Chaubisi Rajya

(Redirected from Chaubisi rajya)

Chaubisi Rajya, Chaubise Rajya or Chaubisye Rajya (Nepali: चौबीसी राज्य, चौबीसे राज्य, lit.'24 principalities'), were sovereign and intermittently allied petty kingdoms in South Asia ruled by the Khas in Baise Rajya (बाइसे राज्य) and Magars in Chaubisi Rajya (चौबीसे राज्य), located at the intersection of Himalayas and the Indian subcontinent.[1] One of these kingdoms, Gorkha, annexed the others, becoming the present day country of Nepal. This conquest began soon after Prithvi Narayan Shah ascended to the Gorkha throne in 1743 AD.[2] The Chaubisi Rajya were annexed during the unification from 1744 to 1816 AD.[1] A parallel group of 22 small kingdoms, Baisse Rajya (Nepali: बाइस्से राज्य), existed to the west of the Gandaki Basin.[3]

Prithvi Narayan Shah, the last ruler of the Gorkha Kingdom and the first King of Nepal

The Shah Kingdom was founded by Drabya Shah, the youngest son of Yasho Brahma Shah, king of Kaski and Lamjung, his eldest son became the king of Kaski and Lamjung which created a fight for supremacy.[4] Palpa was one of the biggest and most powerful kingdoms; the rulers were able to create independent kingdoms in Tanahu, Makwanpur and Vijaypur.[5] Many rulers from Nepal wanted to consolidate the principalities.[citation needed] The first battle took place in Nuwakot, Nuwakot. Prithvi Narayan Shah commanded Kaji Biraj Thapa Magar of Gorkha to attack but he delayed his invasion.[citation needed] Shah sent another force to attack with Maheshwar Panta but they were badly defeated.[citation needed] For preparation, the king obtained new weapons from Banaras, increased military strength, and made Kalu Pande his chief minister who helped him with planning.[6] In 1744, Shah conquered Nuwakot, then went on to win a battle against Belkot.[6]

Not much is known about these principalities but these kingdoms played a pivotal role in the modern history of Nepal.[7] The unified Kingdom of Nepal continued to be ruled by the Shah dynasty, with the Rana dynasty de facto ruling the country from 1846[8] to February 1951 AD.[9][10] In 2006, a democracy movement broke out that overthrew the monarchy system and transitioned to the Federal Democratic Republic.[11]

List of kingdoms

The 24 principalities[5][12]
NameCurrent location
Kingdom of ArghaLumbini Province
Kingdom of Bajhang
Kingdom of BhirkotGandaki Province
Kingdom of ButwalLumbini Province
Kingdom of DhorGandaki Province
Kingdom of DhurkotLumbini Province
Kingdom of GalkotGandaki Province
Kingdom of Ghiring
Kingdom of Garahun
Kingdom of Gorkha
Kingdom of GulmiLumbini Province
Kingdom of Isma
Kingdom of KaskiGandaki Province
Kingdom of KhanchiLumbini Province
Kingdom of LamjungGandaki Province
Kingdom of MusikotLumbini Province
Kingdom of NuwakotGandaki Province
Kingdom of PaiyunGandaki Province
Kingdom of PalpaLumbini Province
Kingdom of ParbatGandaki Province
Kingdom of PyuthanLumbini Province
Kingdom of RishingGandaki Province
Kingdom of Satahun
Kingdom of TanahunGandaki Province

References