Bakht Singh of Marwar
Bakht Singh Rathore | |
---|---|
Marwar | |
Ruler of Marwar | |
Tenure | July 1751 – 21 September 1752 |
Coronation | 8 July 1751 |
Predecessor | Ram Singh |
Successor | Vijay Singh |
Born | 16 August 1706 Meherangarh, Jodhpur |
Died | 21 September 1752 Sindholi | (aged 46)
House | Rathore |
Father | Ajit Singh Rathore |
Religion | Hinduism |
Bakht Singh or Bakhat Singh (16 August 1706 – 21 September 1752) was an 18th-century Indian
Early life and political ascension
Bakht Singh was born on 16 August 1706 as the second son of Ajit Singh, ruler of Marwar. At the time of Bakht's birth, his family was in open revolt against the Mughal Empire due to an ongoing territorial dispute over Gujarat.[3] His father was pardoned by Muhammad Azam Shah in 1708, granting the Rathore clan control over the Kingdom of Marwar and the city of Jodhpur.[4][5]
Bakht Singh had a tall and strong built and was popular amongst the ladies of the Empire. Amongst his admirers was the Empress of the Mughal Empire, who according to the chronicles wanted her husband to follow Bakht's diet.
Siege of Ahmedabad
In 1730 a taxation depute against Sarbuland Khan (Nawab of Gujarat) resulted in Abhai Singh laying siege to the city of Ahmedabad.[8] Bakht Singh personally led the storming of the city, the Marwar army lost 120 soldiers and 700 were injured while Sarbuland Khan lost his son in the cannonade and most of his men were slaughtered along with high ranking Mughal Mansabdars (nobles), some ranking as high as 3,000. Sarbuland Khan surrendered after three days of fighting, after which the Mughal emperor was forced to make Abhai Singh the lord of Ahmedabad and the governor of Gujarat.[9] Bakht Singh was commended for his bravery during the battle.[1][8]
Lordship
By 1739, Bakht Singh had been appointed lord of
Battle of Gangwana
In 1741, Abhai Singh began to gather his forces in Jodhpur in preparation for a war of revenge against Jaipur. Jai Singh detected these movements and gathered his army (of 40000-100000 men) to invade Marwar.[10] As the Jaipur army advanced, Bakht Singh arrived at Merta, the forward camp for the Rathore and Marwar army. He entered the Raja's durbar, where he was chastised by his fellow Rathors for his betrayal.[1] Bhakt accepted his wrongdoing, and promised to lead his personal cavalry contingent (of 1000 men) against the oncoming Jaipur.[1]
In the ensuing Battle of Gangwana Bakht Singh and his cavalry of 1000 soldiers succeeded in inflicting heavy casualties on the Jaipur army.[10] Over 12,000 Rajputs and Mughals were killed, losses so high that Jai Singh ended the campaign and was forced to accept a mediated peace with Abhai Singh. Bakht Singh, wounded by both a bullet and an arrow during the fighting, was once again praised for his valor.[1][10] Jai Singh never recovered from shock suffered from losses of this battle and died 2 years later.
Later life
On 29 June 1741, Bakht Singh was offered
On 17 June 1749, Abhai Singh died, with his eldest son
See also
- Rulers of Marwar
Bibliography
- R.K Gupta, S.R Bakshi (2008). Rajasthan Through the Ages, Vol 4, Jaipur Rulers and Administration. Sarup & Sons. ISBN 9788176258418.
- Jodhpur and the Later Mughals, AD 1707–1752, by R. S. Sangwan. Published by Pragati Publications, 2006.
- ISBN 81-250-0333-9.
- Faruqui, Munis D. (2012). The Princes of the Mughal Empire, 1504–1719. Cambridge University Press. p. 316. ISBN 978-1-107-02217-1.
- Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency: Ahmedabad. Google Books 2015 (Public Domain text). 7 January 2015. pp. 248–262. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
- ISBN 978-0-52156-603-2.
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Gupta, Bakshi pp. 152–155
- ^ "Maharaja Bakht Singh". geni_family_tree. 16 August 1706. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
- ^ N.S. Bhati, Studies in Marwar History, page 6
- ^ Munis pp. 316
- ^ Richards pp. 180–181
- ^ Dhananajaya Singh (1994). The House of Marwar. Lotus Collection, Roli Books. p. 104.
Bakhta defeated Ram Singh in 1751 and ascended the long coveted gadi. Tall and powerfully built, with an impressive moustache, he was in all appearance at least the quintessential Rathore warrior and counted among his lady admirers the fifteenth Mughal Emperor Ahmad Shah's Empress who, the chronicles loyally record, even urged her husband to follow the same diet as the Rathore.
- ^ "Maharaja Shri Ajit Singh Rathore jodhpur". geni_family_tree. 1679. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
- ^ a b Google Books 2015, pp. 256–257.
- ^ Visheshwar Sarup Bhargava,"Marwar and the Mughal emperors (A. D. 1526–1748)", page 153
- ^ a b c Sarkar pp. 200
- ^ Sarkar, Jadunath (2007). Fall Of The Mughal Empire Fall of the Mughal Empire Vol 2. Orient BlackSwan. p. 214.
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value (help) - ^ Sarkar, Jadunath (2007). Fall of the Mughal Empire Vol 2. Orient BlackSwan; First edition. p. 102.
- ^ Rajasthan Through the Ages By R.K. Gupta, S.R. Bakshi pg.156
- ^ Fall Of The Mughal Empire- Vol. I (4Th Edn.), Volume 1 By Jadunath Sarkar pg.199–200
- ^ Jodhpur and the Later Mughals, AD 1707–1752, by R. S. Sangwan. Published by Pragati Publications, 2006.
- ^ "Maharaja Bijay Singh". geni_family_tree. Retrieved 2 May 2017.