We have learned that the vast land area of Nepal was divided into pieces. Though some powerful kings made attempts to unify them into a greater Nepal, they failed to do so for several reasons. Ultimately in 1768 (1825 B.S.), king Prithvi Narayan Shah of Gorkha, defeating the Malla kingdoms of Kathmandu valley, laid the foundation of a greater Nepal. His successors fulfilled his aim because of which we now live in a nuified country that extends from Mechi in the east to Mahakali in the west. The credit for this consolidation goes to the Shah kings of the Gorkha kingdom. The Gorkha kingdom, thus, tured into a united Nepal, just as prussia was tured German Empire, Sardinia into Italy, Castela into Spain, and Wessex into Great Britain.

Shah Kings of Gorkha

According to Bhasa Bamsabali, the Shah kings of Gorkha descended from a noble family of Chitor (India) who belonged to the Chandrabamsi Rajput dynasty. The founder of this dynasty was Rishi Raj Bhattarak. The 33rd king of this dynasty was Bhupati Ranfee. He had three sons named Udaya Bom, Fatta Singh and Manamath. Fatta Singh had a beautiful daughter named Sadul. The Muslim king Allaudin Khilzi wanted to marry Sadul. But, Fatta Singh refused to fulfil his wish. So Allaudian Khilzi of Delhi invaded Chitor and captured it. After the Muslim invasion, Manamath went to Ujjain and lived there. he had two sons, named Brahmin and Bhupal. But Brahmin and Bhupal did not want to live together. THe younger brother Bhupal left Ujjain and came to Ridi. He lived there for some time. Then Bhupal left Ridi and wient to Bhirkot. He settled down there. He had two sons named Harihar Singh and Ajaya Singh, who were also called ‘Khancha Dhan’ and Mincha Khan’. Khancha Khan had establiched a small principality of Dhor. After some time, he controlled Satahun and Garahun. Mincha Khan established a small principality of Nuwakot. Then he began to rule there.

Kulmandan wasw the descendant of Minca. He ruled over Nuwakot, and, in due course of time, annexed Kaski to his kingdom. He was a powerful king and acqrired the title of ‘Shah’ from the emperor of Delhi. Since then, the ‘Shah’ surname has been used by the kings of Gorkha. He had seven sons. At that time tere was no king in Lamjung. The people of Lamjung approached Kulamndan Shah and begged one of his sons to rule over the kingdom of Lamjung. Kulamandan Shah sent his second son, Kalu Shah with them. The people of Lamjung made Kalu Shah, their king, but he died soon. After the death ofKalu Shah, the piople of Lamjung again asked Kalumndan to gime his youngest son. Now Yashobarma Shah was sent to rule over Lamjung. Yashobarma had two sons, Narahari Shah and Drabya Shah. Narahari Shah ruled over Lamjung and Drabya Shah conquered Gorkha and established and independent kingdom. Ram Shah, Dambar Shah, Krishna Shah, Rudra Shah, Prithvipati and Narabhupal Shah were the famous kings of Gorkha before Prithvi Narayan Shah.

http://www.historynepal.com