Kot Massacre
Encyclopedia
The Kot massacre took place on 14 September 1846 when Jang Bahadur
and his brothers killed about 40 members of the Nepalese palace court including the Prime Minister and a relative of the King, Chautariya Fateh Jang Shah, at the palace armoury (the kot) of Kathmandu. This led to the loss of power by King Rajendra Bikram Shah
and the Shah family
, resulting in the monarchy by Surendra Bikram Shah
and the establishment of the Rana autocracy
.
. When he was denied an audience with the resident at such a late hour, he went to Narayanhiti Palace.
Meanwhile at the Kot, surrounded by Jang Bahadur's regiments, tension grew high as most of the nobles along with prime minister Fateh Jang Shah gathered there. Seeing a high possibility of bloodshed, Jang Bahadur, Fateh Jang and Abhiman Singh Rana Magar decided that Jang Bahadur and Fateh Jang should try to calm the queen, and Abhiman Singh Rana Magar, who had disobeyed queen's orders would stay behind. As the two went to find the queen, Abhiman Singh decided to get his own regiments at the Kot, but he was prevented from leaving. Abhiman Singh tried to force his way out, and was killed in the process. After panic ensued, the bloodshed began. Many Thapas, Pandes and Basnets died including the prime minister Fateh Jang. Some escaped by leaping walls and roofs and even through the drainage systems. Jang Bahadur easily turned the situation to his advantage and used the situation to eliminate his rivals.
along with King Rajendra. The king began plotting his return from India. In 1847 Jang Bahadur informed the troops of the exiled king's activities, announced his dethronement, and elevated Rajendra's son to the throne as Surendra Bikram Shah. King Rajendra Bikram was captured later that year in the Tarai and brought back as a prisoner to Bhadgaon, where he spent the rest of his life under house arrest. Jang Bahadur then established the Rana dynasty, which ruled Nepal for more than a century to come.
Jang Bahadur
Maharaja Jung Bahadur Rana was a ruler of Nepal and founder of the Rana dynasty of Nepal...
and his brothers killed about 40 members of the Nepalese palace court including the Prime Minister and a relative of the King, Chautariya Fateh Jang Shah, at the palace armoury (the kot) of Kathmandu. This led to the loss of power by King Rajendra Bikram Shah
Rajendra of Nepal
Rajendra Bikram Shah, King of Nepal was King of Nepal from 1816 to 1847. He became king at age three on the death of his father Girvan Yuddha Bikram Shah Deva. As had been the case with his father, most of Rajendra's rule was under the regency of Queen Lalit Tripura Sundari and Prime Minister...
and the Shah family
Shah dynasty
The Shah dynasty was the ruling dynasty of the Kingdom of Nepal.-The Rajput Lineage :The former royal family of Nepal claims descent from the Parmar Rajput dynasty of the Narsinghgarh state in Malwa . The famous kings of the Malwa region were Raja Bhrathari, Samrat Vikramaditya, and Raja Bhoj....
, resulting in the monarchy by Surendra Bikram Shah
Surendra of Nepal
Surendra Bikram Shah was King of Nepal between 1847 and 1881. He became king after Prime Minister Jung Bahadur forced the abdication of Surendra's father, Rajendra Bikram Shah. Surendra wielded little real power, with Jung Bahadur effectively ruling the country during Surendra's reign.Surendra's...
and the establishment of the Rana autocracy
Rana dynasty
The Rana dynasty ruled the Kingdom of Nepal from 1846 until 1953, reducing the Shah monarch to a figurehead and making Prime Minister and other government positions hereditary...
.
Background
At the peak of instability in Nepalese politics, a coalition ministry was formed in September 1845, headed by Fateh Jang Chautaria, but the real power behind the throne was Gagan Singh, believed to be the secret lover of Queen Lakshmidevi, who controlled seven regiments in the army compared to the three under the prime minister. Abhiman Singh Rana Magar and Bahadur also served as commanders, each with three regiments. Gagan Singh was found dead on the balcony of his palace during the night of 14 September 1846. The queen commanded Bahadur, who happened to be ready with his regiments, to assemble the entire administrative establishment of the country immediately at the courtyard of the palace armoury. Following the queen's orders, Jang ordered his men to let people inside the Kot but not to let them out without Queen's or his own orders.Overview
Emotions ran high among the assembled bands of nobles and their followers, who listened to the queen give an emotional harangue blaming the Pandes and demanding Abhiman Singh to execute the Pandes whom she suspected for the death of Gagan Singh. Abhiman Singh hesitated and looked to the king. The king hesitated and said to punish the guilty only after proper investigation of the matter. He then left the Hanumandhoka palace and went to the British residencyResident (title)
A Resident, or in full Resident Minister, is a government official required to take up permanent residence in another country. A representative of his government, he officially has diplomatic functions which are often seen as a form of indirect rule....
. When he was denied an audience with the resident at such a late hour, he went to Narayanhiti Palace.
Meanwhile at the Kot, surrounded by Jang Bahadur's regiments, tension grew high as most of the nobles along with prime minister Fateh Jang Shah gathered there. Seeing a high possibility of bloodshed, Jang Bahadur, Fateh Jang and Abhiman Singh Rana Magar decided that Jang Bahadur and Fateh Jang should try to calm the queen, and Abhiman Singh Rana Magar, who had disobeyed queen's orders would stay behind. As the two went to find the queen, Abhiman Singh decided to get his own regiments at the Kot, but he was prevented from leaving. Abhiman Singh tried to force his way out, and was killed in the process. After panic ensued, the bloodshed began. Many Thapas, Pandes and Basnets died including the prime minister Fateh Jang. Some escaped by leaping walls and roofs and even through the drainage systems. Jang Bahadur easily turned the situation to his advantage and used the situation to eliminate his rivals.
Aftermath
Jang Bahadur made himself prime minister immediately after the massacre. Feeling he was presenting a threat to her power, the queen conspired to eliminate Jang Bahadur and elevate her son to the throne. The Basnyat Conspiracy—so called because many of its participants belonged to one of the last leading noble families, the Basnyat—was betrayed and its ringleaders were rounded up and executed at Bhandarkhal Parva. A meeting of leading notables packed with Rana supporters found the queen guilty of complicity in the plot, stripped her of her powers, and sent her into exile in VaranasiVaranasi
-Etymology:The name Varanasi has its origin possibly from the names of the two rivers Varuna and Assi, for the old city lies in the north shores of the Ganga bounded by its two tributaries, the Varuna and the Asi, with the Ganges being to its south...
along with King Rajendra. The king began plotting his return from India. In 1847 Jang Bahadur informed the troops of the exiled king's activities, announced his dethronement, and elevated Rajendra's son to the throne as Surendra Bikram Shah. King Rajendra Bikram was captured later that year in the Tarai and brought back as a prisoner to Bhadgaon, where he spent the rest of his life under house arrest. Jang Bahadur then established the Rana dynasty, which ruled Nepal for more than a century to come.