Mewar Encyclopedia

Concise History of Mewar

A chronology of Mewar's 76 Rulers and their times (569-2001 CE) including some parallel events in India.
Conflicting dates exist for the reigns of Guhil and his two immediate successors, Bhoj and Mahendra I. Some texts maintain Guhil's reign began as early as 566 CE. The following dates must still be considered approximate.

1.	Ruler & Title: Rawal GUHIL Reign: 569-603 CE Capital: Idar Family: Guhilot	*Mewar:* Posthumous son of Siladitya VI, Rajput king of Vallabhi (in Saurashtra, now Gujarat) born to Queen Pushpavati after Vallabhi destroyed by Arab invaders and the king killed. Guhil grows up among Bhil tribesmen of Idar district; adopted by chief, Mandalik. When chief dies, Guhil learns he is really a Rajput prince. 569, makes Idar his capital and establishes Guhilot dynasty, precursor of the Mewar dynasty. Little known of his reign. *India:* Chalukyas of Badami in Central India; Pallavas of Kanchipuram in South India. 595, first record of decimal notation. 598, astronomer and mathematician, Brahmagupta.
2.	Ruler & Title: Rawal BHOJ Reign: 603-615 CE Capital: Bhomat district, Idar Family: Guhilot	*Mewar:* Little known of his reign. *India:* 600-630, Pallavas under Mahendravarman I. 606-647, Harshavardhana king of Kanauj. 608-642 CE, Chalukyas under Pulakesin II. 615 CE, revival of Indian architecture and sculpture; stone replaces earlier timber and brick. 630 CE, Pulakesin defeats Harsha. 630-643, Hsuan Tsang in India.
3.	Ruler & Title: Rawal MAHENDRA I Reign: 615-625 CE Capital: Idar Family: Guhilot	*Mewar:* Little known of his reign except that rebel Bhils kill him and reclaim their territory of Idar. *India:* 625 CE, Brahmagupta at Ujjain. 642, Pallava king Narasimhavarman defeats Pulakesin II.
4.	Ruler & Title: Rawal NAGADITYA (NAG) Reign: 626-646 Capital: Nagda Family: Guhilot	*Mewar:* Moves capital to Nagadhara; renames it Nagda after himself. *India:* 628, Brahmagupta writes important mathematical work, Brahma Siddhanta. 630, Chinese traveller Hsuan-tsang visits Kanauj. 637, Arabs pillage Tana, near Bombay. 680-720, zenith of Pallava kingdom under Narasimhavarman II.
5.	Ruler & Title: Rawal SHILADITYA Reign: 646-661 Capital: Nagda Family: Guhilot	*Mewar:* Little known of his reign. *India:* 661, Arab traders and settlers in Gujarat, Bombay and Deccan.
6.	Ruler & Title: Rawal APARAJIT Reign: 661-688 Capital: Nagda Family: Guhilot	*Mewar:* Little is known of his reign. *India:* 675 CE, Shore temples at Mamallapuram built by Pallava ruler Narasimharvarman.
7.	Ruler & Title: Rawal MAHENDRA II Reign: 688-716 Capital: Nagda Family: Guhilot	*Mewar:* Little known of his reign. 725, Arab force attacks Chittor, then ruled by Paramara Rajputs from Malwa. *India:* c.700, Hinduism drives Buddhism out of India; spreads to Nepal and Tibet. King of Madurai impales 8,000 Jains in a single day. 712, Islam force conquers Sind; Arab governor rules on behalf of Caliph; raids from Sind devastate Gujarat.
8.	Ruler & Title: Rawal KALBHOJ (BAPPA RAWAL) Founded the Mewar Dynasty Reign: 734-753 Capital: Chittor Family: Guhilot	*Mewar:* 716, only 3 years old when Mahendra II dies; raised by Brahman priest, spends childhood in religious retreat in Nagda foothills where Eklingji worshipped. Harit Rashi teaches him to recognise Eklingji as supreme Lord of Mewar; gives Kalbhoj special blessing, predicting he will rule Mewar as Eklingji’s Diwan; gives specific code of conduct for him and successors. 734, Kalbhoj aged 21 learns his true identity, mounts an army and takes Chittor from Maun Mori, founds Mewar Dynasty. Given name of Bappa Rawal. Builds temple to Eklingji. Successful campaigns against invaders of Islam drive them back beyond western borders of Rajputana. Mewar becomes symbol of Rajput resistance and leading kingdom in Rajputana. *India:* 725 CE, great period of building under Rajput rule. 736, Tomara Rajputs found Dhillika (1st city of Delhi). 740, Chalukyas defeat Pallavas. 746, Gujara clan, the Chapas, found Andapura, principal city of west India till 1400s. 750 CE, Pala dynasty founded in eastern India by Gopala; earliest records of existence of Tamil language; Shore temples at Mamallapuram completed. 752, Dantidurga overthrows Chalukyas, establishes Rashtrakuta dynasty.
9.	Ruler & Title: Rawal KHUMAN I Reign: 753 - 773 Capital: Chittor Family: Guhilot	*Mewar:* Khuman I continues father’s resistance of ongoing Muslim incursions, as do following three successors. (It is recorded that an invader, King Kikteshwar conquers Chittor, but it is retaken in 755.) *India:* 757 CE, Rashtrakutas defeat Chalukyas. 760 CE, rock-cut Kailasa Temple at Ellora begun by Krishnaraja I. 770-821, Gopala establishes Pala dynasty of Bihar and Bengal.
10.	Ruler & Title: Rawal MATTAT Reign: 773-793 Capital: Chittor Family: Guhilot	*Mewar:* Little is known of his reign. *India:* Vatsaraja establishes Gurjara Pratihara dynasty of Rajasthan.

Shiv Niwas Palace Udaipur	Fateh Prakash Palace Udaipur
Jagmandir Island Palace Udaipur	Gajner Palace Bikaner
Shikarbadi Hotel Udaipur	Garden Hotel Udaipur
The Aodhi Kumbhalgarh	Fateh Bagh Ranakpur
Gorbandh Palace Jaisalmer	Karni Bhawan Palace Bikaner