About Prithivi Narayan Shah and Unification Campaign

Prithivi Narayan Shah and Unification Campaign 

Prithivi Narayan Shah 

Prithivi Narayan Shah the founder of modern Nepal and the great king to Narabhupal Shah and Kaushalyawati on 27th Poush 1779 BS in Gorkha. He was taught and trained about administration and diplomacy from his early childhood by his elder mother Chandraprahawati. He married indra Kumari, daughter of Hem Karnasen (King of Makawanpur) at the age of 14 in 1793 BS. He married Narendra Laxmi, daughter of Abhiman Singh ( King of Banaras) in 1797 BS for the second time. He tied the relation of sworn-friendship with Birnarshing Malla, the prince of Bhaktapur. He ascended the throne at the age of 20 on 25th Chaitra 1799 BS. He expired on 1st Magh 1831 BS. 

Unification Campaign 

Nepal was limited to the Kathmandu Valley till the end of medieval age. There were many small states in other parts which were known as Baise and Chaubise States. The twenty two states like Jajarkot, Jumla, Rukum, Salyan, Achham in the Karnali region were called Baise Rajya. The gandaki region had twenty four states like Kaski, Lamjung, Tanahun, Palpa, etc. called Chaubise Rajya. At the time of coronation of prithvi Narayan Shah, the Sen and malla states were stronger and more powerful than gorkha. Similarly, estern Nepal was divided into three kingdoms called Makawanpur, Chaundandi and Bijaypur. At the same time, the british rulers were trying to take hold of their control over india and they were interestedin trans-Himlaya trade with Tibet through Nepal. In such a situation, prithvi Narayan Shah made a plan to unify Nepal with the help of his 12,000 Gorkhali army. 

Political Obstacle 

The Baise, Chaubise, Sen and Malla states were the main obstacles for prithivi Narayan Shah in his unification campaign. Many of these kingdoms were economically and politically stronger than gorkha. Lamjung was a great enemy to gorkha which could attack gorkha from behind in the event of gorkha force marching towards nuwakot. Once Prithivi Narayan Shah's maternal uncle udyot sen, the prince of palpa advised Prithivi Narayan Shah with his remark-"Lamjung is a large vulture, Gorkha a snake and Nepal a frog. Envade the large vulture, then the snake will have the frog to eat." 

Economic Obstacle 

Gorkha was economically weaker than other Chaubise states. Poor economic condition of gorkha obstructed unification campaign of Prithivi Narayan Shah. Makawanpur in the terai was economically nd politically strong and it was the potentially strategic for the unification campaign. Prithivi Narayan Shah had the nuptial relation with makawanpur state but the relation was not good because Dighbandhan Sen, the king of makawanpur (son of hemkaran sen), refused to give him 'Naulakha Har' worn by indra kumara at the time of wedding and also the one-tusked elephant used in the farewell procession. Prithivi Narayan Shah could not tolerate it and he left his bride indra kumara behind. Later he married narendra laxmi, a princess of kanshi. 

First unsuccessful attempt to conquer Nuwakot 

Prithivi Narayan Shah became the king of gorkha on 25th Chaitra, 1799 BS after the death of his father Narabhupal Shah. After his accession, he tried to invade Nuwakot, the main foute to Tibet. But he was defeated in this invasion. Jayanta Rana was the Umarao(Governer) of Nuwakot at that time. He was the commander of gorkhali army when Narabhupal Shah attacked Nuwakot and he was considered to be responsible for this defeat.so he went to Jayaprakash Malla, the king of kantipur from gorkha to take refuse. Jya Prakash Malla had made Jayanta Rana as the chief of Nawakot. Nuwakot was important from the commercial point of view nd as storage of grain and strategic location. So Gorkha wanted to invade Nuwakot. But the attempt of gorkha to invade nuwakot to fight the Gorkhali. 

Prithivi Narayan Shah did not have good preparation for the war. Similarly, Nuwakot was at a high place and gorkhali troops were not familiar with the geographical situation of Nuwakot.