Mewar Encyclopedia

Concise History of Mewar

A chronology of Mewar's 76 Rulers and their times (AD ca 569-2001) 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 AD. The following dates must still be considered approximate.

41.	Ruler & Title: Rawal SAMAR SINGH Reign: 1273-1302 Capital: Chittor Family: Guhilot	*Mewar:* Builds wall around Mahasati, Chittor. Son Kumbh Karan migrates to Nepal (later generation becomes Nepalese royal family). 1291, Hamir Singh born to Rana Laksha Singh of Sisoda. *India:* 1287, Slave Dynasty, Muizz-ud-Din Kubad (final). 1288 (and 1293), Marco Polo visits South India. 1290, Khilji Dynasty, Delhi, Firoz Shah II; 1296, Ibrahim Shah I, succeeded in same year by Allaudin (Mahmud Shah I), Firoz Shah’s ambitious nephew and military commander; radical reform measures. (1296-1306, Delhi sultanate repulses several attacks by Mongols.) 1297, Allaudin conquers Gujarat in ongoing campaign to subjugate all Rajputana. 1299, first attack on Chittor by Allaudin. 1300-1301, Allaudin annexes Ranthambhor then set sights on Chittor.
42.	Ruler & Title: Rawal RATAN SINGH I Reign: 1302-1303 Capital: Chittor Family: Guhilot	*Mewar:* 1303, Jan, 1st Siege Of Chittor by Allaudin. (Legend: Allaudin foiled in attempt to add Ratan’s wife, Rani Padmini to harem.) Rana Laksha of Sisoda branch sends his son Ajai and family, with grandson Hamir (aged 12) to safety in Kelwara. Chittor falls to Allaudin (Aug 25); Ratan Singh killed along with thousands of Mewar warriors; fort’s women commit jauhar. Sultan appoints son Khijr Khan Governor of Mewar. Remnants of Mewar Rajputs join Ajai in Kelwara; start attacking imperial strongholds. 1314, Allaudin replaces son with Rajput vassal Maldeo at Chittor. Ajai killed in battle; nobles proclaim teenage Hamir new Maharana. *India:* 1302-1311, Malik Kafur's campaigns in south India. 1304, Allaudin repulses second Mongol invasion; 1305, conquers Malwa; 1306, conquers Devagiri (Daulatabad); 1307-11, conquers Hindu kingdoms in South India. 1316, Khilji Dynasty, Omar; 1316, Mubarak Shah I; 1320, Nasir-ud-Din (Khusru Shah) (final). 1320, Tughluq Dynasty, Ghiyas-ud-Din (Tughluq Shah I); 1325, Muhammad II.
43.	Ruler & Title: Maharana HAMIR SINGH I (First to use the title Maharana) Reign: 1326-1364 Capital: Chittor Family: Sisodia	*Mewar:* Hamir leaves exile at Kelwara, retakes Chittor; changes ruling family name from Guhilot to Sisodia and title from Rawal to Rana (Maharana). Embarks on campaign of recapturing Mewar provinces. An inspiring reign (often called the first liberator of India). *India:* 1327, Muhammad Tughluq temporarily moves capital from Delhi to Devagiri; renames it Daulatabad. 1332, possible start of Black Death (bubonic plague) believed to have originated in India. 1336, Vijayanagara kingdom founded in South India. 1338, separate sultanate of Bengal. 1347, Bahman Shah founds Bhamani kingdom in Central India by. 1351, Tughluqs, Firoz Shah, last important sultan of Delhi. 1361, Firoz Shah raids Orissa
44.	Ruler & Title: Maharana KSHETRA SINGH Reign: 1366-1382 Capital: Chittor Family: Sisodia	*Mewar:* Continued his father’s work in retaking Mewar provinces from the Tughluqs. 1364 CE, occupies Ajmer. 1382, Assassinated by Hara chief of Banbaoda in dispute about a daughter he is to marry. India: 1370, Vijayanagara conquers sultanate of Madurai.
45.	Ruler & Title: Maharana LAKHA Reign: 1382-1421 Capital: Chittor Family: Sisodia	*Mewar:* 1382, establishes town of Badnore (Mertia Rathor clan). Builds Banjara Dam on Lake Pichola. 1383, retakes Mewar’s border provinces; develops mining of minerals (especially zinc) at Zawara, south of modern Udaipur; becomes patron of the arts; creates many essential lakes and reservoirs, rebuilds temples and palaces destroyed by Allaudin Khilji. 1398, a falling out with heir, Prince Chunda over Marwar princess whom Lakha himself marries. Chunda renounces right to throne. Later, Lakha appoints Chunda as Regent of young stepbrother, Mokal, son of the princess Chunda spurned. 1421, Lakha joins Rajput forces to oust Muslims from holy northern city of Gaya; killed in battle. *India:* 1388, Tughluqs, Tughluq Shah II followed same year by Abu-Bakr; 1389, Muhammad Shah III; 1394, Sikander Shah I, then Mahmud Shah II; 1395, Nasrat Shah. 1398, Timur destroys Delhi. 1403, separate sultanate of Gujarat. 1406-22, Devaraja II of Vijayanagara conquers east coast. 1412, Tughluqs, Daulat Khan Lodi (final). 1414, Sayyid Dynasty, Delhi, Khizr Khan.
46.	Ruler & Title: Maharana MOKAL Reign: 1421-1433 Capital: Chittor Family: Sisodia	*Mewar:* Ascends throne aged 5. Later, his mother, Rajmata Hansabai deposes Chunda as Regent; he retires to Mandu, capital of Malwa. Rao Ranmal of Marwar and other relatives of Hansabai move into Chittor in political takeover attempt. 1433, killed by father’s stepbrothers, Chacha and Mera. *India:* 1421, Sayyids, Muiz-ud-Din Mubarak Shah; 1434, Muhammad Shah IV.
47.	Ruler & Title: Maharana KUMBHA Reign: 1433-1468 Capital: Chittor Family: Sisodia	*Mewar:* Also a minor, ascends throne after father’s murder. Rao Ranmal kills Mokal’s assassins. In a move to take over Mewar throne, he murders Chunda’s brother, Raghudeo. Rajmata asks Chunda to return. He drives out invaders then forms Chundawat clan at Salumbar. Khumba becomes renowned warrior, builder, writer and patron of the arts. 1437, defeats combined armies of Gujarat and Malwa. 1439, occupies Mandore and Sadri. 1449, builds Khumb Shyam Temple, Chittor; helps to finance building of Ranakpur temples. 1452, erects Victory Tower to celebrate victory over Malwa and Gujarat. 1453, Jan 25, lays foundation of Fort Achalgarh at Mt. Abu. 1456, occupies Nagpur after defeating Gujarat army. 1458, Qutub-din of Gujarat attacks Chittor-defeated. 1458, builds Kumbhalgarh. A Charan predicts Kumbha’s imminent death; he banishes Charan tribes from Mewar; Prince Raimal supports Charans; he is exiled to Idar. 1468, Raimal’s elder brother, Udai (Uda) assassinates Kumbha and usurps throne. *India:* 1440-1518, Kabir, a leader of Bhakti movement. 1443, Sayyids, Alam Shah (final). 1451, Lodi Dynasty, Delhi, Buhlol.
48.	Ruler & Title: Maharana UDAI (UDA) SINGH I Reign: 1468-1473 Capital: Chittor Family: Sisodia	*Mewar:* Illegitimate reign lasts five years (nicknamed Hatyara, ‘The Murderer’). Crown Prince Raimal comes out of exile, mounts an army, attacks Chittor, and claims the throne that is rightly his. Udai Singh flees to Delhi to get help from Sultan Buhlol Lodi; killed there by lightning strike (1473). *India:* 1469-1539, Nanak of the Bhakti movement.
49.	Ruler & Title: Maharana RAIMAL Reign: 1473-1509 Capital: Chittor Family: Sisodia	*Mewar:* 1475, Sultan Ghiyas-ud-Din of Mandu attacks Chittor-defeated. 1482, Sangram Singh (Sanga) born. 1504, bitter family feud between Raimal's three sons: Crown Prince Prithvi Raj, Sanga, and Jaimal. Sanga goes into self-exile near Ajmer; Prithvi Raj banished to Kumbhalgarh. Prithvi Raj and Jaimal killed. Sanga returns from self-exile and succeeds Raimal. *India:* c.1480, founding of Merta (later birthplace of poetess Mira Bai). 1482, birth of Babur, Central Asia. 1485, Chaitanya of the Bhakti movement. 1488, Lodis, Sikander II; destroys Mathura shrines; makes Agra his capital. 1498, Portugal's Vasco da Gama arrives in Calicut. 1505-92, zenith of Vijayanagara power under Krishnadeva Raya.
50.	Ruler & Title: Maharana SANGRAM SINGH I (SANGA) Reign: 1509-1527 Capital: Chittor Family: Sisodia	*Mewar:* Lodis of Delhi begin long series of raids to annex Rajputana; Maharana Sanga leads Rajput defence forces, with 18 victories against Muslims. Sires four sons: Crown Prince Bhojraj, Ratan Singh, Vikramaditya, and Udai Singh, three of whom will rule Mewar. 1516, Bhojraj marries Princess Mira Bai of Merta. Within a decade of his ascending throne, Sanga controls, either directly or indirectly, greater part of Rajputana; Mewar reaches height of prosperity. 1521, death of Bhojraj in battle; Mira Bai creates scandal by refusing to commit sati on husband’s funeral pyre; continues writing poetry. 1522, Aug 4, birth of Sanga's youngest son Udai Singh. 1527, Sanga leads Rajputs to drive new Delhi monarch, Babur of the Mughal dynasty from India. Mar 15, they meet at the Battle of Khanwaha. Sanga retires, badly wounded; dies of battle wounds. *India:* 1510, Portuguese conquer Goa. 1517, Lodis, Ibrahim II (final). 1526, Babur invades India; 1st battle of Panipat, defeats Lodis, establishes Mughal dynasty. 1527, wins Battle of Khanwaha.

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