Udai Singh Rathore (13 January 1538 – 10 July 1595), also known by the sobriquet ''Mota Raja'' (the fat king), was the
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 ...
ruler ( 1583 – 95) of
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 tra ...
, which was later known as
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 ...
(in the present-day
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 s ...
state of India). He was also the maternal grandfather of
Shah Jahan, the fifth Mughal Emperor, and an ancestor of all subsequent emperors.
Early life
Udai Singh was the son of
Maldeo Rathore
Rao Maldeo Rathore (5 December 1511 – 7 November 1562) was a king of the Marwar from the Rathore dynasty, who ruled the kingdom of Marwar in present day state of Rajasthan. Maldeo ascended the throne in 1531 CE, inheriting a small ancestral p ...
, Raja of
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 tra ...
and Rani Swarup Deviji. He was also elder and only full-brother of
Chandrasen, successor of Maldeo.
When Rao Maldeo nominated his younger brother, Chandrasen to the throne, Udai Singh raised some turmoil. In order to pacify him, his mother had Maldeo to give him
Phalodi.
War Of Succession
On the death of
Rao Maldeo, his younger brother
Chandrasen ascended the throne of Marwar.
Although Marwar did not follow the law of
Primogeniture, rarely had the right of the elder son been set aside. Thus the fratricidel war of succession when ensured.
On the instigation of the Chiefs and Nobles of Chandrasen, Udai Singh revolted at Gagani.
At the same time Ramchandra and Raimal also revolted at Sajot and Dunda respectively. However both fled away rather than facing Chandrasen's army.
But Udai Singh fought Chandrasen's army and was defeated in
Lohawat in December 1562. In this battle, both sides suffered great loses in men and material. Udai Singh had given a blow with an axe to Chandrasen and he also received a blow from Rawal Megh Raj. His life was saved by Hade Khichi who had him remove from the battlefield on his horse.
These war unfortunately weakened the Rathore principality when
Akbar was forming friendly alliance with other Rajput Chieftains.
Thus Marwar soon fell under Mughal Forces. Chandrasen had no allies and all of his brothers and fellow rajput chieftains (apart from
Mewar) stood against him. Chandrasen was left completely isolated in the war with the Mughal empire. Akbar's army occupied
Merta in the same year and the capital in 1564.
Under Imperial Service
In November 1570, Udai Singh had come from
Phalodi to attend the Mughal Court in Nagore. This court was also attended by Chandrasen. It seems as though both Udai Singh and Chandrasen came with the intention of getting Jodhpur back. But Chandrasen left the court soon after his arrival. In this court, Udai Singh was granted a mansab of 800 along with Samavalli and joined the services of the Mughal.
Thereafter, he got an opportunity to prove his worth as a warrior and commander in expeditions against Gujars of Samavalli and Raja Madhukar Bundela.
In 1574, Udai Singh lost Phalodi when Akbar granted it to Bhakharsi, son of Rawal Harraj.
After Chandrasens's death in 1581, the Marwar kingdom was broken and given to several Rajput chieftains who had helped Mughals against Chandrasen.
The Raja of
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 ...
was made the governor of Marwar, while the sons of Maldeo were cast aside.
Reign
In August 1583, Akbar granted the
sinhasan
''Sinhasan'' ( Marathi: Throne) is 1979 Indian Marathi-language political drama film directed by Jabbar Patel and written by journalist Arun Sadhoo. The film is based on two novels - one of the same name and the other named ''Mumbai Dinank'' ...
of Jodhpur to Udai Singh.
[Sarkar, J.N. (1984, reprint 1994). ''A History of Jaipur'', New Delhi: Orient Longman, , p.41]
Soon he was sent in expedition against Muzaffer Khan of Gujarat and Gujarat was annexed to
Mughal Empire
The Mughal Empire was an early-modern empire that controlled much of South Asia between the 16th and 19th centuries. Quote: "Although the first two Timurid emperors and many of their noblemen were recent migrants to the subcontinent, the d ...
. Thereafter forces led by Udai Singh and others proceeded to subdue the rebellious vassal Daulat Khan Lodi.
He was sent in various expedition against rulers of Rajasthan and rebel Mughal chieftains.
Udai Singh, with the help of Mughal Emperor, had finally succeeded to achieve his two decade old ambition of recovering the land of his ancestors.
In hope of getting additional favours of the Mughal Emperor, Udai Singh decided to give his daughter
Mani bai, popularly known as Jodh bai, born to his principal queen Manrang devi, to the heir-apparent of Mughal Empire,
Prince Salim
Nur-ud-Din Muhammad Salim (30 August 1569 – 28 October 1627), known by his imperial name Jahangir (; ), was the fourth Mughal Emperor, who ruled from 1605 until he died in 1627. He was named after the Indian Sufi saint, Salim Chishti.
Ear ...
. The marriage got solemnised at the bride's residence.
After this marriage, Akbar granted the mansab of 1000 and conferred the title '
Raja
''Raja'' (; from , IAST ') is a royal title used for South Asian monarchs. The title is equivalent to king or princely ruler in South Asia and Southeast Asia.
The title has a long history in South Asia and Southeast Asia, being attested f ...
' upon him.
This marriage served very well cause for the
house of Marwar. Marwar alliance with Mughal would have broken down due to religious strain estrangement had Jahangir and Shah Jahan not been bound by blood ties. After this marriage Udai Singh and brothers and nephews of Jodh bai succeeded in gaining confidence of their contemporary rules and were recipient of Royal favours.
Kalyandas Rathore
Historian Norman P. Ziegler relates two accounts of the death of Kalyandas Rathore, his nephew. The version from the Rathore genealogy says Kalyandas took offence at Udai Singh giving his daughter,
Jagat Gosain
Manavati Bai, also spelled Manvati Bai, (13 May 1573 – 8 April 1619), better known by her title, Jagat Gosain (), was the second wife and the empress consort of the fourth Mughal emperor Jahangir and the mother of his successor, Shah Jahan. ...
, to
Jahangir in marriage, and threatened to kill both men. According to Ziegler, if this is true, the most likely explanation for Kalyandas' opposition is that the marriage implied a subservience that violated the Rajput code of honor. In this version of events, when news of Kalyandas's threats reached Akbar, the emperor ordered Udai Singh to kill Kalyandas. Whatever the cause of the break between Kalyandas and the Mughals, he fled to fort
Siwana
Siwana is a Tehsil in Barmer district in Indian state of Rajasthan, located 151 km from Barmer. The place is known for its fort which is locally known as Gadh Siwana, Gadh means Fort. Siwana have 130 villages. total Population as peris 213 ...
. Udai Singh pursued him and captured the fort in 1589. Kalyandas died in the fighting.
According to ''Murārdān'', Kalyan Das Rathore took offence at this marriage and was angry at Mota Raja and had remarked –
When the Mota Raja heard to this remark, he informed Akbar who ordered him to kill Kalyan Das. Kalyan Das fled the Imperial Camp to Siwana. Udai Singh sent two of his sons, Bhopat and Jaisingh to Siwana. But the fort and opponent proved too strong for them and they were forced to flee back. On the face of this defeat, Mota Raja received permission from Akbar to leave the imperial camp. After his return to Marwar, he led a force against Siwana himself. Kalyan Das, realizing defeat is imminent, had his wives perform jauhar and himself led his men to die fighting. After this victory, Siwana was handed over to Mota Raja.
Culture
During Udai Singh's reign, respite art and architecture developed in Marwar. The country which had been desolated before the Raja was beginning to grow rapidly.
A part of the
fort
A fortification is a military construction or building designed for the defense of territories in warfare, and is also used to establish rule in a region during peacetime. The term is derived from Latin ''fortis'' ("strong") and ''facere'' ...
in Jodhpur was also constructed by the Raja. He also introduced administrative reforms in Marwar on Mughal pattern. He also started the Mughal practice of ''Peshkash''. The system of Dah-Chauki also came in vouge in Marwar during the reign of the Raja.
He also built the Dewal of Rao Maldeo, his father. This was the first of the Royal cenotaphs built at
Mandore.
Later life and death
After his victory over Rao Surtan of
Sirohi
Sirohi is a city, located in Sirohi district in southern Rajasthan state in western India. It is the administrative headquarters of Sirohi District and was formerly the capital of the princely state of Sirohi ruled by Deora Chauhan Rajput rul ...
, Udai Singh was sent to Deccan with Prince Murad on 18 October 1592. By the end of 1592, he was appointed by
Akbar to manage the affairs at
Lahore
Lahore ( ; pnb, ; ur, ) is the second most populous city in Pakistan after Karachi and 26th most populous city in the world, with a population of over 13 million. It is the capital of the province of Punjab where it is the largest city ...
. In 1593, he was again sent to subdue Rao Surtan. After his conquest in
Siwana
Siwana is a Tehsil in Barmer district in Indian state of Rajasthan, located 151 km from Barmer. The place is known for its fort which is locally known as Gadh Siwana, Gadh means Fort. Siwana have 130 villages. total Population as peris 213 ...
, Udai Singh returned to Lahore on 15 December 1594.
He died of heart attack in
Lahore
Lahore ( ; pnb, ; ur, ) is the second most populous city in Pakistan after Karachi and 26th most populous city in the world, with a population of over 13 million. It is the capital of the province of Punjab where it is the largest city ...
,
Punjab
Punjab (; Punjabi: پنجاب ; ਪੰਜਾਬ ; ; also romanised as ''Panjāb'' or ''Panj-Āb'') is a geopolitical, cultural, and historical region in South Asia, specifically in the northern part of the Indian subcontinent, comprising a ...
, on 10 July 1595.
His son
Sur Singh
Sawai Raja Sur Singh Rathore or Suraj Mal or Suraj Singh (24 April 1571 – 7 September 1619), was the Raja of Marwar Kingdom (11 July 1595 – 7 September 1619).
His sister was the wife of Emperor Jahangir and mother of Shah Jahan.
Early lif ...
, by his principal wife Manrang Devi, succeeded him to the throne. His youngest son by Manrang Devi, named
Kishan Singh, later founded
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 ...
.
Descendants
Through his several children, Udai Singh is the common ancestor of several families in northern India. His descendants include :
* Through his successor Sur Singh, he is the ancestor of former ruling houses (''
Rathore dynasty'') of
Jodhpur-Marwar and
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
* ...
.
* Through his son Dalpat, he is the ancestor of the former ruling houses (''Rathore dynasty'') of
Ratlam
Ratlam, known historically as Ratnapuri (lit. ''gem city''), is a city in the northwestern part of the Malwa region in Madhya Pradesh state of India. The city of Ratlam lies above sea level. It is the administrative headquarters of Ratlam di ...
,
Sitamau
Sitamau is a town and a nagar panchayat in Mandsaur district in the Indian 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.
Demographics
India census
...
and
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 ...
.
* Through his son Kishan Singh, he is the ancestor of the former ruling house (''Rathore dynasty'') of
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 ...
.
*Through his son Sakat Singh, he is the ancestor of former ruling house (''Rathore dynasty'') of
Kharwa as well as Thakurs (''Sakatsinghots'') of Raghunathpura and Nalu.
*Through his daughter Satyabhama bai, he is the ancestor of the former ruling house (''
Jhala dynasty'') of
Halvad-Dhrangadhra.
*Through his daughter Manavati Bai, he is the ancestor of the former ruling house (''
Timurid dynasty
The Timurid dynasty ( chg, , fa, ), self-designated as Gurkani ( chg, , translit=Küregen, fa, , translit=Gūrkāniyān), was a Sunni Muslim dynasty or clan of Turco-Mongol originB.F. Manz, ''"Tīmūr Lang"'', in Encyclopaedia of Islam, Onl ...
'') of
Mughal Empire
The Mughal Empire was an early-modern empire that controlled much of South Asia between the 16th and 19th centuries. Quote: "Although the first two Timurid emperors and many of their noblemen were recent migrants to the subcontinent, the d ...
.
*Through his daughter Pranmati Bai, he is the ancestor of the former ruling house (''
Guhilot dynasty'') of
Dungarpur
Dungarpur is a city in the southernmost part of Rajasthan, India. It is the administrative headquarters of Dungarpur District. It is the fastest developing town in the southern part of Rajasthan, alongside Aspur ''tehsil''.
History
Dungarpu ...
.
*Through his son Bhupat Singh, he is the ancestor of Thakurs (''Bhuptots'') of Naraina, Pandarwara, Bhadun and Kherian.
*Through his son Madho Singh he is the ancestor of Thakurs (''Govindasots'') of Titiari as well as several families in Pisangan, Junian, and Mehrun.
In addition to this, Thakurs which descend from the former ruling houses of Jodhpur-Marwar, Idar, Ratlam, Kishangarh and Kharwa and Thakurs of several places such as Gobindgarh, Gangwana, etc also descend from him.
See also
*
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 tra ...
*
Sur Singh
Sawai Raja Sur Singh Rathore or Suraj Mal or Suraj Singh (24 April 1571 – 7 September 1619), was the Raja of Marwar Kingdom (11 July 1595 – 7 September 1619).
His sister was the wife of Emperor Jahangir and mother of Shah Jahan.
Early lif ...
References
Note
External links
{{DEFAULTSORT:Marwar, Udai Singh of
Rulers of the Kingdom of Marwar
1538 births
1595 deaths