Shah dynasty

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 and the founder of the Gorkha Kingdom from 1559 to 1768 and later the unified Kingdom of Nepal from 1768 to 28 May 2008. 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) with the help of accomplices from six resident clans of Majhkot and Ligligkot. Dravya Shah named his new kingdom Gorkha.

Infobox

Country

mw- Kingdom of Kaski Kingdom of Lamjung Kingdom of Bajhang Kingdom of Bhirkot Kingdom of Lalitpur (Patan) Kingdom of Sataunkot Gorkha Kingdom Kingdom of Nepal

Founded

15th century

Founder

Kulamandan Shah Khad

Current head

Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah

Final ruler

Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah

Titles

King of Kaski King of Lamjung King of Lalitpur (Patan) King of Gorkha King of Nepal Raja of Bajhang Raja of Bhirkot

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)

Estate

Kingdom of Nepal

Deposition

28 May 2008

Cadet branches

Chautariya family

Tables

· Monarchs of Shah dynasty (1559–2008) › Monarchs of Shah dynasty of Gorkha (1559–1768)

Dravya Shahराजा द्रव्य शाह

1559

1559–1570

Dravya Shahराजा द्रव्य शाह

Name

Dravya Shahराजा द्रव्य शाह

Lifespan

died 1570

Reign start

1559

Reign end

1570

Notes

Son of Yasho Brahma Shah

Family

Shah

Purna Shah/Purendra Shahपूर्ण शाह/ पूरेन्द्र शाह

1570

1570–1605

Purna Shah/Purendra Shahपूर्ण शाह/ पूरेन्द्र शाह

Name

Purna Shah/Purendra Shahपूर्ण शाह/ पूरेन्द्र शाह

Lifespan

died 1605

Reign start

1570

Reign end

1605

Notes

Son of Dravya Shah

Family

Shah

Chatra Shahछत्र शाह

1605

1605–1609

Chatra Shahछत्र शाह

Name

Chatra Shahछत्र शाह

Lifespan

died 1609 (heirless)

Reign start

1605

Reign end

1609

Notes

First son of Purendra/Purna Shah

Family

Shah

Ram ShahRam Shah The Justश्रीमन्त महाराजधिराज राम शाह

1609

1609–1633

Ram ShahRam Shah The Justश्रीमन्त महाराजधिराज राम शाह

Name

Ram ShahRam Shah The Justश्रीमन्त महाराजधिराज राम शाह

Lifespan

died 1636

Reign start

1609

Reign end

1633 (abdicated)

Notes

Second son of Purna/Purendra Shahadopted title of Svasti Sri Giriraj

Family

Shah

Dambar Shahडम्वर शाह

1633

1633–1645

Dambar Shahडम्वर शाह

Name

Dambar Shahडम्वर शाह

Lifespan

died 1645

Reign start

1633

Reign end

1645

Notes

Son of Ram Shah

Family

Shah

Krishna Shahश्रीकृष्ण शाह

1645

1645–1661

Krishna Shahश्रीकृष्ण शाह

Name

Krishna Shahश्रीकृष्ण शाह

Lifespan

died 1661

Reign start

1645

Reign end

1661

Notes

Son of Dambar Shah

Family

Shah

Rudra Shahरुद्र शाह

1661

1661–1673

Rudra Shahरुद्र शाह

Name

Rudra Shahरुद्र शाह

Lifespan

died 1673

Reign start

1661

Reign end

1673

Notes

Son of Krishna Shah

Family

Shah

Prithvipati Shahपृथ्वीपत्ति शाह

1673

1673–1716

Prithvipati Shahपृथ्वीपत्ति शाह

Name

Prithvipati Shahपृथ्वीपत्ति शाह

Lifespan

died 1716

Reign start

1673

Reign end

1716

Notes

Son of Rudra Shah

Family

Shah

Nara Bhupal Shahनरभूपाल शाह

1716

1716–1743

Nara Bhupal Shahनरभूपाल शाह

Name

Nara Bhupal Shahनरभूपाल शाह

Lifespan

1697 – 3 April 1743

Reign start

1716

Reign end

1743

Notes

Grandson of Prithvipati Shah and Son of Prince Birbhadra Shah

Family

Shah

Prithvi Narayan Shahबडामहाराजधिराज पृथ्वीनारायण शाह

1743

1743–1768

Prithvi Narayan Shahबडामहाराजधिराज पृथ्वीनारायण शाह

Name

Prithvi Narayan Shahबडामहाराजधिराज पृथ्वीनारायण शाह

Lifespan

(1723-01-07)7 January 1723[citation needed] – 11 January 1775(1775-01-11) (aged 52)

Reign start

1743

Reign end

25 September 1768

Notes

Son of Nara Bhupal Shah

Family

Shah

Name	Lifespan	Reign start	Reign end	Notes	Family	Image
Dravya Shahराजा द्रव्य शाह	died 1570	1559	1570	Son of Yasho Brahma Shah	Shah
Purna Shah/Purendra Shahपूर्ण शाह/ पूरेन्द्र शाह	died 1605	1570	1605	Son of Dravya Shah	Shah
Chatra Shahछत्र शाह	died 1609 (heirless)	1605	1609	First son of Purendra/Purna Shah	Shah
Ram ShahRam Shah The Justश्रीमन्त महाराजधिराज राम शाह	died 1636	1609	1633 (abdicated)	Second son of Purna/Purendra Shahadopted title of Svasti Sri Giriraj	Shah
Dambar Shahडम्वर शाह	died 1645	1633	1645	Son of Ram Shah	Shah
Krishna Shahश्रीकृष्ण शाह	died 1661	1645	1661	Son of Dambar Shah	Shah
Rudra Shahरुद्र शाह	died 1673	1661	1673	Son of Krishna Shah	Shah
Prithvipati Shahपृथ्वीपत्ति शाह	died 1716	1673	1716	Son of Rudra Shah	Shah
Nara Bhupal Shahनरभूपाल शाह	1697 – 3 April 1743	1716	1743	Grandson of Prithvipati Shah and Son of Prince Birbhadra Shah	Shah
Prithvi Narayan Shahबडामहाराजधिराज पृथ्वीनारायण शाह	(1723-01-07)7 January 1723[citation needed] – 11 January 1775(1775-01-11) (aged 52)	1743	25 September 1768	Son of Nara Bhupal Shah	Shah

· Monarchs of Shah dynasty (1559–2008) › Monarchs of Shah dynasty of Patan (1761–1765)

Dal Mardan Shahराजा दल मर्दन शाह

1761

1761–1765

Dal Mardan Shahराजा दल मर्दन शाह

Name

Dal Mardan Shahराजा दल मर्दन शाह

Lifespan

?—?

Reign start

1761

Reign end

1765

Notes

Son of Nara Bhupal Shah

Family

Shah

Name	Lifespan	Reign start	Reign end	Notes	Family	Image
Dal Mardan Shahराजा दल मर्दन शाह	?—?	1761	1765	Son of Nara Bhupal Shah	Shah

· Monarchs of Shah dynasty (1559–2008) › Monarchs of Shah dynasty of Nepal (1768–2008)

Prithvi Narayan Shahबडामहाराजधिराज पृथ्वीनारायण शाह

1768

1768–1775

Prithvi Narayan Shahबडामहाराजधिराज पृथ्वीनारायण शाह

Name

Prithvi Narayan Shahबडामहाराजधिराज पृथ्वीनारायण शाह

Lifespan

(1723-01-07)7 January 1723– 11 January 1775(1775-01-11) (aged 52)

Reign start

25 September 1768

Reign end

11 January 1775

Notes

Son of Nara Bhupal Shah

Family

Shah

Pratap Singh Shahप्रतापसिंह शाह

1775

1775–1777

Pratap Singh Shahप्रतापसिंह शाह

Name

Pratap Singh Shahप्रतापसिंह शाह

Lifespan

(1751-04-16)16 April 1751 – 17 November 1777(1777-11-17) (aged 26)

Reign start

11 January 1775

Reign end

17 November 1777

Notes

Son of Prithvi Narayan Shah

Family

Shah

Rana Bahadur Shahरण बहादुर शाह

1777

1777–1799

Rana Bahadur Shahरण बहादुर शाह

Name

Rana Bahadur Shahरण बहादुर शाह

Lifespan

(1775-05-25)25 May 1775 – 25 April 1806(1806-04-25) (aged 30)

Reign start

17 November 1777

Reign end

8 March 1799(abdicated)

Notes

Son of Pratap Singh Shah

Family

Shah

Girvan Yuddha Bikram Shahगीर्वाणयुद्ध विक्रम शाह

1799

1799–1816

Girvan Yuddha Bikram Shahगीर्वाणयुद्ध विक्रम शाह

Name

Girvan Yuddha Bikram Shahगीर्वाणयुद्ध विक्रम शाह

Lifespan

(1797-10-19)19 October 1797 – 20 November 1816(1816-11-20) (aged 19)

Reign start

8 March 1799

Reign end

20 November 1816

Notes

Son of Rana Bahadur Shah

Family

Shah

Rajendra Bikram Shahराजेन्द्र बिक्रम शाह

1816

1816–1847

Rajendra Bikram Shahराजेन्द्र बिक्रम शाह

Name

Rajendra Bikram Shahराजेन्द्र बिक्रम शाह

Lifespan

(1813-12-03)3 December 1813 – 10 July 1881(1881-07-10) (aged 67)

Reign start

20 November 1816

Reign end

12 May 1847(abdicated)

Notes

Son of Girvan Yuddha Bikram Shah

Family

Shah

Surendra Bikram Shahसुरेन्द्र बिक्रम शाह

1847

1847–1881

Surendra Bikram Shahसुरेन्द्र बिक्रम शाह

Name

Surendra Bikram Shahसुरेन्द्र बिक्रम शाह

Lifespan

(1829-10-20)20 October 1829 – 17 May 1881(1881-05-17) (aged 51)

Reign start

12 May 1847

Reign end

17 May 1881

Notes

Son of Rajendra Bikram Shah

Family

Shah

Prithvi Bir Bikram Shahपृथ्वी वीर बिक्रम शाह

1881

1881–1911

Prithvi Bir Bikram Shahपृथ्वी वीर बिक्रम शाह

Name

Prithvi Bir Bikram Shahपृथ्वी वीर बिक्रम शाह

Lifespan

(1875-08-18)18 August 1875 – 11 December 1911(1911-12-11) (aged 36)

Reign start

17 May 1881

Reign end

11 December 1911

Notes

Grandson of Surendra Bikram Shah

Family

Shah

Tribhuvan Bir Bikram Shah(1st reign)त्रिभुवन वीर बिक्रम शाह

1911

1911–1950

Tribhuvan Bir Bikram Shah(1st reign)त्रिभुवन वीर बिक्रम शाह

Name

Tribhuvan Bir Bikram Shah(1st reign)त्रिभुवन वीर बिक्रम शाह

Lifespan

(1900-06-30)30 June 1900 – 13 March 1955(1955-03-13) (aged 54)

Reign start

11 December 1911

Reign end

7 November 1950(went into exile)

Notes

Son of Prithvi Bir Bikram Shah

Family

Shah

Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah(1st reign)ज्ञानेन्द्र वीर बिक्रम शाह

1950

1950–1951

Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah(1st reign)ज्ञानेन्द्र वीर बिक्रम शाह

Name

Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah(1st reign)ज्ञानेन्द्र वीर बिक्रम शाह

Lifespan

(1947-07-07) 7 July 1947 (age 78)

Reign start

7 November 1950

Reign end

7 January 1951(stepped down)

Notes

Grandson of Tribhuvan Bir Bikram Shah

Family

Shah

Tribhuvan Bir Bikram Shah(2nd reign)त्रिभुवन वीर बिक्रम शाह

1951

1951–1955

Tribhuvan Bir Bikram Shah(2nd reign)त्रिभुवन वीर बिक्रम शाह

Name

Tribhuvan Bir Bikram Shah(2nd reign)त्रिभुवन वीर बिक्रम शाह

Lifespan

(1900-06-30)30 June 1900 – 13 March 1955(1955-03-13) (aged 54)

Reign start

7 January 1951

Reign end

13 March 1955

Notes

Son of Prithvi Bir Bikram Shah

Family

Shah

Mahendra Bir Bikram Shahमहेन्द्र वीर बिक्रम शाह

1955

1955–1972

Mahendra Bir Bikram Shahमहेन्द्र वीर बिक्रम शाह

Name

Mahendra Bir Bikram Shahमहेन्द्र वीर बिक्रम शाह

Lifespan

(1920-06-11)11 June 1920 – 31 January 1972(1972-01-31) (aged 51)

Reign start

14 March 1955

Reign end

31 January 1972

Notes

Son of Tribhuvan Bir Bikram Shah

Family

Shah

Birendra Bir Bikram Shahवीरेन्द्र वीर बिक्रम शाह

1972

1972–2001

Birendra Bir Bikram Shahवीरेन्द्र वीर बिक्रम शाह

Name

Birendra Bir Bikram Shahवीरेन्द्र वीर बिक्रम शाह

Lifespan

(1945-12-28)28 December 1945 – 1 June 2001(2001-06-01) (aged 55)

Reign start

31 January 1972

Reign end

1 June 2001(assassinated)

Notes

Son of Mahendra Bir Bikram Shah

Family

Shah

Dipendra Bir Bikram Shahदीपेन्द्र वीर बिक्रम शाह

2001

2001–2001

Dipendra Bir Bikram Shahदीपेन्द्र वीर बिक्रम शाह

Name

Dipendra Bir Bikram Shahदीपेन्द्र वीर बिक्रम शाह

Lifespan

(1971-06-27)27 June 1971 – 4 June 2001(2001-06-04) (aged 29)

Reign start

1 June 2001

Reign end

4 June 2001(declared braindead)

Notes

Son of Birendra Bir Bikram Shah

Family

Shah

Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah(2nd reign)ज्ञानेन्द्र वीर बिक्रम शाह

2001

2001–2008

Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah(2nd reign)ज्ञानेन्द्र वीर बिक्रम शाह

Name

Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah(2nd reign)ज्ञानेन्द्र वीर बिक्रम शाह

Lifespan

(1947-07-07) 7 July 1947 (age 78)

Reign start

4 June 2001

Reign end

28 May 2008(Monarchy abolished)

Notes

Son of Mahendra Bir Bikram Shah

Family

Shah

Name	Lifespan	Reign start	Reign end	Notes	Family	Image
Prithvi Narayan Shahबडामहाराजधिराज पृथ्वीनारायण शाह	(1723-01-07)7 January 1723– 11 January 1775(1775-01-11) (aged 52)	25 September 1768	11 January 1775	Son of Nara Bhupal Shah	Shah
Pratap Singh Shahप्रतापसिंह शाह	(1751-04-16)16 April 1751 – 17 November 1777(1777-11-17) (aged 26)	11 January 1775	17 November 1777	Son of Prithvi Narayan Shah	Shah
Rana Bahadur Shahरण बहादुर शाह	(1775-05-25)25 May 1775 – 25 April 1806(1806-04-25) (aged 30)	17 November 1777	8 March 1799(abdicated)	Son of Pratap Singh Shah	Shah
Girvan Yuddha Bikram Shahगीर्वाणयुद्ध विक्रम शाह	(1797-10-19)19 October 1797 – 20 November 1816(1816-11-20) (aged 19)	8 March 1799	20 November 1816	Son of Rana Bahadur Shah	Shah
Rajendra Bikram Shahराजेन्द्र बिक्रम शाह	(1813-12-03)3 December 1813 – 10 July 1881(1881-07-10) (aged 67)	20 November 1816	12 May 1847(abdicated)	Son of Girvan Yuddha Bikram Shah	Shah
Surendra Bikram Shahसुरेन्द्र बिक्रम शाह	(1829-10-20)20 October 1829 – 17 May 1881(1881-05-17) (aged 51)	12 May 1847	17 May 1881	Son of Rajendra Bikram Shah	Shah
Prithvi Bir Bikram Shahपृथ्वी वीर बिक्रम शाह	(1875-08-18)18 August 1875 – 11 December 1911(1911-12-11) (aged 36)	17 May 1881	11 December 1911	Grandson of Surendra Bikram Shah	Shah
Tribhuvan Bir Bikram Shah(1st reign)त्रिभुवन वीर बिक्रम शाह	(1900-06-30)30 June 1900 – 13 March 1955(1955-03-13) (aged 54)	11 December 1911	7 November 1950(went into exile)	Son of Prithvi Bir Bikram Shah	Shah
Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah(1st reign)ज्ञानेन्द्र वीर बिक्रम शाह	(1947-07-07) 7 July 1947 (age 78)	7 November 1950	7 January 1951(stepped down)	Grandson of Tribhuvan Bir Bikram Shah	Shah
Tribhuvan Bir Bikram Shah(2nd reign)त्रिभुवन वीर बिक्रम शाह	(1900-06-30)30 June 1900 – 13 March 1955(1955-03-13) (aged 54)	7 January 1951	13 March 1955	Son of Prithvi Bir Bikram Shah	Shah
Mahendra Bir Bikram Shahमहेन्द्र वीर बिक्रम शाह	(1920-06-11)11 June 1920 – 31 January 1972(1972-01-31) (aged 51)	14 March 1955	31 January 1972	Son of Tribhuvan Bir Bikram Shah	Shah
Birendra Bir Bikram Shahवीरेन्द्र वीर बिक्रम शाह	(1945-12-28)28 December 1945 – 1 June 2001(2001-06-01) (aged 55)	31 January 1972	1 June 2001(assassinated)	Son of Mahendra Bir Bikram Shah	Shah
Dipendra Bir Bikram Shahदीपेन्द्र वीर बिक्रम शाह	(1971-06-27)27 June 1971 – 4 June 2001(2001-06-04) (aged 29)	1 June 2001	4 June 2001(declared braindead)	Son of Birendra Bir Bikram Shah	Shah
Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah(2nd reign)ज्ञानेन्द्र वीर बिक्रम शाह	(1947-07-07) 7 July 1947 (age 78)	4 June 2001	28 May 2008(Monarchy abolished)	Son of Mahendra Bir Bikram Shah	Shah

References

An Atlas and Survey of South Asian History
https://books.google.com/books?id=BqdzCQAAQBAJ&pg=PA138
Organising committee convenor, Purna Bahadur Rana
https://thehimalayantimes.com/sports/anish-thapa-magar-wins-crown-liglige-race-gorkha#:~:text=It%20is%20believed%20that%20Dalsur%20Ghale%20Magar%20became%20the%20first%20king%20of%20Liglig%20Kot
Wright 1877, p. 278.
On the historicity and publication history of the "Wright Chronicle," see pp. 86–92 of Manik Bajracharya and Axel Michae
http://himalaya.socanth.cam.ac.uk/collections/journals/ebhr/pdf/EBHR_40_04.pdf
TheGuardian.com
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/apr/09/nepal-king-birendra-democracy-1990
timesofindia
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/rest-of-world/Nepal-royal-massacre-Eyewitness-claims-Dipendra-innocent/articleshow/3270866.cms
"Nepalese monarchy to be abolished." BBC 24 December 2007 Accessed 25 December 2007.
https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7158670.stm
Sharma, Gopal, “Nepal parliament votes to end monarchy”, Reuters, (December 28, 2007). https://www.reuters.com/article/a
https://www.reuters.com/article/amp/idUSSP27532120071228/
Al Jazeera
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/9/10/whos-leading-nepal-after-oli-resignation-whats-next-for-gen-z-protests
India Today
https://www.indiatoday.in/the-lowdown/story/will-nepals-anarchy-lead-to-the-return-of-monarchy-the-lowdown-2785041-2025-09-10
Shree Panch BadaMaharajdhiraj Prithivi Narayan Shah ko Sanxipta Jiwani, Part I
Anglo-Nepalese Relation
राणाशासनको वृत्तान्त