The Sisodia is an Indian

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 ...

dynasty belonging to the clan that ruled over the kingdom of

Mewar Mewar or Mewad is a region in the south-central part of Rajasthan state of India. It includes the present-day districts of Bhilwara, Chittorgarh, Pratapgarh, Rajsamand, Udaipur, Pirawa Tehsil of Jhalawar District of Rajasthan, Neemuch and Man ...

Rajasthan Rajasthan (; lit. 'Land of Kings') is a state in northern India. It covers or 10.4 per cent of India's total geographical area. It is the largest Indian state by area and the seventh largest by population. It is on India's northwestern si ...

. The name of the clan is also transliterated as ''Sesodia'', ''Shishodia'', ''Sishodia'', ''Shishodya'', ''Sisodya'', ''Sisodiya'', ''Sisodia''.

Origins

The Sisodia dynasty traced its ancestry to Rahapa, a son of the 12th century

Guhila Gahlot is a clan of Rajputs Guhilot Rajputs ruled number of Kingdom's including Mewar, Banswara, Dungarpur, Pratapgarh, Shahpura, Bhavnagar, Palitana, Lathi and Vala, The variations of the name include Gehlot, Guhila, Gohil or Guhilot. Hi ...

King Ranasimha. He founded the village of Shisoda, in modern day

Rajsamand district Rajsamand District is a district of the state of Rajasthan in western India. The city of Rajsamand is the district headquarters. The district was constituted on 10 April 1991 from Udaipur district by carving out 7 tehsils - Bhim, Deogarh, Amet, ...

, as his capital, after which his descendants were called Sisodias. The main branch of the Guhila dynasty ended with their defeat against the

Khalji dynasty The Khalji or Khilji (Pashto: ; Persian: ) dynasty was a Turco-Afghan dynasty which ruled the Delhi sultanate, covering large parts of the Indian subcontinent for nearly three decades between 1290 and 1320.Siege of Chittorgarh (1303). In 1326,

Rana Hammir Maharana Hammir Singh (1314–1364), or Hammir (not to be confused with Hammir Singh of Ranthambore), was a 14th-century Hindu Rajput ruler of Mewar in present-day Rajasthan, India. Hammir Singh, was a scion of the cadet branch Rana of the Guhi ...

, who belonged to Sisodiya branch, reclaimed control of the region, re-established the dynasty, and also became the founder of the Sisodia dynasty clan, a branch of the Guhila dynasty, to which every succeeding Maharana of Mewar belonged, and the Sisodias regained control of Chittor, the former Guhila capital.''The Rajputs of Rajputana: a glimpse of medieval Rajasthan'' by M. S. Naravane According to the ''Rajprashasti'' genealogy, one of these – Samar Singh – married Prithi, the sister of

Prithviraj Chauhan Prithviraja III (IAST: Pṛthvī-rāja; reign. – 1192 CE), popularly known as Prithviraj Chauhan or Rai Pithora, was a king from the Chauhan (Chahamana) dynasty who ruled the territory of Sapadalaksha, with his capital at Ajmer in present- ...

. His grandson Rahapa adopted the title

Rana Rana may refer to: Astronomy * Rana (crater), a crater on Mars * Delta Eridani or Rana, a star People, groups and titles * Rana (name), a given name and surname (including a list of people and characters with the name) * Rana (title), a histori ...

(monarch). Rahapa's descendants spent some time at a place called Sisoda, and therefore, came to be known as "Sisodia". Coat of arms of Udaipur State

History

The most notable Sisodia rulers were Rana Hamir (r. 1326–64), Rana Kumbha (r. 1433–68),

Rana Sanga Sangram Singh I (IAST: Rāṇā Saṅgrāma Siṃha; c. 1482 – 1528 CE), popularly known as Rana Sanga or Maharana Sanga, was an Indian ruler from the Sisodia dynasty. He ruled Mewar, the traditional territory of Guhilas (Sisodias) in presen ...

(r.1508–1528) and

Rana Pratap Pratap Singh I, popularly known as Maharana Pratap (c. 9 May 1540 – 19 January 1597), was a king of Mewar from the Sisodia dynasty. Pratap became a folk hero for his military resistance against the expansionism of the Mughal Empire under A ...

(r. 1572–97). The

Bhonsle The Bhonsle (or Bhonsale, Bhosale, Bhosle) are a prominent group within the Maratha clan system of kunbi origin. They claimed descent from the Sisodia Rajputs but were likely Kunbi tiller-plainsmen. History Earliest members The earliest a ...

clan, to which the

Maratha empire The Maratha Empire, also referred to as the Maratha Confederacy, was an early modern Indian confederation that came to dominate much of the Indian subcontinent in the 18th century. Maratha rule formally began in 1674 with the coronation of Shi ...

's founder

Shivaji Shivaji Bhonsale I (; 19 February 1630 – 3 April 1680), also referred to as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, was an Indian ruler and a member of the Bhonsle Maratha clan. Shivaji carved out his own independent kingdom from the declining Adils ...

belonged, also claimed descent from a branch of the royal Sisodia family. Nainsi in his book mentioned Shahji descended from Chacha, son of Rana Lakha. Similarly, Rana dynasty of

Nepal Nepal (; ne, नेपाल ), formerly the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal ( ne, सङ्घीय लोकतान्त्रिक गणतन्त्र नेपाल ), is a landlocked country in South Asia. It is mai ...

also claimed descent from Ranas of

. According to the Sisodia Chronicles, when the Delhi Sultan

Alauddin Khalji Alaud-Dīn Khaljī, also called Alauddin Khilji or Alauddin Ghilji (), born Ali Gurshasp, was an emperor of the Khalji dynasty that ruled the Delhi Sultanate The Delhi Sultanate was an Islamic empire based in Delhi that stretched over lar ...

attacked

Chittorgarh Chittorgarh (also Chittor or Chittaurgarh) is a major city in Rajasthan state of western India. It lies on the Berach River, a tributary of the Banas, and is the administrative headquarters of Chittorgarh District. It was a major stronghol ...

in 1303, the Sisodia men performed ''Saka'' (fighting to the death), while their women committed '' Jauhar'' (self-immolation in preference to becoming enemy captives). This was repeated twice: when Bahadur Shah of Gujarat besieged

in 1535, and when the

Mughal Mughal or Moghul may refer to: Related to the Mughal Empire * Mughal Empire of South Asia between the 16th and 19th centuries * Mughal dynasty * Mughal emperors * Mughal people, a social group of Central and South Asia * Mughal architecture * Mug ...

emperor

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 ...

conquered it in 1567. Frequent skirmishes with the Mughals greatly reduced the Sisodia power and the size of their kingdom. The Sisodias ultimately accepted the Mughal suzerainty, and some even fought in the Mughal army. However, the art and literary works commissioned by the subsequent Sisodia rulers emphasized their pre-Mughal past. The Sisodias were the last Rajput dynasty to ally with the Mughals, and unlike other Rajput clans, never intermarried with the Mughal imperial family. The Sisodias cultivated an elite identity distinct from other Rajput clans through the poetic legends, eulogies and visual arts commissioned by them.

James Tod Lieutenant-Colonel James Tod (20 March 1782 – 18 November 1835) was an officer of the British East India Company and an Oriental scholar. He combined his official role and his amateur interests to create a series of works about the his ...

, an officer of the

British East India Company The East India Company (EIC) was an English, and later British, joint-stock company founded in 1600 and dissolved in 1874. It was formed to trade in the Indian Ocean region, initially with the East Indies (the Indian subcontinent and Southea ...

, relied on these works for his book ''Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan, or the central and western Rajpoot states of India'' (1829–1832). His widely read work further helped spread the views of the Sisodias as a superior Rajput clan in colonial and post-colonial India.

List of Rulers

* Hammir Singh (1326–1364) * Kshetra Singh (1364–1382) *

Lakha Singh Rana Lakha (1382 – 1421) was a king belonging to the Sisodia lineage of Mewar in present-day state of Rajasthan. He was the son of Maharana Kshetra Singh and ruled from 1382 until his death in 1421. Lakha was married several times and had ...

(1382–1421) * Mokal Singh (1421–1433) * Rana Kumbha (1433–1468) *

Udai Singh I Udai Singh I (? –1473) Udaikaran or Udah, was the Rana (r. 1468–1473) of Mewar Kingdom. He was a son of Rana Kumbha. Biography Udai Singh killed his father, Rana Kumbha, in 1468 and thereafter became known as ''Hatyara'' (Murderer) ...

(1468–1473) *

Rana Raimal Raimal Singh Sisodia, also known as Rana Raimal, (r. 1473–1509) was a Hindu Rajput ruler of Mewar. Maharana Raimal was the son of Kumbha of Mewar, Rana Kumbha. He came to power by defeating his patricide predecessor, Udai Singh I in battles ...

(1473–1508) *

(1508–1527), ''Under his rule Mewar reached its pinnacle in power and prosperity.'' * Ratan Singh II (1528–1531) *

Vikramaditya Singh Vikramaditya Singh may refer to: * Vikramaditya Singh (Maharana) (1517–1534), Maharana of Mewar Kingdom from 1531–1534 * Vikramaditya Singh (politician, born 1964), Indian businessman and politician * Vikramaditya Singh (Himachal Pradesh politi ...

(1531–1536) * Vanvir Singh (1536–1540) * Udai Singh II (1540–1572) * Maharana Pratap (1572–1597), ''13th king of Mewar, notable for his military resistance against the Mughals.'' * Amar Singh I (1597–1620) *

Karan Singh II Karan Singh II (7 January 1584 – March 1628) was the Maharana of Mewar Kingdom (r. 1620 – 1628). He was one of the sons of Maharana Amar Singh I and the grandson of Maharana Pratap. He, in turn, was succeeded by his son Jagat Singh I.. H ...

(1620–1628) *

Jagat Singh I Jagat Singh I (1607 – 10 April 1652), was the Maharana of Mewar Kingdom in Rajputana, India (r. 1628–1652). He was a son of Maharana Karan Singh II. Jagat Singh built a wall around the Chittor Fort. When Shahjahan Shihab-ud-Din Muha ...

(1628–1652) * Raj Singh I (1652–1680) *

Jai Singh Jai Singh may refer to: * Jai Singh I (1611–1667), ruler of Amber kingdom in India and a Rajput general of the Mughal Empire; also known as Mirza Raja Jai Singh * Jai Singh of Mewar (1653–1698), ruler of the Mewar kingdom in India * Jai Singh II ...

(1680–1698) *

Amar Singh II Amar Singh II (3 October 1672 – 10 December 1710) was the Maharana of Mewar Kingdom (r. 1698–1710). He was a son of Maharana Jai Singh Jai Singh may refer to: * Jai Singh I (1611–1667), ruler of Amber kingdom in India and a Rajput general ...

(1698–1710) *

Sangram Singh II Sangram Singh II (24 March 1690 – 11 January 1734) was a ruler of Mewar, India. He reigned from 1710 to 1734. He was succeeded by his son Jagat Singh II. Maharana Sangram Singh II was a great ruler of his time. He ascended the throne at a c ...

(1710–1734) *

Jagat Singh II Jagat Singh II (17 September 1709 – 5 June 1751), was the Maharana of Mewar Kingdom (r. 1734 – 1751). He succeeded his father Sangram Singh II. He spent the fortunes of his kingdom while trying to place his nephew, Madho Singh I ...

(1734–1751) *

Pratap Singh II Pratap Singh II (27 July 1724 – 10 January 1754), was the Maharana Maharana is a variation on the Indian royal title Rana (title), Rana. Maharana denotes 'king of kings', similar to the word "Maharaja". Ruler title in British India Sal ...

(1751–1754) * Raj Singh II (1754–1762) *

Ari Singh II Ari Singh II{{Cite web , url=http://members.iinet.net.au/~royalty/ips/u/udaipur_r.html , title=UDAIPUR , access-date=15 July 2013 , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161227164732/http://members.iinet.net.au/~royalty/ips/u/udaipur_r.html ...

(1762–1772) *

Hamir Singh II Hamir Singh II (1762 – 6 January 1778) was the Maharana of Mewar Kingdom, Rajasthan Rajasthan (; lit. 'Land of Kings') is a state in northern India. It covers or 10.4 per cent of India's total geographical area. It is the largest ...

(1772–1778) * Bhim Singh (1778–1828) *

Jawan Singh Jawan Singh (2 July 1821 – 30 August 1838), was the Maharana (r. 1828–1838) of Princely state of Udaipur. He was a son of Maharana Bhim Singh. He was also a poet under the name of Brijraj. He adopted his third cousin Sardar Singh who was ...

(1828–1838) *

Sardar Singh Sardara Singh (born 15 July 1986), sometimes referred as Sardar Singh, is an Indian former professional field hockey player and captain of the Indian national team. He usually plays the center half position. Sardara became the youngest player t ...

(1838–1842) * Swarup Singh (1842–1861) *

Shambhu Singh Maharana Shambhu Singh (22 December 1847 – 7 October 1874), was the Maharana (r. 1861–1874) of Princely state of Udaipur. He was a son Sher Singh of Bagore and nephew of Maharana Swarup Singh. The rich and diverse land of India had faced ...

(1861–1874) * Sajjan Singh (1874–1884) * Fateh Singh (1884–1930) * Bhupal Singh (1930–1947)

Titular Maharanas

* Bhupal Singh (1947–1955) *

Bhagwat Singh Mewar Bhagwat Singh Mewar (20 June 1921 - 3 November 1984) was the titular ruler of the Indian princely state of Udaipur or Mewar from 1955 until the Indian government abolished all royal titles in 1971. Bhagwat Singh was born in 1927, three years af ...

(1955-1984) *

Mahendra Singh Mewar Mahendra Singh Mewar (born 24 February 1941) is an Indian politician who was a Member of Parliament in the Lok Sabha. He is the eldest son of Bhagwant Singh of Mewar, Maharana Bhagwat Singh Mewar. Mahendra and his brother Arvind Singh Mewar, Ar ...

(1984-Present) *

Arvind Singh Mewar Arvind Singh Mewar (born 13 December 1944) is an Indian businessman, former royal and chairman of HRH Group of Hotels. Arvind and his brother Mahendra both claim to be the 76th custodian of the House of Mewar. The Maharanas of Udaipur are custo ...

(present)

References

External links

Sisodia materials in the South Asian American Digital Archive (SAADA)
{{Rajput Groups of India Rajput clans of Rajasthan Mewar dynasty Indian surnames Social groups of Rajasthan Suryavansha