Prithvi Bir Bikram Shah

This article is about the King of Nepal between 1881 and 1911. For Prithvi Narayan Shah, King of Nepal between 1768 and 1775, see Prithvi Narayan Shah.

Prithvi Bir Bikram Shah (Nepali: श्री ५ महाराजाधिराज पृथ्वी वीर विक्रम शाह देव), (18 August 1875 – 11 December 1911) was King of Nepal. Among the most notable events of his reign were the introduction of the first automobiles to Nepal, and the creation of strict water and sanitation systems for much of the country. King Prithvi's eldest child was Princess Lakshmi, who was married to Field Marshal Kaiser Shamsher Jang Bahadur Rana. She was made the Crown Princess and was heir to Nepal's throne until she was 11, when her brother Tribhuvan was born. Until then King Prithvi only had four daughters and four from another wife.

Prithvi Bir Bikram Shah
King of Nepal
Reign	17 May 1881 – 11 December 1911
Coronation	1 December 1881
Predecessor	Surendra Bikram Shah
Successor	Tribhuvan Bir Bikram Shah
Born	18 August 1875 Basantapur, Nepal
Died	11 December 1911 (aged 36) Kathmandu, Nepal
Spouse	Raman Rajya Lakshmi Devi Shah Divyeshwari Lakshmi Devi Shah Kirti Rajya Lakshmi Devi Shah Durga Rajya Lakshmi Devi Shah
Issue	Princess Lakshmi Princess Rama Princess Tara King Tribhuvan Princess Suman
Regnal name Shree Paanch Maharajadhiraj Prithvi Bir Bikram Shah Dev
Dynasty	Shah
Father	Crown Prince Trailokya
Mother	Lalit Rajeshwori Rajya Lakshmi Devi
Religion	Hinduism

While King Prithvi was kept at the Narayanhiti Royal Palace, his brothers, who were his closest allies and confidants were exiled to palaces across Nepal including in Palpa, Birgunj and Dhankuta from the Hanuman Dhoka Royal Palace, to prevent any repetition of attempts to regain royal prerogatives. Due to some of their increasing influence in state matters, fears of a coup arose and thus, movement restrictions imposed on the family became much more severe following the end of Prime Minister Bir Sumsher's rule with Chandra Sumsher on the Prime Ministerial throne, especially in relation to getting an audience with their half brother King Prithvi at the Narayanhiti Royal Palace, Kathmandu.

Much like his father Trailokya, King Prithvi also died under suspicious circumstances at a relatively young age, and his son Tribhuvan ascended the throne.

Prithvi with his second wife, Queen Divyeshwari of Nepal (mother of King Tribhuvan).

Honours

• Sovereign of the Order of Gorkha Dakshina Bahu (1896).

Prithvi Bir Bikram Shah Statue at Bhadrakali

Inscription of Statue of Prithvi Bir Bikram Bhadrakali

Ancestry

Ancestors of Prithvi Bir Bikram Shah

8. King Rajendra Bikram Shah of Nepal 4. King Surendra Bikram Shah of Nepal 9. Samrajya Lakshmi Devi 2. Trailokya, Crown Prince of Nepal 5. Trailokya Rajya Lakshmi Devi 1. King Prithvi Bir Bikram Shah Dev 12. Kaji Bal Narsingh Kunwar 6. Jang Bahadur Kunwar Ranaji, 1st Maharaja of Lamjung and Kaski 13. Kajini Ganesh Kumari Thapa 3. Lalit Rajeshwori Rajya Lakshmi Devi 14. Chautarya Prana Shah 7. Hiranyagarbha Kumari Devi, Maharani of Lamjung and Kaski 15. Chautaryani Moha Kumari Devi