Gorkha Kingdom: Map & History
The Gorkha Kingdom, also known as the Gorkha Confederation or the Gorkha Empire, was one of the 24 Khasa principally state or Chaubisi states, situated at the junction of the Himalayas and the Indian subcontinent.
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The Gorkha Kingdom, also known as the Gorkha Confederation or the Gorkha Empire, was one of the 24 Khasa principally state or Chaubisi states, situated at the junction of the Himalayas and the Indian subcontinent. In 1743, the kingdom began a campaign of military expansion, annexing several neighbors and laying the foundations of present-day Nepal.
Modern Countries Once Part of Gorkha Kingdom
At its mapped extent, Gorkha Kingdom covered territory in 1 present-day country. The period shown is when the mapped borders include that country, and the note says how much of it.
Largest Present-Day Cities in Its Territory
Each opens on the live map inside Gorkha Kingdom's borders of that time.
Derived by testing mapped cities against this polity's dated territorial polygons, so the list is indicative and follows the borders in the source dataset.
Gorkha Kingdom in Depth
Origin and history
The Kingdom of Gorkha was established in 1559 CE by Dravya Shah, the youngest son of Yasho Brahma Shah, the king of Lamjung, a hill principality in what is now western Nepal.
At the time, the area around Liglig and Gorkha was ruled by local Magar kings, notably King Dalshur Ghale Magar of ligligkot and King Mansingh Khadka Magar of Gorkha. These regions were part of the historical Magarat confederation, a loose alliance of Magar principalities.
Dravya Shah rose to power with the assistance of influential local Magars, including Gongaram Rana Magar, during the traditional Ligligkot race where the winner would assume kingship. After capturing Ligligkot, he went on to conquer Gorkhakot from King Mansingh Khadka Magar, thereby founding the Kingdom of Gorkha in 1559 CE.
Government and administration
The Gorkha Kingdom was governed as a hereditary monarchy under the Shah dynasty. The king exercised central authority, while military commanders, nobles and local officials played important roles in the administration of the kingdom. The central government included the king, a Chautariya, Kajis, Sardars, secretaries, a chamberlain and a treasurer.
During the reign of Prithvi Narayan Shah, the military and administrative institutions of Gorkha were organized to support the kingdom's expansion. The leading families of Gorkha played an important role in both government and the military, while loyalty to the king and the army formed important elements of the Gorkhali state.
The expansion of the kingdom brought different principalities and communities under Gorkhali rule.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Gorkha kingdom (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Gorkha Kingdom: Key Facts
| Founded | 1559 |
|---|---|
| Dissolved | 1768 |
Facts from Wikidata Q3332217 (CC0).
Gorkha Kingdom Map Over Time
Dated world maps on which Gorkha Kingdom appears, with the other states of the time.
Gorkha Kingdom Timeline
Key historical inflections from foundation to peak territorial expansion
Expansion to peak recorded area of 149,201 km² in 1772 CE.
Gorkha Kingdom: Frequently Asked Questions
When did the Gorkha Kingdom exist?
The Gorkha Kingdom is dated to 1588 CE – 1787 CE, in the Early Modern & Age of Discovery era.
What was the capital of the Gorkha Kingdom?
The capital of the Gorkha Kingdom was Gorkha.
How large was the Gorkha Kingdom at its peak?
At its peak in 1772 the Gorkha Kingdom covered about 149,201 km².
How did the map of the Gorkha Kingdom change over time?
The Gorkha Kingdom appears on 2 dated world maps in the atlas, from 1600 CE to 1700 CE. Each shows its borders in that year next to the other states of the time.
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