Jayarajadeva, also known as Jayaraja, (Nepali: जयराजदेवा) was an illegitimate son of Jayanandadeva, and the ninth king of Nepal.[1][2] Jayaraja succeeded Jayari Malla and reigned as a powerless monarch from 1348 until his death in 1361.[3]

Jayarajadeva
King of Nepal
Reign6 September 1348 – 1361
PredecessorJayari Malla
SuccessorJayarjunadeva
Born9 March 1317
Died1361
Nepal
IssueJayarjunadeva
DynastyMalla
FatherJayanandadeva

Reign edit

Background edit

Jayari Malla died in 1344 and left the throne vacant. Ongoing then was a power struggle between the Bhonta House and Tripura House. At that time, Devaladevi, the sister of Rudra Malla, was the de facto head of Tripura House. Devaladevi, with her newly gained support of the courtiers, made an agreement with the Bhonta House such that a king would be installed from the Bhontas, while she controlled the entire valley as a de facto ruler. Following this agreement, Jayarajadeva was crowned as the King in 1348. However, Devaladevi was given titles higher than him.[1][3]

Expansion of dominion edit

Jayaraja had a prime minister named Aneka Rama whose son, Jayasimha Rama, served as the attendant for the heir apparent Jayarjunadeva. Immediately after his ascension to the throne, Jayaraja, along with Aneka Rama, and Devaladevi brought Patan under the control of Nepal. They also annexed several villages including Kirtipur. The rulers then started to grow the national reserve treasury of Pashupatinath.[4]

Bengal Invasion of 1349 edit

Shamsuddin Ilyas Shah of Bengal Sultanate invaded Nepal in around November 1349 and wreaked havoc in the valley. He came to Nepal with around 20,000 men[5] and destroyed the image of Pashupati in Pashupatinath temple. He then raided Patan for a week, damaged several status of gods, and also destroyed a stupa at Swayambhunath.[6][7] The invaders did not stay for long and the valley gradually rebuilt itself up. The Ashoka Chaitya was repaired in 1357, the image on Pashupatinath temple was reinstalled by Jayasimha Rama in 1360 and the shrine of Swayambhunath was repaired in 1372.[8][9]

Entry of Jayasthiti Malla edit

On 26 September 1354, Devalakshmidevi brought Jayasthiti Malla, a man of obscure but noble birth, from Tirhut and married him to her granddaughter and the head of House Tripura, Rajalladevi. Jayasthiti Malla would later reunite the whole of Kathmandu valley and bring it under his rule.[9][10]

Death edit

Jayaraja died in the beginning of 1361 having been burnt while asleep. He was succeeded by his son Jayarjunadeva following the prior agreement of 1348.[11]

References edit

Citations edit

  1. ^ a b Petech 1984, p. 122.
  2. ^ Petech 1984, p. 123.
  3. ^ a b Shaha 1990, p. 45.
  4. ^ Petech 1984, p. 124.
  5. ^ "The Sultan's siege of Kathmandu - OnlineKhabar English News". 2018-02-09. Retrieved 2023-02-23.
  6. ^ Petech 1984, p. 125.
  7. ^ Petech 1984, p. 126.
  8. ^ Regmi 1972, p. 23.
  9. ^ a b Petech 1984, p. 127.
  10. ^ Shaha 1990, p. 46.
  11. ^ Petech 1984, p. 129.

Bibliography edit

Preceded by King of Nepal
6 September 1348–1361
Succeeded by