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The Rathore is a
Rajput
Rajput (from Sanskrit ''raja-putra'' 'son of a king') is a large multi-component cluster of castes, kin bodies, and local groups, sharing social status and ideology of genealogical descent originating from the Indian subcontinent. The term Ra ...
clan found in Northern India.
Subclans
Jodhana,
Vadhel
The Vadhel (also spelled vadher) are a Rajput clan found in the state of Gujarat in India. They are an offshoot of Rathore of Marwad.
Origin
About A.D. 1225 Rathore tribes of Vadhel,who are said to have been sprung from Pabuji Rathore, entered t ...
,
Jaitawat
The Jaitawats are a subgroup of the Rathore Rajputs of India.
They are decendents of Rao Jaita Rathore, who fought historic Battle of Sammel
The Battle of Sammel, also known as the Battle of Giri-Sumel, was fought in 1544 near the villages, Gi ...
, Kumpawat, Champawat, Meratiya, Udawat, Karamsot etc. are the branches or subclans of Rathore Rajputs.
Coverage
This article discusses the "Kanaujiya" Rathores of Marwar and lineages, thereof; Norman Ziegler had noted of 12 other similar branches ("shakhas") of Rathores — Sur, Shir, Kapaliya, Kherada, Abhepura, Jevamt, Vagula, Karaha, Parakra, Ahrao, Jalkheda, and Camdel.
Scholarship about those branches are scarce to non-existent.
Origins
A section of historians argue for a
Rashtrakuta
Rashtrakuta (IAST: ') (r. 753-982 CE) was a royal Indian dynasty ruling large parts of the Indian subcontinent between the sixth and 10th centuries. The earliest known Rashtrakuta inscription is a 7th-century copper plate grant detailing their ...
origin.
Branches of Rashtrakutas had migrated to Western Rajasthan as early as late tenth century; multiple inscriptions of "Rathauras" have been located in and around Marwar dating from tenth to thirteenth century; the Rathores may have emerged from one of the Rashtrakuta branches.
Bardic origins
Muhnot Nainsi
Muhnot Nainsi (1610–1670) is known for his studies of the region now encompassed by the state of Rajasthan in India.
He was a contemporary of Rathore ruler Jaswant Singh of Marwar.
He was son of Jaimal Muhnot, who was senior office holder und ...
, employed by the Rathores of Marwar, chronicled
Nainsi ri Khyat
Nainsi ri Khyat (or 'Khyat of Nainsi') is a late 17th-century Marwari & Dingal text chronicling the history of Marwar. It's author Muhnot Nainsi, an official of Marwar State, based the Khyat (or chronicle) on the Charan accounts and the traditio ...
, a bardic genealogical history of the Rajputs in western Rajasthan c. 1660; one of the oldest extant historical records of the region, the ''Khyata'' collated information from existing oral literature, genealogies and administrative sources in a chronological fashion.
Nainsi had noted of the Rathores to have originated from
Kannauj
Kannauj ( Hindustani pronunciation: ənːɔːd͡ʒ is a city, administrative headquarters and a municipal board or Nagar Palika Parishad in Kannauj district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. The city's name is a corrupted form of the class ...
before migrating to
Marwar
Marwar (also called Jodhpur region) is a region of western Rajasthan state in North Western India. It lies partly in the Thar Desert. The word 'maru' is Sanskrit for desert. In Rajasthani languages, "wad" means a particular area. English tran ...
.
Accuracy
These bardic claims of descent have been since deemed to be largely ahistorical by Ziegler.
Ziegler notes the theme of migrations to be common across Rajput genealogies; a construct, borrowed from literary cannon of other regions.
Later genealogies of Rathores went as far as to derive origin from Gods of the Hindu pantheon — Indra, Narayana et al.
History
Nomadic
The first Rathore chieftain was Siho Setramot, grandson of the last
Gahadavala
The Gahadavala dynasty (IAST: Gāhaḍavālas), also Gahadavalas of Kanauj, was a Rajput dynasty that ruled parts of the present-day Indian states of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, during 11th and 12th centuries. Their capital was located at Varanas ...
king
Jayachandra
Jaya-chandra (IAST: Jayacandra, r. c. 1170–1194 CE) was a king from the Gahadavala dynasty of northern India. He is also known as Jayachchandra (IAST: Jayaccandra) in inscriptions, and Jaichand in vernacular legends. He ruled the Antarvedi co ...
.
Then known as Raja Singhsen, Setramot abdicated the throne of Kanauj to become an ascetic but got embroiled in a royal rivalry and eventually married the daughter of a Gujarati ruler, who birthed him three sons.
Asthan, the eldest, was raised at
Paltan
Paltan is a thana (precinct) of Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh.
It is often said to be the center of Dhaka, dividing "Old Dhaka" and "New Dhaka". Paltan was made a thana in 2005 by then Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia. Paltan Thana was formed ...
after Siho's death (at Kanauj) and he went on to establish the first Rathore polity in
Pali
Pali () is a Middle Indo-Aryan liturgical language native to the Indian subcontinent. It is widely studied because it is the language of the Buddhist ''Pāli Canon'' or ''Tipiṭaka'' as well as the sacred language of ''Theravāda'' Buddhism ...
(and few adjoining villages), after winning over the local Brahmins by defeating an oppressive king named Kanha Mer.
Other contemporary sources claim the same descent and construct slightly variable narratives about migration from Kanauj: Setramot fled the Ghurid Sultanate to Marwar and established the first Rathore polity.
The Bithoor inscription provides the date of Siho's death in 1273 CE and calls him the son of Set Kunwar, however it does not claim any Gaharwal origin.
Under Asthan's regime, and that of his successor-rulers, the Rathore territories significantly expanded courtesy confrontations and diplomatic negotiations with other pastoral groups; the primary base shifted multiple times.
Marital alliances with any warrior-group operating out of Thar were especially favored and they were welcome to be inducted in the Rathore fold.
Multiple new Rathore branches seem to have split out in these spans.
The precise accuracy of events which allegedly occurred across these spans is questionable and may not be relied upon except for a generic reconstruction.
Sovereignty
Chunda, who was ninth in descent from Asthan, was gifted the territory of
Mandore
Mandore is a suburb Historical town located 9 km north of Jodhpur city, in the Indian state of Rajasthan.
History
Mandore is an ancient town, and was the seat of the Pratiharas of Mandavyapura, who ruled the region in the 6th century CE ...
as a dowry by Eenda Parihars, which became their new capital c. 1400.
This prompted a significant sociopolitical shift: the hitherto nomadic lifestyle frequented with cattle raids etc. would gradually give way to landed aristocracy.
His son
Ranmal
Rao Ranmal (1392 – October 1438), also called Ran Mal or Ridmal, was the Rathore ruler of Marwar (1428 to 1438). A notable expansionist and skilled warrior, Ranmal is also noteworthy for having twice served as regent of the kingdom of Mewar u ...
was assassinated in 1438; Marwar was annexed by Sisodias whilst other parts were captured by Delhi Sultanate.
In 1453,
Rao Jodha
Rao Jodha Rathore(28 March 1416 – 6 April 1489) was a ruler of Mandore in the present-day state of Rajasthan. He was the son of Rao Ranmal (Rao Ridmal) of the Rathore clan. He is known for his illustrious military career and for founding the ...
regained Marwar, and expanded his territories by entering into multiple alliances with fellow Rajputs; the Jodhawat line was established with his consecration of a new capital at Jodhpur. Rao Jodha was successful in annexing several territories from the Delhi Sultanate, due to which the Rathores of Marwar became the most powerful kingdom in Rajputana during his reign. Among his sons, Rao Bika found a new state in Bikaner in 1465; he and his successors would go on to expand territories therefrom, adopting similar tactics.
This Bikawat branch became the new bearer of Rathore legacy, even bringing Gahdavala-time emblems and heirlooms from Marwar.
Another of Jodha's sons Rao Varsingh found a new state at Merto in 1462, establishing the Mertiyo branch.
Rao Maldeo __NOTOC__
Rao may refer to:
Geography
* Rao, West Sumatra, one of the districts of West Sumatra, Indonesia
* Råö, a locality in Kungsbacka Municipality, Halland County, Sweden
Transport
* Dr. Leite Lopes–Ribeirão Preto State Airport , IA ...
's regime (1532-1562) harbored another significant shift from clannish rule to monarchy; Malde forced his distant relatives, who conquered new territories, to submit to him or else be deprived of gains.
Bikaner was raided, too.
Large palaces were constructed and fortifications were committed to, in what signaled the effective end of pastoral lifestyle.
By mid-sixteenth century, the Rathors had a firm hold over entire Rajasthan.
All these while, multiple matrimonial and military alliances with local Islamic kingdoms; the
Delhi Sultanate
The Delhi Sultanate was an Islamic empire based in Delhi that stretched over large parts of the Indian subcontinent for 320 years (1206–1526). have been noted; Hindu-Muslim relations were largely fraternal.
Mughal period
The situations deteriorated once
Akbar
Abu'l-Fath Jalal-ud-din Muhammad Akbar (25 October 1542 – 27 October 1605), popularly known as Akbar the Great ( fa, ), and also as Akbar I (), was the third Mughal emperor, who reigned from 1556 to 1605. Akbar succeeded his father, Hum ...
was ordained as the Mughal Emperor, and rao Maldeo died. His son rao
Chandrasen Rathore
Rao Chandrasen Rathore () was a Rathore ruler of Marwar (in the present day Rajasthan state of India). He was a younger son of Rao Maldev Rathore. Chandrasen followed his father's policy and stayed hostile to the ruling foreign powers in I ...
defended his kingdom for nearly two decades against relentless attacks from the Mughal Empire.
The Jodhawat Rathores lost much of their territory rapidly and were effectively subsumed.
The Bikawat Rathores entered into friendly relations with the Mughals, led their armies, and were extensively patronaged to the extent of being allowed to control the Jodhpur Fort.
In 1583, Uday Singh finally accepted Mughal suzerainty and in return, was granted part of a Pargana in Jodhpur; this would enable the Jodhawat Rathores to become all-weather allies of the Mughals though punctuated with discords.
This span of cohabitation led to the introduction of strict endogamy into Rathore folds and hypergamy with Mughals.
It was also under the Mughals, that bardic genealogies were crafted to present themselves as worthy appointees of the Mughals and distinguish themselves from other "once-fraternal" communities, thereby staking a claim to power irrespective of temporal situations.
Also, by this time, the nomadic memories were better suppressed and the Rathores had themselves rebranded as the elite "protectors" of local cattle-rearers; in a couple of centuries, figures from early Rathore polity would be deified.
British period
The Rathore ruler of Jodhpur
Man Singh
Man Singh I, popularly known as Mirza Raja Man Singh (21 December 1550 – 6 July 1614) was the 29th Kachwaha Rajput Raja of Amer, later known as Jaipur state, in Rajputana. He was the most powerful and trusted general of the Mughal e ...
, initially refused to form treaties with the British. However in 1805-1806 he approached the British for military advice and paid the British to protect his state against the predatory actions of the
Marathas
The Marathi people (Marathi: मराठी लोक) or Marathis are an Indo-Aryan ethnolinguistic group who are indigenous to Maharashtra in western India. They natively speak Marathi, an Indo-Aryan language. Maharashtra was formed as a M ...
and
Pindaris
The Pindaris were irregular military plunderers and foragers in 17th- through early 19th-century Indian subcontinent who accompanied initially the Mughal army, later the Maratha army, and finally on their own before being eliminated in the 1817 ...
. By 1816 the British changed this treaty and expelled all foreign influence in Jodhpur, they also started arbitrating in state matters. By 1818 the alliance was cemented and in 1832 the Rajputana agency was formed.
The Rathore raja Man Singh was not always cordial with the British during this time, in 1829 Man Singh gave shelter to
Mudhoji II Bhonsle
Mudhoji (Madhoji) II Bhonsale (died 15 July 1840), also known as Appa Sahib, of the Bhonsale dynasty, ruled the Kingdom of Nagpur in central India from 1816 to 1818. His reign coincided with the Third Anglo-Maratha War between the Maratha Empir ...
and antagonized the British. Mudhoji was zealously protected by Man Singh and lived his remaining life in Jodhpur till his death in 1840. The 1857 rebellion sparked uprisings amongst several Rajput chieftains of the Rathore clan in Jodhpur State. Prominent amongst them was
Kushal Singh of Auwa
Kushal Singh Champawat Rathore also known as Khushal Singh Champawat (died 1864) was the Thakur of a prominent Thikana of Auwa in Jodhpur State. During Indian rebellion of 1857, he defeated the British Army in the Battle of Bithoda and chelaw ...
. After several failed attempts by the British, the rebellion was quelled by the British army under the command of Brigadier Holmes.
During the 20th century the lower castes in India tried to uplift their social standing by adopting surnames of other castes. The Rajput clan name "
Rathore
The Rathore is a Rajput clan found in Northern India.
Subclans
Jodhana, Vadhel, Jaitawat, Kumpawat, Champawat, Meratiya, Udawat, Karamsot etc. are the branches or subclans of Rathore Rajputs. Coverage
This article discusses the "Kanauji ...
" was adopted as a surname by the
Teli
Teli is a caste traditionally occupied in the pressing of oil in India, Nepal and Pakistan. Members may be either Hindu or Muslim; Muslim Teli are called Roshandaar or Teli Malik. The Jewish community of Maharashtra (called Bene Israel) was als ...
community in 1931, who started calling themselves Rathore Vaishyas for caste upliftment. During the same period of
British Raj
The British Raj (; from Hindi ''rāj'': kingdom, realm, state, or empire) was the rule of the British Crown on the Indian subcontinent;
*
* it is also called Crown rule in India,
*
*
*
*
or Direct rule in India,
* Quote: "Mill, who was himsel ...
, the
Banjaras began styling themselves as Chauhan and Rathor Rajputs.
Princely states
The various cadet branches of the Rathore clan gradually spread to encompass all of Marwar and later founded states in Central India and Gujarat. The Marwar Royal family is considered the head house of Rathores. At the time of India's independence in 1947, the princely states ruled by various branches of the Rathore clan included:
*
Jodhpur
Jodhpur (; ) is the second-largest city in the Indian state of Rajasthan and officially the second metropolitan city of the state. It was formerly the seat of the princely state of Jodhpur State. Jodhpur was historically the capital of the Ki ...
(Marwar) in present-day Rajasthan, founded in 1226 by Rao Siha.
*
Bikaner
Bikaner () is a city in the northwest of the state of Rajasthan, India. It is located northwest of the state capital, Jaipur. Bikaner city is the administrative headquarters of Bikaner District and Bikaner division.
Formerly the capital of ...
in present-day Rajasthan, founded in 1465 by Rao Bikaji (son of Rao Jodha).
*
Kishangarh
Kishangarh is a city and a Municipal Council in Ajmer district in the Indian state of Rajasthan.
History
Kishangarh State was founded by the Jodhpur prince Kishan Singh in 1609. Prior to the rule of Kishan Singh this area was ruled by Ra ...
in present-day Rajasthan, founded in 1611 by Maharaja Kishan Singh.
*
Idar
Idar may refer to:
People
* Idar Andersen (born 1999), Norwegian road racing cyclist
* Idar Kreutzer (born 1962), Norwegian businessperson
* Idar Kristiansen (1932–1985), Norwegian poet, novelist, short story writer and non-fiction writer
* ...
in present-day Gujarat, founded in 1729 by Rao Anand Singh.
*
Ratlam
Ratlam, known historically as Ratnapuri (lit. ''gem city''), is a city in the northwestern part of the Malwa region in Madhya Pradesh states and territories of India, state of India. The city of Ratlam lies above sea level. It is the administ ...
in present-day Madhya Pradesh, founded in 1651 by Maharaja Ratan Singh.
*
Jhabua
Jhabua is a town and a municipality in Jhabua district in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. It is the administrative headquarters of Jhabua District.
Recently the district has got international recognition because of its endemic hen species ...
in present-day Madhya Pradesh, founded in 1584 by Raja Keshav Das.
*
Sitamau
Sitamau is a town and a nagar panchayat in Mandsaur district in the Indian States and territories of India, state of Madhya Pradesh. It is in the Mandsaur district of Malwa region of Madhya Pradesh.
It was the seat of the princely Sitamau State. ...
in present-day Madhya Pradesh, founded 1701 by Raja Kesho Das.
*
Sailana
Sailana is a town in the Malwa region of the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. Sailana is from Ratlam city and away from Banswara district of the neighboring state of Rajasthan.
Sailana was once the capital of the Sailana State before it merged ...
in present-day Madhya Pradesh, founded in 1730 by Raja Jai Singh.
*
Alirajpur in present-day Madhya Pradesh, founded in 1437 by Raja Anand Deo.
Notes
References
Further reading
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{{#related:Marwar
Rajput clans of Rajasthan
Rajput clans of Uttar Pradesh
Rajput clans of Madhya Pradesh