At a glance
- Origin: disputed. Siha, the first Rathore ruler in Marwar, is traditionally held a descendant of Jaichand Gahadavala of Kannauj; scholars link the Rathores with the Rashtrakutas.
- After Chunda: his younger son Kanha ruled first, then Satta; Ranmal took Mandore only in 1427.
- Kamran: Rao Jaitsi of Bikaner beat him in 1534, as told in Bithu Suja's Rao Jaitsi Ro Chhand.
Rulers of Marwar (Mandore and Jodhpur)
- Rao SihaFirst Rathore in MarwarReignDied 1273 (VS 1330)Known forSet up a small state north-west of Pali; an inscription at Bithu near Pali records his death
- Rao ChundaCapital MandoreReign1394–1423Known forGot Mandore from the Inda Pratiharas: as dowry by Reu's account, taken by his own courage and diplomacy in the RBSE book. Made it the capital. Killed at Nagaur through treachery by the Bhatis of Pugal
- Rao RanmalHansa Bai's brotherReign1427–1438Known forChunda's eldest son. Lived in Mewar, where his sister Hansa Bai was married to Rana Lakha. Murdered at Chittor by Mewar nobles
- Rao JodhaNew capitalReign1438–1489 (Reu: 1453–1489)Known forSon of Ranmal. Regained Mandore (1453), founded Jodhpur (1459)Full notes →
- Rao GangaMaldev's fatherReign1515–1531 (Ojha: 1532)Known forHis force, with his son Maldev, fought for Rana Sanga at Khanwa (1527; Mewar page)
- Rao MaldevSher Shah's rivalReign1531–1562 (Ojha: from 1532)Known forSon of Ganga. Took Merta and Bikaner; lost Jodhpur to Sher Shah (1544) and won it back after Sher Shah's deathFull notes →
- Rao ChandrasenPratap of MarwarReign1562–1581Known forSon of Maldev. Lost Jodhpur to Akbar's army (1564; 1565 in the khyats) and fought on from Bhadrajun and SiwanaFull notes →
- Mota Raja Udai SinghAccepted Mughal ruleReign1583–1595Known forChandrasen's brother, made ruler by Akbar. His daughter Jodha Bai (Jagat Gosain) married Prince Salim
- Maharaja Jaswant Singh INainsi's patronReign1638–1678Known forSon of Gaj Singh. Muhnot Nainsi was his minister. Died at Jamrud
- Maharaja Ajit SinghPosthumous heirReign1679–1724 (Reu: 1707–1724)Known forJaswant Singh's son, born after his death. Took Jodhpur after Aurangzeb's death (1707); killed by his son Bakht Singh
- Durgadas RathoreMarwar's protectorReignLived 1638–1718Known forSon of Askaran. Saved the infant Ajit Singh and led the war against AurangzebFull notes →
Rulers of Bikaner
| Ruler | Reign | Known for |
|---|---|---|
| Rao Bika | 1465–1504 | Son of Jodha. Went to the Jangal country in 1465; founded Bikaner on VS 1545 Vaishakh sudi 2 (12 April 1488) |
| Rao Lunkaran | 1505–1526 | Son of Bika, after his elder brother Nara. Killed at Dhosi fighting the Nawab of Narnaul |
| Rao Jaitsi | 1526–1541 (Ojha: 1542) | Son of Lunkaran. Killed fighting Maldev's army (see Battles) |
| Rao Kalyanmal | 1541 (Ojha: 1542)–1574 | Son of Jaitsi. Sided with Sher Shah at Giri-Sumel; at Akbar's Nagaur Darbar (1570) became the first Rathore ruler to accept Mughal rule |
| Raja Rai Singh | 1574–1612 | Son of Kalyanmal. Akbar made him administrator of Jodhpur (1572). Built Junagarh Fort (1589–94). Died at Burhanpur |
Battles in one line
- Saheba (Paheba)Bikaner overrunYear1541 in the RBSE book's Bikaner section; 1542 in its Maldev section and in Ojha, from Jaitsi's chhatri inscriptionSides and resultMaldev's army against Rao Jaitsi of Bikaner; Jaitsi was killed and Maldev took Bikaner
- Giri-SumelHandful of bajraYearJanuary 1544Sides and resultSher Shah beat Maldev's commanders Jaita and Kumpa near Jaitaran (then Pali district, now Beawar)Full notes →
- HarmadaMarwar over MewarYear1557Sides and resultMaldev's force, helping Haji Khan, routed Rana Udai Singh's armyFull notes →
- DharmatWar of successionYear15 April 1658 (VS 1715)Sides and resultJaswant Singh, for Dara Shikoh, against Aurangzeb and Murad near Ujjain; Jaswant Singh lost after Qasim Khan's betrayal
Common points
- Kishangarh: founded by Kishan Singh, son of Mota Raja Udai Singh.
- Khanwa (1527), Haldighati (1576), the Sultanate and the Mughals: see the pages on Mewar and on the Rajputs, the Sultanate and the Mughals; Jaisalmer and the Bhatis: see Other dynasties of Rajasthan.
Remember: often mixed up
- Two ChundasRao Chunda of Marwar got Mandore · Chunda of Mewar, Rana Lakha's son, gave up the Mewar throne for Hansa Bai's son (Mewar page).
- Two Udai SinghsMota Raja Udai Singh of Marwar · Rana Udai Singh of Mewar, Pratap's father.
- Jaita and Kumpa, Jaimal and Fatta: Maldev's commanders at Giri-Sumel · the defenders of Chittor (1567–68).
- Two KarnasLunkaran, 'Karna of the Kali age' (Bithu Suja) · Rai Singh, 'Karna of Rajputana' (Munshi Devi Prasad).
Test yourself: asked in exams
RAS Prelims 2024 · Q121
Consider the following statements about Rao Chunda of Marwar and choose the correct option from below : A. Rao Chunda obtained Mandore in dowry. B. Rao Ranmal ascended the throne immediately after Rao Chunda's death.
- (1)Only A is true.
- (2)Only B is true.
- (3)A and B both are true.
- (4)A and B both are false.
Show answer
✓ (1) Only A is true.
See the full paperRAS Prelims 2024 · Q122
According to "Rao-Jetsi-Ro-Chhanda", who among the following was defeated by Rao Jaitsi, the ruler of Bikaner ?
- (1)Humayun
- (2)Kamran
- (3)Shershah
- (4)Akbar
Show answer
✓ (2) Kamran
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