The Dynastic History of Northern India (Early Mediaeval Period) v1.c14.206

v1.c14.206

Yakṣamalla probably died between 1474 and 1476 A.D.⁵ But before his death he took a most unwise step which helped to dismember his kingdom and ultimately paved the way to its conquest, by the Gurkhas from the west. He divided his dominions between his three sons Rāyamalla, Raṇamalla, Ratnamalla,¹ and a daughter. To the eldest, Rāyamalla, he assigned Bhatgaon with territory which extended on the west up to Bagmati, on the east to the city of Sanga, on the north to the town and pass of Kuti, and on the south to the forest of Medini Mall. The second son, Raṇamalla, got the principality of Banepa, which was bounded on the north by Sangachok, to the west by Sanga, to the south by the forest of Medini Mall, and to the east by the river Dudhkosi. The third son, Ratnamalla, received Katmandu with territories bounded on the east by Bagmati, on the west by the Trisul-Ganga, on the north by the mountains of Nilkanth, and in the south by the dominions of Patan. According to tradition, the last-mentioned city was assigned to his daughter with territory which extended to the forest of Medini Mall in the south, to the mountains of Lamadanda in the west, to the Bagmati in the east, and to the boundaries of Katmandu in the north.² A MS. of the *Pāṇḍavavijaya* in the Durbar Library of Nepal has for its author king Jaya-Raṇamalla. It mentions also his wife Nāthalladevī and his son *Kumāra* Vijayamalla.³ It thus appears that the first king of Banepa was an historical person; but the principality did not last more than a century, and was annexed by the Bhatgaon branch of the family. The principality of Patan, if ever founded, was annexed by the Katmandu branch and remained under their chiefs till the beginning of the 17th century (*c.* 1631 A.D.), when it again became a separate principality.