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Rana dynasty

Nepalese Dynasty From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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The Rana dynasty (Nepali: राणा वंश, romanized: Rāṇā vaṃśa, Sanskrit: [raːɳaː ʋɐ̃ɕɐ], Nepali: [raɳa bʌŋsʌ]) was a Chhetri[note 1] dynasty that[6] imposed authoritarianism in the Kingdom of Nepal from 1846 until 1951, reducing the Shah monarch to a figurehead and making the Prime Minister and other government positions held by the Ranas hereditary. The Rana dynasty is historically known for their iron-fisted rule in Nepal.[7] This changed after the Revolution of 1951 with the promulgation of a new constitution, when power shifted back to the monarchy of King Tribhuvan.[8]

Quick Facts Rana dynastyराणा वंश Ranas of Nepal, Parent family ...

The Rana dynasty were descended from the Kunwar family, a nobility of the Gorkha Kingdom.[9] 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 Darbar politics.[10][5] The Ranas were also linked to a minor faction of the Pande dynasty of Gorkha through the Thapa dynasty.[5]

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Genealogy

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The genealogy of Jang Bahadur Kunwar Rana, a prominent figure of the Rana dynasty, was documented by 19th-century chronicler Daniel Wright. According to his account, the lineage begins with Tattā Rāṇā, described as a king of Chittaurgarh.[11] This account has been regarded by historians such as John Whelpton as likely fabricated, lacking corroborative historical evidence prior to the nineteenth century.[11]

Wright claims that Fakht Siṃha Rāṇā, the nephew of Tattā Rāṇā, had a son named Rāma Siṃha Rāṇā who migrated to the Himalayan foothills after the siege of Chittaur.[4] Rāma Siṃha was employed by a local hill raja and later married the daughter of the Raja of Bīnātī, a Bagāle Kṣetrī.[4] They had six sons over a span of 10–12 years, one of whom earned the title Kum̐vara Khaḍkā for his role in a battle against the Raja of Satān Koṭ.[4] This title was inherited by his descendants.

Rāma Siṃha reportedly returned to Chittaur at his brother’s request and died shortly thereafter.[12] His son, Rāut Kunwar, became a nobleman (Sardār) and military commander under the local ruler.[12] Rāut Kunwar’s son, Ahirāma Kunwar, was later invited by the King of Kaski, who granted him land at Dhuage Saghu as birta (tax-free grant).[12] When the King of Kaski attempted to seize Ahirāma's daughter by force after he refused to marry her off through informal rites, a conflict ensued. With the help of villagers from the Parājulī Thāpā caste, Ahirāma resisted the King's forces.[12]

Following this, Ahirāma migrated with his sons, including Ram Krishna Kunwar and Jaya Krishna Kunwar, to Gorkha, where Prithvi Narayan Shah granted them lands known as Kunwar-Khola as birta.[13]

Historian John Whelpton suggests that the Kunwar origin story, involving a marriage into the Bagāle Kshetri lineage, may have been constructed to imply connections with the influential Bagale Thapa clan of Mukhtiyar Bhimsen Thapa.[14]

According to The Ranas of Nepal, the dynasty traced its descent from Kumbhakaran Singh, younger brother of Guhila king Rawal Ratnasimha of Mewar. During the siege of Chittorgarh in 1303 CE, his descendants are said to have migrated north toward the Himalayas.[15][16] This version of the genealogy is included in works endorsed by Arvind Singh Mewar, but its historical accuracy remains debated.[citation needed]

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Origins and Background

The Rana dynasty was a hereditary line of prime ministers who ruled Nepal from 1846 until the early 1950s. The family established a de facto oligarchic rule, reducing the Shah monarchs to ceremonial figures. The dynasty was founded by Jung Bahadur Rana following the Kot Massacre in 1846, which marked a turning point in Nepalese politics.

The Ranas claimed descent from the Rajput aristocracy of western India, specifically the Guhila dynasty of Mewar. According to family lore and publications such as The Ranas of Nepal, the dynasty descended from Kumbhakaran Singh, the younger brother of Rawal Ratnasimha, the Guhila ruler of Chittorgarh during the siege of 1303 CE.[17][18] However, several historians argue that such genealogical claims were politically motivated and part of a broader pattern in South Asia where ruling families adopted prestigious lineages to legitimize their authority.[19]

Although the Ranas identified as Rajputs, they spoke the Khas language and had strong cultural and social ties to the local Khas people.[20] The family belonged to the Vatsa gotra, a Brahminical lineage identifier that they adopted to reinforce their social standing.[2]

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Historical background

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Further information: Kunwar family
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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,[9] which was then considered a noble family of Kshatriya status.[9] Jang Bahadur was a son of Gorkhali governor Bal Narsingh Kunwar and nephew of Mathabarsingh Thapa,[10] the reigning Prime Minister of Nepal (1843–1845) from the Thapa dynasty.[21] Bal Narsingh Kunwar was the son of Kaji Ranajit Kunwar and grandson of Sardar Ram Krishna Kunwar,[22] who was prominent military general of King Prithvi Narayan Shah.[23][24] Ram Krishna Kunwar was born to Ahiram Kunwar.[22] There were ample of rewards and recognitions received by Sardar Ram Krishna Kunwar from the Gorkhali monarch Prithvi Narayan.[25] 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.[26] 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.[27][28][29] He was a close ally of the influential minister Bhimsen Thapa,[27] who initiated a great massacre at Bhandarkhal garden following the chaos from the King's murder.[30][31][32] Following closeness to Mukhtiyar Bhimsen, he became the son-in-law of Bhimsen's brother Kaji Nain Singh Thapa of Thapa dynasty.[5] The close relatives and supporters of Thapa faction replaced the old courtiers and administrators.[30] 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.[5]

Rise of Jung Bahadur

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Portrait of Jung Bahadur Kunwar Ranaji, founder of Rana dynasty

Bal Narsingh's son Kaji Jung Bahadur Kunwar became a significant person in the central politics of Nepal during the prime ministership of his uncle Mathabar Singh Thapa.[23] On 17 May 1845 around 11 pm, Mathabar Singh was summoned to the royal palace and was assassinated in a cold blood by Jung Bahadur on the royal orders.[23] He was considered to have been merciless, ruthless and fatal due to his association with Mathabar Singh.[23] Jung Bahadur was made a Kaji (equivalent to minister) after following the order of assassination of Mathabar.[9]

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, to which courtiers hurried to the Kot quickly.[33] 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.[34] 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.[9] 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.[35] The letter to British Resident Henry Montgomery Lawrence stated that there were 32 Bharadars (courtiers) killed in the massacre.[36]

Kot massacre episode

Further information: 1846 Bhandarkhal massacre

When Jang Bahadur refused the Junior Queen's request to place Prince Ranendra in the place of Crown Prince 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.[37] 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.[38] He consolidated the position of premiership after conducting Kot massacre (Kot Parva) and Bhandarkhal Parva[39] on the basic templates provided by his maternal grand-uncle Mukhtiyar Bhimsen Thapa.[10]

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Rana Regime; Rule of Jang

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After the massacres of Kot and Bhandarkhal, the Thapas, Pandes, 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.[38]

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 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 British-India Company forced Rajendra and his troops to enter Nepal. On 23 July, the troops reached a village called 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.[38]

Rise to royalty

On 15 May 1848, a lal mohar (royal seal) was issued, issued claiming descent for the Kunwars/self-style Ranas from Ranas of Mewar and authorizing the Kunwar family of Jang Bahadur to style themselves as Kunwar Ranaji.[40] 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 Queen Trailokya, and through threats against the king.[41] Before this, the Ranas had merely been regarded as Khas-Chhetris, and had had no pretensions to any kind of royal origin.[11]

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Rana Regime; Rule of the Shamshers

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Bir Shumsher Jang Bahadur Rana, the first Shumsher Rana ruler

In 1885, the Shumsher family, the nephews of 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.[5]

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Kunwar family tree

Ram Krishna Kunwar
Ranajit Kunwar
Bal Narsingh KunwarBalaram KunwarRewant Kunwar
Bhakta Bir KunwarJang Bahadur KunwarBam Bahadur KunwarBadri Narsingh KunwarJaya Bahadur KunwarKrishna Bahadur KunwarRanauddip Singh KunwarJagat Shamsher KunwarDhir Shamsher Kunwar

Rana Prime Ministers

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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 and Kaski.

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:

  1. Prime Minister and Commander-in-Chief (Mukhtiyar the Heir Apparent, with the rank of Field Marshal).
  2. Western Commanding-General.
  3. Eastern Commanding-General.
  4. Southern Commanding-General.
  5. Northern Commanding-General.
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Notable Rana members

Other notable connected members

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Gallery

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    Major-General Vishnu Shamsher Rana and wife
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    Commanding General Babar Shumsher Rana and family
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    Dhir Shamsher Rana and sons make up Shamsher Rana dynasty
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    Chandra Shamsher and sons

See also

References

Further reading

External links

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