Origin of Kathmandu Valley and Early Kings
Kathmandu Valley was originally a lake, made habitable by Manjushree who drained it and founded a city. It was ruled by successive dynasties including the Gopalas, Ahirs, and Kiratas.
Rise of the Malla Dynasty
The Malla dynasty emerged around 1200 AD in the Kathmandu Valley, originating from the Thakuri dynasty. Arideva was the first Malla king, with the period marked by cultural development and city states.
Lichhavi Dynasty Establishment
The Lichhavi dynasty replaced the Kiratas and established rule in Nepal. Their reign is seen as a golden age marked by trade, culture, inscriptions and religious tolerance.
Establishment of Rana Rule and Kot Massacre
The Rana oligarchy was established in 1846 after the Kot Massacre, resulting in hereditary prime ministers holding actual power over the monarchy.
Division of Kathmandu Valley Kingdom
King Yaksha Malla divided Kathmandu Valley kingdom among his sons and daughter, creating city states that later weakened and led to the Malla dynasty’s downfall.
Gorkha Conquest of Kathmandu Valley
Prithvi Narayan Shah, king of Gorkha, conquered the fragmented Kathmandu Valley kingdoms from 1768 to 1769, ending the Malla dynasty rule.
Gorkha Conquest of Nepal Valley
Prithvi Narayan Shah, king of Gorkha, conquered Kathmandu Valley, including the three Malla kingdoms, uniting them under his rule.
Establishment of Shah Dynasty
Drabya Shah conquered Gorkha and set up an independent principality, marking the start of the Shah dynasty that would become dominant in Nepal.
Expansion and Consolidation of the Shah State
Prithvi Narayan Shah began his rule in Gorkha in 1743 and initiated the unification of Nepal by conquering Kathmandu Valley in 1768-1769. This led to the consolidation of various principalities into a single Nepalese state centered on the Kathmandu Valley. His military campaigns were marked by strategic alliances and battles, culminating in the establishment of Shah sovereignty over the valley formerly ruled by Malla kings. The unification process brought various ethnic and regional groups under Shah control, expanding the territorial reach of the Nepalese state significantly.
Jayasthitimalla’s Reforms and Consolidation of Malla Power
Jayasthitimalla, who gained control over Kathmandu Valley by 1382, was a powerful Malla ruler noted for significant social, economic, and religious reforms. He codified social rules, caste duties, dress codes, and standardized weights and measures. He built temples and promoted literature and music, re-establishing order in a fragmented kingdom. His reign laid the foundation for Malla dynasty’s four-century rule in Nepal until the emergence of the Shah dynasty.