Rajendra of Nepal
Encyclopedia
Rajendra Bikram Shah, King of Nepal (1813-1881) was King of Nepal
from 1816 to 1847. He became king at age three on the death of his father Girvan Yuddha Bikram Shah Deva
. As had been the case with his father, most of Rajendra's rule was under the regency of Queen Lalit Tripura Sundari (died 1832) and Prime Minister Bhimsen Thapa
. As regent, Bhimsen Thapa kept the king in isolation--he did not even have the freedom to leave the palace without permission.
Rajendra came of age in 1832, and in 1837 announced his intention to rule independently of the Prime Minister
. He stripped Bhimsen Thapa and Thapa's nephew, Mathbar Singh, of their military authority. Shortly afterward the youngest son of Rajendra's elder queen died, and Bhimsen Thapa was arrested on a trumped-up charge of poisoning the prince. All the property of the Thapas was confiscated. Bhimsen Thapa was acquitted after an eight-month trial, but the Thapas were in disarray. When Rana Jang Pande became prime minister, he reimprisoned Bhimsen Thapa, who committed suicide in prison in 1839.
In January 1843, Rajendra declared that he would rule the country only with advice and agreement of his junior queen, Lakshmidevi, and commanded his subjects to obey her even over his own son, Surendra Bikram Shah
. Continued infighting among noble factions led eventually to the Kot Massacre
in 1846. In the aftermath of the Kot Massacre, Jung Bahadur became prime minister and quickly seized power, sending King Rajendra and Queen Lakshmidevi into exile in Varanasi
. From exile, Rajendra sought to regain power, but Jung Bahadur learned of Rajendra's plans and forced him to abdicate in favor of his son Surendra. Jung Bahadur's forces captured Rajendra in 1847 and brought him to Bhaktapur
, where he spent the rest of his life under house arrest.
Nepal
Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
from 1816 to 1847. He became king at age three on the death of his father Girvan Yuddha Bikram Shah Deva
Girvan Yuddha Bikram Shah Deva
Girvan Yuddha Bikram Shah Deva, King of Nepal , also called Girvanyuddha Bikrama Shah, was the King of Nepal from 1799 to 1816....
. As had been the case with his father, most of Rajendra's rule was under the regency of Queen Lalit Tripura Sundari (died 1832) and Prime Minister Bhimsen Thapa
Bhimsen Thapa
Bhimsen Thapa was the Prime Minister of Nepal from 1806 to 1837. After his initial rise to become the prime minister of Nepal during the reign of Rana Bahadur, the successive minority of Girvan Yuddha Shah and Rajendra Bikram Shah, along with the support from Maharani Tripurasundari helped him to...
. As regent, Bhimsen Thapa kept the king in isolation--he did not even have the freedom to leave the palace without permission.
Rajendra came of age in 1832, and in 1837 announced his intention to rule independently of the Prime Minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
. He stripped Bhimsen Thapa and Thapa's nephew, Mathbar Singh, of their military authority. Shortly afterward the youngest son of Rajendra's elder queen died, and Bhimsen Thapa was arrested on a trumped-up charge of poisoning the prince. All the property of the Thapas was confiscated. Bhimsen Thapa was acquitted after an eight-month trial, but the Thapas were in disarray. When Rana Jang Pande became prime minister, he reimprisoned Bhimsen Thapa, who committed suicide in prison in 1839.
In January 1843, Rajendra declared that he would rule the country only with advice and agreement of his junior queen, Lakshmidevi, and commanded his subjects to obey her even over his own son, Surendra Bikram Shah
Surendra of Nepal
Surendra Bikram Shah was King of Nepal between 1847 and 1881. He became king after Prime Minister Jung Bahadur forced the abdication of Surendra's father, Rajendra Bikram Shah. Surendra wielded little real power, with Jung Bahadur effectively ruling the country during Surendra's reign.Surendra's...
. Continued infighting among noble factions led eventually to the Kot Massacre
Kot Massacre
The Kot massacre took place on 14 September 1846 when Jang Bahadur and his brothers killed about 40 members of the Nepalese palace court including the Prime Minister and a relative of the King, Chautariya Fateh Jang Shah, at the palace armoury of Kathmandu...
in 1846. In the aftermath of the Kot Massacre, Jung Bahadur became prime minister and quickly seized power, sending King Rajendra and Queen Lakshmidevi into exile in Varanasi
Varanasi
-Etymology:The name Varanasi has its origin possibly from the names of the two rivers Varuna and Assi, for the old city lies in the north shores of the Ganga bounded by its two tributaries, the Varuna and the Asi, with the Ganges being to its south...
. From exile, Rajendra sought to regain power, but Jung Bahadur learned of Rajendra's plans and forced him to abdicate in favor of his son Surendra. Jung Bahadur's forces captured Rajendra in 1847 and brought him to Bhaktapur
Bhaktapur
Bhaktapur , also Bhadgaon or Khwopa is an ancient Newar town in the east corner of the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal. It is located in Bhaktapur District in the Bagmati Zone...
, where he spent the rest of his life under house arrest.