Description

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Context

Recent remarks by Samajwadi Party MP on Rana Sanga inviting Babur to India have sparked protests & debates in Rajasthan & national level. Historians argue that there is no documentary evidence supporting this claim while political parties & Rajput organizations have condemned statements as an insult to Mewar legacy.

Rana Sanga

Attribute	Details
Full Name	Maharana Sangram Singh I
Popularly Known As	Rana Sanga
Birth Year	1482 CE
Death	30 January 1528 CE (aged 46)
Dynasty	Sisodia Rajput
Father	Rana Raimal (Ruler of Mewar before him)
Mother	Ratan Kunwar
Siblings	Prithviraj, Jaimal & others (engaged in a succession conflict before Sanga’s rise to power)
Reign	1508 CE – 1528 CE (20 years)
Capital	Chittor (Chittorgarh, present-day Rajasthan)
Territorial Expansion	Controlled major parts of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh & Haryana. Expanded influence into Malwa, parts of Delhi & Rajasthan’s eastern region.
Major Battles & Victories	Battle of Khatoli (1517 CE): Defeated Ibrahim Lodi, Sultan of Delhi; sustained injuries, including loss of an arm & lameness in one leg. Battle of Dholpur (1518 CE): Another victory over Ibrahim Lodi, expanding influence into eastern Rajasthan. Battle of Gagron (1519 CE): Defeated Sultan Mahmud Khilji II of Malwa; captured a large part of Malwa. Battle of Idar (1519 CE): Defeated Gujarat Sultanate & helped Rao Bhar Mal take over Idar. Battle of Khanwa (1527 CE): Fought against Babur; suffered a critical defeat due to Babur's superior artillery & Mughal tactics.
Defeats & Setbacks	Battle of Khanwa (1527 CE): Defeated by Babur, marking decline of Rajput power against Mughals. Failed to form an effective anti-Mughal alliance after Babur’s rise.
Military Strength	Commanded an army of 80,000 to 100,000 soldiers, including war elephants & alliances with Rajput chieftains & Afghan rulers like Mahmud Lodi.
War Tactics	Expert in guerrilla warfare & traditional Rajput cavalry charges. Focused on defensive fortifications & unifying Rajput clans through military alliances.
Physical Disabilities	Lost one eye in an internal family feud. Lost one arm in Battle of Khatoli. Became permanently lame in one leg due to war injuries.
Political Alliances	- Allied with Medini Rai of Malwa to challenge Islamic rulers. - Sought support from Afghan nobles & Mahmud Lodi, a rival claimant to Delhi Sultanate. - Attempted alliances with Rajput rulers but faced internal betrayals.
Administrative Policies	Encouraged Hindu revivalism & warrior codes. Revoked Jizya tax (a tax imposed on non-Muslims) in his territory. Strengthened Rajput chieftains by providing them more autonomy while maintaining centralized military control.
Economic Policies	Promoted agriculture & trade in war-affected regions. Strengthened fortifications in Rajasthan, especially in Chittor & Ranthambore.
Religious Policies	Strong supporter of Hindu traditions & Rajput values; patronized temples & Brahmins.
Weapons & Warfare	Used traditional Rajput cavalry & infantry but lacked effective gunpowder weapons like Mughals. Relied on war elephants & strong fortifications.
Rivalries	Ibrahim Lodi (Delhi Sultanate) – Defeated him in multiple battles but failed to completely remove his influence. Babur (Mughal Empire) – His biggest opponent; suffered a major defeat at Khanwa. Sultans of Gujarat & Malwa – Consistently fought against them for Rajput dominance.
Cause of Death	Allegedly poisoned by his own nobles after defeat at Khanwa, fearing further conflicts with Mughals.
Legacy & Impact	Considered last great independent Hindu ruler of North India before Mughal dominance. Inspired later Rajput resistance movements, including Maharana Pratap’s fight against Mughals. Remembered for his bravery, war tactics & political unification of Rajputs.
Successor	Maharana Ratan Singh II (Ruled after Sanga but faced a decline in Rajput power).

Mewar Dynasty

Category	Details
Name of Dynasty	Sisodia Dynasty of Mewar
Region	Mewar (Present-day Rajasthan, India)
Capital Cities	Nagda (8th Century CE), Chittorgarh (12th Century CE), Udaipur (16th Century CE – Present)
Time Period	8th Century CE – 20th Century CE
Founder	Guhil (Bappa Rawal) – 728 CE
Dynastic Lineage	Guhilot Rajputs → Sisodia Rajputs
Religion	Hinduism (Shaivism, Vaishnavism, Shaktism)
Language	Sanskrit, Rajasthani, Hindi
Main Enemies	Delhi Sultanate, Mughals, British, Marathas (later years)
Greatest Warrior	Maharana Pratap – Known for his fierce resistance against Mughal emperor Akbar
Major Forts	Chittorgarh Fort, Kumbhalgarh Fort, Ranthambore Fort, Udaipur Palace, Gogunda Fort
Cultural Contributions	Developed Rajputana architecture, Mewar paintings, temple construction, folk traditions
Symbol of Rajput Valor	Jauhar & Saka traditions (self-immolation & last stands in battle)
Decline of Dynasty	Lost independence under British rule in 19th century; Merged into India in 1947
Legacy	Symbol of Rajput pride, valor & resistance in Indian history

Major Rulers:

Ruler	Reign	Achievements
Bappa Rawal (728 CE – 753 CE)	Founder of Mewar dynasty	Unified Rajput clans, defeated Arab invaders, expanded kingdom & established Mewar as a major power.
Maharana Kumbha (1433 CE – 1468 CE)	Architect & warrior king	Built Kumbhalgarh Fort, constructed 32 forts, composed music & literature & defeated Malwa & Gujarat Sultans.
Rana Sanga (1508 CE – 1528 CE)	Valiant warrior king	Defeated Delhi, Malwa & Gujarat Sultans in 18 battles, led Rajput resistance against Babur, fought Battle of Khanwa (1527).
Maharana Udai Singh II (1540 CE – 1572 CE)	Founder of Udaipur	Shifted capital from Chittorgarh to Udaipur after Mughal invasion, strengthened Rajput alliances.
Maharana Pratap (1572 CE – 1597 CE)	Symbol of Rajput resistance	Never surrendered to Mughals, fought Battle of Haldighati (1576), recaptured lost territories in Battle of Dewair (1582).
Maharana Amar Singh I (1597 CE – 1620 CE)	Defender of Mewar	Resisted Mughal dominance, later signed peace treaty with Emperor Jahangir to preserve Mewar’s autonomy.
Maharana Raj Singh I (1652 CE – 1680 CE)	Challenger to Aurangzeb	Opposed Aurangzeb’s religious policies, protected temples & fought against Mughal expansion.
Maharana Sangram Singh II (1710 CE – 1734 CE)	Revival of Mewar	Strengthened Mewar’s economy, rebuilt temples & resisted Maratha incursions.
Maharana Bhim Singh (1778 CE – 1828 CE)	Struggle against British & Marathas	Struggled against British control & Maratha influence, maintained Mewar’s political significance.
Maharana Fateh Singh (1884 CE – 1930 CE)	Preserver of Rajput traditions	Refused British titles, restored Udaipur’s infrastructure & promoted Rajput heritage.
Maharana Bhagwat Singh (1955 CE – 1984 CE)	Last ruler of Mewar	Merged Mewar into independent India, preserved royal traditions & historical sites.

Major Battles:

Battle	Year	Opponents	Outcome	Significance
Battle of Khanwa	1527	Mewar (Rana Sanga) vs. Mughals (Babur)	Mughals won due to superior artillery, but Rajput resistance continued.	Stopped Rajput expansion & solidified Mughal rule in India.
Battle of Chittorgarh (Siege by Akbar)	1567-1568	Mewar (Udai Singh II) vs. Mughals (Akbar)	Mughals captured Chittorgarh; Rajput warriors performed Jauhar.	Led to shift of Mewar’s capital from Chittorgarh to Udaipur.
Battle of Haldighati	1576	Mewar (Maharana Pratap) vs. Mughals (Akbar, Man Singh I)	Inconclusive; Mughals won battlefield, but Mewar continued its resistance.	Demonstrated Rajput valor; Maharana Pratap refused to surrender.
Battle of Dewair	1582	Mewar (Maharana Pratap) vs. Mughals	Mewar won; Rajputs regained lost territory.	Marked beginning of Mughal retreat from Mewar.
Mewar-Mughal Wars	16th-17th Century	Mewar vs. Mughals (Akbar, Jahangir, Aurangzeb)	Mewar fiercely resisted Mughal rule but later signed peace treaties.	Mewar was only Rajput state that never fully submitted to Mughals.
Anglo-Mewar Treaty	1818	Mewar vs. British East India Company	Mewar became a princely state under British rule.	Marked decline of Rajput sovereignty in India.