Siege of Chittorgarh (1535)

Last updated

Siege of Chittorgarh (1535)
Chittorgarh fort.JPG
DateDecember 1532 [1] [2] 8 March 1535
Location
Result Muzaffarid victory
Belligerents
Gujarat Sultanate Kingdom of Mewar
Commanders and leaders
Bahadur Shah of Gujarat
Rumi Khan
Vikramaditya [2]
Rani Karnavati
Rani Jawahir Bai
Bagh Singh
Arjun Hada
Rao Doorga
Sutto Chundawat
Dudo Chundawat

The siege of Chittorgarh took place in 1535, when Sultan Bahadur Shah of Gujarat attacked Chittor Fort, after the death of Rana Sanga, with the aim of expanding his kingdom. The forts defense was led by the Widows of Sanga.

Contents

Background

Rana Vikramaditya was an unpopular ruler, mainly due to his short temper and arrogance. He had insulted several nobles and courtiers which caused many nobles to leave his court. The Sultan of Gujarat took advantage of this situation and made plans to attack Mewar in December 1532. However, Rani Karnavati had the siege lifted by paying a ransom, and the Gujarat army withdrew on 28 March 1533. The ransom kept the sultan satisfied for a few months but he once again attacked Mewar in 1534. Upon knowing of the invasion, Rani Karnavati requested the people of Mewar to come to the defense of Chittor. Hundreds of Commoners as well as nobles came to her call of arms, however the Gujarati army still greatly outnumbered the Mewari's. [2]

Siege

The Mewari army was able to fend off attacks until March 1535, after which the Gujarati artillery under Rumi Khan succeeded in breaking through the fort defenses, Rao Doorga, Arjun Hada and the Chundawat brothers were killed after trying to repel the Gujarati assaults. One of Rana Sanga's widows, Rani Jawahir Bai Rathor, then donned her armour and led the sortie with Mewari soldiers against the Sultan's army. She wreaked havoc on the Gujarati ranks and was killed after inflicting casualties to the enemy. [3] The women of Chittor including Rani Karnavati committed Jauhar and the soldiers prepared for Saka, which was led by Bagh Singh of Deola. Rana Vikramaditya Singh, Udai Singh and Udai Singh's faithful nurse Panna Dai escaped to Bundi. Bahadur Shah was not able to hold Chittor for long and the Sisodia's captured it within a short time of his departure. [2]

The fable about Rani Karnavati sending a rakhi to Humayun was invented later by James Tod and modern historians do not consider it a historical fact. [4]

Related Research Articles

The Sisodia was an Indian royal dynasty belonging to the clan that ruled over the Kingdom of Mewar, in the region of Mewar in Rajasthan. The name of the clan is also transliterated as Sesodia, Shishodia, Sishodia, Shishodya, Sisodya, Sisodiya, Sisodia.

Raja Shiladitya Tomar, also called Silhadi Tomar, was a chieftain of northeast Malwa in the early decades of 16th century India. He become vassal of Sanga of Mewar and remain as an ally and Sanga helped him and Medini Rai in various battles and in conquering Malwa from Sultans.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maldeo Rathore</span> Rao of Marwar (1511–1562)

Rao Maldeo Rathore was a king of the Rathore dynasty, who ruled the kingdom of Marwar in present day state of Rajasthan. Maldeo ascended the throne in 1531 CE, inheriting a small ancestral principality of Rathore's but after a long period of military actions against his neighbours, Maldeo swept significant territories which included parts of present day Rajasthan, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat and Sindh. He refused to ally with either the Sur Empire or the Mughal Empire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kumbha of Mewar</span> Maharana of Mewar from 1433–1468

Kumbhkaran Singh (1417–1468), popularly known as Maharana Kumbha, was the ruler of the Kingdom of Mewar. He belonged to the Sisodia clan of Rajputs. It was during his reign that Mewar became one of the most powerful political powers in northern India. He is considered to be the most powerful ruler of his time in India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chittor Fort</span> Historic fort in Rajasthan, India

Chittorgarh, also known as Chittod Fort, is one of the largest forts in India. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The fort was the capital of Mewar and is located in the present-day city of Chittorgarh. It sprawls over a hill 180 m (590.6 ft) in height spread over an area of 280 ha above the plains of the valley drained by the Berach River. The fort covers 65 historic structures, which include four palaces, 19 large temples, 20 large water bodies, 4 memorials and a few victory towers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Panna Dhai</span> Nursemaid of Sisodias

Panna Dhai also known as Panna Dai was a 16th-century nursemaid to Udai Singh II, the fourth son of Rana Sanga.

Udai Singh II was the 12th Maharana of the Kingdom of Mewar and the founder of the city of Udaipur in the present-day state of Rajasthan, India. He was the fourth son of Rana Sanga and Rani Karnavati, a princess of Bundi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kingdom of Mewar</span> Former kingdom in the Indian subcontinent

The Kingdom of Mewar was an independent Hindu kingdom that existed in the Rajputana region of the Indian subcontinent and later became a dominant state in medieval India. The kingdom was initially founded and ruled by the Guhila dynasty followed by the Sisodiya Dynasty. The kingdom came to be known as the Udaipur State after it became a princely state under British suzerainty in the nineteenth century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rani Karnavati</span> Regent of Bundi from 1527–1533

Rani Karnavati, also known as Rani Karmavati, was a princess and temporary ruler from Bundi, India. She was married to Rana Sanga of Mewar. She was the mother of the next two Ranas, Rana Vikramaditya and Rana Udai Singh, and grandmother of Maharana Pratap. She served as regent during the minority of her son, from 1527 until 1533. She was as fierce as her husband and defended Chittor with a small contingent of soldiers until it inevitably fell to the Gujarat army which was led by Bahadur Shah of Gujarat. She refused to flee and performed jauhar to protect her honor.

Rana Raimal Singh, also known as Rana Raimal, was the Sisodia Rajput ruler of the Kingdom of Mewar. Rana Raimal was the younger son of Rana Kumbha and younger brother of his predecessor Rana Udai Singh I and father of Rana Sanga.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mughal–Rajput wars</span> 1526–1779 conflicts in India

The Mughal–Rajput wars were a series of battles between various Rajput Kingdoms and Dynasties with the Mughal Empire. The conflict originated with the invasion of India by Timurid King Babur, to which the most powerful Rajput state, Kingdom of Mewar under Rana Sanga, offered staunch resistance. The conflicts went on since 1526 for over 200 years. The conflict can broadly be divided into three phases: 1526 to 1556, which was indecisive; the second happened between 1556 to 1679, largely in Mughal favour; and third between 1679 to 1799, a period marked by Rajput dominance.

<i>Bharat Ka Veer Putra – Maharana Pratap</i> Indian historical television series

Bharat Ka Veer Putra – Maharana Pratap is an Indian historical fiction series produced by Contiloe Entertainment. It is based on the life of Maharana Pratap, a sixteenth century ruler of Mewar kingdom. It starred Sharad Malhotra, Rachana Parulkar, Faisal Khan and Roshni Walia.

Rana Vikramaditya was the Sisodia Rajput ruler of Mewar Kingdom ,younger son of Rana Sanga and the elder brother of Rana Udai Singh II. He was unpopular amongst the nobles of Mewar. During his brief reign, Chittor was sacked by Bahadur Shah of Gujarat however Bahadur Shah was not able to hold Chittor for long and the Sisodia's recaptured it within a short time of his departure.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle of Gagron</span> 1519 battle between Malwa Sultanate and Rajput Confederacy

The Battle of Gagron was fought in 1519 between Mahmud Khalji II of Malwa and Kingdom of Mewar Rana Sanga. The conflict took place in Gagron and resulted in Sanga's victory, with him taking Mahmud captive and annexing significant territory.

Banvir, also known as Banbeer was the ruler of Mewar Kingdom between 1536 and 1540. He was nephew of Rana Sanga, born to his brother Prithviraj and his cocunbine.

Shakti Singh Sisodia Mewar was the son of Maharana Udai Singh II Sisodia and Rani Sajja Bai Solanki. He was a Kshatriya Rajput and was younger brother of famous Maharana Pratap, He was also the eponymous founder of the Shaktawat clan of Sisodia Rajputs.

Siege of Chittorgarh may refer to these sieges of the Chittor Fort (Chittorgarh) in India:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hansa Bai</span> Rajkumari of Mandore

Hansa Bai was Rani of the Rajput kingdom of Mewar during the early 15th century. She was the wife of Maharana Lakha Singh and mother to his heir, Mokal.

In 1503 A.D., Nasir-ud-din Shah, the successor of Ghiyath Shah of Malwa march against Chittorgarh supported by a rebel Surajmal but Rana Raimal and Prithviraj Sisodia defeated him and forced him to retreat.

References

  1. Tiwari, Arya Ramchandra G. (1958). "BAHADUR SHAH'S CONQUEST OF CHITTOR — ITS CHRONOLOGY". Proceedings of the Indian History Congress. 21. Indian History Congress: 302–305. ISSN   2249-1937. JSTOR   44145216 . Retrieved 6 November 2024.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Hooja, Rima (2006). A History of Rajasthan, Section:The State of Mewar, AD 1500 – AD 1600. Rupa & Company. pp. 457–560. ISBN   9788129108906 . Retrieved 15 September 2020.
  3. Mewar Saga: The Sisodias role in Indian history pg.46, by D. R. Mankekar — "Maharani Jawahir Bai, a Rathor, armed from head to toe, personally headed a sortie against the besieging enemy and wreaked havoc in his ranks before herself being slain."
  4. History of Medieval India by Satish Chandra pg.212