Born at Narayanhiti Durbar, Kathmandu
Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah
ज्ञानेन्द्र वीर विक्रम शाह देव
Also known as King Gyanendra
Last King of Nepal, whose 2005 seizure of direct power triggered the 2006 pro-democracy movement that ended the monarchy
About
Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah had an unusual introduction to the throne. In 1950, at age three, he was briefly declared king. This happened while his grandfather, Tribhuvan, was in exile in India. He became king for a second, lasting time in 2001. This followed the assassination of his brother, King Birendra, and much of the royal family.
At the time, Nepal faced an ongoing Maoist insurgency, an armed rebellion against the government. Citing this conflict, Gyanendra dismissed the elected government in February 2005. He took direct control of the government himself. This move led to the 2006 Loktantra Andolan pro-democracy protests. The protests forced him to restore parliament.
Two years later, Nepal’s newly elected Constituent Assembly voted to end the monarchy completely. This made Gyanendra the country’s last reigning king.
Quick facts
- Born
- 1947-07-07
- Birthplace
- Narayanhiti Durbar, Kathmandu, Nepal
- Profession
- Former monarch, Businessman
- Nationality
- Nepal
- Status
- Alive
Previous roles
King of Nepal
Kingdom of Nepal · 2001-06-04–2008-05-28
King of Nepal (child regency)
Kingdom of Nepal · 1950-11-07–1951-01-07
Career & life timeline
- 1947
- 1950
Declared king at age three by the Rana regime while his grandfather Tribhuvan was in exile
- 2001-06-04
Ascended the throne following the royal massacre that killed King Birendra and much of the royal family
- 2005-02
Dismissed the government and assumed direct executive power, citing the Maoist insurgency
- 2006
Mass pro-democracy protests (Loktantra Andolan) forced him to relinquish direct rule and restore parliament
- 2008-05-28
The newly elected Constituent Assembly voted to abolish the monarchy, ending his reign
Organizations & affiliations
- Shah dynasty
Last updated: 2026-09-06