Born at Basantapur, Kingdom of Nepal
Rana Bahadur Shah
Deceasedरण बहादुर शाह
King of Nepal whose reign saw territorial expansion into Garhwal and Kumaon, and who later created the office of Mukhtiyar that Bhimsen Thapa would hold
About
Rana Bahadur Shah became King of Nepal as a child. At first, he ruled under the regency of his mother, and then his uncle. He later had his uncle imprisoned.
His reign saw Nepal’s territory expand to include the Garhwal and Kumaon regions. But the death of a favoured queen led him to give up the throne, in 1799. After several years in exile, he returned to Kathmandu in 1804. He seized direct power as Nepal’s first Mukhtiyar, a role roughly equal to prime minister. In the process, he raised his ally, Bhimsen Thapa, to high office.
His rule ended abruptly in 1806, when his own half-brother assassinated him during a dispute at court. This set off a bloody purge, a violent removal, of his rivals. It also cemented, or firmly secured, Bhimsen Thapa’s rise to power for the following three decades.
Quick facts
- Born
- 1775-05-25
- Birthplace
- Basantapur, Kingdom of Nepal
- Profession
- Monarch, Statesman
- Nationality
- Nepal
- Status
- Deceased
- Died
- 1806-04-25
Previous roles
King of Nepal
Shah dynasty · 1777-11-17–1799
Mukhtiyar of Nepal
Kingdom of Nepal · 1804–1806-04-25
Career & life timeline
- 1775-05-25
- 1777-11-17
Succeeded his father, Pratap Singh Shah, as King of Nepal
- 1785
Imprisoned his regent uncle, Bahadur Shah, who died in jail
- 1799
Abdicated the throne in favour of his infant son, Girvan Yuddha Bikram Shah
- 1804
Returned from exile and seized power as Nepal's first Mukhtiyar, with Bhimsen Thapa as his ally
- 1806-04-25
Assassinated by his half-brother Sher Bahadur Shah at Basantapur, triggering the Bhandarkhal massacre
Achievements
Expanded Nepal's territory to include the Garhwal and Kumaon regions
Created the office of Mukhtiyar, elevating Bhimsen Thapa to power
Organizations & affiliations
- Shah dynasty
Related people
Last updated: 2026-09-06