Mewar is one of the regions in present-day Rajasthan which is known for its glorious past. Today, the region comprises of four districts namely, Bhilwara, Chittorgarh, Rajsamand and Udaipur. History of Mewar dates back to the year 530, when it was founded by Bapa Rawal. The rulers before Bapa Rawal had controlled smaller regions in the hills situated to the west and southwest of Mewar, and it was Rawal who extended the boundaries to establish Mewar state. Initially, the capital of Mewar Kingdom was located at Nagda, which is 19 kilometres north of Udaipur. Bapa also defeated Man Singh of the Mori clan from Chittor in 734 AD to expand territories of mewar towards the east. Khiljis Mewar kingdom was ruled by Guhilas from 734 to 1303 and by the Sisodias clan of Rajputs from 1326 to 1952. Rana Laksha and his sons - Ari Singh and Ajay Singh were the rulers of Mewar who tried to defend Chittor. Rana Laksha and his son Ari Singh were killed in a battle for Chittor with Alauddin Khalji. Ajay Singh used guerrilla warfare for a while, but was killed at the end in the 1320s. Hamir Singh I was made the next king who married the daughter of Maldeo of Jalore. Maldeo was the Governor of Chittor for the Delhi Sultanate. Hamir Singh I finally reclaimed his homeland by dethroning his own father-in-law. Mughals When Mughal Emperor Akbar attached Mewar kingdom in 1568, Chittorgarh was its capital under the Sisodia clan of Rajputs. Maharana Pratap is considered to be one of the fiercest kings of in the history of Mewar. Although he was defeated in the Battle of Haldighati and Gogunda in 1576 by the Mughals, he managed to recapture certain western territories of Mewar by using guerrilla warfare techniques. However, all his efforts went into vain when Amar Singh accepted Mughal suzerainty in 1615. East India Company From almost 1768 to 1818, Mewar Kingdom was attacked and ransacked by Holkar, Scindia, and Amir Khan. Maharana Bhim Singh tried to take help from the East India Company in 1805. But Scindia had signed a treaty with the British in 1803, which did not allow Mewar to take any kind of help from the East India Company. Finally in 1817, a treaty was signed and on 13th January 1818, Mewar State became an official British protectorate. The Maharana of Mewar was not allowed to take any political decisions without British consent. Mewar state also had to pay ¼ of its revenue to the British for almost 38 years. In return, the ruler of Udaipur got a 19 gun salute from the British. Mewar Kingdom became a part of Independent India on 7th April 1949.
0 Comments
Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorPassionate collector of coins, banknotes & stamps who loves researching about ancient, medieval & modern Indian history! Archives
June 2019
Categories
All
|