Mewar–Delhi Sultanate Wars
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The Mewar-Delhi Sultanate Wars were a series of conflicts that happened from the mid 13th to early 16th century. With the defeat of Chauhan ruler Prithviraj Chauhan in the Second Battle of Tarain in 1192 CE, the Delhi Sultanate, a successor to Ghurid dynasty, was established in the northern part of India. After conquering much of the Indo-Gangetic Plain the Sultans of Delhi now had turned their attention towards North-Western India. They subdued Jalore, Ajmer and Ranthambore and followed up by invading Mewar.[2][3]
Delhi Sultanate—Mewar conflicts | |||||||
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Kingdom of Mewar in 1525[1] | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
Kingdom of Mewar • Guhila dynasty (1206—1303) • Sisodia dynasty (1303—1526) Supported by Kingdom of Marwar Kingdom of Amber |
Delhi Sultanate • Mamluk dynasty (1206—1290) • Khalji dynasty (1290—1320) • Tughlaq dynasty (1320—1413) • Sayyid dynasty (1414—1451) • Lodi dynasty (1451—1526) Supported by: Gujarat Sultanate Malwa Sultanate Nagore Sultanate Farooqui dynasty | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Jaitrasimha Viradhavala Tejasimha Sarangdeva Rawal Samarsimha Bhuvanasimha Ratnasimha Rana Lakhan † Ari Singh † Maharana Hammir Baruji Sauda Junsi Kachhwaha Kshetra Singh Lakha Singh Mokal Singh Rana Sanga (WIA) Medini Rai |
Iltutmish Balban Ulugh Khan Alauddin Khalji Firuz Shah Tughluq Mubarak Shah (Sayyid dynasty) Ibrahim Lodi |
The Guhilas under Rawal Jaitrasimha, Tejsimha and Samarasimha were successful in repulsing the Sultanate's invasions.[4] However, Guhilas faced a major setback when their capital Chittorgarh was captured by Sultan Alauddin Khalji in 1303.[5]
Hammir Singh, who was one of the descendants of the junior branch of the Guhila dynasty, recovered whole of Mewar including Chittorgarh and further defeated the invading army of the Delhi Sulatante at Singoli. This victory made whole of Rajputana practically independent of the Sultanate's rule.[6] Maharana Hammir's successors Maharana Kshetra and Maharana Lakha were able to gain territories of Badnor and Bakrol from the Delhi Sultanate.[7][8]
Mewar's golden age started under the reign of Maharana Kumbha and reached its zenith under Maharana Sanga.[9] Rana Sanga, with his superior tactics, repeatedly humbled Ibrahim Lodi, the Sultan of Delhi, prevailing over him decisively at Khatoli, Dholpur and Ranthambhore. These victories not only secured Mewar’s triumph but also expanded its boundaries up to Bayana.[10] At the height of his power, Rana Sanga held control over extensive regions encompassing much of present day Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh with his capital at Chittor.[11]
These events not only made Mewar one of the greatest powers in Northern India in the early 16th century but also contributed to the downfall and weakening of the Delhi Sultanate.[12] The Sultanate ultimately collapsed after its last Sultan Ibrahim was defeated by Timurid ruler Babur with the possible help of Rana Sanga and other rebellious Afghani chiefs.[13]