The Bloodstained Throne

Book excerpt: To the palace by the sword Nepal, the land of Buddhism and misty mountains, is not a nation whose history one would expect to be filled with blood. And yet, the struggle to gain and keep the control over the mountain kingdom is one marked by a long history of violence and murder. The Bloodstained Throne is a translation of Aba Yasto Kahilyai Nahos, a compilation of historical essays that recount some of the bloody battles for power in a tumultuous period—a phase that spanned more than one hundred years. This tale of the machinations, massacre and bloodletting that rocked Nepal’s power centre—the royal palace—will give you a rare and fascinating glimpse into one of the least-known and most violent power struggles that South Asia has ever seen.