Kingdom of Mewar

This article is about the kingdom in Rajputana called the Kingdom of Mewar. For the natural and historical region, see Mewar.
"Udaipur State" redirects here. For the state with its capital in Dharamjaigarh, see Udaipur State, Chhattisgarh.

Kingdom of Mewar
566–1949
Flag of Kingdom of Mewar
Flag
Coat of arms of Kingdom of Mewar
Coat of arms
Motto: "The Almighty protects the one who upholds righteousness"
The Kingdom of Mewar at its greatest extent c. 1521
  •   Kingdom of Mewar
  •   Vassal states[1]
  •   Occupied territories
The Udaipur State in 1909 within the Rajputana Agency
The Udaipur State in 1909 within the Rajputana Agency
Capital
Common languagesMewari[5]
Religion
Hinduism
Government
Maharana 
• 566-586
Rawal Guhil
• 728-764
Bappa Rawal
• 1326-1364
Hammir Singh
• 1508-1528
Rana Sanga
• 1572-1597
Maharana Pratap
• 1930-1948
Bhupal Singh
• 1984-2024
Mahendra Singh Mewar
• present
Arvind Singh Mewar
History 
• Established
566
1949
Area
1901[6]33,030 km2 (12,750 sq mi)
1941[7]33,517 km2 (12,941 sq mi)
Population
• 1941[7]
1,926,698
Today part ofIndia
Pakistan

The Kingdom of Mewar was an independent kingdom that existed in the Rajputana region of the Indian subcontinent and later became a major power in medieval India.[8] The kingdom was initially founded and ruled by the Guhila dynasty followed by the Sisodiya Dynasty.[9][10] The kingdom came to be known as the Udaipur State after it became a princely state in the nineteenth century.

The earliest kingdom was centered around the south-central part of Rajasthan, state of India. It was bordered by the Aravali Range to the northwest, Ajmer to the north, Gujarat, Vagad and Malwa regions to the south and the Hadoti region to the east.[11]

Mewar first gained prominence in the reign of Bappa Rawal (7th century A.D) who along with many powers of that time defeated the Arab powers trying to occupy the Indian Subcontinent.[12] Later, the kingdom became a vassal to Imperial Pratihars then to the Kingdom of Malwa and Chauhans.[13][14] The Kingdom transformed into an independent state in the early 10th century A.D. and was continuously engaged in many wars against the neighboring polities.[15] From the reign of Rawal Jaitra, Mewar was also facing the continuous expansion of the Delhi Sultanate. However, this came to an end, When in 1303 Delhi Sultanate's forces under Sultan Alauddin Khalji, besieged and occupied Chittorgarh, killing most of the branch of the Guhila dynasty.[16]

Later, Maharana Hammir, a scion of the cadet Sisodiya dynasty (junior branch of Guhilas) re-occupied Mewar in 1326.[17] However, a firm hold was established when an invading army of the Delhi Sultanate was repulsed at the Battle of Singoli (1336).[18] The kingdom in coming years became the most powerful state in the Northern India most notably under Maharana Kumbha and his grandson Maharana Sanga.[8] As it gained a streak of successes against the Islamic Sultanates of Malwa, Gujarat and Delhi, particularly in Mewar- Malwa Conflict. [19] It also successfully fought off and vassalized neighboring Hindu Kingdoms. At its peak, it controlled parts of Sindh, Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh. The kingdom declined after the Battle of Khanwa with the Mughals.[20] Despite this, it continued to resist Mughal Expansion under Maharana Udai Singh II and Maharana Pratap. After Pratap's death, a constant struggle ensued between Mughals and Pratap's son Rana Amar Singh I which eventually led to a peace treaty through which Mewar became a vassal to the Mughals.[21] Even during this brief period of vassalization, Rana Raj Singh I and his successors revolted and led numerous successful campaigns including the Rathore rebellion and Rajput Rebellion (1708–1710) against the Mughal emperor, ultimately resulting in a victory for Mewar along with greater autonomy and power.[22] The kingdom afterward came under the Maratha influence and started paying Chauth.[23] The kingdom accepted British suzerainty in 1818 and it continued till 1947, after which Bhupal Singh signed the Instrument of Accession to India and joined the Union of India.[24]

Mewar's legacy lies in its prolonged struggle against the Islamic invasion.[25] The kingdom is witness to three Jauhars (Self-Immolation). It is also known for producing kings of high caliber such as Bappa Rawal, Khuman II, Rawal Jaitra, Maharana Hammir, Maharana Kumbha, Maharana Sanga, Maharana Pratap, Maharana Amar Singh, Maharana Raj Singh and Maharana Fateh Singh along with queens such as Padmavati and Karnavati and scholars such as Mirabai.[26][27] Shivaji, the great Maratha also claimed to be descended from the Sisodiya clan.[28] The Kingdom of Mewar, although a Hindu state, patronized Jainism and Buddhism. Among the Mewar's, Rajasthan Heritage Sites are Kumbhalgarh, Acchalgarh, Chittorgarh, Nagda-Ahar, Ranakpur Temple, Pichola Lake, Rajsamand Lake, Jaisamand Lake, Lake Palace, Sahasra Bahu Temples, Kirti Stambha and, most notably the Vijay Stambha (described variously as the jewel of Rajput art in India), which is also compared to Roman and Islamic architecture of Trajan's Column and Qutub Minar.[29][30] Udaipur, also known as the city of lakes and one of the largest cities of the North India was also founded by the Rana of Mewar, Udai Singh II.[31]

  1. ^
    • For Marwar, Amber, Dungarpur, Sirohi, Dungarpur and Banswara: R. C. Majumdar (1960). The History and Culture of the Indian People: Volume 6. p. 344. Mewar were considerably extended. On the north, they were pushed up as far as the Bayana River. In the east, Raisen, Sarangpur, Bhilsa, Kalpi and Chanderi, were included within her territories. In the south, Dungarpur and Banswara were held by a vassal, and her frontiers ran far into the heart of Malwa. To the south-west, Sirohi was ruled by the Rana's son-in-law. Even the chiefs of Marwar and Ambar, according to Tod, acknowledged his allegiance
    • For Mewat: Har Bilas Sarda (1970). Maharana Sāngā, the Hindupat: The Last Great Leader of the Rajput Race. p. 99. The greater part of Malwa had been conquered and incorporated with Mewar. Ranthambhore, Gagrone, Kalpi, Bhilsa and Chanderi were under the sway of the Maharana. Ajmer had been taken and Abu reduced, and Sanga's governors administered both districts. Sanga reduced to submission the Khanzadas of Mewat.
  2. ^ a b c Bhattacharya, A.N. (2000). Human Geography of Mewar. Himanshu Publications. ISBN 9788186231906.
  3. ^ Agarwal, B.D. (1979). Rajasthan District Gazetteers, Udaipur. Jaipur: Directorate of District Gazetteers.
  4. ^ Ram Vallabh Somani 1976, pp. 245.
  5. ^ Ojha, Gaurishankar Hirachand (1990). उदयपुर राज्य का इतिहास [History of Udaipur State]. Rajasthani Granthagar.
  6. ^ Bannerman, A.D. (1902). Census of India 1901, Vol. XXV-A, Rajputana, Part II Imperial Tables (PDF). Newal Kishore Press.
  7. ^ a b Dashora, Yamunalal (8 March 2024). Mewar in 1941 or A Summary of Census Statistics. R.C. Sharma.
  8. ^ a b Bhatnagar, V.S (1974). Life and Times of Sawai Jai Singh, 1688-1743. Impex India. p. 6.
  9. ^ Somani, Ram Vallabh (1995). Maharana Kumbha and His TImes. Jaipur Publishing House. p. 4.
  10. ^ Majumdar, R.C (1967). History and Culture of the Indian People, Volume 06,The Delhi Sultanate. Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. p. 326.
  11. ^ Somani, Ram Vallabh (1976). History of Mewar: from earliest times to 1751 A.D. C.L. Ranka, Jaipur. p. 1.
  12. ^ Somani, Ram Vallabh (1976). History of Mewar from the Earliest Time to 1751 A.D. p. 45.
  13. ^ Majumdar, R,C (1977). Ancient India. Motilal Banarsidass Publ. p. 300. ISBN 978-81-208-0436-4.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  14. ^ Narain Seth, Krishna (27 May 1978). The Growth of the Paramara Power in Malwa. p. 94.
  15. ^ Somani, Ram Vallabh (1976). History of Mewar From Earliest Times to 1751 A.D. p. 51.
  16. ^ Hooja, Rima (2005). A History of Rajasthan. Rupa and Co. p. 308. ISBN 978-81-291-0890-6.
  17. ^ Majumdar, R.C (1967). History and Culture of the Indian People, Volume 06,The Delhi Sultanate. Bjhartiya Vidya Bhavan. p. 327.
  18. ^ Hooja, Rima (2005). A History of Rajasthan. Rupa and Co. pp. 331–332.
  19. ^ Mankekar, D.R (1976). Mewar Saga. p. 39.
  20. ^ Mankekar, D.R (1976). Mewar Saga. p. 42.
  21. ^ Chandra, Satish. Medieval India: From Sultanate to the Mughals (1206–1526). p. 123. ISBN 9788124110669.
  22. ^ Hooja, Rima (2005). A History of Rajasthan. Rupa and Co. pp. 595–625.
  23. ^ Somani, Ram Vallabh (1976). History of Mewar Frlom Earliest Time To 1751 A.D. pp. 338–339.
  24. ^ Bhattacharya, Manoshi (2008). The Royal Rajputs. Rupa and Co. pp. 42–46.
  25. ^ Sharma, G.N (1954). Mewar and the Mughal Emperors. Shiva Lal Agarwala.
  26. ^ Sarda, Har Bilas. Maharana Kumbha: Sovereign, Soldier, Scholar. Scottish Mission Industries Company. p. 2.
  27. ^ Mankekar, D.R (1976). Mewar Saga. p. VII.
  28. ^ Cashman, Richard I. (1975). The myth of the Lokamanya : Tilak and mass politics in Maharashtra. Internet Archive. Berkeley : University of California Press. p. 7. ISBN 978-0-520-02407-6.
  29. ^ Ferguson, James. History of Indian and Eastern Architecture. p. 53.
  30. ^ Sarda, Har Bilas. Maharana Kumbha: Sovereign, Soldier, Scholar. Scottish Mission Industries. p. 140.
  31. ^ Hooja, Rima (2005). A History of Rajasthan. Rupa and CO. pp. 462–463. ISBN 978-81-291-0890-6.