Profile:Born: 11 January 1723[2]
Gorkha , Nepal
Died: 11 January 1775 (aged 52)
Devighat, Nepal
Reign: 25 September 1743 – 11January 1775
Coronation: 25 September 1743[1]
Predecessor: Nara Bhupal Shah
Successor: Pratap Singh Shah
Spouse: Indra Kumari Devi
Narendra Rajya Laxmi Devi
Icchavati DeviDayavati Devi
Dynasty: Shah dynasty
Father: Nara Bhupal Shah
Mother: Kaushalyawati Shah
Religion: Hinduism
Nepal as a political region has been united by different kings of different kingdoms at various times in Nepalese history but it was Prithvi Narayan Shah who completed the campaign and produced an unified NEPAL.
Prithvi Narayan Shah (Jan11/1723-Jan11/1775) was the first King of unified Nepal. He is credited with starting the campaign for a unified Nepal which had been divided and weakened under the Malla confederacy. He was the ninth generation descendant of Dravya Shah (1559–1570), the founder of the ruling house of Gorkha . Prithvi Narayan Shah succeeded his father, King Nara Bhupal Shah, to the throne of the Gorkha Kingdom in 1743.
Prithvi Narayan Shah was born as a prince in Gorkha, Nepal. Chandra Pravawati (the first wife of King Nara Bhupal Shah) raised him, although his biological mother was Kaushalyawati Shah. From a young age, he took interest in the affairs of his father's state and soon began to take on these responsibilities. Prithivi Narayan Shah had an early dream of conquering Nuwakot, Nepal, partially as his father had lost it in an earlier war. After the death of his father in 1743, Prithivi Narayan Shah ascended to the throne of Gorkha at the age of 20. As king, Prithvi Narayan Shah valued his people and enjoyed talking to his subjects about their general concerns. This practice helped him to build a rapport with his people, and helped him to understand the requirements of the citizens of Gorkha. Prithvi Narayan Shah sealed his borders and had maintained a peaceful environment except for distant relations with the British, who were refusing to trade with Nepal at that time.
He was interested in politics and diplomacy and had interests in both visiting and conquering other countries since his days as prince. He decided to enlarge his kingdom that was confined to the small Gorkha region of present-day Nepal and had an area of just 2,500 square km (approx. 50 km x 50 km). He defeated major principalities in wars and unified them under his rule starting from the 1740s ending with shifting of his Gorkha Kingdom ’s capital from Gorkha region to
Kathmandu in 1769. While he was successful at conquering the
Kathmandu valley and the Sen kingdoms further east of the Kathmandu valley, his efforts were limited to the west of his homeland. He then attacked and absorbed dozens of other small principalities and gave a new name "Nepal" to his Gorkha kingdom. He was able to conquer some of the 22 principalities or kingdoms, known as the (thebaise raj-ya , and some of the 24 kingdoms (the chaubasi raj-ya ), which were two sets of allies west of the King's homeland of Gorkha, in what is now called western Nepal.
Kathmandu in 1769. While he was successful at conquering the
Kathmandu valley and the Sen kingdoms further east of the Kathmandu valley, his efforts were limited to the west of his homeland. He then attacked and absorbed dozens of other small principalities and gave a new name "Nepal" to his Gorkha kingdom. He was able to conquer some of the 22 principalities or kingdoms, known as the (thebaise raj-ya , and some of the 24 kingdoms (the chaubasi raj-ya ), which were two sets of allies west of the King's homeland of Gorkha, in what is now called western Nepal.
Soon after he ascended the throne of Gorkha Kingdom, Shah tricked his way into the royal household of Bhaktapur for a number of months. He wanted the rich agricultural soil of the valley, and the strategic point of the Kathmandu valley as a transit point for expanding trade with both Tibet and India. Then he planned the conquest of the valley. To this end, he decided to first capture Nuwakot, which belonged to the state of Kantipur, as a strategic point. He also foresaw that taking over Nuwakot would significantly strengthen the position of his Gorkha nation and weaken the states occupying the Kathmandu Valley. Nuwakot held strategic importance, as there was already a fort there, and it had remained as a connecting pass the valley and Tibet.
Diplomatic relations:
Prithivi narayan Shah was very effortful to have good relations with different states for making his unification campaign a success. As a representative of his father, he had a pact with Lamjung, the old age enemy. Later he himself signed a treaty with King of Lamjung through the efforts sought be Kalu Pandey. Relations with the Malla Kingdoms was also important. PNS signed separate treaties with Kantipur and Bhaktapur, which are as follow : 1) to circulate the currency of either states in both states. 2) to carry joint trade with Tibet and share the incomes. 3) to enjoy rights to depute a state representative to Tibet. 4) to allow Kantipur to use the territory of Nuwakot for trade with Tibet.
Prithivi narayan Shah was very effortful to have good relations with different states for making his unification campaign a success. As a representative of his father, he had a pact with Lamjung, the old age enemy. Later he himself signed a treaty with King of Lamjung through the efforts sought be Kalu Pandey. Relations with the Malla Kingdoms was also important. PNS signed separate treaties with Kantipur and Bhaktapur, which are as follow : 1) to circulate the currency of either states in both states. 2) to carry joint trade with Tibet and share the incomes. 3) to enjoy rights to depute a state representative to Tibet. 4) to allow Kantipur to use the territory of Nuwakot for trade with Tibet.
Establishment of a united Kingdom of Nepal:
After his conquest of the Kathmandu Valley, Prithvi Narayan Shah conquered other smaller countries south of the valley to keep other smaller fiefdoms near his Gurkha state out of the influence and control of the British rule. After his kingdom spread out from north to south, he made Kantipur the capital of expanded country which was known as Kingdom of Gorkha (Gorkha Samrajya).It was renamed as Kingdom of Nepal in 1930
After his conquest of the Kathmandu Valley, Prithvi Narayan Shah conquered other smaller countries south of the valley to keep other smaller fiefdoms near his Gurkha state out of the influence and control of the British rule. After his kingdom spread out from north to south, he made Kantipur the capital of expanded country which was known as Kingdom of Gorkha (Gorkha Samrajya).It was renamed as Kingdom of Nepal in 1930
No comments:
Post a Comment