Tshudpud Namgyal
Encyclopedia
Tshudpud Namgyal was king of Sikkim
from 1793–1863. He gained independence from Nepal
in 1815 and ruled under a British
protectorate
from 1861.
Under his father Tenzing Namgyal
, most of Sikkim was appropriated by Nepal. Tshudpud Namgyal returned to Sikkim in 1793 to reclaim the throne. Because the capital of Rabdentse
was too close to the Nepalese border, he shifted the capital to Tumlong
.
Sikkim allied itself with the British in India
, who also considered Nepal an enemy. Nepal overran most of the region, sparking the Gurkha War
in 1814 with the British East India Company
. The Sugauli Treaty
and Treaty of Titalia
returned the annexed territory to Sikkim in 1817.
In 1835, Tshudpud Namgyal ceded Darjeeling to the HEIC for an annual fee, but this relation was broken off sharply after he seized two British scientists in Sikkim, Joseph Dalton Hooker
and Archibald Campbell
. This led to two British military attacks in 1850 and 1861, resulting in the annexation of Sikkim by 1861. The same year, Tshudpud was granted the title of Maharaja of Sikkim by the British, and he abdicated the following year. At his death in 1863, aged 78, he had ruled Sikkim for 69 years, making him the longest-reigning Chogyal in history; as well, he was also the oldest ever Chogyal of Sikkim.
Sikkim
Sikkim is a landlocked Indian state nestled in the Himalayan mountains...
from 1793–1863. He gained independence from Nepal
Nepal
Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
in 1815 and ruled under a British
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
protectorate
Protectorate
In history, the term protectorate has two different meanings. In its earliest inception, which has been adopted by modern international law, it is an autonomous territory that is protected diplomatically or militarily against third parties by a stronger state or entity...
from 1861.
Under his father Tenzing Namgyal
Tenzing Namgyal
Tenzing Namgyal was the sixth Chogyal of Sikkim. He succeeded Phuntsog Namgyal II in 1780 and was succeeded himself by Tsugphud Namgyal in 1793.During his reign Chogyal fled to Tibet, and later died there in exile....
, most of Sikkim was appropriated by Nepal. Tshudpud Namgyal returned to Sikkim in 1793 to reclaim the throne. Because the capital of Rabdentse
Rabdentse
Rabdentse was the second capital of the former kingdom of Sikkim from 1670 to 1814. The capital city was destroyed by the invading Nepalese army and only the ruins of the palace and the chortens are seen here now...
was too close to the Nepalese border, he shifted the capital to Tumlong
Tumlong
Tumlong was the former capital of the Indian state of Sikkim. It is located in North Sikkim district.-History:In 1894, Thutob Namgyal, the chogyal shifted the capital from Tumlong to the current Gangtok. Tumlong was the third capital of Sikkim. The first was Yuksom, which was followed by Rabdentse...
.
Sikkim allied itself with the British in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, who also considered Nepal an enemy. Nepal overran most of the region, sparking the Gurkha War
Gurkha War
The Gurkha War , sometimes called the Gorkha War or the Anglo–Nepalese War, was fought between the Kingdom of Nepal and the British East India Company as a result of border tensions and ambitious expansionism...
in 1814 with the British East India Company
British East India Company
The East India Company was an early English joint-stock company that was formed initially for pursuing trade with the East Indies, but that ended up trading mainly with the Indian subcontinent and China...
. The Sugauli Treaty
Sugauli Treaty
The Sugauli Treaty was signed on December 2, 1815 and ratified by March 4, 1816, between the British East India Company and Nepal, which was a kingdom during that era. This ended the second British invasion of the Himalayan kingdom during the Anglo-Nepalese War...
and Treaty of Titalia
Treaty of Titalia
The Treaty of Titalia was signed between the Chogyal of Sikkim and the British East India Company. The treaty, which was negotiated by Captain Barre Latter in February 1817, guaranteed security of Sikkim by the British and returned Sikkimese land annexed by the Nepalese over the centuries. It...
returned the annexed territory to Sikkim in 1817.
In 1835, Tshudpud Namgyal ceded Darjeeling to the HEIC for an annual fee, but this relation was broken off sharply after he seized two British scientists in Sikkim, Joseph Dalton Hooker
Joseph Dalton Hooker
Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker OM, GCSI, CB, MD, FRS was one of the greatest British botanists and explorers of the 19th century. Hooker was a founder of geographical botany, and Charles Darwin's closest friend...
and Archibald Campbell
Arthur Campbell (British East India Company)
Archibald Campbell of the Bengal Medical Service was the first superintendent of the sanitarium of Darjeeling town in India. Sources differ regarding his first name. While some say that the "A" in "Dr A...
. This led to two British military attacks in 1850 and 1861, resulting in the annexation of Sikkim by 1861. The same year, Tshudpud was granted the title of Maharaja of Sikkim by the British, and he abdicated the following year. At his death in 1863, aged 78, he had ruled Sikkim for 69 years, making him the longest-reigning Chogyal in history; as well, he was also the oldest ever Chogyal of Sikkim.