Important Historical persons and kings in Rajasthan

Important Historical persons and kings in Rajasthan

 

Bappa Rawal-Bappa Means 'Father'. It was the epithet by which Kalabhoja was known throughout Rajasthan. He was the first Guhilot ruler of Chittore. He built the temple of Eklingji.

 

Prithviraj Chauhan- He remained a powerful ruler. Mohammad Gauri invaded India in 1191 and fought in the battle field of terrain. He was badly defeated by Prithviraj Chauhan. But the year 1192 was an epoch-making year  not only in the history of Rajasthan but of the whole of India because the Chauhan king was defeated and killed by Gauri. Thus, both Delhi and Ajmer were lost by the Rajputs.

 

Rani Padmini- Allauddin Khilji attacked Chittor in 1303 for getting Rani Padmini, the beautiful queen of Rana Ratan Singh. Her great beauty was talked of far and wide. Rana Ratan Singh was captured by Khilji's soldiers and Padmini was demanded as a ransom for setting Ratan Singh at liberty. So Padmini devised a scheme for the liberation of her Raja without hazarding her life or fame. Words were sent to Allauddin that Rani was willing to go to him in a manner befitting her position. The next day 700 palanquins left Chittor Fort each containing four armed warriors and borne by six more disguided as bearers. Once inside the enemy’s camp, they first got Rana freed and then fought gallantly against enemy till death. However, Ratan Singh was slain. To save their honour, Padmini led thousands of Rajput ladies and chose to die by the act of Jauhar-voluntary death in a holy funeral pyre.

 

Maharana Kumbha- Rana Kumbha (1433-1468) was a great fighter, a man of letters and a lover of arts. In 1439, he defeated Mahmud Khilji of Malwa. To commemorate his victory, he erected a tower of victory ‘VijayStambha' which symbolises its architectural grandeur. He wrote the famous books 'Geet Govind' and 'Sangeet Raga'.

 

Jaimal and Patta- In 1568, Akbar invaded Chittorgarh fort and Udai Singh fought to defend it. This battle is known as Third Saka (Jauhar of Chittor). Jaimal was the commander and he fought bravely but got a bullet in his thigh. He thus sat on the shoulders of Kalla Rathore and killed a number of enemies and died heroically. Patta, a noble from Kelwara (Badnaur) attacked enemies so vigorously. He alone fought single-handed at the gate of Chittore Fort and did not allow a single Mughal to enter till his death.

 

Panna Dhai (Nurse)- She was a nurse of Udai Singh. In an effort to illegally seize the Crown, Balbir wanted to kill Udai Singh but just to save Udai Singh, she put her own child in Udai Singh cradle. Balbir slayed the child with the sword and faithfully Panna quickly bore the sight of the cruel death of her son. Thus, she made an unparalleled sacrifice as a mother.

 

Rana Sanga- Maharana Sanga, son of Raimal ascended the throne of Mewar in 1509. The Sanga is an abbreviation of his real name Sangram (meaning battle). He was recognised as a Mighty Warrior. He was a staunch believer in Hinduism.

 

Rana Udai Singh- Rana (1536-72) founded a new capital city, called Udaipur. Balbir wanted to kill him but Panna Dhai sacrificed her son and helped her personal attendant too escape with Udai Singh to Kumbhalgarh where Udai Singh was kept hidden under the protection of Asha Singh. Udai Singh was compelled to flee towards hills, where he founded the city Udaipur.

 

Rana Pratap- After his father's death, Rana Pratap took a vow to free Chittore from enemies. He suffered untold hardships but never agreed to become a Vassal of Akbar. A grim battle at Haldighati ensured between Maharana Pratap and the Mughal won but any how Rana escaped safely and had to go in hiding. Ultimately, Maharana recovered Kumbhalgarh and many other forts. He regained his prestige and honour and became the most renowned warrior of Rajasthan.

 

Rana Amar Singh- At the time of death Rana pratap desired from his son Rana Amar Singh to fight till whole of Mewar was liberated. Amar Singh kept these words but later he was persuaded by his nobles to have honourable treaty with the Mughals.

 

Rana Raj Singh - Last independent Maharana of Mewar, he reigned during the period of Aurangzeb. Aurengzeb wanted to marry Roopmati of Roopnagar but she refused and requested Rana to save her. Rajsingh and his Sardar Chundwat saved her life, Rana got carved historical Sanskrit epic 'Raj Prasthi' on 25 black stone slabs at Rajsamand Lake.

 

Rathore Jodha- In 1458, he became the ruler of Kosana, Chowkali and Mandore. Jodha later transferred his government from Mandore to the newly constructed fort city of Jodhpur in 1459. He captured several territories to extend the frontiers of his kingdom to Hissar in the north, Godwar in the sough-east and Sindh and Jaisalmer in the west. Thus, he was the founder of Rathore dynasty in Marwar. He died in 1488.

 

Rao Maldeo- Last independent and powerful Rathore ruler succeded his father Rao Ganga of Jodhpur in 1531.His aggressive designs over Bikaner, Ajmer, Merta and Nagaur brought him in headlong clash with the Afgan Emperor Sher Shah who defeated him in the Sunel battle of 1544. After Sher Shah's death in 1545.Maldeo regained the lost capital. By 1560 he was the master of his old territories except those of Ajmer,Jaitaran, Bikaner and Nagaur.

 

Maharaja Jaswant Singh- He became ruler of Jodhpur in 1638. He was appointed Governor of Gujrat. In 1662, Emperor Aurangzeb sent him to Deccan to curb the growing power of Shivaji but he failed and was recalled to Delhi in the year 1665. He died in 1678.

 

Mohnot Nainsi- He was the Dewan of Maharaja Jaswant Singh. He was a great historian and wrote Nainsi-Ki-Khyat and Marwar Ra Pargana Ri Vigat. Both the books deals with the contemporary social life and revenue system of Marwar respectively.

 

Maharaja Ajit Singh-.He was the posthumous son of Jaswant Singh. Aurangzeb wanted to kill him and annex Marwar but Durgadas took him to some hiding place. Later, he became very powerful. Thus, Aurangzeb entered into a peace agreement with him and appointed him the Faujdar of Jalore, Sanchore and Siwana .After the death of Aurangzeb, Ajit Singh established his hold on Jodhpur, became Governor of Gujrat in 1712, and deposed emperor Farrukhsiyar in 1719 and got Jazia abolished. Later at the behest of the Mughal Court, he was deprived in 1721 and done to death in1724.

 

Durga Das Rahore- He was born in 1638 and was the son of Askaran Karnot (Rathore) of Salwa. He joined Jodhpur State services and always accompanied Maharaja Jaswant Singh through his military campaigns. He saved Maharaja Ajit Singh from Aurangzeb and kept Mughal forces away from Marwar through his diplomatic skills. Durgadas was basically a man of the masses not only of Marwar but of the entire Rajasthan.

 

Amar Singh Rathore-  He was kept in Shahjahan Darbar because of his courage, boldness and warriorship. Once Salawat Khan, brother-in-law of Shahjahan insulted him, he immediately cut off his head and fled away from Agra. Later on, Amar Singh's own brother-in-law, Arjun Gaur got him killed.

 

Suraj Mal- Surajmal, the adopted son of Badan Singh of deeg, became the ruler of Bharatpur in 1734. He is known as the founder of independent Jat Kingdom of Bharatpur. In 1750, he was honoured with the title of Raja by Mughal Emperor. He remained neutral in the third battle of Panipat in which Marathas were defeated by ahmed shah Abadali. He was known for his expansionist policy.

 

Maharaja surajmal

Sawai Jai Singh- He was not only a great general and diplomat but also a great builder. Sawai Jai Singh (1688-1743) was a most notable ruler. Initially, he as a Law Mansab and posted in the Deccan but he reached the high position of supreme counsellor at the Mughal Court. But due to increasing pressure of the Marathas, he could not have his hold in Malwa. He built the city Jai Nagar in 1727 and later it was called Jaipur which is at present capital of Rajasthan, The most beautiful and well planned city of India. He was a great Astronomer and established Jantar Mantars (Observatories) at Delhi, Jaipur, Banaras and Ujjain.

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