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{{Infobox royalty
|type = monarch
|name = Mahendra Manikya
|succession = [[Twipra Kingdom|Maharaja of Tripura]]
|title =
|image =
|alt =
|caption =
|reign = 1712–1714
|predecessor = [[Ratna Manikya II]]
|successor = [[Dharma Manikya II]]
|spouse =
|issue =
|father = [[Rama Manikya]]
|house = [[Manikya dynasty]]
|birth_name = Ghanashyam Thakur
|death_date = 1714
|religion = [[Hinduism]]
}}
{{Kingdom of Tripura}}

'''Mahendra Manikya''' (d. 1714) was the [[Maharaja]] of [[Twipra Kingdom|Tripura]] from 1712 to 1714.

==Background==
Originally named Ghanashyam Thakur, he was born the second son of Maharaja [[Rama Manikya]].<ref name=SaigalP38>{{cite book|last=Saigal|first=Omesh|title=Tripura|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NGlHnr4j9IMC&pg=PA38|year=1978|publisher=Concept Publishing Company|location=Delhi|page=38}}</ref> His elder brother was [[Ratna Manikya II]] who,<ref>{{cite book|last1=Rahman|first1=Syed Amanur|last2=Verma|first2=Balraj|title=The Beautiful India - Tripura|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-mcwAQAAIAAJ|year=2006|publisher=Reference Press|isbn=978-81-8405-026-4|page=47}}</ref> after having been previously overthrown by [[Narendra Manikya|a cousin]], was restored to the throne by the [[Mughal Empire|Mughal]]s in 1695. However, in return Ghanashyam was temporarily sent to the Mughal court as a hostage.<ref>{{cite book|last=Dutta|first=Jyotish Chandra|title=An Introduction to the History of Tripura: From Monarchy to Democracy|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3U9uAAAAMAAJ|year=1984|publisher=Book Home|page=15}}</ref> At some point, he was awarded the title of ''Barathakur'' by his brother.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Sharma|first1=Suresh Kant|last2=Sharma|first2=Usha|title=Discovery of North-East India: Tripura|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Q8Mq1NU9Ml4C&pg=PA60|volume=11|year=2015|publisher=Mittal Publications|isbn=978-81-8324-045-1|page=60}}</ref>{{NoteTag|A recently-created post which meant "principal prince".<ref>{{cite book|first=Sudhanshu Bikash|last=Saha|title=Tribes of Tripura: A Historical Survey|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ioMiAAAAMAAJ|year=1986|publisher=Rupali Book House|location=Agartala|page=63}}</ref>}}

In 1712, Ghanashyam launched a conspiracy against his brother, having gained the assistance of Murad Beg, an influential member of the royal court. The latter was sent to [[Dhaka]], where he recruited some itinerant forces as well as the assistance of Muhammad Sapi, a local high-ranking officer.<ref>{{cite book|last=Sarma|first=Ramani Mohan|title=Political History of Tripura|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bmpuAAAAMAAJ|year=1987|page=119|publisher=Puthipatra|location=Calcutta}}</ref> Ratna Manikya was forcibly removed from power and Ghanashyam claimed the throne, assuming the regnal name Mahendra Manikya. He had his predecessor first confined to the palace apartments and then killed soon after, with two of the latter's prominent officers also being beheaded.<ref name=AcharjeeP30>{{cite journal|last=Acharjee|first=Jahar|title="Tripura Buranji" A Diplomatic Mission between Assam and Tripura|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IDNuAAAAMAAJ|journal=Bulletin of the Assam State Museum, Gauhati|volume=17|year=2006|publisher=Assam State Museum.|page=30}}</ref><ref name=SarmaP120>{{harvtxt|Sarma|1987|p=120}}</ref>

==Reign==
Though little is known about his reign, with the ''[[Rajmala]]'' only describing him as being an "impious ruler", Mahendra appears to have enacted some reforms to the administration. His brothers [[Durjoy Singh]] and [[Chandramani]] were named ''[[Yuvraj]]'' and ''Barathakur'' respectively.<ref name=SarmaP120/> He also attempted to strengthen ties with the neighbouring [[Ahom kingdom]], located in what is present-day [[Assam]]. Assamese envoys, already present in Tripura at the time of his ascension,<ref name=SarmaP120/> were formerly received at court, with Mahendra sending his own representative, Aribhima Narayana, back with them to [[Rangpur (Ahom capital)|Rangpur]]. Subsequently, a series of warm correspondence, embassies and gifts were dispatched between Mahendra and the Ahom king, [[Rudra Singha]].<ref name=AcharjeeP30/>

However, in August 1714, soon after a third embassy to Tripura was sent, Rudra Singha died, with his successor [[Siva Singha]] having little interest in continuing his father's habits. By the time these envoys had arrived in Tripura, in January 1715, Mahendra too had died, having reigned for only 14 months.<ref name=AcharjeeP30/> He was succeeded by his ''Yuvraj'', Durjoy Singh, who took the name [[Dharma Manikya II]].<ref name=SaigalP38/>

==Notes==
{{notefoot}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Kings of Tripura]]
[[Category:History of Tripura]]
[[Category:1714 deaths]]

Mahendra Manikya - Revision history

imported>Citation bot at 17:15, 1 April 2021