Gonzos's Blog

Maharana Udai Singh II

2015-11-24T22:52:00.000-08:00

Udai Singh II (4 August 1522 – 28 February 1572) was the Maharana of Mewar and the founder of the city of Udaipur in the present day Rajasthan state of India. He was the 53rd ruler of the Mewar dynasty. He was the fourth son of Maharana Sangram Singh (Rana Sanga) and Rani Karnavati, a princess of Bundi.

When Maharana Udai Singh II founded the city of Udaipur, one can wonder what splendor, he must have felt on discovering this truly gifted part of the planet. He was a true connoisseur of beauty, it seems. Udai Singh II is parallelly remembered for his breathtakingly beautiful queens, who were 20 in number. This son of Rana Sanga is invariably famous in the Rajputana history for two reasons; one for being the father of the brave son of Mewar, Maharana Pratap and secondly for gifting the picturesque city of Udaipur to the world.

Udai Singh II was the fourth son of Rani Karnawati and Maharana Sangram Singh, who was popularly known as Rana Sanga. After Rana Sanga’s death, his enemies tried to kill Udai Singh II, who was only a child at that time. He was rescued by his nurse Panna Dhai who replaced him with her own son and sacrificed his life for the safety of the young prince. Later, when he ascended the throne, he was attacked by Akbar. At this time, he had already left Chittor 9 years ago, ending up in Udaipur, giving Mewar its new capital.

The city of lakes ‘Udaipur’ is named after its founder, who then made it his capital even before Chittor was sacked by Akbar. When the Mughal forces attacked Chittor, the then capital of Mewar, Maharana Udai Singh II and the royal family had already left for Gogunda, making it a temporary capital until Udai Singh II shifted to Udaipur, making this gem the new capital of Mewar. Although after the weakening of the Mughals, the Rajput kings recaptured most of Mewar but failed to win over Chittor. Thus Udaipur which had been safer from the Mughal influence because of its mountainous terrain remained the capital of Mewar till it became a part of Union of India 1948.
Udai Singh II who is perhaps less famous for his valor or bravery as his ancestors Rana Kumbha or Rana Sanga, became the proud father of Maharana Pratap who marked the Rajputana history with his heroism and courage, making his father’s presence in history significant and imperative.

Maharana Udai Singh 1

2015-11-16T22:51:00.000-08:00

Udai Singh I aka Udaikaran or Udah, was the Maharana (r. 1468 – 1473) of Mewar Kingdom. He was a son of Maharana Kumbha. When Rana Kumbha was offering prayers to Eklengji (Lord Siva), Udai Singh I assassinated him and proclaimed himself the ruler. He was a cruel ruler so in 1473 he was assassinated by his brother Raimal who became the Rana after him.

Born to one of the most celebrated heroes of Mewar, Rana Kumbha, the undefeated Maharana; Prince Uda, or Udai Singh is one of the most despised sons of Mewar.Being the heir to Rana Kumbha, his ascension to the throne was imminent. But the power driven young Udai Singh failed to wait to pave his way towards the throne. In an act of patricide, he killed his own father Rana Kumbha; while he was offering prayers to his deity, Lord Eklingji.

With the sad demise of its hero, Mewar was thwarted. Udai Singh proclaimed himself as the new king and came to power. He ruled Mewar for a small span of five years; till he was defeated by his own brother Raimal and had to flee from Mewar. He was a feeble ruler and because of his incompetency, Mewar lost the territories of Abu and Ajmer. He fled to Delhi and offered his daughter to the Sultan of Delhi in marital alliance in return for his support. But fate had its own plans and Udai Singh was struck by lightning before the marriage, and died on the spot.

The legacy of the Suryavanshi kings of Mewar was tarnished by their own son and such was the hatred that many omitted him from the genealogies of Mewar. He was nicknamed ‘murderer’ and the condemned Rana Udai Singh was diluted in the history.

Maharana Sangram Singh

2015-11-13T22:49:00.000-08:00

Maharana Sangram Singh(Rana Sanga),Another great warrior who fought for the liberation of his mother land from foreign rule and who is forgotten by his people and his country.

Maharana Sangram Singh (12 April 1484 - 17 March 1527) commonly known as Rana Sanga, was the Rajput ruler of Mewar, which was located within the geographic boundaries of present-day India's modern state of Rajasthan. He ruled between 1509 and 1527.. Although he lost an eye and a hand at initial stages of his rule, he still fought great battles thus proved to be a great warrior.he was the grandfather of Rana Pratap.

Succession to Throne

Rana Sanga, a grandson of Kumbha, succeeded to the throne of Mewar after a prolonged power struggle against his brothers.

Rana Sanga was not only a great warrior who fought invaders gallantly but also a visionary, under whom many Rajput states united and fought the foreigners. He was a warrior with a resolute as strong as his grandfather Rana Kumbha. It is said that despite losing his one arm, one eye and numerous other grave injuries, he continued fighting his enemies. He is also remembered for his chivalry, when he restored the kingdom of Mandu. After defeating Sultan Mahmud of Mandu and taking him as prisoner of war, he treated him and his kingdom with generosity and chivalry.

Rana Sanga fought the rulers of Delhi, Malwa and Gujarat numerous times during his lifetime defeating them on various accounts. After the assassination of Ibrahim Lodi by Babur, the power in Delhi declined and he emerged as the strongest Hindu king of North India. He decided to conquer Delhi; the most prized possession of Muslim rulers, and bring complete India under his rule.

Rana Sanga, united with the Rajputs fought Babur in the battle of Khanwa which proved to be exceedingly brutal and deadly. Although with initial advantage, the Rajputs lost heavily and Rana Sanga who fell unconscious, was whisked away to safety by his men, after gaining his consciousness and knowing about the defeat, he decided to rebuild his army for war injuries. Rana Sanga died soon because of his injuries. Rana Sanga’s death established the Mughal rule in India marking a new beginning to the history of the Indian subcontinent.

Maharana Mokal

2015-11-08T22:47:00.000-08:00

Mokal or Mokal Singh (ca. 1409 - 1433), was the Maharana (r. 1421 - 1433) of Mewar Kingdom.Maharana Mokal was a great builder and he inherited this trait from his father, Maharana Lakha. He created various buildings along with completing those commenced by his father. The duty to transform their motherland thus flowed down the veins of the Sisodiyas.

Maharana Lakha, the 45th Maharana of Mewar died in the war, leaving young Mokal as his successor. Being a minor, his eldest brother Choonda began to look after the state of affairs as promised to Rana Lakha. But Mokal’s mother Hansa Bai did not like the influence that Choonda had over the nobles of Mewar. She questioned his integrity and doubted his intentions. Her resentment made Choonda leave Chittor and retire to Mandu, capital of Malwa. Rani Hansa Bai attained help from her brother Ranmal of Marwar to administer the state of affairs on behalf of Mokal until he was a minor.

Maharana Mokal had a brief stint as the ruler of Mewar but rose to fame as the most celebrated warrior of his race. He defeated Nagour, Gujarat and repelled an invasion by the Delhi Sultan. But most importantly, he completed palaces that were commenced by his father Maharan Lakha and conspired to build more aesthetic structures. But his sad demise at a young age of 24 put a stop to this emerging illustration of Mewar. His assassination by his paternal uncles, Chacha and Mera brought an end to a great Maharana in the making at age 24. He died in 1433.

Rana Kumbha who was only 13 years old at the time of Mokal’s death, ascended the throne at a crucial juncture in the history of Mewar. The young Kumbha may have had the most unfavorable situation after his father’s untimed death, but the valor and vision of his father, Maharana Mokal inspired him to emerge as one of the greatest rulers Mewar ever knew.

Maharaja Karan Singh

2015-11-02T22:44:00.000-08:00

Karan Singh II (7 January 1584 - March 1628), was the Maharana of Mewar Kingdom (r. 1620 - 1628). He was one of the sons of Mahanara Amar Singh I and the grandson of Maharana Pratap. He in turn was succeeded by his son Jagat Singh I who ruled for 24 years till he died and lost his kingdom to Emperor Shah Jahan.

Maharaja Karan singh had often proved his courage and bravery in battles commanded by his father; soon he was to show ability in repairing the damage of former adversities. As a part of the treaty between Rana Amar Singh and Jahangir in 1615, Karan Singh, as the crown prince became a part of the Mughal council. Thereafter, Karan acclaimed distinction among the Rajput underlings of the Mughals. A man of vision, Maharana Karan Singh began rebuilding his capital. He added many rooms, courtyards and halls to the City Palace. He constructed the Zenana Mahal (Palace of the Queens), for the private use of the court’s ladies. The city’s walls were fortified; Lake Pichola’s dam was strengthened and the lake enlarged.

It is believed that when the Mughal Prince was exiled by his father, Emperor Jahangir, he turned to the Maharana for help and Jagmandir Island Palace became a safe haven for him. The rebel lived a quiet, safe existence in the palace for some months. Thereafter, Khurram’s two young sons, Princes Dara and Auranzeb were sent to the Mughal Court as hostages. Prince Khurram was forgiven, following which he rejoined his father. He did not leave Jag Mandir without expressing his gratitude for his stay in Udaipur.

As a sign of respect, the Maharana and Mughal Prince exchanged turbans and Khurram gave back Mewar, the five districts that the Mughals had snatched, gave Karan Singh a green signal to reconstruct the old capital at Chittor, and presented his friend with a ruby of inestimable value.
Rana Karan Singh II died in 1628 before the ascension of Shah Jahan and was succeeded by his son Rana Jagat Singh I.