HM KING

PRITHVI BIR BIKRAM SHAH DEV

18 August 1875 – 11 December 1911

His Majesty King Prithvi Bir Bikram Shah Dev was the seventh Shah King of modern Nepal. He inherited the throne upon his grandfather King Surendra’s death in 1881, as his father Crown Prince Trailokya had already passed away in 1878. His Majesty had four queens. His first wife, Revati Raman and second wife, Divyeshwari were Rajput princesses from Kangra, India. His third and fourth wives, Kirti Rajya Laxmi Devi and Durga Rajya Laxmi Devi respectively, were daughters of Commanding General Bir Shamsher Jang Bahadur Rana.

His third and fourth wives, Kirti Rajya Laxmi and Durga Rajya Laxmi respectively, were daughters of Commanding General Bir Shamsher Jang Bahadur Rana. For the longest time, King Prithvi only had eight daughters.

For the longest time, King Prithvi only had three daughters: Princess Laxmi Rajya Laxmi, Princess Rama Rajya Laxmi, and Princess Tara Rajya Laxmi. All three were married to the three sons of Chandra Shamsher Jang Bahadur Rana. Princess Laxmi was married to General Kaiser Shamsher, Princess Rama was married to General Singha Shamsher, and Princess Tara was married to General Krishna Shamsher. On 30 June 1906, His Majesty’s second Queen consort, Queen Divyeshwari gave birth to a son, His Majesty’s heir, who was named Tribhuvan Bir Bikram Shah. Prince Tribhuvan was followed by Princess Suman Rajya Laxmi.

During King Prithvi’s reign, the Ranas started to restrict his brothers, his closest allies and confidants, from visiting him at the Narayanhiti Royal Palace. The brothers were exiled to palaces across Nepal including in Palpa, Birgunj and Dhankuta to prevent possibilities of any coup. King Prithvi died at a young age of 30 on 11 December 1911, thus making his 5 year old son, king.

One of the major developments during King Prithvi’s reign was the creation of strict water and sanitation systems for much of the country.