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.[1] 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.[2]
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.