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Sisodias of Mewar
Foremost amongst the Rajputs is the House of Mewar. Its rulers claim descent
from Rama tracing their line to his firstborn, Lav founder of Lahore (Lavpur).
As the senior clan, the rulers were given the title of Maharana while all
others were called Maharaja. They were fortunate in many of their rulers.
Mewar was the last state to succumb to Muslim rule.
The dynasty was founded in AD 144 and ruled from Ahar near Udaipur. In the 7th
century Bappa Rawal, the infant heir, was exiled with his mother, a Mori
princess to the forests round Nagda where they found shelter with some brahmin
hermits. But the young Bappa could not suppress his martial instinct. He began
by bullying the tribal Bhil children in boyish games and ended by establishing
his rule over the Bhil tribals, his first capital being Nagda.
Bappa Rawal was blessed by a Shaivite hermit, Harita who lived at Eklingji.
Later, Bappa built a complex of temples hereto the tutelary deity of his
family, Shiva.
Encouraged by his mother, Bappa entered the service of his Mori uncle who
ruled from Chittor. Ungratefully, he seized an opportunity to overthrow his
benefactor and took Chittor. This fortress became his new capital.
Most of Rajput history is known through bardic poems known as, banshavalis.
According to these it is said Bappa Rawal stood 20 cubits in height, ruled for
a hundred years and then retired to Mount Meru as an ascetic. His line
continued unbroken.
Raja Ratan Singh, in 1303, was faced by the besieging armies of Allauddin
Khilji, Sultan of Delhi. The citadel of Chittor held out for Many months, but
was finally sacked Khilji left his son Khizr Khan as governor.
Rana Hamir (1365)
A nephew of Ratan Singh won back Chittor by a stratagem and Mewar was again
free of Muslim domination.
[Raja Jai Singh]
[Rajasthan]
[Bikaner]
[Chauhans of Delhi-Ajmer]
[Muslim Invasions]
[Post-Mogul history]
[Rana Lakha]
[Rana Sanga]
[Rao Jodha]
[Rana Udai Singh]
[Rana Kumbha]
[Rana Pratap]
[Harachauhans of Bundi-Kotah]
[Kuchchwahas of Amber-Jaipur]
[Rajasthan early history]
[Rajasthan history]
[Imperial Guptas]
[Colonel James Tod]
[The Mauryans]
[The Rajputs]
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