Malla dynasty (Nepal)
Malla confederacy मल्ल वंश Malla saṅgha | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| c. 1201–25 November 1769 | |||||||||
Approximate location of the Malla confederacy in the 15th century as per A Historical Atlas of South Asia | |||||||||
Scan of map of Nepaul, present-day Kathmandu Valley and surrounding areas in Nepal | |||||||||
| Capital | Basantapur | ||||||||
| Largest city | Kathmandu | ||||||||
| Common languages | |||||||||
| Religion | Hinduism Buddhism | ||||||||
| Government | Unitary absolute monarchy | ||||||||
| Mahārāja | |||||||||
• 1201–1216 | Arideva Malla | ||||||||
• 1216–1255 | Abhaya Malla | ||||||||
• 1255-1258 | Jayadeva Malla | ||||||||
• 1258–1271 | Jayabhimadeva | ||||||||
• 1258–1271 | Jayasimha Malla | ||||||||
• 1274–1308 | Ananta Malla | ||||||||
• 1313–1320 | Jayanandadeva | ||||||||
• 1320–1344 | Jayari Malla | ||||||||
• 1348–1361 | Jayarajadeva | ||||||||
• 1360–1381 | Jayarjunadeva | ||||||||
• 1382–1395 | Jayasthiti Malla | ||||||||
• 1395–1408 | Jayadharma Malla | ||||||||
• 1408–1428 | Jayajyotir Malla | ||||||||
• 1428–1482 | Jayayakshya Malla | ||||||||
| Legislature | None (rule by decree) | ||||||||
| Historical era | Medieval Nepal | ||||||||
• Established | c. 1201 | ||||||||
• Disestablished | 25 November 1769 | ||||||||
| Currency | Mohar | ||||||||
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| Today part of | Nepal | ||||||||
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The Malla dynasty (Nepali: मल्ल वंश:; Malla vanśa) also known as the Malla confederacy, was the ruling dynasty of the Kathmandu Valley in Nepal from 1201 to 1779. This dynasty was founded by Arideva Malla. Though the latter Mallas were regarded as belonging to the Raghuvamsha dynasty, they were also seen as continuations and descendants of the Licchavi dynasty. Later Malla kings also traced one section of their lineage from Nanyadeva, the founder of the Karnat dynasty of Mithila. The term Malla means wrestler in Sanskrit. The first use of the word Malla in the Kathmandu Valley began in 1201.
The Malla period stretched over 600 years, as they presided over and flourished the Newar civilization of Nepal Mandala which developed as one of the most sophisticated urban civilisations in the Himalayan foothills and a key destination on the India-Tibet trade route. During the Malla Dynasty, Nepal Bhasa was the official language, while Sanskrit and Maithili also held significant importance as literary languages during this period.
