Far East Kingdoms

Mewar (Rajputana) (India)

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The name of Rajputana is the old form of today's modern Indian state of Rajasthan. It borders Pakistan in the north-west, and the Indian states of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana to the south, south-east, east, and north respectively.

It is the land of the kshatriya (warrior) Rajputs (with other communities including Meenas, Gujars, Brahmins, Jats, Yadavs, Bhils, Bishnois, and Ahirs). The Rajputs derive their name from their state: Rajputana literally means the 'land of the princes' (with 'raj' meaning 'king' and 'put' meaning 'son'). The modern capital of Rajasthan is Jaipur, while the earliest Rajput kingdom was at Kannauj in today's Uttar Pradesh.

Those Rajput kingdoms which emerged following the break-up of the Thaneshwar empire in the sixth century AD included Ajmer (one of the most important early Rajput states), Alwar, Banswara, Bharatpur, Bikaner, Bundi, Dholpur, Jaipur, Jaisalmer, Jhalawar, Karauli, Kishangad, Kotah, Marwar, Mewar (Udaipur - the senior Rajput kingdom), Pratapgarh, Tonk, and Taranga, with that list not even being exhaustive.

All were eventually conquered by the Moghuls but, during the nineteenth century and the first half of the twentieth, Rajputana acted as an agency under the British Raj. It was formed of a group of kingdoms which owed allegiance to the British crown, but which were autonomous enough to run their own administration.

The kingdom of Mewar was formed in what is now southern-central Rajasthan state in north-western India. Its capital was the fort of Chittor in Mewar. Its rulers came originally from the Guhilot clan, starting with Bappa Rawal in the early eighth century AD. The Guhilots were replaced in the fourteenth century by the related Sisodiya clan.

Please note that the History Files does not regularly monitor changes in modern heads of state or their representatives. Get in touch here if this section requires updating.

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(Information by Abhijit Rajadhyaksha and Peter Kessler, with additional information from Maharana Pratap, Bhawan Singh Rana (containing a list of rulers of Mewar), and from External Links: India History Blogspot (formerly full of information by Abhijit Rajadhyaksha but now seemingly emptied).)

? - 734?

Ruler of Malwa. Seventh in line to hold Mewar.

? - 734?

After Mewar is conquered by the rulers of Malwa and is ruled directly from that location, Maan Mori is the seventh in that line of conquerors. Around AD 734 he is killed. Bappa Rawal of the Guhilots is able to take over as one of the earliest named Rajput rulers.

Rajasthan's famous Thar desert, which is also referred to as the 'Great Indian Desert', today forms part of the India-Pakistan border, lying essentially between Bikaner and Jodhpur

Guhilot Dynasty of Mewar (Rajputana) (India)
AD 734? - 1303

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The creators of Mewar's ruling dynasty in Rajputana came originally from the Guhilot clan. Foundation stories claim this clan originated in Kashmir and migrated to Gujarat in the sixth century AD under Queen Pushpavati. It migrated again in the seventh century under Naagaditya, to the plains of Mewar in the area around Magda, which was named after one of the earliest clan leaders.

Bappa Rawal, the founder of the Guhilot dynasty of rulers of Mewar, was born as Kalbhoj. After a promising beginning as a good warrior for, and a possible relative of, an obscure local chieftain called Maan Mori in Malwa and Mewar, Bappa Rawal usurped his patron's territory and established himself as its new ruler.

Some opinion insist instead that he was the son of Maan Mori and simply ruled as his rightful successor following an assassination. All subsequent rulers of the territory traced their lineage to Bappa Rawal.

fl 550s

Queen who fled Vallabhi when it was invaded by raiders.

569 - 603

Son. Became clan chief aged 11. Founded the Guhilot clan.

603 - 615

Son.

615 - 625

Son. Rebel Bhils killed him and wrested back their territories.

625 - 646

Moved capital to Nagdhara and renamed it Nagda.

646 - 661

661 - 688

688 - 716

Islamic raiders attacked Chitor, ruled by Paramaras during his time.

731/734? - ?

Son. Guhilot dynasty founder and creator of the state.

731 or 734

Born as Kalbhoj, Bappa Rawal is the founder of a Guhilot dynasty which later comes to rule Mewar. He takes Chittor from Maan Mori, ruler of Malwa, and wards off Islamic attacks on his territory.

753 - 773

Son. Warded off several attacks on his kingdom.

773 - 793

773 - 813

Co-ruler or relative?

813 - 828

828 - 853

Repelled up to 24 Islamic attacks. Ruled a Golden Age in Mewar.

c.853

Deoraj establishes the royal family of Jaisalmer and makes Lodorva his capital, transferring it from Lahore, capital for over a century.

853 - 878

Faced several invasions.

878 - 942

942 - 943

943 - 953

c.943

Possibly near start of his reign, Allat is driven from Chittor by the Paramara king of Malwa, Munja Raja, who then rules Chittor and is succeeded by his nephew, Raja Bhoj. Allat establishes a new capital at ancient Ahar.

953 - 971

The death of Allat leaves a gap in the succession, and there is no Guhilot leader at all for a total of eight years while the Paramaras attack Ahar. It takes until 971 for a new Guhilot king to reign.

961

Vakpati Raj of Malwa rules Chittor as the rightful Paramara king, although not necessarily rightful ruler of Chittor as the Guhilots can assert.

971 - 973

Restored Guhilot control of Merwar.

973 - 977

977 - 993

993 - 1007

Fought against Mahmud Ghazni (Yamin-ud-Dawlah Mahmud).

1007 - 1021

1021 - 1035

1035 - 1051

1037

Raja Dulha Rao is generally given as the founder of the Rajput kingdom of Amer, while his son's successor, Hunadev, is the one to hammer home the final nail in the Meena coffin.

Amer or Amber, capital of the kingdom of the same name, was founded by the Meena king, Ralun Singh, but was captured during his lifetime by the Kachwaha Rajputs

1051 - 1068

1059?

Zahir-ud-Dawlah Ibrahim re-establishes a truncated Ghaznavid empire after the unstable two decades preceding his rule. He agrees peace terms with the Seljuqs and restores cultural and political links, although apparently is not able to restore Ghaznavid dominance of Seistan. However, the empire is increasingly sustained by riches which have been gained in raids across northern India, and the Rajput rulers there offer stiff resistance.

1068 - 1088

1088 - 1103

1103 - 1107

1107 - 1127

1127 - 1138

Chittor is captured by Malwa.

1138 - 1148

The Western Chalukyas attack the Paramaras who hold Chittor.

1148 - 1158

1158 - 1168

1168?

The royal family divides, possibly near the end of Karan Singh's reign. His son Rahap establishes the Sisodia branch of the family while another son, Mahap, establishes the Dungarpur kingdom.

1168 - 1172

1172 - 1179

1179

Samant Singh occupies Bagar (in the Dungarpur area) during his reign. After seven years on the throne he is slain by Kirtipal Solanki of Nadol in battle at Ghaggar (in Punjab).

1179 - 1191

Possibly relocated capital to Nagda at end of his reign.

1191 - 1211

Possibly relocated capital to Nagda at start of his reign.

1191 - 1192

Mathan Singh fights in the Battles of Tarain, in which the Chauhan ruler, Prithviraj III, and the Rajput confederation which includes Mewar (the 'Hindu League') are defeated by the Ghurid Sultan Mohammed Ghuri.

1194

The Hindu Rajputs of Amer and the Gahadavalas who had governed much of the region around Delhi now lose that territory and the city itself when they are defeated by a slave of the Ghurid sultan. The sultanate of Delhi is subsequently founded.

1207

Chittor is taken and is ruled by the Western Chalukyas just as they are facing their own terminal decline. They are already virtually obscure by now, as the Delhi sultanate is founded by a slave of the Ghurid sultan, Mohammed III. This is following the 1194 defeat of the Hindu Rajputs of Amer who had previously governed much of the region.

1211 - 1213

1213 - 1253

During his reign, Jait Singh defeats the Malwa Rajputs who rule Chittor, reinstating its fort as the capital of Mewar. This probably occurs shortly after Sultan Iltutmish of Delhi has destroyed Nadga.

1226

Rao Siyaji, grandson of King Jai Chandra of the Gahadavalas, founds the kingdom of Marwar.

1234

Sultan Iltutmish of Delhi is defeated by Mewar when he invades this staunchly defended Rajput region. The sultan's reign in Delhi lasts just two more years.

1253 - 1261

There is an apparent interregnum in Merwar. No known ruler is known to exist during this period, although the circumstances behind the gap are unknown. The relation of the next known ruler of Mewar to his predecessor is also unknown.

1261 - 1267

Ruled from Chittor.

1267 - 1273

There is a second apparent interregnum. No known ruler of Mewar exists during this period, and the fate of Tej Singh is unknown, as are the circumstances behind the gap. It takes six years for Tej Singh's son to ascend the throne.

1273 - 1302

Son. Ruled from Chittor.

Samar Singh builds wall around Mahasati in Chittor. His son, Kumbh Karan, migrates to Nepal (where his descendants become the Nepalese royal family).

1302 - 1303

Last Guhilot king to rule.

1303

The army of the sultan of Delhi, Muhammad Shah I, invades north-western India under the command of Malik Kafur. They conquer the Rajput states which include Mewar. With the capital and main fort at Chittor about to fall, the women inside commit mass suicide rather than fall into the hands of the invaders, while the men make a heroic charge in the face of insurmountable odds.

The few survivors of the fall of Chittor take refuge in the hills. Administration of the captured state is handed to the ruler of the neighbouring state of Jalore, Maldeo, although he soon gives way to the newly-founded Sisodiya dynasty.

Sisodiya Dynasty of Mewar (Rajputana) (India)
AD 1326 - Present Day

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Once Mewar had been conquered by the sultan of Delhi a vassal ruler was placed on the throne (shown in red in the timeline (1303-1326). He governed Mewar as well as his own domains in Jalore. In order to establish some cooperation from the locals he married his widowed daughter, Songari, to a member of a minor branch of the former ruling dynasty, a young man named Hamir.

Hamir could trace his descent from the Bappa Rawal who had founded the Guhilot dynasty of Mewar back in AD 731, so he had the pedigree to make him a worthy son-on-law. Even more than that, he had the pedigree to rule so, in 1326, Hamir organised a coup against his father-in-law. He re-established an independent Mewar, forming a new dynasty in the form of the Sisodiyas, with his 'new' dynasty being named after the mountain village of his birth, Sisoda.

Alongside a reborn Mewar there were a number of other small Rajput kingdoms at this time, including Amer, Bikaner, Bundi, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, and Malwa, and Marwar, although all were eventually conquered by the Moghuls.

1303 - 1326

Vassal of Delhi in Mewar. Ruler of Jalore.

1326 - 1364

Grandson of Ratan Singh. Founded Sisodiya dynasty.

1342

Rao Deva of the Hada Chauhan dynasty of Rajputs founds the princely state of Bundi by taking the Bunda-ka-Nal region from the local Meena chieftain, Jaita Meena. The city and state derive their name from the former Meena ruler, Bunda Meena.

1364 - 1382

Son. Continued work retaking Mewar provinces from Tughlaqs.

1382

Kshetra Singh is assassinated by the Hara chief of Banbaoda in a dispute about a daughter he is supposed to be marrying.

1382 - 1421

Son.

1398

Laksha Singh falls out with his heir, Prince Choonda, over a princess of Marwar whom Laksha himself marries. Choonda renounces his right to throne. Laksha later appoints Choonda as regent for his young step-brother, Mokal, son of the princess whom Choonda spurned.

1406

Rao Chanda gains full control of Marwar and Jodhpur after wresting then from the Islamic rulers of Delhi. From this point onwards Marwar is ruled by the Rajput Rathores, and it shares their fate.

1421 - 1433

Son. Ascended throne aged 5. Assassinated.

1421 - ?

Uncle and regent, having promised so. Deposed.

1433

During Mokal's relatively short reign his mother, Rajmata Hansabai, deposes Choonda as regent and he retires to Mandu, capital of Malwa.

Rao Ranmal of Marwar and others of Hansabai's relatives move into Chittor as part of an attempted political takeover. Ultimately, Mokal is killed in 1433 by his father's step-brothers, Chacha and Mera.

1433 - 1468

Son of Mokal. Ascended throne as a minor. Killed.

Kumbhkaran ascends the throne after his father's murder. Rao Ranmal kills Mokal's assassins and, in a move to take over the throne, he murders Choonda's brother too, one Raghudeo.

The dowager queen, Rajmata Hansabai, asks Choonda to return and he does so, driving out the invaders before forming the Choondawat clan at Salumbar. Khumba survives the crisis period to become a renowned warrior, builder, writer, and patron of the arts.

1458 - 1468

A Charan predicts Kumbha's imminent death, so he banishes the Charan tribes from Mewar. Crown Prince Raimal supports the Charans so he is exiled to Idar. A decade later, Raimal's younger brother, Udai (Uda), assassinates Kumbha and usurps throne.

1465

Rao Bika is a member of the Rathore clan and is the son of Rao Jodha of Jodhpur. Following a disagreement with his father he leaves Jodhpur to found the city of Bikaner after building on the site his fort of Rati Ghati.

1468 - 1473

Son. Usurper, nicknamed Hatyara, 'The Murderer'.

1473

Crown Prince Raimal comes out of exile, amasses an army, attacks Chittor, and claims the throne which rightly belongs to him. Udai Singh flees to Delhi to get help from Sultan Bahlul Lodi but in a bizarre twist of fate he is struck and killed by lightening.

1473 - c.1519?

Brother of Kumbha. Regained his rightful throne.

1501

Rudra Pratap founds the Orcha kingdom of Bundela rajas who are of Chhatri Suryanvanshi Rajput descent.

c.1519? - 1527

Son. Severely wounded and defeated in battle.

1517 - 1526

Ibrahim Lodhi, sultan of Delhi, faces a number of rebellions by nobles within the sultanate as well as pressure from outside, as Rana Sanga extends his own territory at Delhi's expense.

From 1519, the ruler of Kabul, Babar, also leads a great many raids on Delhi. He is invited in 1526 by the nobility to invade (Rana Sanga being included amongst that nobility), and Ibrahim is killed at the Battle of Panipat. Babar creates a Moghul empire which sacks and then controls Delhi as the heart of that empire.

1527 - 1528

Babur increases his territory by defeating Rana Sanga at the Battle of Khanua and conquering Mewar, despite having an army only half the size of Mewar's. It is the turn of Rana Sanga's vassal, Medina Rai of Malwa to be defeated in 1528.

1527 - 1531

Son.

1531 - 1532

The new Moghul emperor, Humayun, faces an invasion of Rajputana when Bahadur Shah of Gujarat takes Malwa (in 1531) and Raisen (in 1532). However, the problem is quickly dealt with and Rajputana is restored to Moghul control.

1531 - 1568

Brother.

1566

The Mirza princes who survive Akbar's defeat of an attempted coup of the Moghul throne flee first to the Rajputs (including those of Mewar), and then to Gujarat.

1568 - 1572

Son.

1564 - 1568

The Moghul emperor, Akbar, takes on the might of the Rajputs. He sends his emissaries to various Rajput princes, asking them to accept his suzerainty but, knowing the Rajput reputation for valour, he uses subtle diplomacy to win them over, entering into marriage alliances with many of them.

The ruler of Amer (Jaipur), Raja Bharmal, gives his daughter to Akbar and sets the precedent. Akbar inducts into his body of high ranking courtiers Raja Bharmal's son, Bhagwandas, and grandson, Man Singh.

The new ruler, Maharana Uday Singh, refuses the offer so Akbar attacks him and Chittor is sacked, having remained the capital of the Sisodiyas until this year. The Sisodiya capital is moved to Udaipur as half the kingdom is annexed. Uday Singh holds on tenaciously to the remaining half of his kingdom for the remainder of his life.

Mewar's capital at the fort of Chittor was the scene of a good many sixteenth century battles for control of the region as the Moghuls attempted to secure overall dominion of the region

1572

Son and chosen heir, but politely removed by the nobles.

1572 - 1597

Brother.

1576

The legendary Pratap Singh also refuses to follow the bidding of the Moghul emperor, Akbar. He is met by Akbar at the famous Battle of Haldighati in 1576. In a struggle which is comparable in Indian warfare to the bravery of the Spartans at Thermopylae, the Rajputs fight valiantly but are outnumbered.

Pratap Singh escapes to the adjoining jungles and continues his struggle from there, waging a guerrilla battle until his death against Akbar and his Moghul forces.

1597 - 1620

Son.

1605 - 1615

Emperor Jahangir continues the Moghul campaigns against Mewar, encountering stiff resistance all the way. Many battles take place in this period, but one notable victory for the ranas is when Amar Singh wins back the fort of Chittor.

Amar Singh agrees in 1615 to sign a peace treaty on the advice of courtiers and his son, Prince Karan Singh. He agrees to accept the suzerainty of the Moghuls in return for the restoration of Mewar's territories.

1620 - 1628

Son.

1628 - 1654

Son. Rebuilt Chittor from the ruins.

1654 - 1681

Son.

1678 - 1680

While a revolt against Moghul emperor Aurangzeb is already underway in Marwar, Raj Singh revolts against the jaziya tax. Aurangzeb is quick to retaliate, destroying perhaps a hundred and seventy-three temples in Udaipur and sixty-three temples in Chittor. Raj Singh is defeated in battle in 1680, but for a time he joins the guerrilla war being waged by Marwar. Aurungzeb eventually agrees a treaty with his son, Jai Singh.

1681 - 1700

Son. m daughter of Jaswantsingh of Jaisalmer.

1700 - 1716

Son. Restored the independence of the kingdom.

1707

Raja Chatrasal founds the Bundela kingdom of Panna in Bundelkhand, well to the south of Rajputana. The Bundelas are Chhatri Suryanvanshi Rajputs in origin.

1716 - 1734

Regained the kingdom's lost territories.

1728

Udajirao Pawar assists Maratha Peshwa Baji Rao I in his Malwa campaign. In reward for his services, Udaji Pwar is given Dhar as his jagir (estate). His ancestors had been Gurjars who had assumed the status of Chandravanshi Rajput kshatriyas (claiming descent from Raja Vikramaditya of Malwa).

1732

Udajirao of Dhar falls out with the Peshwa and his jagir rights are transferred to his two brothers, Tukaji Pawar and Jivaji Pawar, who establish themselves as rulers in Dewas. Udajirao is sent off to Multan where he dies.

1734 - 1751

Son.

1734

Jagat Singh II begins his reign with a revival of the triple alliance between Mewar, Marwar, and Amer, which had first been agreed during the reign of Amar Singh II but which had failed at the time.

This renewed union of states is formed at Hoorlah, a town within Amer. Unfortunately, it again fails, this time due to individual ambition, and the increasingly powerful Maratha empire is able to conquer the entire Rajputana region.

1743

Jagat Singh II places his eldest son, Ishwari Singh, on the throne of Amer. Politics being played by Jagat Singh's queen mean that Ishwari Singh commits suicide in 1750. Jagat Singh's misrule in his own kingdom sends it into a decline following his death, with the throne being occupied by incompetent successors.

1752 -1755

Son. Continually fighting off Maratha invasions.

1755 - 1762

Son.

1762

On the death of Raj Singh II of Mewar, his uncle swiftly makes sure that the order of succession is amended to allow him to claim the throne. Which he promptly does, holding it for the next decade.

1762 - 1772

Uncle. Assassinated, apparently by Rao Raja Ajit Singh of Bundi.

1772 - 1778

Son.

1775

Pratap Singh Prabhakar Bahadur is granted the panch hazari mansab by Moghul Emperor Shah Alam, and goes on to found the Rajput kingdom of Alwar as a result.

1778 - 1828

Brother. Acceded aged 8.

1818

The Third Maratha War results in a decisive victory for the British against the Peshwa in India. The last peshwa, Baji Rao II, is defeated and the Maratha empire is largely annexed, bound by treaty to the British crown. It is at this time (in 1818) that Bhim Singh also officially accepts the superiority of British power in the country.

1828 - 1838

Son.

1838 - 1842

Adopted son.

1842 - 1861

Adopted son.

1861 - 1874

Adopted son.

1874 - 1884

Adopted son.

1884 - 1930

Adopted son. Powers curbed by British in India. Titular ruler only.

1930 - 1955

Son.

1948 - 1949

India achieves independence from Britain and begins the process of taking control of the princely states. Mewar is one of the first of those states to merge with the new dominion.

Later in 1949 a total of twenty-two princely states of Rajasthan merge to form the 'Union of Greater Rajasthan', acknowledging as their head the maharana of Udaipur in Mewar. Those states which cease to exist include Alwar, Amer, Bikaner, Bundi, Dewas, Dhar, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, and Malwa.

Maharana Bhopal Singh of Udaipur (Mewar) who held his title between 1930 and 1955, during some of India's most turbulent times in its history

1955 - 1984

Adopted son from the Shivrati branch of the family.

1956

The state of Rajasthan comes into being on 1 November 1956, incorporating the Rajput states within its borders. The Rajasthan rulers give up their sovereignty but continue to enjoy privy purses in exchange for that handover of power.

1970 - 1971

The Indian parliament in 1970 decides to abolish the institution of royalty, and in the following year the rulers of the former princely states are de-recognised, with their privy purses and titles being snatched away from them. Bhagwat Singh creates charitable trusts to ensure the survival of his property.

1983 - 1984

Bhagwat's elder son, Mahendra Singh, files a civil suit as he pursues a share in the family inheritance. Instead he is supposedly cut off and disinherited by his father. In the following year Bhagwat proclaims as his successor his second son, Arvind Singh.

Even so, following the death of Maharana Bhagwat Singh, it is Maharana Mahendra Singh who is crowned at the 'City Palace' in Udaipur. During his time Arvind Singh attains control of the palace but, instead of assuming the title of maharaj as is generally expected of younger sons of a Rajput ruler, Arvind Singh assumes the title of sriji. The brothers pass away in 2024 (for Mahendra) and 2025 (for Arvind).

1984 - 2024

Brother. Born Dec 1944.

2024 - Present

Son.

2024

When Maharana Vishwaraj Singh is crowned as the family head, with the ceremony taking place at Fort Chittor in Chittor (one hundred and eleven kilometres away from Udaipur). The son of Sriji Maharaj Arvind Singh assumes his father's title and takes charge of the City Palace and HRH Group of hotels.