Rise and Origin of Shah Dynasty

Origin of Shah Dynasty in Nepal

Historians have not reached a consensus on the origin of Shah Dynasty. According to Dilli Raman Regmi, the Shah Kings were descendants of the Rajput Dynasty of the Chittaud Kingdom. This Rajput family was stripped of their title after the Muslim invasion of India.

One of the brothers, Fattesingh Ranaji Rao, had a beautiful daughter, and the Muslim Emperor at the time asked for her hand in marriage. The Chittaud brothers saw an opportunity to increase their prestige and claim new titles by marrying their daughter off to the Emperor.

However, they refused the offer, and as a result, all of them were killed except for the eldest brother Udayabam Ranaji Rao and Mamtha Ranaji Roa, who escaped to Udayapur and Sujjain, respectively.

When Fattesingh Ranaji Rao’s daughter was requested to marry, the Muslim Emperor offered the Chittaud Brothers an opportunity to rise in status and acquire new titles. They objected, saying that being married to a Muslim would bring shame to their family.

The consequence of their decision was fatal, as all of the brothers were killed except for Udayabam Ranaji Rao and Mamtha Ranaji Roa, who escaped to Udayapur and Sujjain, respectively.

After a conflict between Mamtha’s grandchildren, Bhupal Ranaji Rao moved from Sujjain to Ridi in 1495 C.E. Bhirkot and the surrounding territories around the Seti River were linked by Bhupal Ranaji Rao.

Khachha Khan and Michha Khan, the two sons of Bhupalji, finally came to rule over Nuwakot. Michha Khan’s descendants controlled Nuwakot for seven generations. The Shah Dynasty started during the reign of Kulmandan Khan, the seventh generation, in Lamjung.

Kulmandan Khan was granted the title of Shah by the Emperor of Delhi which lead to the origin of Shah Dynasty. The Kingdom of Lamjung had no kings, so Kulmandan Shah was requested to be its king.

He sent his eldest son, who was assassinated. When the request was made again, Kulmandan Shah allowed the people to select their king, and they chose Yasobikram.

Rise of The Shah Dynasty in Nepal

Narahari Shah and Drabya Shah were among the two or three sons that Yasobikram had. While Drabya Shah sought to establish himself as the first ruler of the Shah Dynasty by subduing another country, Narahari Shah rose to become the King of Lamjung. Simultaneously, he contacted the courtiers of Gorkhali.

Conquest of Ligligkot

Drabya Shah defeated the Kingdom of Ligligkot with the help of Gorkhali Officials. The victory over Ligligkot was necessary to defeat Gorkha. Ligligkot was ruled by the Ghales. Here are three alternatives on how Drabya Shah defeated Ligligkot:

1. Ghale’s of Ligligkot had a marathon race to decide who would be the King for one year. It happened every year on the day of Bijaya Dashami. Ghale during the race couldn’t carry any weapons upon them. Hence, when they were weaponless. Drabya Shah with his army requested by his brother and other courtiers attacked Ligligkot, defeated the Ghale, and became the King of Ligligkot.

2. Ghale’s of Ligligkot had a marathon race to decide who would be the King for one year. It happened every year on the day of Bijaya Dashami. To become the King of Ligligkot meant winning the yearly race. Drabya Shah decided to enter the competition.

Some of the Ghales complained that Drabya Shah was not the part of Ghale Clan and shouldn’t be allowed. The more powerful Ghale said that Drabya can never win with his weak body and pathetic legs. To everyone’s surprise, Drabya won and became the King of Ligligkot.

3. Drabya Shah needed to defeat Ligligkot to secure the Kingdom of Gorkha. Ghale’s of Ligligkot had a marathon race to decide who would be the King for one year. It happened every year on the day of Bijaya Dashami.

He decided to compete. Drabya Shah was quick-witted and clever. Also, Ghale’s were kind of stubborn as the story goes. So, Drabya Shah provided all of them with Local Wine. The Ghale’s drank so much that they couldn’t compete the other day.

They couldn’t balance themselves. Hence, when the race began, Drabya Shah easily won and became the King of Ligligkot.

After the conquest of Ligligkot, Drabya Shah wanted to defeat Gorkha and become the King of the Kingdom of Gorkha. He attacked Gorkha two times. For the First Time, he lost whereas he succeeded the second time.

First Battle of Gorkha

Now, the dream of Drabya Shah was one step ahead. So, in 1559 C.E., he attacked Gorkha from Ligligkot. After 15 days of Vicious and Bloody War, Drabya Shah failed to defeat Gorkha, and Shah Dynasty wasn’t established in Gorkha. His hopes turned to stress and desires into dreams.

Second Battle of Gorkha

Some of the courtiers encouraged Drabya Shah again. This time, all the courtiers worked together. He secretly hid Drabya Shah and when night time struck Drabya Shah and his army attacked. Drabya Shah killed the Khadka King.

That meant Drabya Shah had finally become the King of Gorkha and Shah Dynasty became the most powerful in Gorkha. The Reign of Drabya Shah in Gorkha was prosperous but not peaceful at all.

He had constant quarrels with his elder Brother over the Gorkha Kingdom. Also, his descendants Purna Shah and Ram Shah continued to have problems till the age of Prithvi Narayan Shah.

Conclusion

The Rise and Origin of Shah Dynasty were directly connected to the rise of Muslim Invaders in the Indian Sub-Continent and the fall of the Chittaud Kingdom.

The Migration of the Shah Brothers to Nepal and the need for rulers in the Kingdom of Lamjung were also contingent on the Origin of Shah Dynasty in Nepal and their eventual rise to become the Kings of Modern Nepal and expand Nepal to what it is now.