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{{Short description|Nepali Kshetri dynasty (1846–1951)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2018}}
{{more citations needed|date=September 2011}}{{Infobox dynasty
| name = Rana dynasty
| native_name = राणा वंश
| native_name_lang = ne
| other_names = Ranas of Nepal
| coat_of_arms = Coat of Arms of Rana dynasty.jpg
| coat_of_arms_size = 100px
| image = Royal standards of the Rana Dynasty (19th century).svg
| image_size = 100px
| parent_family = [[Kunwar family]]
| country = [[Kingdom of Nepal]]
| founded = 1846
| founder = [[Jung Bahadur Rana | Bir Narsingh Kunwar]]
(Jung Bahadur Rana)
| dissolution = 1951
| final_ruler = [[Mohan Shumsher|Mohan Shumsher Rana]]
| motto = ''"[[Janani Janmabhumishcha Swargadapi Gariyasi]]"''<br/>{{small|Mother and Motherland are superior to heaven}}
| motto_lang = ne
| properties = [[Rana palaces of Nepal]]
| titles = Shree Teen Maharaja of Nepal, Maharaja of Lamjung and Kaski
}}
{{Ranas of Nepal}}
The '''Rana dynasty''' ({{langx|ne|राणा वंश|Rāṇā vaṃśa|IAST=}}, {{IPA|sa|raːɳaː ʋɐ̃ɕɐ|Lang}}, {{IPA|ne|raɳa bʌŋsʌ|Lang}}) was a [[Chhetri]]{{refn|group=note|Founder of this dynasty, [[Jang Bahadur Rana|Jang Bahadur Kunwar Rana]], was a noble of [[Khas people|Khas community]]{{sfn|Dor Bahadur Bista|1991|p=37}} and he belonged to the [[Kunwar family]] of Gorkha which was historically a [[Khadka]]{{sfn|Sharma Baral|1964|p=111}} and a [[Chhetri]] clan.{{sfn|Regmi|1975|p=90}} Kunwar genealogy also states the title of 'Kunwar Khadka' taken by the ancestors of the Kunwar family.{{sfn|Wright|1877|p=285}} They also had marital relations with other Chhetri families as the [[Thapa dynasty]] of Mukhtiyar [[Bhimsen Thapa]] and the [[Pande dynasty]] of [[Ranajit Pande]].<ref name="PurushottamShamsher1990" />}} dynasty that<ref name="google">{{cite book |title=Greater Game |author=Van PraaghD |date=2003 |publisher=MQUP |isbn=978-0-7735-7130-3 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KVDIvLQDGckC&pg=PA319 |page=319 |access-date=11 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170911115456/https://books.google.com/books?id=KVDIvLQDGckC&pg=PA319 |archive-date=11 September 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> imposed [[authoritarianism]] in the [[Kingdom of Nepal]] from 1846 until 1951, reducing the [[Shah dynasty|Shah monarch]] to a figurehead and making the [[List of Prime Ministers of Nepal|Prime Minister]] and other government positions held by the Ranas hereditary. The Rana dynasty is historically known for their iron-fisted rule in Nepal.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://archive.nepalitimes.com/article/Nepali-Times-Buzz/the-rana-reign-a-recap-of-history,3751 |title = The Rana reign &#124; Nepali Times Buzz &#124; Nepali Times}}</ref> This changed after the [[Revolution of 1951]] with the promulgation of a new constitution, when power shifted back to the [[monarchy]] of [[King Tribhuvan]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Kraemer |first=Karl-Heinz |title=Democratization and political parties in Nepal |url=http://nepalresearch.org/publications/harvard_9903.htm |publisher=Harvard University |access-date=25 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130524165715/http://nepalresearch.org/publications/harvard_9903.htm |archive-date=24 May 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref>

The Rana dynasty were descended from the [[Kunwar family]], a nobility of the [[Gorkha Kingdom]].{{sfn|Joshi|Rose|1966|p=30}} Due to their marital lineages with the politically reigning [[Thapa dynasty]] (of ''[[Mukhtiyar]]'' [[Bhimsen Thapa]]) from the early 19th century, the Ranas gained entry to central [[Durbar (court)|Darbar]] politics.{{sfn|Acharya|2012|p=11-12}}<ref name="PurushottamShamsher1990" /> The Ranas were also linked to a minor faction of the [[Pande dynasty]] of Gorkha through the Thapa dynasty.<ref name="PurushottamShamsher1990" />

== Genealogy ==
Please note that the following genealogy by Daniel Wright was most likely fabricated during the nineteenth century, and there is no historical evidence before that time to back it up.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |last=Whelpton |first=John |date=August 1987 |title=The Ancestors of Jang Bahadur Rana: History, Propaganda and Legend |url=https://himalaya.socanth.cam.ac.uk/collections/journals/contributions/pdf/CNAS_14_03_01.pdf |journal=Contributions to Nepalese Studies |volume=14 |issue=3 |pages=162, 163 |via=SOCANTH Himalaya, Cambridge University}}</ref>

Chronicler Daniel Wright has published the genealogy of [[Jang Bahadur Kunwar Rana]]. The genealogy begins with Tattā Rāṇā as [[Raja]] (King) of [[Chittaurgarh]].{{sfn|Wright|1877|p=285}} His nephew Fakht Siṃha Rāṇā had a son named Rāma Siṃha Rāṇā, who came to the hills after the siege of Chittaur.{{sfn|Wright|1877|p=285}} He was employed by a hill Raja for ten or twelve months who wanted to retain Rāma Siṃha in his country. The hill Raja asked for the daughter of the [[Raja]] of Bīnātī, a Bagāle [[Chhetri|Kṣetrī]], and married her to Rāma Siṃha.{{sfn|Wright|1877|p=285}} They had six sons over 10–12 years, one of whom was recognized by the title of ''[[Kunwar|Kum̐vara]] [[Khadka|Khaḍkā]]'' for bravery displayed in the battle against Raja of Satān Koṭ.{{sfn|Wright|1877|p=285}} The title was used by his descendants. Rāma Siṃha was suddenly met by his younger brother who requested him to return Chittaur for once, and Rāma Siṃha died reaching there.{{sfn|Wright|1877|p=286}} The hill Raja made Rāma Siṃha's son Rāut Kunwar a nobleman (Sardār) and commandant of the army.{{sfn|Wright|1877|p=286}} Ahirāma Kunwar, a son of Rāut Kunwar, was invited by the King of Kaski and was made a nobleman with a birta or jagir of Dhuage Saghu village.{{sfn|Wright|1877|p=286}} The King of Kaski asked for the hand of Ahirāma's daughter, who was a great beauty, through only Kalas Puja, to which Ahirāma replied to give his daughter only through lawful marriage.{{sfn|Wright|1877|p=286}} The King brought his troops and tried to take on the village by force.{{sfn|Wright|1877|p=286}} Ahirāma was supported by the villagers belonging to the Parājulī Thāpā caste and a war was initiated.{{sfn|Wright|1877|p=286}} On the same day, Ahirāma took his immediate family including two sons namely; [[Ram Krishna Kunwar]] and Jaya Krishna Kunwar, to the King of Gorkha, [[Prithvi Narayan Shah]] where the lands of Kunwar-Khola were given to them as ''birta''.{{sfn|Wright|1877|pp=286-87}}

[[John Whelpton]] opines that the Kunwar origin legend which states that the first of their ancestors to enter the hill married a daughter of Bagale Kshetri might have directed their family links to [[Bagale Thapa]], the clan of Mukhtiyar [[Bhimsen Thapa]].{{sfn|Whelpton|1991|p=36}}

The Rana dynasty descended from ''Kunwar'' Kumbhakaran Singh, younger brother of [[Guhila dynasty|Guhila]] King of [[Mewar]], Rawal [[Ratnasimha]]. During the [[Siege of Chittorgarh (1303)|first siege of Chittorgarh]] in 1303 A.D., Kumbhakaran Singh's descendants left [[Mewar]] to the north, towards the Himalayan foothills, according to the book "Rana's Of Nepal" where the preface is written by [[Arvind Singh Mewar]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GE1uAAAAMAAJ&q=ranas+of+nepal |title=THE RANAS OF NEPAL |last1=Rana |first1=Prabhakar S. J. B. |last2=Rana |first2=Pashupati Shumshere Jung Bahadur |last3=Rana |first3=Gautam S. J. B. |year=2003}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GE1uAAAAMAAJ&q=Arvind+Singh+mewar|title=Ranas Of Nepal|year=2003}}</ref> The Rana dynasty claimed to be Rajputs of western Indian origin, rather than the native Khas Kshatriyas despite the fact that they spoke [[Khas language]] and attempted to disassociate from their [[Khas people|Khas]] past.{{sfn|Richard Burghart|1984|pp=118-119}} Also, many historians are of the opinion that ruling families in Nepal often claim [[Rajput|Indian Rajput]] descent for political purposes.<ref name="Singh1997">{{cite book|author=Nagendra Kr Singh|title=Nepal: Refugee to Ruler : a Militant Race of Nepal|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Aaog6bnQlNYC&pg=PA1|year=1997|publisher=APH Publishing|isbn=978-81-7024-847-7|pages=1–2}}</ref> The Ranas claimed the [[Vats (clan)|Vatsa]] [[gotra]].{{sfn|Sharma Baral|1964|p=111}}

== Historical background ==
{{See|Kunwar family}}
[[File:Ram Krishna Kunwar.jpg|thumb|left|''[[Sardar]]'' [[Ram Krishna Kunwar]], prominent male ancestor of Ranas of Nepal]]
The founder of this dynasty was [[Jang Bahadur Kunwar Rana]], who belonged to the [[Kunwar family]],{{sfn|Joshi|Rose|1966|p=30}} which was then considered a noble family of [[Kshatriya]] status.{{sfn|Joshi|Rose|1966|p=30}} Jang Bahadur was a son of Gorkhali governor [[Bal Narsingh Kunwar]] and nephew of [[Mathabarsingh Thapa]],{{sfn|Acharya|2012|p=11-12}} the reigning [[Prime Minister of Nepal]] (1843–1845) from the [[Thapa dynasty]].{{sfn|Acharya|2012|p=177-178}} Bal Narsingh Kunwar was the son of Kaji [[Ranajit Kunwar]] and grandson of ''[[Sardar]]'' [[Ram Krishna Kunwar]],{{sfn|Pradhan|2012|p=193}} who was prominent military general of King [[Prithvi Narayan Shah]].{{sfn|Adhikari|1984|p=27}}{{sfn|Hamal|1995|pp=180-181}} Ram Krishna Kunwar was born to Ahiram Kunwar.{{sfn|Pradhan|2012|p=193}} There were ample of rewards and recognitions received by ''Sardar'' Ram Krishna Kunwar from the Gorkhali monarch Prithvi Narayan.{{sfn|Hamal|1995|p=181}} His grandson Bal Narsingh was initially a follower of the renounced King [[Rana Bahadur Shah]] and Kaji [[Bhimsen Thapa]], and followed the King in his exile to [[Banaras]] on 1 May 1800.{{sfn|Pradhan|2012|p=13}} On the night of 25 April 1806, King Rana Bahadur was killed by step-brother Sher Bahadur in desperation after which Bal Narsingh immediately killed the King's assassin.{{sfn|Acharya|2012|p=67}}{{sfn|Nepal|2007|pp=62–63}}{{sfn|Pradhan|2012|pp=27-28}} He was a close ally of the influential minister Bhimsen Thapa,{{sfn|Acharya|2012|p=67}} who initiated a great massacre at Bhandarkhal garden following the chaos from the King's murder.{{sfn|Pradhan|2012|p=28}}{{sfn|Acharya|2012|pp=68–71}}{{sfn|Nepal|2007|pp=63–64}} Following closeness to Mukhtiyar Bhimsen, he became the son-in-law of Bhimsen's brother ''Kaji '' [[Nain Singh Thapa]] of [[Thapa dynasty]].<ref name="PurushottamShamsher1990">{{cite book |last=JBR |first=PurushottamShamsher |date=1990 |title=Shree Teen Haruko Tathya Britanta |language=ne |location=Bhotahity, Kathmandu |publisher=Vidarthi Pustak Bhandar |isbn=978-99933-39-91-5 }}</ref> The close relatives and supporters of Thapa faction replaced the old courtiers and administrators.{{sfn|Pradhan|2012|p=28}} The Kunwar family came to power being relatives of powerful Mukhtiyar Bhimsen Thapa. Similarly, Kunwars were related to [[Pande dynasty]] by their maternal grandmother Rana Kumari Pande who was daughter of ''[[Mulkaji]]'' [[Ranajit Pande]].<ref name="PurushottamShamsher1990" />

=== Rise of Jung Bahadur ===
[[File:Jang Bahadur Ranaji.jpg|thumb|Portrait of [[Jung Bahadur Rana|Jung Bahadur Kunwar Ranaji]], founder of Rana dynasty]]
Bal Narsingh's son ''Kaji'' [[Jang Bahadur Rana|Jung Bahadur Kunwar]] became a significant person in the central politics of Nepal during the prime ministership of his uncle [[Mathabar Singh Thapa]].{{sfn|Adhikari|1984|p=27}} On 17 May 1845 around 11&nbsp;pm, Mathabar Singh was summoned to the royal palace and was assassinated in a cold blood by Jung Bahadur on the royal orders.{{sfn|Adhikari|1984|p=27}} He was considered to have been merciless, ruthless and fatal due to his association with Mathabar Singh.{{sfn|Adhikari|1984|p=27}} Jung Bahadur was made a [[Kaji (Nepal)|Kaji]] (equivalent to minister) after following the order of assassination of Mathabar.{{sfn|Joshi|Rose|1966|p=30}}

On the night of 14 September 1846, Queen [[Rajya Lakshmi Devi]] summoned the courtiers on the mysterious murderer of her aide ''General Kaji'' [[Gagan Singh Bhandari|Gagan Singh]], to which courtiers hurried to the Kot quickly.{{sfn|Acharya|2013|pp=137}} Many of the courtiers were unarmed except for a sword, as they had responded immediately to the royal summons. The armies allocated by [[Jung Bahadur Rana]] also had taken most of the arms of courtiers who had managed to bring them. Queen Rajya Lakshmi Devi and King [[Rajendra Bikram Shah]] were also present in the Kot.{{sfn|Acharya|2013|pp=137–145}} Queen Rajya Lakshmi demanded the execution of Kaji Bir Keshar (Kishor) Pande on alleged suspicion to which General [[Abhiman Singh Rana Magar]] looked towards King for confirmation. Jang misinformed Queen that Abhiman Singh's troops were arriving for overpowering the Queen's faction and demanded an immediate arrest.{{sfn|Joshi|Rose|1966|p=30}} Abhiman tried to force his way out and was killed by Jung's soldier. In the chaos followed, Jung and his brothers began bloodshed and many rival nobles and courtiers were eliminated by them.{{sfn|Joshi|Rose|1966|pp=30-31}} The letter to British Resident [[Henry Montgomery Lawrence]] stated that there were 32 Bharadars (courtiers) killed in the massacre.{{sfn|Stiller|1981|pp=304-306}}

===Kot massacre episode===
{{See|1846 Bhandarkhal massacre}}
When Jang Bahadur refused the Junior Queen's request to place Prince Ranendra in the place of Crown Prince [[Surendra of Nepal|Surendra]], the Queen secretly contacted the victims of Kot and conspired to assassinate Jung Bahadur in the royal Bhandarkhal garden. After receiving a command from the Queen to come to Bhandarkhal, Jang Bahadur took his fully armed troops and headed towards the garden. The troops killed the chief conspirator, Birdhwaj Basnyat on the way, and marched towards Bhandarkhal where seeing Jang Bahadur approach fully armed with his troops, the other conspirators started to flee. 23 people were killed in the massacre while 15 escaped.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Life of Maharaja Sir Jung Bahadur Rana|url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.66474|last=Jung|first=Padma|year=1909|location=Allahabad|pages=[https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.66474/page/n111 88]}}</ref> In the 23rd of September 1846, all officers of military and bureaucracy were called upon to their respective offices within 10 days. Then, Jung Bahadur appointed his brothers and nephews to the highest ranks of the government.<ref name="Britanta">{{Cite book|title=Ranashasanko Britanta|last=Rana|first=Pramod Shumsher|publisher=Pairavi Book House|year=2009|isbn=9789994630721|location=Kathmandu|pages=31, 32, 44}}</ref> He consolidated the position of premiership after conducting [[Kot massacre]] (Kot Parva) and Bhandarkhal Parva<ref>{{cite book |last=Rana |first=Purushottam S.J.B. |title=Jung Bahadur Rana: the story of his rise and glory |year=1998 |pages=150 |publisher=Book Faith India |isbn=978-81-7303-087-1}}</ref> on the basic templates provided by his maternal [[grand-uncle]] ''Mukhtiyar'' [[Bhimsen Thapa]].{{sfn|Acharya|2012|p=11-12}}

==Rana Regime; Rule of Jang==
After the massacres of Kot and Bhandarkhal, the [[Thapa dynasty|Thapas]], [[Pande dynasty|Pandes]], [[Basnyat family|Basnyats]] and other citizens had settled in [[Banaras]]. Similarly, some citizens had gone to settle in [[Nautanwa]] and [[Bettiah]]. ''Chautariya'' Guru Prasad Shah too had gone to live with the King of Bettiah. After knowing about the presence of the King and the Queen in Benaras, Guru Prasad went there and started to congregate an army and a plan to execute Jung Bahadur started to be formed.<ref name="Britanta"/>

===Battle of Alau===
On 12 May 1847, Jung Bahadur gave a speech in [[Tundikhel]]. There he accused the King of the attempted assassination of the Prince and the Prime Minister. The Council then decided to dethrone King Rajendra deeming him mentally ill, and on the same day [[Surendra of Nepal|Surendra]] was crowned as the new king of Nepal. Hearing the news of the coronation of Surendra, Rajendra decided to take the responsibility of removing Jung Bahadur upon himself and declaring himself as the leader of the army, he left Benaras. Rajendra then appointed Guru Prasad Shah as the Chief of the Army for the operation of removal of Jung Bahadur Rana from Nepal and started to accumulate weapons and training the troops. Antagonism from the [[Company rule in India|British-India Company]] forced Rajendra and his troops to enter Nepal. On 23 July, the troops reached a village called [[Alau, Nepal|Alau]] in Bara and set a camp there. One spy group of the Government of Nepal was keeping close eyes on the event of the rebel groups at [[Bettiah]]. They sent the news to Jung Bahadur, immediately after which he sent a troop in the leadership of Sanak Singh Tandon to Alau. They were told to suppress the rebellions, arrest Rajendra and bring him to Kathmandu. On 27 July, the ''Gorakhnath Paltan'' (Gorakhnath Battalion) reached and rested in a village called [[Simraungadh]], not too far from Alau. The battle of Alau was a decisive one between the forces of King Rajendra and Jang Bahadur. The King lost significantly in the battle. If the massacre of Kot had established Jung Bahadur as a dictator, the battle of Alau had helped him strengthen his dictatorship. Rajendra was imprisoned in an old palace in Bhaktapur.<ref name="Britanta"/>

=== Rise to royalty ===
On 15 May 1848, a ''lal mohar'' (royal seal) was issued, issued claiming descent for the Kunwars/self-style Ranas from [[Sisodia Dynasty|Ranas of Mewar]] and authorizing the Kunwar family of Jang Bahadur to style themselves as '''Kunwar Ranaji'''.{{sfn|Whelpton|1991|p=253}} On 6 August 1856, Jang Bahadur Kunwar (now Ranaji) was conferred the title of [[Maharaja]] ('''Great King''') of Kaski and Lamjung, two former hill principalities, by King of Nepal, [[Surendra Bikram Shah]]. This was done through indirect control of the king via his wife [[Trailokya Rajya Lakshmi Devi|Queen Trailokya]], and through threats against the king.{{sfn|Whelpton|1991|p=187}} Before this, the Ranas had merely been regarded as Khas-Chhetris, and had had no pretensions to any kind of royal origin.<ref name=":0" />

==Rana Regime; Rule of the Shamshers==

[[File:Bir_Shamsher JBR.jpg|thumb|[[Bir Shumsher Jung Bahadur Rana|Bir Shumsher Jang Bahadur Rana]], the first Shumsher Rana ruler]]
In 1885, the Shumsher family, the nephews of [[Jung Bahadur Rana|Jung Bahadur Kunwar Rana]], murdered many of the sons of [[Jung Bahadur]] and took over Nepal in a military [[coup d'état]] thus bringing in the rule of the Shumsher Rana family also known as the Satra Bhai (17 brothers) Rana family. They murdered [[Ranodip Singh Kunwar]] and occupied the hereditary throne of Prime Minister. After this they added [[Jang Bahadur]] to their name, although they were descended from Jang's younger brother Dhir Shumsher.<ref name="PurushottamShamsher1990" />

== Kunwar family tree ==
{{Unreferenced section|date=June 2020}}
{{tree chart/start |summary= Ram Krishna Kunwar was born to Ahiram Kunwar.{{sfn|Pradhan|2012|p=193}}{{sfn|Wright|1877|p=286}} He had only a son named [[Ranjit Kunwar]] and three grandsons; [[Bal Narsingh Kunwar]], Balram Kunwar and Rewant Kunwar.{{sfn|Pradhan|2012|p=193}} Bal Narsingh had nine sons in the birth order; Bhakta Bir Kunwar, [[Jang Bahadur Kunwar]], [[Bam Bahadur Kunwar]], Badri Narsingh Kunwar, Jaya Bahadur Kunwar, [[Krishna Bahadur Kunwar Rana|Krishna Bahadur Kunwar]], [[Ranodip Singh Kunwar|Ranauddip Singh Kunwar]], Jagat Shamsher Kunwar and Dhir Shamsher Kunwar.}}
{{tree chart| | | | | | | | | | | | | RKK | | RKK='''[[Ram Krishna Kunwar]]'''}}
{{tree chart| | | | | | | | | | | | | |!| |}}
{{tree chart| | | | | | | | | | | | |RJK| | RJK=[[Ranajit Kunwar]]|}}
{{tree chart| |,|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|v|-|^|-|-|-|-|-|.|}}
{{tree chart| BNK| | | | | | | | BRK | | | | | | RwK|BNK='''[[Bal Narsingh Kunwar]]'''|BRK=Balaram Kunwar|RwK=Rewant Kunwar}}
{{tree chart| |)|-|-|-|v|-|-|-|v|-|-|-|v|-|-|-|v|-|-|-|v|-|-|-|v|-|-|-|v|-|-|-|.|}}
{{tree chart| BBK| | JBK| | BBaK| | BNK | | JBaK | | KBK | |RSK | | JSK | | DSK | BBK= Bhakta Bir Kunwar|JBK='''[[Jang Bahadur Kunwar]]'''|BBaK= [[Bam Bahadur Kunwar]] | BNK= Badri Narsingh Kunwar |JBaK=Jaya Bahadur Kunwar|KBK= Krishna Bahadur Kunwar |RSK='''[[Ranodip Singh Kunwar|Ranauddip Singh Kunwar]]'''|JSK=Jagat Shamsher Kunwar|DSK=[[Dhir Shamsher Rana|Dhir Shamsher Kunwar]]}}
{{tree chart/end}}

== Rana Prime Ministers ==
Nine Rana rulers took the hereditary office(s) of Prime Minister, Supreme Commander-in-Chief and Grand Master of the Royal Orders. All were crowned as the Maharaja of [[Lamjung District|Lamjung]] and [[Kaski District|Kaski]].

{{Tree list}}
* [[Ranajit Kunwar]] Rana (1723–1815)
** {{Tree list/final branch}} [[Bal Narsingh Kunwar]] Rana (1783–1841)
*** [[File:Simple silver crown.svg|15px]] '''I. Shrī Tīn [[Jung Bahadur Rana|Jung Bahadur Kunwar Rana]]''' [[Order of the Bath|GCB]], [[Order of the Star of India|GCSI]] (18 June 1816 – 25 February 1877). Prime Minister and C-in-C 15 September 1846 to 1 August 1856 and from 28 June 1857 until his death. Granted the hereditary title of ''Rana'' on 5 May 1848, as a suffix to the male members of his family. Granted the hereditary title of ''Maharaja of Lamjung and Kaski'' (to be enjoyed ‘offspring to offspring’, and the hereditary offices of Prime Minister and C-in-C (to be enjoyed in succession by his surviving brothers, his sons, then his nephews), 6 August 1856. Received a [[salute]] of 19 guns from the [[United Kingdom|British]].
*** [[Bam Bahadur Kunwar]] Rana (1818 – 25 May 1857; Prime Minister: 1 August 1856 – 25 May 1857)
*** [[File:Simple silver crown.svg|15px]] '''II. Shrī Tīn [[Ranodip Singh Kunwar]] (aka Ranodip Singh Rana)''' [[Order of the Star of India|KCSI]] (3 April 1825 – assassinated 22 November 1885). Ruled 25 February 1877 to 22 November 1885.
*** {{Tree list/final branch}} General Sri [[Dhir Shumsher Kunwar Rana]] (1828–1884)
**** [[File:Simple silver crown.svg|15px]] '''III. Shrī Tīn [[Bir Shumsher Jung Bahadur Rana]]''' [[Order of the Star of India|GCSI]] (10 December 1852 – 5 March 1901). Ruled 22 November 1885 to 5 March 1901.
**** [[File:Simple silver crown.svg|15px]] '''IV. Shrī Tīn [[Dev Shumsher Jung Bahadur Rana]]''' (17 July 1862 – 20 February 1914). Ruled 5 March to 27 June 1901, when as a result of his progressive nature, he was deposed by his relatives and [[exile]]d to India.
**** [[File:Simple silver crown.svg|15px]] '''V. Shrī Tīn [[Chandra Shumsher Jung Bahadur Rana]]''' [[Order of the Bath|GCB]], [[Order of the Star of India|GCSI]], [[Order of St Michael and St George|GCMG]], [[Royal Victorian Order|GCVO]] (8 July 1863 – 26 November 1929). Ruled 27 June 1901 to 26 November 1929.
***** {{Tree list/final branch}} [[File:Simple silver crown.svg|15px]] '''IX. Shrī Tīn [[Mohan Shumsher JBR|Mohan Shumsher Jung Bahadur Rana]]''' [[Order of the Bath|GCB]], [[Order of the Star of India|GCIE]], [[Order of the British Empire|GBE]] (23 December 1885 – 6 January 1967). Ruled 30 April 1948 to 18 February 1951, at which date he was divested of his titles and later went to [[India]].
**** [[File:Simple silver crown.svg|15px]] '''VI. Shrī Tīn [[Bhim Shumsher Jang Bahadur Rana]]''' [[Order of the Star of India|GCSI]], [[Order of St Michael and St George|GCMG]], [[Royal Victorian Order|KCVO]] (16 April 1865 – 1 September 1932). Ruled 26 November 1929 to 1 September 1932.
***** {{Tree list/final branch}} [[File:Simple silver crown.svg|15px]] '''VIII. Shrī Tīn [[Padma Shumsher Jung Bahadur Rana]]''' [[Order of the Star of India|GCSI]], [[Order of the Indian Empire|GCIE]], [[Order of the British Empire|GBE]], (5 December 1882 – 11 April 1961). Ruled 29 November 1945 to 30 April 1948, whereupon he [[abdicated]] in favor of his cousin.
**** {{Tree list/final branch}} [[File:Simple silver crown.svg|15px]] '''VII. Shrī Tīn [[Juddha Shumsher Jung Bahadur Rana]]''' [[Order of the Bath|GCB]], [[Order of the Star of India|GCSI]], [[Order of the Indian Empire|GCIE]] (19 April 1875 – 20 November 1952). Ruled 1 September 1932 to 29 November 1945, whereupon he [[Abdication|abdicated]] in favour of his nephew.
{{Tree list/end}}

=== Succession ===
Succession to the role of the Prime Ministers and the title of ''Shree Teen Maharaja of Nepal and Maharaja of Lamjung and Kaski'' was by [[agnatic seniority]], by which the oldest male heir among the sons of equal (a-class) marriages in a generation would succeed. The order of succession was determined by seniority, with each eligible male heir holding a military command, as follows:

# Prime Minister and Commander-in-Chief (Mukhtiyar the Heir Apparent, with the rank of Field Marshal).
# Western Commanding-General.
# Eastern Commanding-General.
# Southern Commanding-General.
# Northern Commanding-General.

==Notable Rana members==
<!---♦♦♦ Only add a person to this list if they already have their own article on the English Wikipedia ♦♦♦--->
<!---♦♦♦ Please keep the list in alphabetical order by LAST NAME ♦♦♦--->
*[[Jung Bahadur Rana]]
*[[Bam Bahadur Kunwar]]
*[[Ranodip Singh Kunwar]]
*[[Baber Shumsher Jung Bahadur Rana ]]
*[[Bhim Shumsher Jung Bahadur Rana]]
*[[Bir Shumsher Jung Bahadur Rana]]
*[[Dambar Shumsher Rana]]
*[[Chandra Shumsher Jang Bahadur Rana]]
*[[Dev Shumsher Jung Bahadur Rana]]
*[[Gaurav Shumsher JB Rana]]
*[[Juddha Shumsher Jung Bahadur Rana]]
*[[Kaiser Shumsher Jung Bahadur Rana]]
*[[Kiran Shumsher Rana]]
*[[Madhukar Shamsher Rana]]
*[[Mohan Shumsher Jung Bahadur Rana]]
*[[Nara Shumsher Jang Bahadur Rana]]
*[[Nir Shumsher Jung Bahadur Rana]]
*[[Om Bikram Rana]]
*[[Padma Shumsher Jung Bahadur Rana]]
*[[Pashupati Shamsher Jang Bahadur Rana]]
*[[Pradip Shumsher J.B.R.]]
*[[Ratna Shumsher J.B.R.]]
*[[Rudra Shumsher Jung Bahadur Rana]]
*[[Satchit Rana]]
*[[Toran Shumsher Jung Bahadur Rana]]
*[[Udaya Shumsher Rana]],

===Other notable connected members===
<!---♦♦♦ Only add a person to this list if they already have their own article on the English Wikipedia ♦♦♦--->
<!---♦♦♦ Please keep the list in alphabetical order by LAST NAME ♦♦♦--->
*[[Prithvi Bahadur Pande]], son-in-law of Himalaya Shamsher JBR
*[[Ranajit Pande]], maternal grandfather of Ganesh Kumari, mother of [[Jung Bahadur Rana]]

== Gallery ==
<gallery>
File:Rana couple.jpg|Major-General Vishnu Shamsher Rana and wife
File:Rana family 1915.jpg|Commanding General Babar Shumsher Rana and family
File:Dhir Shamsher Rana and sons bw.jpg|Dhir Shamsher Rana and sons make up Shamsher Rana dynasty
File:Chandra Shamsher and sons.jpg|Chandra Shamsher and sons
</gallery>

== See also ==
* [[Lamjang and Kaski]]
* [[Daudaha system]]
* [[Pajani System]]
* [[Rajputs of Nepal]]
* [[Rolls of Succession in Rana (Nepal)]]
* [[History of Nepal]]
* [[Rana palaces of Nepal]]
* [[Thapa dynasty]]

== References ==
=== Footnotes ===
{{reflist|group=note}}

=== Notes ===
{{reflist}}

=== Bibliography ===
* {{Cite book |title=The Bloodstained Throne: Struggles for Power in Nepal (1775–1914) |last=Acharya |first=Baburam |publisher=Penguin Books Ltd |year=2013 |isbn=978-0-14-341637-1 |location=New Delhi |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UWQtAAAAQBAJ&q=bloodstained+acharya}}
* {{citation |last=Acharya |first=Baburam |editor-last=Acharya |editor-first=Shri Krishna |title=Janaral Bhimsen Thapa : Yinko Utthan Tatha Pattan |location=Kathmandu |year=2012 |pages=228 |language=ne |publisher=Education Book House |isbn=9789937241748}}
* {{citation |last=Adhikari |first=Krishna Kant |title=Nepal Under Jang Bahadur, 1846–1877 |volume=1 |publisher=Buku |year=1984 |location=Nepal |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7PP1yElRzIUC|isbn=9788180698132}}
*{{Cite book |author=Dor Bahadur Bista |author-link=Dor Bahadur Bista |title=Fatalism and Development: Nepal's Struggle for Modernization |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JzFROpFVYRAC&pg=PA48 |year=1991 |publisher=Orient Blackswan |isbn=978-81-250-0188-1 }}
* {{cite book |last=Hamal |first=Lakshman B. |year=1995 |title=Military history of Nepal |publisher=Sharda Pustak Mandir |page=125 |oclc=32779233}}
* {{Cite book |title=Democratic Innovations in Nepal: Case Study of Political Acculturation |last1=Joshi |first1=Bhuwan Lal |last2=Rose |first2=Leo E. |publisher=University of California Press |year=1966 |isbn=978-0-520-00622-5 |location=Berkeley |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MX22o4PJ3Q0C&q=joshi+rose}}
* {{citation |last=Nepal |first=Gyanmani |title=Nepal ko Mahabharat |publisher=Sajha |language=ne |year=2007 |edition=3rd |pages=314 |location=Kathmandu |isbn=9789993325857}}
* {{citation |last=Pradhan |first=Kumar L. |title=Thapa Politics in Nepal: With Special Reference to Bhim Sen Thapa, 1806–1839 |publisher=Concept Publishing Company |year=2012 |isbn=9788180698132 |location=New Delhi |pages=278 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7PP1yElRzIUC}}
*{{citation | last = Regmi | first = Mahesh Chandra | title = Preliminary Notes on the Nature of Rana Law and Government | journal = Regmi Research Series | volume = 7 | issue = 5 | pages = 88–97 | date = May 1, 1975 | url = http://himalaya.socanth.cam.ac.uk/collections/journals/regmi/pdf/Regmi_07.pdf }}
* {{cite journal |author=Richard Burghart |title=The Formation of the Concept of Nation-State in Nepal |jstor=2056748 |journal=The Journal of Asian Studies |volume=44 |issue=1 |year=1984 |pages=101–125 |doi=10.2307/2056748|s2cid=154584368 }}
* {{citation |last= Sharma Baral |first= Leelanatheshwar |title= Life and Writings of Prithvinarayan Shah |year= 1964 |publisher= University of London |url= https://himalaya.socanth.cam.ac.uk/collections/rarebooks/downloads/Baral_1964_thesis.pdf }}
* {{citation |last=Stiller |first=Ludwig F. |title=Letters from Kathmandu: The Kot Massacre |year=1981 |publisher=Research Centre for Nepal and Asian Studies, Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NFBfAQAACAAJ&q=stiller+the+kot+massacre}}
* {{citation |last=Vaidya |first=Tulsi Ram |title=Prithvinaryan Shah, the founder of Nepal |year=1993 |publisher=Anmol Publications |isbn=9788170417019 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jSVwAAAAMAAJ}}
* {{cite book |last=Whelpton |first=John |year=1991 |title=Kings, soldiers, and priests: Nepalese politics and the rise of Jang Bahadur Rana, 1830–1857 |publisher=Manohar Publications |page=254 |isbn=9788185425641}}
* {{citation |last=Wright |first=Daniel |title=History of Nepal |year=1877 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mHE5hkHc7kcC}}

== Further reading ==
* {{Cite book |last=Digby |first=William |year=1993 |orig-year=1890 |title=Friend in Need: 1857; Friendship Forgotten: 1887: An Episode in Indian Foreign Office Administration |url=https://archive.org/details/1857friendinneed00will/page/n7/mode/2up |location=New Delhi; Madras |publisher=J. Jetley for Asian Educational Services |isbn=8120608496 |oclc=42056670}} 

== External links ==
* [http://www.thecosmosphere.com/history-flashback-rana-dynasty/ Old pictures of Nepal from Rana Dynasty]

{{Nepal topics}}
{{Chhetri communities}}

[[Category:Rana dynasty| ]]
[[Category:1951 disestablishments in Nepal]]
[[Category:19th-century establishments in Nepal]]
[[Category:Dynasties of Nepal]]
[[Category:Nepalese monarchy]]
[[Category:Rajput monarchs]]
[[Category:Rana regime]]