Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev, King of Nepal (वीरेन्द्र वीर विक्रम शाह देव) (December 28, 1945 – June 1, 2001) was King of Nepal from 1972 until 2001, and the son of King Mahendra, whom he succeeded. He was made a British Field Marshal in 1980. He is the most internationally well-known Nepalese king in modern history due largely to his tragic and highly publicised death. The king of Nepal is known as the Raja; his Queen is known as the Rani. ... is the 31st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1972 (MCMLXXII) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 152nd day of the year (153rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 2001 Gregorian calendar). ... is the 362nd day of the year (363rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1945 (MCMXLV) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar). ... is the 152nd day of the year (153rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 2001 Gregorian calendar). ... Mahendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev (June 11, 1920 - January 31, 1972) was king of Nepal from 1955 to 1972. ... Dipendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev, King of Nepal (June 27, 1971 – June 4, 2001) was King of Nepal from June 1 to June 4, 2001. ... Queen Aishwarya of Nepals (November 7, 1949 – June 1, 2001) was the Queen of Nepal (1972-2001). ... One of the worlds longest-lasting monarchies, the Iranian monarchy went through many transformations over the centuries, from the days of the Persian Empire to the creation of what is now modern day Iran. ... Mahendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev (June 11, 1920 - January 31, 1972) was king of Nepal from 1955 to 1972. ... is the 362nd day of the year (363rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1945 (MCMXLV) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar). ... is the 152nd day of the year (153rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 2001 Gregorian calendar). ... Royal Standard of Nepal The king of Nepal is known as the Raja; his Queen is known as the Rani. ... Mahendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev (June 11, 1920 - January 31, 1972) was king of Nepal from 1955 to 1972. ... This is a list of Field Marshals of the United Kingdom, with their respective years of appointment. ... The Nepalese royal massacre occurred on Saturday, June 1, 2001, at Narayanhity Royal Palace, the official residence of the Nepalese monarchy. ...

Early life

Son of Crown Prince (from 1955, King) Mahendra and Crown Princess Indra Rajya Laxmi, Birendra was educated at St. Joseph's College in Darjeeling, India, and at Eton College (1959-64), Tokyo University (1967), and Harvard University (1967-68).

Educated in Europe, Asia and America (including Eton College and Harvard University) he traveled a great deal before ascending the throne. For other uses, see Europe (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Asia (disambiguation). ... World map showing the Americas CIA political map of the Americas The Americas are the lands of the Western hemisphere or New World, consisting of the continents of North America[1] and South America with their associated islands and regions. ... The Kings College of Our Lady of Eton beside Windsor, commonly known as Eton College or just Eton, is a public school (privately funded and independent) for boys, founded in 1440 by King Henry VI. It is located in Eton, near Windsor in England, north of Windsor Castle, and... Harvard University (incorporated as The President and Fellows of Harvard College) is a private university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA and a member of the Ivy League. ...

King Birendra was married to Aiswarya from the Rana family on February 27, 1970, they had three children. Queen Aishwarya of Nepals (November 7, 1949 – June 1, 2001) was the Queen of Nepal (1972-2001). ... The Rana dynasty is a family who usurped control of Nepal from the mid-19th century until 1951, reducing the monarch to a figurehead and ruling through hereditary government positions. ... is the 58th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday (link shows full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

• Prince Dipendra (June 27, 1971 – June 4, 2001)
• Princess Shruti (October 15, 1976 - June 1, 2001)
• Prince Nirajan (November 6, 1977–June 1, 2001)

Dipendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev, King of Nepal (June 27, 1971 – June 4, 2001) was King of Nepal from June 1 to June 4, 2001. ... is the 178th day of the year (179th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1971 (MCMLXXI) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the 1971 Gregorian calendar. ... is the 155th day of the year (156th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 2001 Gregorian calendar). ... Princess Shruti or Sruti (October 15, 1976 - June 1, 2001) was the youngest daughter of King Birendra and Queen Aiswarya of Nepal and sister of Crown Prince Dipendra and Prince Nirajan. ... is the 288th day of the year (289th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1976 Pick up sticks(MCMLXXVI) was a leap year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 152nd day of the year (153rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 2001 Gregorian calendar). ... Prince Nirajan Bir Bikram Shah Dev, (November 6, 1977–June 1, 2001) was a Prince of Nepal, younger brother of Crown Prince/King Dipendra, who fatally shot him and other royals at a dinner in 2001. ... is the 310th day of the year (311th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Also: 1977 (album) by Ash. ... is the 152nd day of the year (153rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 2001 Gregorian calendar). ...

Reign

Birendra continued the autocratic tradition of his father, who had dissolved the elected parliament in 1960 and banned political parties in the constitution of 1962; indeed, for a time, Birendra was one of the world's few remaining absolute monarchs. He managed to defend Nepal's independence against encroaching influences by India, China, and the Soviet Union.

In 1990 a popular prodemocracy movement erupted into bloody riots between police and demonstrators. On April 8, Birendra acceded to the opposition's demand to lift the ban on political parties, and on November 9 he promulgated a new constitution that preserved his status as chief of state but confirmed multiparty democracy, a separation of powers, and the protection of human rights.

Later on, Birendra was more open to parliamentary democracy than his father, and granted a democratic government after a people's movement in 1990. However, the quarrels between various political parties and numerous social problems led to the Nepalese Civil War, a conflict between Maoist rebels and monarchist government forces, which lasted from 1996 until 2006. A parliamentary system, or parliamentarism, is distinguished by the executive branch of government being dependent on the direct or indirect support of the parliament, often expressed through a vote of confidence. ... Combatants Government forces Communist Party Commanders Gyanendra of Nepal Prachanda Casualties 12,700+ deaths The Nepalese Civil War (labelled Peoples War by the Maoists [1]) was a conflict between monarchist government forces and Maoist rebels in Nepal which lasted from 1996 until 2006. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...

Death

Main article: Nepalese royal massacre

Nepal's stability was threatened even more when he and most of his family (including Queen Aiswarya) were massacred at a royal dinner on 1 June 2001 allegedly by Crown Prince Dipendra. A section of Nepalese people believed that King Gyanendra (Birendra's brother) was the main conspirator.^[1] However, according to published reports from eyewitnesses and the results of an investigation carried by a two man committee made up of the Chief of the Supreme Court Keshav Prasad Upadhaya and the speaker of the House of Representatives Taranath Ranabhat,^[2] his eldest son and heir, Dipendra, was the gunman.^[3] The motive given for Dipendra's actions were a clash with his mother over his wish to marry Devyani Rana. Dipendra also had a history of alcohol and illegal drugs abuse and had also suffered from depression in the past. ^[4] Dipendra was proclaimed king but died a few days later of self inflicted gunshot wounds. King Birendra's brother, Gyanendra, then became king. Nothing to update The Nepalese royal massacre occurred on Saturday, June 1, 2001, at Narayanhity Royal Palace, the official residence of the Nepalese monarchy. ... Queen Aishwarya of Nepals (November 7, 1949 – June 1, 2001) was the Queen of Nepal (1972-2001). ... is the 152nd day of the year (153rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 2001 Gregorian calendar). ... Taranath Ranabhat is a Nepalese politician. ... Dipendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev, King of Nepal (June 27, 1971 – June 4, 2001) was King of Nepal from June 1 to June 4, 2001. ... Devyani Rana was the girlfriend of Crown Prince Dipendra of Nepal. ... Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev, King of Nepal (Nepali: ज्ञानेन्द्र वीर विक्रम शाहदेव; Jñānendra Vīra Vikrama Śāhadeva) (born July 7, 1947) is the present King of Nepal since June 4, 2001. ...

References

1. ^ Death of a dynasty
2. ^ Nepal massacre inquiry begins, at long last
3. ^ Prince blamed for Nepal massacre
4. ^ Madness of psychiatry