After King Prithvi Narayan Shah died in 1831 BS, his successors continued the unification campaign, fought wars with Tibet, China and the British, and saw powerful regents and prime ministers control the state. This period, from 1831 BS to the Kot Parva of 1903 BS, explains how Nepal reached its largest size and then lost land at Sugauli. This note lists the rulers, regents, wars and key events in order.
1. Rulers and regents in order
| Period (BS) | Ruler / regent | Key points |
|---|---|---|
| 1831 to 1834 | King Pratap Singh Shah | Son of Prithvi Narayan Shah; continued expansion; short reign |
| 1834 to 1856 | King Rana Bahadur Shah | Became king as a child; regents ruled for him |
| 1834 to 1842 | Queen mother Rajendra Laxmi (regent) | Led expansion while the king was a minor |
| 1842 to 1851 | Bahadur Shah (regent) | Son of Prithvi Narayan Shah; led the biggest western expansion |
| 1856 to 1873 | King Girvan Yuddha Bikram Shah | Rana Bahadur gave up the throne for him as an infant |
| 1873 to 1904 | King Rajendra Bikram Shah | Weak rule; court conflicts led to Kot Parva in 1903 BS |
2. Expansion under Bahadur Shah
- As regent, Bahadur Shah continued his father’s unification campaign towards the west.
- Many small states of the Baise and Chaubise rajya were joined to Nepal.
- Kumaon was taken in 1847 BS (1790 AD).
- Later, under commander Amar Singh Thapa, Garhwal was taken (1861 BS) and Nepali forces besieged Kangra.
- At its largest, before 1871 BS, Nepal stretched from the Teesta river in the east to the Sutlej river in the west.
3. Wars with Tibet and China
| Event | Year | Result |
|---|---|---|
| First Nepal–Tibet war | 1845 to 1846 BS (1788 to 1789 AD) | Ended with the Treaty of Kerung; Tibet agreed to pay yearly tribute |
| Nepal–China war | 1848 to 1849 BS (1791 to 1792 AD) | Chinese army advanced to Nuwakot; ended with the Treaty of Betrawati (1849 BS) |
After Betrawati, Nepal agreed to send a mission to China every five years. The war checked Nepal’s expansion to the north.
4. Rana Bahadur Shah and Bhimsen Thapa
- King Rana Bahadur Shah was known for his unstable and cruel rule. He gave up the throne for his infant son Girvan Yuddha in 1856 BS and went to Banaras.
- He returned in 1861 BS and was killed by his half-brother Sher Bahadur Shah in 1863 BS.
- Bhimsen Thapa then became Mukhtiyar (chief minister) and ruled from 1863 to 1894 BS, about 31 years.
- He built Dharahara (Bhimsen Tower) and Sundhara, organised the army on modern lines, and led Nepal in the Anglo-Nepal war (1871 to 1872 BS).
- After he lost power, he was jailed on false charges and died in prison in 1896 BS.
5. After Bhimsen Thapa
- King Rajendra Bikram Shah could not control rival court groups (Thapas, Pandes, Basnyats).
- Mathbar Singh Thapa, Bhimsen’s nephew, became prime minister in 1900 BS and was killed in 1902 BS.
- The murder of Gagan Singh Bhandari led to the Kot Parva on 31 Bhadra 1903 BS, after which Jung Bahadur Kunwar took power and began the Rana period.
6. Key events after the unification of Kathmandu
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 1825 BS | Prithvi Narayan Shah takes Kathmandu |
| 1831 BS | Death of Prithvi Narayan Shah; Pratap Singh Shah becomes King |
| 1842–1851 BS | Bahadur Shah as regent expands the kingdom east and west |
| 1849 BS (1792) | Nepal–China war ends with the Treaty of Betrawati |
| 1863–1894 BS | Bhimsen Thapa as Mukhtiyar |
| 1871–1872 BS | Anglo-Nepal war and the Treaty of Sugauli |
7. How this topic is asked in the exam
Objective questions ask the order of rulers, the regents and the treaties after unification. Subjective questions ask about the contribution of Bahadur Shah or Bhimsen Thapa to the expansion and defence of Nepal.
📌 Key points to remember
- Rulers after Prithvi Narayan Shah: Pratap Singh, Rana Bahadur, Girvan Yuddha, Rajendra Bikram Shah.
- Regents for Rana Bahadur: Rajendra Laxmi (to 1842 BS), then Bahadur Shah (1842 to 1851 BS).
- Bahadur Shah led the biggest western expansion; Kumaon taken in 1847 BS.
- At its largest, Nepal stretched from the Teesta to the Sutlej river.
- Nepal–Tibet war ended with the Treaty of Kerung; Nepal–China war with the Treaty of Betrawati (1849 BS).
- Rana Bahadur Shah was killed by Sher Bahadur Shah in 1863 BS.
- Bhimsen Thapa was Mukhtiyar from 1863 to 1894 BS and built Dharahara.
- Court conflict led to the Kot Parva (1903 BS) and the rise of Jung Bahadur.
Test yourself: Nepal After Unification (1831 to 1903 BS)
50 questions check what you read about Rulers and regents in order, Wars with Tibet and China and After Bhimsen Thapa. Each attempt picks 25 at random.