History of Nepal |
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Nepal portal |
This is a timeline of Nepalese history, comprising important legal and territorial changes and political events in Nepal and its predecessor states. To read about the background to these events, see History of Nepal. See also the list of monarchs of Nepal.
Year | Event |
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~600 BCE | King Yalamber establishes his first Kirat kingdom in Kathmandu (present-day Nepal) defeating Bhuwan Singh, the third and last king of the Ahir Dynasty. Kirat Kingdom originally came from beyond the Dudh Koshi river. [1][2] |
563 BCE | Gautama Buddha is born in Kapilvastu in 563 BCE (died in 483 BCE) in Lumbini (present-day Nepal). |
250 BCE | Emperor Ashoka visits Nepal. |
Year | Event |
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205 | Nimisha defeats Gasti, the last ruler of the Kirata Kingdom, and establishes the Soma dynasty. It was founded by Nimistakar Barma (sometimes referred to as Nimish I) in 205 CE, after the fall of the Kirata Kingdom. |
Year | Event |
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305 | Bhaskar Varma, the last ruler of the Soma dynasty, having no sons or daughters adopts Bhoomi Varma to succeed him starting the rule of Licchavi dynasty.[1][3] |
Year | Event |
---|---|
464 | Manadeva reigns until 491 A.D. His reign is characterized by great architectural and sculptural achievements.[1] |
Year | Event |
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588 | Shivadeva I becomes the king. |
598 | Amshuverma, who started as a feudal lord and now the prime minister, starts minting coins in his name and assumes the title of Maharajadhiraj reducing the king to a mere figurehead. Eventually, he marries the king's daughter and succeeds Shiva Deva I as the ruler after the king's death. Amshuverma's reign also is also characterized by architectural achievements.[1][2][3] |
Date | Event |
---|---|
621 | Following the death of Amshuverma, Uday Deva becomes the king reviving the Licchavi dynasty's rule.[1] |
624 | Uday Deva is ousted by his brother Dhruva Deva, and Jishnu Gupta. He goes to Tibet for help. Dhruva Deva and Jishnu Gupta rule together.[1] |
~627 | Jishnu Gupta's absolute rule commences. He also mints coin in his name.[2][3] |
631 | Bishnu Gupta, son of Jishnu Gupta, and Bhimarjuna Deva rule together.[2] |
643 | Narendradeva reclaims his ancestral throne with the Tibetan Empire's help.[1][2] |
649 | Narendradeva sends a cavalry of 7,000 troops to aid Tibet in a battle against Arunasva who attacked the emissary Wang Xuance from China.[2] |
685 | Shivadeva II, the son of Narendradeva, starts his reign. He marries Batsa Devi, daughter of the prince Bhogvarma of Magadha.[1] |
Year | Event |
---|---|
705 | Jayadeva II starts his reign until up to 733. After him, Nepal enters into a dark era which lasts until 1200 C.E.[1][2] |
Year | Date | Event |
---|---|---|
1097 | Nanyadeva establishes the Karnat dynasty in present day Simraungadh, Bara.[4] |
Year | Date | Event |
---|---|---|
1147 | King Nanyadeva of the Karnat dynasty dies. He is succeeded by his son Gangadeva.[4] |
Year | Event |
---|---|
1201 | Arimalla, the first king of the Malla dynasty rules the Kathmandu valley.[3] |
1216 | King Arimalla is succeeded by his son Abhaya Malla.[1][5] |
1255 | King Abhaya Malla dies in a massive earthquake that killed one-third of the whole population. He is succeeded by his son Jayadeva Malla.[6][7] |
1244 | Doya from Mithila (Karnat dynasty) invades Nepal three times within two years.[7] |
1258 | A period of political struggle begins between the House of Bhonta (the region of Banepa) headed by Jayabhimadeva and the House of Tripura (Bhadgaon) headed by Jayasimha Malla.[7] |
King Jayadeva Malla dies. The two contending houses reach an agreement to share the throne alternately. Jayabhimadeva becomes the King following the agreement.[7] | |
1271 | Jayasimha Malla becomes the King following the agreement between the two Houses.[7] |
1274 | King Jayasimha Malla is deposed with the help of House of Bhonta; Ananta Malla becomes the king.[7] |
1287 | Jitari Malla of the Khasa area in the Karnali region attacks Nepal three times until 1290.[7] |
Year | Event |
---|---|
1300 | Doya from Mithila invades Nepal again penetrating as far as Bhadgaon, and inflicting fines on the House of Tripura.[7] |
1308 | King Ananta Malla dies, leaving the throne vacant.[7] |
1311 | After Jayasaktideva of House of Bhonta is defeated by Jayatunga Malla of House of Tripura, Jayasaktideva calls the Doya for help. This backfires as the Doya imprisoned Brahmins, looted people[clarification needed] and set houses on fire.[7] |
1312 | Following an agreement between the House of Tripura and the Tirhuts, along with other wealth, Devalakshmidevi, the daughter of Jayatunga Malla, is given in marriage to King Harisimhadeva.[7][8] |
Ripu Malla from the Khasa kingdom visits the Kathmandu valley.[7] | |
Jayarudra Malla, the son of Jayatunga Malla, controls much of the valley.[9] | |
1313 | After five years without a King, Jayarudra Malla installs Jayanandadeva, his rival from the House of Bhonta, as the ruler.[7] |
1320 | Jayarudra Malla withdraws support for Jayanandadeva and installs Jayari Malla, his relative and the son of Ananta Malla, as the King.[7] |
1324 | The Karnat Kingdom of Mithila is annexed by the King of Delhi. The invader then sets up a vassal state appointing from the Oiniwar dynasty a ruler of the region.[7] |
King Harisimhadeva of Mithila, along with his wife Devalakshmidevi and so Jagatsimha flees to Kathmandu Valley. Harisimha dies on the way and Devalakshmidevi, and Jagatsimha were welcomed by her brother, Jayarudra Malla.[1][9] | |
1328 | Aditya Malla from the Khasa Kingdom invades the Kathmandu valley. |
1330 | Jayarudra Malla dies at the age of 30, leaving Nayakadevi, his daughter, to assume the throne of House of Tripura.[7] |
1335 | Harischandra, the husband of Nayakadevi, was poisoned by the nobles.[7] |
~1338 | Nayakadevi marries Jagatsimha, the son of Harisimhadeva and Devalakshmidevi. This event connects all the later Mallas of Kathmandu valley to the Karnat dynasty.[7] |
1344 | King Jayari Malla dies. |
1347 | Rajalladevi is born to Nayakadevi and Jagatsimha. Nayakadevi dies ten days later and Jagatsimha was thrown to prison leaving Rajalladevi to the care of Devalakshmidevi.[7] |
Devalakshmidevi comes to an agreement with the House of Bhonta on the condition that a king would be from the House of Bhonta while Devalakshmidevi would act as the de facto ruler. Following this agreement, Jayarajadeva, the illegitimate son of the late King Jayanandadeva, becomes the King. Devalakshmidevi, however, is given royal titles higher than the King himself.[7][8] | |
1349 | Sultan Shams ud-din Ilyas of Bengal conquers Tirhut and leads raid in Kathmandu Valley destroying temples and damaging the images of gods and goddesses. This event is often cited as the one that destroyed much of the Lichchhavi era and early Malla era monuments and artifacts.[7] |
1354 | Rajalladevi marries Jayasthiti Malla. It is generally accepted that Jayasthiti Malla was brought from Mithila by Devalakshmidevi to marry Rajalladevi.[7][8] |
1361 | King Jayarajadeva dies. He is succeeded by his son Jayarjunadeva.[7] |
1366 | Devalakshmidevi dies. Jayasthiti Malla starts on gathering political power.[7] |
1382 | Jayasthiti Malla rules as king of the united Malla kingdom in Kathmandu Valley.[1] |
1395 | King Jayasthiti Malla dies. His three sons Dharma Malla, Jyoti Malla, and Kiti Malla rule together.[1][7] |
Year | Event |
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1408 | Jyoti Malla rules as the sole king of Kathmandu Valley after the death of both his brothers.[7] |
1428 | King Jyoti Malla dies. His son Yakshya Malla succeeds him.[7] |
1482 | King Yakshya Malla dies. His kingdom is divided in three between his sons with Ratna Malla controlling Kantipur, and Raya Malla controlling Bhaktapur.[1][10] |
Year | Event |
---|---|
1520 | King Ratna Malla dies. His son Surya Malla succeeds him as the king.[7] |
1526 | Mukunda Sen of Palpa attacks the entire Kathmandu valley and surrounds both Kantipur, and Patan. He is defeated by the combined forces of the valley.[1][7] |
1530 | King Surya Malla dies. He is succeeded by his son Amara Malla. Amara Malla annexed several villages north-west of Kantipur.[7][11] |
1560 | King Amara Malla dies. His son Mahendra Malla succeeds him. Mahendra Malla issued the first silver coins.[1][7] |
1574 | King Mahendra Malla is succeeded by his first son Sadashiva Malla.[7][1] |
1581 | Shivasimha Malla, the second son of Mahendra Malla, deposes his brother Sadashiva Malla and rules Kantipur. Sadashiva takes refuge in Bhadgaon where he dies.[1][7] |
Year | Event |
---|---|
1600 | King Shivasimha Malla annexes Patan and installs his son Harisimhadeva as the governor. Harisimhadeva dies shortly afterwards, and his son Siddhi Narasimha Malla succeeds him as the governor.[7] |
1606 | Ram Shah of Gorkha reigns; Gorkha kingdom experiences its first expansion (to 1633). |
1619 | King Shivasimha Malla dies. His son Lakshmi Narasimha Malla succeeds him as the King of Kantipur, and his grandson Siddhi Narasimha Malla declares Patan independent from Kantipur.[7][9] |
1641 | King Lakshmi Narasimha Malla goes insane after executing his loyal minister. Pratap Malla imprisons him and rules Kantipur.[1][11] |
1674 | Nripendra Malla starts his reign after his Pratap Malla's death defying the wishes of his father to install Mahipatendra Malla as the king.[7] |
1680 | Parthibendra Malla, another son of Pratap Malla, starts his reign after the death of King Nripendra Malla.[7][1] |
1687 | King Parthibendra Malla is poisoned by the nobles and on his death, as many as twenty-four women went Sati. He is succeeded by his 14 years old son Bhupalendra Malla with his wife Riddhilakshmi acting as the regent.[9][2] |
1688 | Lakshminarayan, a minister, rises to the power of supreme authority and inscribes his name on the coin issued by the monarch. He also assassinates prominent nobles.[7] |
1690 | Lakshminarayan is assassinated following a rumor of illicit relationship with the regent and the king's mother, Riddhilakshmi.[7] |
Year | Date | Event |
---|---|---|
1700 | King Bhupalendra Malla dies. He is succeeded by his son Bhaskara Malla.[1] | |
1717 | King Bhaskara Malla proclaims the title of King of Patan and issues coins under the name Gajapati Mahindra Simha.[1][9] | |
1720 | An epidemic breaks out in Kantipur killing approximately 20,000 people. | |
1722 | After about six months in confinement to be safe from the plague, King Bhaskara Malla returns to the palace after the death rate dropped. He dies some days later due to the plague. He is succeeded by Jagajjaya Malla, the grandson of Mahipatendra Malla.[9][11] | |
1730 | King Jagajjaya Malla's first son Rajendra Malla dies.[7][11] | |
1736 | Jayaprakash Malla succeeds King Jagajjaya Malla after the latter's death.[2][9][1] | |
1743 | Prithvi Narayan Shah ascends to throne of Gorkha. | |
1764 | British East India Company gains control of Bengal. | |
1768 | Gorkha ruler Prithvi Narayan Shah conquers Kathmandu and lays foundations for unified kingdom. | |
1769 | Conquest of Chaudandi and Majh Kirant states. | |
1792 | Nepalese expansion is halted by the defeat at hands of Chinese in Tibet. |
Year | Date | Event |
---|---|---|
1806 | Bhimsen Thapa becomes the first Mukhtiyar (prime minister).[5] | |
1809 | Nepalese troops lay siege to Kangra, farthest extent of Gurkha empire. | |
1814 | Anglo-Nepalese War (1814-1816) ends resulting in Sugauli Treaty which establishes Nepal's current boundaries and sows the seeds for political instability. | |
1837 | Bhimsen Thapa falls, beginning unstable period in court politics. | |
1846 | Kot massacre results in the killing of more than 40 members of the palace and starts the autocratic Rana dynasty in Nepal with Jung Bahadur Rana as its first prime minister.[12] | |
1855 | War starts with China (until 1858). | |
1856 | Royal decree gives absolute power to prime minister and his family. | |
1857 | Sepoy Rebellion is waged against British in north India; Nepal aids British (until 1858). | |
1858 | Jang Bahadur receives the title of Rana. | |
1877 | Prime minister Jung Bahadur Rana dies; Ranodip Singh Kunwar becomes the prime minister.[13] | |
1885 | Prime minister Ranodip Singh Kunwar is assassinated by his nephews; Bir Shumsher becomes the prime minister.[14] |
Year | Date | Event |
---|---|---|
1901 | 5 Mar | Prime minister Bir Shumsher dies; Dev Shumsher becomes the prime minister.[14] |
27 Mar | Prime minister Dev Shumsher is deposed by his relatives; Chandra Shumsher becomes the prime minister.[14] | |
1914 | Thousands of Nepalese citizens fight as soldiers for British in World War I (to 1918) | |
1923 | 21 Dec | Treaty with Britain affirms Nepal's sovereignty. |
1935 | 2 June | Nepal's first political party, Nepal Praja Parishad is founded (led by Tanka Prasad Acharya).[15] |
1939 | Tens of thousands of Nepalese citizens fight as soldiers for British in World War II (to 1945). | |
1946 | 25 Jan | Nepali National Congress is formed (led by BP Koirala, Matrika Prasad Koirala, Ganesh Man Singh, etc.).[16] |
1948 | Prime Minister Padma Shamsher Rana announces first constitution of Nepal, then resigns; his replacement, Mohan Shamsher Rana, represses opposition[12] | |
1951 | 7 Jan | Tribhuvan returns from exile and reclaims the title of King putting an end to the autocratic Rana dynasty[17] |
16 Nov | Matrika Prasad Koirala becomes the first commoner to be elected a prime minister[18] | |
1953 | 29 May | New Zealander Edmund Hillary and Nepal's Sherpa Tenzing Norgay become the first climbers to reach the summit of Mount Everest. |
1955 | 15 Mar | King Tribhuwan dies, King Mahendra ascends throne.[14] |
14 Dec | Nepal joins the United Nations. | |
1959 | 27 May | Multi-party constitution is adopted and the first general elections in Nepal brings Nepali Congress to power with B.P. Koirala as
the first democratically elected prime minister.[19] |
1960 | 15 Dec | King Mahendra leads a coup d'état dismissing the cabinet of B.P. Koirala and introduces the Panchayat, a partyless political |
1962 | New constitution provides for non-party system of councils known as Panchayat under which king exercises sole power. First elections to Rastrya Panchayat held in 1963. | |
1972 | 31 Jan | King Mahendra dies, succeeded by Birendra.[14] |
1980 | 2 May | In the 1980 Nepalese governmental system referendum, the people vote in favor of the Panchayat system against a multi-party
system. The Panchayat system receives a total of 2.4 million votes, while the multi-party system receives 2 million votes.[22][23] |
1985 | CPN (UML) begins civil disobedience campaign for restoration of multi-party system. | |
1989 | Trade and transit dispute with India leads to border blockade by Delhi resulting in worsening economic situation. | |
1990 | 18 Feb | 1990 Nepalese revolution commences led by NC and the communist parties.[24] |
1991 | 12 May | First multi-party election is held. NC wins a majority of 110 seats. The communist parties gather a total of 82 seats.
Girija Prasad Koirala becomes the prime minister.[25] |
1994 | 11 July | Division within the NC results in Girija Prasad Koirala losing the support of 36 congress members in a parliamentary vote. He resigns and King Birendra dismisses the cabinet announcing a new election.[26][27] |
15 Nov | Second multi-party election is held. CPN (UML) led by Man Mohan Adhikari wins the election with 88 votes. NC led by Girija
Prasad Koirala wins 83 votes. RPP led by Surya Bahadur Thapa wins 20 votes. Man Mohan Adhikari heads a minority government.[28][29] | |
1995 | Radical leftist group, the CPN (MC), begins insurrection in rural areas aimed at abolishing monarch and establishing a people's republic, sparking a conflict that would drag on for over a decade. | |
10 Sep | Prime minister Man Mohan Adhikari resigns after losing in a Congress-led no-confidence motion. Sher Bahadur Deuba becomes the new prime minister.[23][30] | |
1997 | 6 Mar | Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba loses a no-confidence vote, ushering in a period of increased political instability, with frequent changes of the prime minister.[27] |
2000 | 16 Mar | Girija Prasad Koirala returns as the prime minister, heading the ninth government in 10 years.[31] |
Year | Date | Event |
---|---|---|
2001 | 1 June | Nepalese royal massacre occurs; King Birendra and his family dies, and Dipendra is crownd king while in hospital.[32][33] |
4 June | King Dipendra is pronounced dead; His uncle Gyanendra becomes the king.[14] | |
26 July | Maoist rebels step up campaign of violence. Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala quits over the violence; succeeded by Sher Bahadur Deuba.[31] | |
13 Nov | Maoists end four-month-old truce with government, declare peace talks with government failed. Launch coordinated attacks on army and police posts.[34] | |
26 Nov | The government declares a state of emergency throughout the country and full mobilization of the army against rebels listing the CPN (Maoist Centre) as a "terrorist organization".[23][34] | |
2002 | 22 May | King Gyanendra dissolves the parliament and called for early elections. Sher Bahadur Deuba heads the interim government, and renews the state of emergency.[34][31][35] |
4 Oct | Prime minister Deuba formally asks the king to defer the election dates until November 2003. King Gyanendra responds by dismissing the government headed by Deuba, removing Deuba as the prime minister, postponing the elections indefinitely, and assuming full executive power.[36][37][31][34] | |
11 Oct | Lokendra Bahadur Chand is appointed as the prime minister.[34] | |
2003 | Jan | Rebels, government declare ceasefire. |
5 June | Lokendra Bahadur Chand resigns as PM; king appoints his own nominee Surya Bahadur Thapa as new premier (to June). | |
Aug | Rebels pull out of peace talks with government and end seven-month truce. The following months see resurgence of violence and frequent clashes between students/activists and police. | |
2004 | Apr | Nepal joins the World Trade Organisation (WTO). |
May | Royalist Prime Minister Surya Bahadur Thapa resigns following weeks of street protests by opposition groups. | |
5 June | King Gyanendra reappoints Sher Bahadur Deuba as prime minister with the task of holding elections.[38] | |
2005 | 1 Feb | 2005 Nepal coup d'état by King Gyanendra after which he assumes absolute direct power, sacks the government, and declares a state of emergency restoring absolute monarchy. Many prominent leaders including the prime minister were placed under house arrest.[34][31][37] |
30 Apr | King lifts the state of emergency amid international pressure. | |
22 Nov | Several political parties and the CPN (Maoist Centre) sign an agreement to work together against the rule of King | |
2006 | 24 Apr | King Gyanendra reinstates the dissolved parliament calling the Seven Party Alliance to lead the government.[35] |
May | Parliament votes unanimously to curtail the king's political powers. The government and Maoist rebels begin peace talks, the first in nearly three years. | |
16 June | Rebel leader Chairman Prachanda and PM Koirala hold talks – the first such meeting between the two sides – and agree that the Maoists should be brought into an interim government. | |
Nov | Comprehensive Peace Accord is signed between the Government of Nepal and Maoist Leader Prachanda which allows the Maoist to join mainstream politics.[40] | |
2007 | Jan | Maoist leaders enter parliament under the terms of a temporary constitution. Violent ethnic protests erupt in the south-east; demonstrators demand autonomy for the region. |
Apr | Former Maoist rebels join interim government, a move that takes them into the political mainstream. | |
May | Elections for a constituent assembly pushed back to November. | |
May | A US offer to resettle thousands of Bhutanese refugees in Nepal has raised hopes but has also sparked tension in the camps, says Human Rights Watch. | |
Sep | Three bombs hit Kathmandu in the first attack in the capital since the end of the Maoist insurgency. | |
Sep | Maoists quit interim government to press demand for monarchy to be scrapped. This forces the postponement of November's constituent assembly elections. | |
Oct | UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urges Nepal's parties to sink their differences to save the peace process. | |
Dec | Parliament approves abolition of monarchy as part of peace deal with Maoists, who agree to re-join government. | |
2008 | Jan | A series of bomb blasts kill and injure dozens in the southern Terai plains. Groups there have been demanding regional autonomy. |
May | Nepali Congress leader Bal Chandra Poudel attacked by maoists in Dandagaun, Rasuwa during election | |
10 Apr | The First Nepalese Constituent Assembly election is held where the CPN (MC) emerged victorious winning 220 out of the 575 seats. It forms the government with seven other communist parties including the CPN (UML).[31] | |
28 May | Constituent Assembly abolishes monarchy in Nepal, and declares Nepal a federal republic.[41] | |
Jun | Maoist ministers resign from the cabinet in a row over who should be the next head of state. | |
23 July | Dr. Ram Baran Yadav becomes the first president of Nepal.[42] | |
15 Aug | Prachanda is elected as the prime minister by the constituent assembly.[31] | |
2009 | 4 May | Prime minister Prachanda sacks General Rookmangud Katawal. CPN (UML) withdraws its support from the government in protest. President Ram Baran Yadav overrides the decision resulting in the resignation of Prachanda the next day.[43][44] |
25 May | Madhav Kumar Nepal of CPN (UML) becomes the prime minister with support from 22 of the 25 parties.[45] | |
2010 | 20 Mar | Former prime minister and NCP leader Girija Prasad Koirala dies.[46] |
30 June | Prime minister Madhav Kumar Nepal announces his resignation blaming the CPN (MC) for their continuous obstruction in the government.[47] | |
2011 | 3 Feb | CPN (MC) withdraws its candidate and backs Jhala Nath Khanal of CPN (UML). Khanal becomes the prime minister after more than seven months of political gridlock and more than sixteen rounds of voting in the parliament.[48] |
28 Aug | Dr. Baburam Bhattarai is elected as the prime minister after he gets support from some smaller parties after the resignation of Jhala Nath Khanal.[49] | |
2012 | 28 May | Prime minister Baburam Bhattarai dissolves the constituent assembly after it failed to promulgate a new constitution four years after its election and calls for a fresh election for 22 November.[50] |
2013 | 14 Mar | Prime minister Baburam Bhattarai resigns. Chief Justice Khil Raj Regmi becomes the interim prime minister until the elections after four main political parties agreed to form a CJ-led electoral cabinet.[51] |
19 Nov | The Second Nepalese Constituent Assembly election is held where the NC led by Sushil Koirala emerges as the largest party winning 196 out of the 576 seats. The CPN (UML) wins 175 seats while the CPN (MC) wins 80 seats.[52] | |
2014 | 25 Feb | Sushil Koirala of Nepali Congress is elected as the prime minister with CPN (UML) backing.[53] |
2015 | 25 Apr | The 7.8 Mw Nepal earthquake affected the country with a maximum Mercalli intensity of IX (Violent), the worst natural disaster to strike Nepal since the 1934 Nepal–Bihar earthquake,[54] killing more than 8,000 people and injuring more than 20,000 |
2015 | 20 Sep | President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav promulgates the Constitution of Nepal (2015) replacing the Interim Constitution of 2007.[57] |
11 Oct | CPN (UML) leader KP Sharma Oli is elected as the prime minister by the parliament with the backing from CPN (MC).[58] | |
29 Oct | Bidya Devi Bhandari becomes the second president of Nepal.[59] | |
2016 | ||
2017 | ||
2018 | ||
2019 | ||
2020 | ||
2021 | ||
2022 | ||
2023 | ||
2024 |
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