Rao Chunda Rathore was the 12th ruler of Marwar. His reign saw the consolidation of Rathore rule in Marwar, through his diplomatic and military prowess.
| Chunda of Mandore | |
|---|---|
| Rao of Marwar | |
| Ruler of Marwar | |
| Reign | 1384 – 1423 |
| Predecessor | Rao Viram Dev |
| Successor | Rao Kanha |
| Died | 1423 |
| Spouse | Pratihar rajput Princess |
| Issue | Kanha Ranmal |
| Father | Viramdev |
Early life
editChunda's father Viramdev died in a battle against the Johiyas, resulting in the annexation of his inheritance. Chunda was given refuge by a Charan named Alhaji Barhath who raised him at his home in Kalau village. As Chunda grew older, Alhaji equipped him with a horse and weapons and presented him to his uncle Rawal Mallinath.[1][2] His uncle granted him a small outpost of Salavari which was given to him for his maintenance. Chunda was a skilled warrior and leader and he soon started expanding his holdings.[3]
Reign
editIn 1395 the Pratihars of Mandore approached Chunda and proposed an alliance against the Tughlaq Empire. Chunda agreed and was married to a Pratihar princess, he was further given the fortified city of Mandore and a thousand villages in dowry.[3][4] This incident was recorded in an old Rajasthani(Dingal) couplet:[5]
"ईदौं रो उपकार, कमधज कदे न बीसरे, चूँडै चंवरी चाड़, दी मंडोवर दायजै।"
which translates as:
"The Rathore shall always remember the obligation of the Indas who gave a daughter in marriage and Mandowar in dowry to Rao Chunda."
The Tughlaq Empire soon reacted by sending an army under Zafar Khan, the governor of Gujarat. Chunda was able to successfully defend Mandore against this army, Timur's invasion further forced Zafar to start negotiations with Chunda. Chunda had agreed to pay tribute to the Tughlaqs after this battle, but he later reneged and invaded Tughlaq territory, capturing Sambhar, Didwana, Khatu and Ajmer. He continued his expansion and defeated the Chauhans of Nadol and captured their lands. Chunda also attacked his brother Jai Singh for not helping him against the Tughlaqs and captured Phalodi.[6][3][7] Chunda captured and occupied Nagaur in 1408 AD and decided to stay there leaving Mandore under the charge of one of his sons.[5]
Death
editChunda's aggressive expansion intimidated the surrounding chieftains, who made an alliance against him. This alliance included the Rao of Pugal, Sankhlas of Janglu and Khidar Khan of Multan. They attacked Chunda and surrounded him at Nagaur. There was treachery in Chunda's army[6] and therefore, Chunda did not anticipate the attack and was not able to make preparations to give battle. Finding no way out of the situation, he charged his enemies and was killed in action. Ranmal was Chunda's eldest son however Chunda declared his younger son Kanha as his heir. Ranmal therefore left Marwar and went to the neighbouring kingdom of Mewar.[3]
References
edit- ^ Chandra, Yashaswini (22 January 2021). The Tale of the Horse: A History of India on Horseback. Pan Macmillan. ISBN 978-93-89109-92-4.
- ^ Singh, Sabita (27 May 2019). The Politics of Marriage in India: Gender and Alliance in Rajasthan. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-909828-6.
- ^ a b c d Hooja, Rima (2006). A History of Rajasthan. Rupa and co. pp. 379–380. ISBN 9788129115010.
- ^ Belli, Melia (2005). Royal Umbrellas of Stone: Memory, Politics, and Public Identity in Rajput funerary arts. Brill. p. 142. ISBN 9789004300569.
- ^ a b Ujwal, Kailash Dan S. (1985). Bhagwati Shri Karniji Maharaj: A Biography. [s.n.]].
- ^ a b Mohammad Habib, Khaliq Ahmad Nizami (1970). A COMPREHENSIVE HISTORY OF INDIA VOL.5. PEOPLE’S PUBLISHING HOUSE,NEW DELHI. p. 811.
Rao Chunda, son of Rao Biram, who rose to prominence by establishing hinself at Mandor....He successfully resisted the attack of Zafar Khan of Gujarat on Mandor in 1396. Taking advantage of the confusion and disorder due to the weak rule of the Tughlaqs of Delhi, he conducted continuous operations against the imperial officers and occupied Khatu, Didwana, Sambhar, Nagaur and Ajmer. By defeating the Chauhans he also captured Nadol....captured Phalodi in 1411, because Jai Singh did not co-operate with him in his expeditions against the inperial territories... treacherously murdered Chunda in 1423. Nevertheless during Chunda's reign Marwar rose to a position of eminence.
- ^ Chandra, Satish (2006). Medieval India: From Sultanat to the Mughals-Delhi Sultanat (1206-1526). Har Anand. pp. 222–223. ISBN 9788124110645.