b "Background - Key dates in Nepal's monarchy". ReliefWeb. 29 May 2008. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  21. ^ a b "Milestones in political history of Nepal". Reuters. 28 May 2008. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  22. ^ "LEFT-OUT LAD WHO COULD BE KING AGAIN". The Telegraph India. 2 June 2001. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  23. ^ "The desert in the mountains". The Indian Express. 27 April 2005. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  24. ^ "National Democracy Day 2022: Falgun 7 And Its Importance In Ushering The Era Of Openness And Democracy In Nepal". Spotlight Nepal. 19 February 2022. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  25. ^ "Nepal king bows to protests: From the archive: April 9, 1990". TheGuardian.com. 9 April 2015.
  26. ^ Brown, T. Louise (1996). The Challenge to Democracy in Nepal: A Political History. Routledge. ISBN 9780203419649.
  27. ^ "It was Dipendra". Nepali Times. 15 June 2001. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  28. ^ "Nepal royal massacre: 'Eyewitness' claims Dipendra innocent". timesofindia. Retrieved 23 July 2008.
  29. ^ "Background Note: Nepal". U.S. Department of State. 20 January 2009. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  30. ^ "King of Nepal seizes power". The Guardian. 2 February 2005. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  31. ^ "Nepalese monarchy to be abolished." BBC 24 December 2007 Accessed 25 December 2007.
  32. ^ a b Sharma, Gopal (28 December 2007). "Nepal parliament votes to end monarchy". Reuters. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
  33. ^ "Secular Republic of Nepal is born". The Indian Express. 29 May 2008. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  34. ^ "Narayanhiti Palace Museum". Lonely Planet. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  35. ^ "Nepalese king leaves royal palace". The Irish Times. 11 June 2008. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  36. ^ "Nepal's deposed king begins civilian life". Otago Daily Times. 12 June 2008. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  37. ^ "2023 Nepalese pro-monarchy protest". Wikipedia. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  38. ^ "2025 Nepalese pro-monarchy protests". Wikipedia. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  39. ^ Shamim, Sarah. "Who's leading Nepal after Oli resignation, what's next for Gen Z protests?". Al Jazeera.
  40. ^ "Will Nepal's anarchy lead to the return of monarchy?". India Today.
  41. ^ a b c Schmidt, Karl J. (2015). An Atlas and Survey of South Asian History. Routledge. p. 138. ISBN 978-1-317-47681-8.
  42. ^ a b Regmi, D. R. (1971). Modern Nepal. Calcutta: Firma K. L. Mukhopadhyay. pp. 28–35.
  43. ^ Stiller, Ludwig F. (1973). The Rise of the House of Gorkha. Kathmandu: Biblio Verlag. pp. 12–18.
  44. ^ Wright, Daniel (1877). History of Nepal. Cambridge University Press. pp. 278–285.
  45. ^ Chaudhari, K.C (1960). Anglo-Nepalese Relation. Calcutta: Modern Book Agency Private Ltd.
  46. ^ राणा, प्रमोदशमशेर (2009). राणाशासनको वृत्तान्त. Kathmandu: Pairavi Book House. p. 3. ISBN 978-11146-30-72-7.

Books

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[edit]
  • Royal Court of Nepal – Nepalese government website (archived)
  • Gregson J. "Massacre at the palace; the doomed royal dynasty of Nepal." 2002.
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