Harisimhadeva

Harisimhadeva, also called Hari Singh Deva, was a King of the Karnat dynasty who ruled the Mithila region of modern-day parts of North Bihar in India and South Nepal.

He reigned from 1304 to 1325. He was the last king of the Karnata dynasty of Mithila. His minister of war and peace was Caṇḍeśvara Ṭhakkura who composed the famous treatise, the Rajanitiratnakara. His reign came to an end after an invasion by Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq forced him to escape in search of sanctuary to the hills of Nepal. His descendants eventually became the founders of the Malla dynasty of Kathmandu who were known for being patrons of the Maithili language.

Rule The reign of Harisimhadeva was considered a landmark point in the history of Mithila with many events taking place during his four-decade rule. He introduced many social changes such as the four-class system for Maithil Brahmins and developed the Panji system. The four-classes are Shrotriya, Yogya, Panjibaddha and Jaiwar. The scholars that thronged his courts left a permanent imprint on Mithila.

Inscriptions detail that the Karnats of Mithila under Harisimhadeva had several battles with invading Muslim kings and were victorious in many instances but were eventually defeated. A branch of the Karnatas is also theorised to have stayed in Mithila and they eventually became the Gandhavariya Rajputs of North Bihar. Evidence also shows that other descendants of Harisimhadeva including a King Prithvisimhadeva were continuing to rule in Champaran district of Bihar into the 15th century.