Maharana Pratap Singh was a Rajput warrior and the king of Mewar in Rajasthan, in northwestern India. He is revered for his fierce independence, gallantry, and fighting spirit. In Rajasthan, he is honored for defying the might of Akbar the Mughal Emperor to be the first leader to take on his forces and help secure his kingdom. He is considered a hero because he led with courage, sacrifice, and bravery during every battle.
Rana Pratap History
Rana Pratap Singh I, also known as Maharana Pratap, was the thirteenth king of Mewar. He was recognized for his work during the Battle of Haldighati and the Battle of Dewair. He played a major role in resisting the Mughal Empire's expansionism by becoming known as "Mewari Rana." From 1572 until his death in 1597 he served as ruler of the Sisodia royal family of Mewar.
Maharana Pratap Singh Childhood and Early Life.
Maharana Pratap Singh was born in 1540 to the royal family of Raja Udai Singh II. At the age of 16, he was granted the title of "Raja" or Crown Prince of Mewar for being the eldest among twenty-five sons. He became the 54th ruler of Mewar and served until his death in 1597, at the age of 66.
Chittor was surrounded by Emperor Akbar's forces in 1567 when Crown Prince Pratap Singh was just 27 years old. Rather than surrender to the Mughals, Maharana Udai Singh II chose to abandon Chittor and relocate his family to Gogunda. The young Pratap Singh decided not to leave and instead decided to stay and battle the Mughals. His elders persuaded him, completely oblivious to the fact that their departure would change history forever.
After the death of Maharana Udai Singh II, his youngest son Pratap Singh succeeded him as Maharana in 1572. The late Maharana Udai Singh II had died partly because of Queen Rani Bhatiyani's influence over him and he had insisted that her son Jagmal succeed to the throne. When the late Maharana's body was being transported to the cremation grounds, Crown Prince Pratap Singh accompanied the Maharaja's body. This break from tradition allowed for a smooth transition and preserved the line of succession.
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Because Jagmal was a prince who wasn't as strong and intelligent as his younger brother, he lost out after Maharana Pratap Singh II died. The late Maharana's nobles - especially the Chundawat Rajputs - forced Jagmal to give up the throne and leave for Ajmer because they knew this would be disastrous for Mewar. But to make things worse, Jagmal didn't voluntarily give up the throne. He vowed vengeance and set out for Ajmer in order to join Akbar's army, where he was promised a town - Jahazpur Town - in exchange for his help. Even though he had been made ruler of Mewar, Pratap Singh proved himself so great that he was eventually elevated to Maharana Pratap Singh I in 1551 CE.
It was the year 1572. Maharana Pratap Singh had recently been appointed Maharana of Mewar and hadn't visited Chittor since 1567. Chittor was under Akbar's rule, but not the kingdom of Mewar. Akbar's dream of being the Jahanpanah of Hindustan couldn't be realized until his people in Chittor pledged allegiance to their Maharana. He sent several emissaries to Mewar in hopes that they would finally accept a treaty, but the letter wouldn't sign one unless it preserved the sovereignty of Mewar. In the year 1573, Akbar dispatched six diplomatic missions to Mewar in order to persuade Rana Pratap to accept his suzerainty, but he rejected them all.
The Rajput of Raja Man Singh was to take charge of the last of these missions. When he declined to sup with Maharana Pratap, who was enraged that his fellow Rajput [Raja Man Singh] had allied himself with someone who had compelled all Rajputs to submit, the battle lines had been drawn. Akbar realized that Maharana Pratap would never submit, forcing him to become an enemy in order for him to betray Mewar.
Maharana Pratap Singh Military Career
Battle of Haldighati
Maharana Pratap Singh fought against Akbar’s forces just two centuries before the Battle of Haldighati. In this long-fought battle, he faced a Mughal army led by Man Singh I of Amber on June 18th, 1576. The Mewaris were decisively defeated and they suffered many casualties, but they were unable to capture the Maharana himself. The battle was fierce and lasted over six hours; he was wounded during the battle, but succeeded in escaping to the hills, and returned the next day to win over his foe.
In Haldighati, Maharana Pratap Singh successfully defended his kingdom with the help of villagers and soldiers. He lost his life in battle, but victory was not fleeting for him by any means. The Mughals were unable to break this deadlock between the two armies and were forced to set their sights on other territories around Goganda, Udaipur, and Kumbhalgarh.
Rana Pratap History of Resurgence
A revolt and invasions by Mughals in Punjab lead to Mughal pressure easing in Mewar. In 1581, the Battle of Dewair took place when Pratap Singh invaded and captured the Mughal outpost at Dewair. All 36 military posts belonging to the Mughals were automatically liquidated as a result of this. Akbar halted his military campaigns against Mewar after this defeat. Dewar's triumph was Maharana's crowning achievement, called the "Marathon of Mewar" by James Tod.
Akbar moved to Lahore in 1585, but he stayed for the next twelve years. He watched as no major Mughal expeditions were sent to Mewar during that time. Pratap took advantage of this opportunity and seized Western Mewar, which included Kumbhalgarh, Udaipur, and Gogunda. He also built a new capital in Chavand at Dungarpur during that time as well.
Maharana Pratap Singh Personal Life
A maharana is the leader of a Hindu or Sikh state or a princely aristocracy. Maharana Pratap was married to eleven wives and had seven sons and six daughters, but his first wife was named Ajabde Punwar who gave him two sons and one daughter.
Once a prince, Parmar Pratap was overthrown by his elder brother and only won back the throne after marrying ten more princesses. It is said that he spent most of his childhood in the forests, and it is said that on several occasions, his family had to survive on grass chapatis.
Maharana Pratap Death
One of the most famous Mughal emperors and Rajputs, Maharana Pratap Singh died in Chavand on January 19, 1597. His son, Amar Singh I, succeeded him. Pratap told his son before his death not to surrender to the Mughals and to reclaim Chittor castle from them.
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