View source for Gorkha kingdom

{{Short description|Former kingdom in the Himalayas}}
{{Infobox former country
| native_name            = {{lang|ne|गोरखा राज्य}}<br>{{small|{{translit|ne|Gōrakhā Rājya}}}}
| image_flag             = Shree Sabuj flag 2.png
| flag_border            = no
| image_coat             = Coat of Arms of Shah dynasty.gif
| symbol_type            = [[Coat of Arms of Nepal|Coat of arms]] of [[Shah dynasty]]
| conventional_long_name = Kingdom of Gorkha
| common_name            = Gorkha kingdom
| status = [[Confederation]]<ref name=hamilton237>{{cite book| last = Hamilton| first = Francis Buchanan| url = http://www.gutenberg.org/files/30364/30364-h/30364-h.htm#page7| title = An Account of the Kingdom Of Nepal and of the Territories Annexed to This Dominion by the House of Gorkha| publisher = Edinburgh: Longman| year = 1819| access-date = 12 January 2013| archive-date = 13 November 2012| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121113080034/http://www.gutenberg.org/files/30364/30364-h/30364-h.htm#page7| url-status = live}} Page 237.</ref>  later [[Monarchy|Kingdom]]
| government_type        = [[Monarchy]]
| image_map              = Sugauli Treaty2.PNG 
| image_map_caption      = Territory, expansion and vassals states of Gorkha Empire.
| capital                = [[Gorkha District|Gorkha]]
| common_languages       = [[Khas language|Khas]] (later [[Nepali language|Nepali]])<br>[[Newar language|Newar]]<ref name="Tuladhar">''Nepal Bhasa Sahityaya Itihas: History of Nepalbhasa Literature.''Tuladhar, Prem Shanti (2000). Kathmandu: Nepal Bhasa Academy. {{ISBN|99933-56-00-X}}. Page 37: "The early new rulers cultivated Newari language. Kings Prithvi Narayan Shah, Rana Bahadur and Rajendra Bikram Shah composed poetry and wrote many plays in Newari".</ref><ref>Levy, Robert I. (1990) ''Mesocosm: Hinduism and the Organization of a Traditional Newar City in Nepal.'' Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass Publishers. {{ISBN|81-208-1038-4}}. Page 15:"Following the advent of the Shahs, the Gorkhali language became the court language, and Newari was replaced as the language of administration".</ref><ref>Malla, kamal. History of the Nepal. Kathmandu, Nepal: Rolwaling press. p. 155</ref>{{efn|[[Newar language|Newari]] continued to remain in official use in [[Shah dynasty]] as shown by the 1775 treaty with [[Tibet]], which was written in Newari. [[Newar language|Newari]] remained as the administration and official language of [[Nepal]] till the early 19th centuries. Later since 1906, official documents written in Newari were declared illegal. Since then the use of the language for administration and literary purposes was forbidden.{{sfn|Lienhard|1992|p=3}}}}      
| religion               = [[Hinduism]]
| title_leader           = [[Maharaja|Māhārājādhirāj]]
| leader1                = [[Dravya Shah]] (first)
| year_leader1           = 1559–1570
| leader2                = [[Prithvi Narayan Shah]] (last)
| year_leader2           = 1743–1768
| deputy1 = [[Ram Krishna Kunwar]]  (first and last)
| year_deputy1 = 1767–1771
| title_deputy           = [[Sardar]]
| today                  = [[Nepal]]
| year_start             = 1559
| year_end               = 1768
| p1                     = Khasa kingdom
| flag_s1                = Flag of Nepal (1743–1962).svg
| s1                     = Kingdom of Nepal
| currency               = [[Nepalese mohar|Mohar]] }}
{{History of Nepal}}

The '''Gorkha Kingdom''', also known as the '''Gorkha Confederation''' or the '''Gorkha Empire''', was one of the [[Chaubisi]] states, situated at the junction of the Himalayas and the Indian subcontinent. In 1743, the kingdom began a campaign of military expansion, annexing several neighbors and laying the foundations of present-day Nepal. 

Following the disintegration of the [[Magarat]] confederation—formerly ruled by the [[Magar people|Magar]]—the region fragmented into the [[Baise Rajya]] (22 principalities) in the far west and the [[Chaubisi Rajya]] (24 principalities) in central Nepal.<ref name=":0" /> 

The Gorkha Kingdom extended to the [[Marshyangdi|Marshyangdi River]] in the west, forming its border with the Kingdom of Lamjung. To the east, the kingdom extended to the [[Trishuli River]], forming its border with the [[Nepal Mandala]].<ref name=":0">{{cite book | last = Kirkpatrick| first = Colonel| url = https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_ijxAAAAAYAAJ| title = An Account of the Kingdom of Nepaul| publisher = London: William Miller| year=1811| access-date = 12 January 2013}} Page 123.</ref> The Gorkha kingdom was established in 1559 CE by Prince [[Dravya Shah]], the second son of King [[Yasho Brahma Shah]] of [[Kingdom of Lamjung|Lamjung]]. [[Dravya Shah]] replaced the [[Magars|Magar]] King [[Mansingh Khadka Magar]]  who previously ruled the region.<ref>{{cite web|title= The Enigmatic Pig: On Magar Participation in the State Rituals of Nepal, pp. 81-120 in M. Lecomte-Tilouine: Hindu Kingship, Ethnic Revival and Maoist Rebellion in Nepal. Delhi: Oxford University Press, "Collected Essays", 2009, 294 p |author=Marie Lecomte-Tilouine (Senior Researcher, Anthropology) CNRS, Paris, France|work=Oxford University Press|url=https://www.academia.edu/12163822 }} - Page 85, p.95 </ref>

== Origin and history==

The [[Kingdom of Gorkha]] was established in '''1559 CE''' by [[Dravya Shah]], the youngest son of [[Yasho Brahma Shah]], the king of [[Lamjung District|Lamjung]], a hill principality in what is now western [[Nepal]].

At the time, the area around [[Liglig]] and [[Gorkha District|Gorkha]] was ruled by local [[Magar people|Magar]] kings, notably King Dalshur Ghale Magar<ref>{{cite web|url= 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 |title= King Dalsur Ghale Magar of LigligKot - The tradition of selecting the King by Magar people|publisher=Thehimalayantimes.com|access-date=2025-10-17|work=Organising committee convenor, Purna Bahadur Rana|date= 8 October 2016}}</ref>      of ligligkot and King Mansingh Khadka Magar of Gorkha. These regions were part of the historical [[Magarat]] confederation, a loose alliance of Magar principalities.

Dravya Shah rose to power with the assistance of influential local Magars, including Gongaram Rana Magar, during the traditional Ligligkot race where the winner would assume kingship. After capturing Ligligkot, he went on to conquer Gorkhakot from King Mansingh Khadka Magar, thereby founding the Kingdom of Gorkha in 1559 CE.

The name '''Gorkha''' is believed to be derived from the yogi saint [[Gorakhnath]], who is said to have blessed Dravya Shah's rise to power. His influence continues to be revered in the region, including at the [[Gorakhnath Temple]] in Gorkha.

Dravya Shah's descendants eventually unified much of what is now Nepal under the leadership of [[Prithvi Narayan Shah]], initiating the unification of Nepal in the 18th century.




<gallery widths="200px" heights="200px">
File:Kings Palace Gorkha Nepal.jpg|The old king's Darbar at Gorkha
File:Nepal30005a.JPG|Mohar of Gorkha king Prithvi Narayan Shah dated [[Shalivahana era|Saka Era]] 1685 (1763 CE)
</gallery>

==List of kings of Gorkha==
[[File:Khas or Kus group, Goorkha, dominant tribe, Nipal.jpg|thumb|Khas or Kus group, Gorkha, dominant tribe, Nepal]]

The following is a list of the ten kings of the Gorkha principality:{{citation needed|date=August 2020}}
{{Succession table monarch
| name1        = [[Dravya Shah]]
| nickname1    = 
| native1      = राजा द्रव्य शाह
| life1        = died 1570
| reignstart1  =  1559
| reignend1    = 1570
| notes1       = Son of [[Yasho Brahma Shah]]
| family1      = Shah
| image1       = 
| alt1         = Dravya Shah of Gorkha
| name2        = [[Purna Shah]]
| nickname2    = 
| native2      = पूर्ण शाह/ पूरेन्द्र शाह
| life2        = died 1605
| reignstart2  = 1570
| reignend2    = 1605
| notes2       = Son of Dravya Shah
| family2      = Shah
| image2       = 
|alt2          = Purendra Shah of Gorkha
| name3        = [[Chatra Shah]]
| nickname3    = 
| native3      = छत्र शाह
| life3        = died 1609 (heirless)
| reignstart3  = 1605
| reignend3    = 1609
| notes3       = First son of Purna Shah
| family3      = Shah
| image3       = 
| alt3         = Chatra Shah of Gorkha
| name4        = [[Ram Shah]]
| nickname4    = Ram Shah The Just
| native4      = श्रीमन्त महाराजधिराज राम शाह
| life4        = died 1636
| reignstart4  = 1609
| reignend4    = 1633 (abdicated)
| notes4       = Second son of Purna Shah<br />adopted title of Svasti Sri Giriraj
| family4      = Shah
| image4       = King Ram Shah.jpg
| alt4         = Ram Shah of Gorkha
| name5        = [[Dambar Shah]]
| nickname5    = 
| native5      = डम्वर शाह
| life5        =  died 1645
| reignstart5  = 1633
| reignend5    = 1645
| notes5       = Son of Ram Shah
| family5      = Shah
| image5       = 
| alt5         = Dambar Shah of Gorkha
| name6        = [[Krishna Shah (Nepalese royal)|Krishna Shah]]
| nickname6    = 
| native6      =  श्रीकृष्ण शाह
| life6        = died 1661
| reignstart6  = 1645
| reignend6    = 1661
| notes6       = Son of Dambar Shah
| family6      = Shah
| image6       = 
| alt6         = Krishna Shah of Gorkha
| name7        = [[Rudra Shah]]
| nickname7    = 
| native7      = रुद्र शाह
| life7        = died 1673
| reignstart7  = 1661
| reignend7    = 1673
| notes7       = Son of Krishna Shah
| family7      = Shah
| image7       = 
| alt7         = Rudra Shah of Gorkha
| name8        = [[Prithvipati Shah]]
| nickname8    = 
| native8      = पृथ्वीपत्ति शाह
| life8        = died 1716
| reignstart8  = 1673
| reignend8    = 1716
| notes8       = Son of Rudra Shah
| family8      = Shah
| image8       = 
| alt8         = Prithvipati Shah of Gorkha
| name9        = [[Nara Bhupal Shah]]
| nickname9    = 
| native9      = नरभूपाल शाह
| life9        = 1697 – 3 April 1743
| reignstart9  = 1716
| reignend9    = 1743
| notes9       = Grandson of Prithvipati Shah and Son of Prince [[Birbhadra Shah]]
| family9      = Shah
| image9       = 
| alt9         = Nara Bhupal Shah of Gorkha
| name10        = [[Prithvi Narayan Shah]]
| nickname10    = 
| native10      = बडामहाराजधिराज पृथ्वीनारायण शाह
| life10        = {{Birth date|1723|1|11|df=y}}{{citation needed|date=August 2020}} – {{Death date and age|1775|1|11|1723|1|11|df=y}}
| reignstart10  = 1743
| reignend10    = 25 September 1768
| notes10       = Son of Nara Bhupal Shah
| family10      = Shah
| image10       = Prithvi Narayan Shah.jpg
| alt10         = Prithvi Narayan Shah of Gorkha
}}

==Expansion campaign==
{{main article|Unification of Nepal}}

From the 1730s, the [[Gorkha Kingdom]] began expanding under King [[Nara Bhupal Shah]], although most of the significant conquests occurred during the reign of his son, [[Prithvi Narayan Shah]], starting in 1743. His campaigns were later continued by his younger son, [[Bahadur Shah of Nepal|Bahadur Shah]]. Over time, they extended their control over large areas to the east and west of [[Gorkha District|Gorkha]].

Among their most important acquisitions was the wealthy [[Newar]] confederacy of [[Nepal Mandala]], centered in the [[Kathmandu Valley]]. Beginning in the 1760s, the Gorkhalis imposed a blockade to weaken the valley’s kingdoms. In response, the Malla kings appealed to the [[British East India Company]] for assistance. In 1767, the Company sent an expedition led by Captain [[Kinloch Expedition|George Kinloch]], which failed before reaching Kathmandu.

The three Newar capitals—[[Kathmandu]], [[Lalitpur, Nepal|Lalitpur]], and [[Bhaktapur]]—fell to the Gorkhalis between 1768 and 1769. Prithvi Narayan Shah then declared Kathmandu the new capital of his unified kingdom.

In 1788, the Gorkhalis turned their attention northward and invaded [[Tibet]], seizing the towns of [[Gyirong Town|Kyirong]] and [[Nyalam Town|Kuti]], and forcing the Tibetan government to pay tribute. When Tibet stopped the payments, the Gorkhas launched a second invasion in 1791, during which they looted the [[Tashilhunpo Monastery]] in [[Shigatse]]. In response, the [[Qing dynasty]] of China sent an army into Nepal. The Chinese forces advanced to [[Nuwakot District|Nuwakot]] but were halted due to stiff resistance and logistical challenges.

The Gorkha regent [[Bahadur Shah of Nepal|Bahadur Shah]] requested military assistance from the British, including 10 howitzers, but the arms deal fell through. Eventually, peace was negotiated, and the [[Sino-Nepalese War]] concluded with the signing of the [[Treaty of Betrawati]] in 1792.

A later conflict, the [[Nepalese–Tibetan War]] (1855–1856), resulted in a Nepalese victory and the signing of the [[Treaty of Thapathali]], which granted Nepal financial indemnities and trade privileges.

By the early 19th century, the Gorkha dominion stretched from [[Kumaon Kingdom|Kumaon]] and [[Garhwal Kingdom|Garhwal]] in the west to [[Sikkim]] in the east. However, after their defeat in the [[Anglo-Nepalese War]] (1814–1816), the Gorkhalis were forced to sign the [[Treaty of Sugauli]], ceding large territories to the British East India Company and reducing the kingdom to its current borders.

==Gorkha to Nepal==
[[File:1907ca 4paisa Nepal Mi22.jpg|thumb|[[Postage stamp]] issued by Gorkha government in 1907]]
[[File:Gorkhapatra masthead 9Jan33.jpg|thumb|''Gorkhapatra'' dated January 9, 1933]]

The Gorkha dominion continued to be known as "Gorkha Rajya" ({{lit|Gorkha kingdom}}) as well as [[History of Asal Hindustan|Asal Hindustan]] until the beginning of the 20th century. Historically, the name 'Nepal' referred mainly to Kathmandu valley, the homeland of the Newars. Since the 1930s, the state began using it to refer to the entire country and 'Nepal Khaldo' (Nepal Valley) became 'Kathmandu Valley'.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.lonelyplanet.com/nepal/history|title=History of Nepal - Lonely Planet Travel Information|last=Planet|first=Lonely|website=www.lonelyplanet.com|access-date=2016-05-08|archive-date=2017-09-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170922112927/http://www.lonelyplanet.com/nepal/history|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wiIw2_WFwC4C|title=Nepal 8|last=Bindloss|first=Joseph|date=2010-09-15|publisher=Lonely Planet|isbn=9781742203614|language=en}}</ref> The name Gorkha Sarkar (meaning Gorkha government) was also changed to Nepal government.

Similarly, the Gorkhali language was renamed as [[Nepali language|Nepali]] in 1933.<ref>{{cite book |last=Lienhard |first=Siegfried |date=1992 |title=Songs of Nepal: An Anthology of Nevar Folksongs and Hymns |location=New Delhi |publisher=Motilal Banarsidas |isbn=81-208-0963-7 |page=3}}</ref> The term Gorkhali in the former [[national anthem]] entitled "Shreeman Gambhir" was changed to Nepali in 1951.<ref>{{cite news|title=The kings song |url=http://www.himalmag.com/component/content/article/4214-.html |access-date=3 April 2012 |newspaper=Himal Southasian |date=June 2003 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025182216/http://www.himalmag.com/component/content/article/4214-.html |archive-date=25 October 2012 }}</ref> The government newspaper, launched in 1901, is still known as [[Gorkhapatra]] (meaning Gorkha gazette).

The Shah dynasty ruled Nepal until 2008 when it became a republic following a people's movement.<ref>{{cite news|title= Nepal's Gorkha kingdom falls |url= http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2008-06-02/rest-of-world/27770497_1_narayanhity-dipendra-prithvi-narayan-shah |archive-url= https://archive.today/20130411033226/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2008-06-02/rest-of-world/27770497_1_narayanhity-dipendra-prithvi-narayan-shah |url-status= dead |archive-date= 11 April 2013 |access-date=11 February 2013|newspaper= [[The Times of India]] |date= 2 June 2008}}</ref> Today, [[Gorkha District]], roughly corresponding to the old kingdom, is one of the 77 administrative districts of Nepal.

==Gurkhas==
[[File:5th Gurkha Rifles, Japan 1946.jpg|thumb|Gurkha soldiers arrive in Japan in 1946 as part of Allied occupation forces]]

The [[Gurkha]]s are renowned soldiers recruited mainly from Nepal and parts of India, serving in the British and Indian armies. Their military tradition began after the [[Anglo-Nepalese War]] and the [[Treaty of Sugauli]] (1816), which allowed the British East India Company to enlist men from the hills of the former Gorkha kingdom.

The Magar and Gurung were the largest groups recruited into the British Gurkha Rifles during World War I and World War II, followed by the Rai and Limbu, who also made significant contributions to the war efforts.

Several Gurkhas have been awarded the [[Victoria Cross]] for exceptional bravery, including [[Kulbir Thapa Magar]], [[Tul Bahadur Pun Magar]], [[Karanbahadur Rana Magar]], [[Lalbahadur Thapa|Lalbahadur Thapa Magar]], [[Netrabahadur Thapa|Netrabahadur Thapa Magar]], [[Rambahadur Limbu]], [[Ganju Lama]], [[Gaje Ghale]], and [[Dipprasad Pun]] was the first and only Gurkha to receive the [[Conspicuous Gallantry Cross]] in the 21st century.

During World War II (1939–1945), over 250,000 Gurkhas served in various battalions and specialized units, earning 2,734 bravery awards and suffering around 32,000 casualties across multiple theatres of war.<ref name="wwii_gurkhas"/>

==Gallery==
<gallery class="center" widths="200px" heights="200px"> 
File:Metal Window.JPG|Metal window
File:Stone history.JPG|Stone history
File:Gorkha Durbar.JPG|Gorkha Durbar
File:King Prithavi Pal.JPG|King Prithavi Pal
File:Image of Goddess & Gorkha Palace.JPG|Image of goddess & Gorkha Palace
File:Gorkha Tallo Durbar.JPG|Gorkha Tallo Durbar
File:Shree Panch Bada Maharajadhiraj Prithavi Narayan Shah Dev.JPG|Shree Panch Bada Maharajadhiraj Prithavi Narayan Shah Dev
File:Nepali Cannon.JPG|Nepali cannon
File:Nagada.JPG|Nagada
</gallery>

== See also ==
* [[Gurkha]]
* [[Battle of Kathmandu]]
* [[Kingdom of Nepal]]
* [[List of Hindu empires and dynasties]]
* [[Shah dynasty]]
* [[Rana dynasty]]

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{Nepal topics}}

{{Uttarakhand}}

[[Category:Gorkha Kingdom| ]]
[[Category:Gurkhas]]
[[Category:Chaubisi Rajya]]
[[Category:16th-century establishments in Nepal]]
[[Category:18th-century disestablishments in Nepal]]
[[Category:Former kingdoms]]
[[Category:States and territories disestablished in the  1760s]]