Joy Manikya I (died 1577) was the
Maharaja
Maharaja (also spelled Maharajah or Maharaj; ; feminine: Maharani) is a royal title in Indian subcontinent, Indian subcontinent of Sanskrit origin. In modern India and Medieval India, medieval northern India, the title was equivalent to a pri ...
of
Tripura
Tripura () is a States and union territories of India, state in northeastern India. The List of states and union territories of India by area, third-smallest state in the country, it covers ; and the seventh-least populous state with a populat ...
from 1573 to 1577.
Life
He was the son of
Udai Manikya
Udai Manikya I (died 1572), also known as Gopi Prasad, was the Maharaja of Tripura from 1567 to 1572. Though from a lowly background, he later rose to become one of the most powerful figures in the kingdom. Following the death of the previous ...
, who had supplanted Tripura's previous
ruling dynasty and adopted its cognomen in 1567. Following his father's death, Joy succeeded him on the throne in 1573. However, his rule was only nominal as the powerful general Ranagan Narayan, who was the husband of his paternal aunt, held actual control of the kingdom, using Joy as a puppet-monarch.
Narayan eventually grew jealous of the popularity enjoyed by
Amaradeva, a prince of the former royal family.
[ The latter was invited to a dinner where Narayan planned to have him killed. However, he escaped and, rallying his supporters, captured the regent and had his head cut off. When Joy demanded an explanation for Narayan's death, Amaradeva dispatched his troops against the king, who attempted to flee before being overtaken and also beheaded. Joy's death is believed to have occurred in 1577, having reigned about 4 years.][
]
References
{{reflist
Kings of Tripura
Dethroned monarchs
1577 deaths
Executed monarchs
Deaths by decapitation