Origins The origins of
Nanyadeva, the founder of the Karnat dynasty, likely lie within
South India.
Sena dynasty inscriptions refer to
Nanyadeva as
Karnata-Kulabhusana indicating that he had his origins in the South and likely arrived in the North through the
Chalukya invasions. His ancestors were petty chieftains and adventurers in Eastern India who arrived in the territory of the
Pala Empire to work as officials and later carved out their own principalities while also asserting their independence. Nanyadeva was possibly one of a number of Karnata-origin officers who worked for the
Pala Empire. In the wake of the
Varendra rebellion, the Palas grip on the region was substantially weakened and this provided an opportunity for Nanyadeva to assert his independence. When Nanyadeva first arrived in the region in 1093 A.D., he originally established his stronghold in
Nanapura in
Champaran and referred to himself as
Mahashamantadhipati as confirmed by the local traditions of Mithila. The title suggests that he was likely originally a commander in the Chalukaya army. He later shifted his capital to
Simraungadh.
Nanyadeva's reign The reign of Nanyadeva can be precisely dated by an inscribed stone pillar at Simraungadh which says, translated into English, "In the
Śaka year 1019, on Saturday, the 7th of
śrāvaṇa, in the
śvāti nakṣatra, king Nānyadeva took the land." This corresponds to a date of 10 July 1097 CE.
Gangadeva and Malladeva Nanyadeva was succeeded by his two sons,
Gangadeva and
Malladeva. It is likely that
Gangadeva continued rule in Mithila while Malladeva maintained dominion over the territories in northeast Mithila and
Nepal. Malladeva kept his stronghold in the village of Bheeth Bhagwanpur in what is now
Madhubani district. The 15th-century poet, Vidyapati asserted in his writings that Malladeva was a "valiant warrior" and he spent time in the kingdoms of the neighbouring
Gahadavala dynasty and the
Pithipatis of Bodh Gaya. It was during this period that the
Thakuri dynasty of
Nepal asserted their independence leading to the loss of much of the Karnata territory in Nepal. Harisimhadeva turned out to be the last king of the Karnata dynasty as he didn't show his strength and left the fort when he heard the news of an army of the Tughlaq Sultan approaching Simraungarh. The Sultan and his troop stayed there for 3 days and cleared the dense forest. Finally on day 3, the army attacked and entered the huge fort whose walls were tall and surrounded by 7 big
ditches. The remains are still scattered all over the Simraungadh region. The king Harisimhadeva fled northwards into what is now Nepal. The son of Harisimhadeva, Jagatsinghadeva, married the widowed princess of
Bhaktapur, Nayak Devi. script made during the reign of
Narsimhadeva ==Architecture==