Rathore dynasty
Rathore dynasty House of Marwar | |
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Jodhpur |
The Rathore dynasty or Rathor dynasty was an Indian dynasty belonging to the Rathore clan of Rajputs that has historically ruled over parts of Rajasthan, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh.[1][2][3][a]
Subclans
Jodha, Vadhel, Jaitawat, Kumpawat, Champawat, Mertiya, Bikawat, Udawat, Karamsot, etc. are the branches or subclans of Rathore Rajputs.[5]
Coverage
This article discusses the "Kanaujiya" Rathores of Marwar and lineages, thereof; Norman Ziegler had noted of 12 other similar branches ("shakhas") of Rathores — Sur, Shir, Kapaliya, Kherada, Abhepura, Jevamt, Vagula, Karaha, Parakra, Ahrao, Jalkheda, and Camdel.[6] Scholarship about those branches are scarce to non-existent.[6]
Origins
Rashtrakuta origin
A section of historians argue for a
Bardic origins
British indologist
Accuracy
These bardic claims of descent have been since deemed to be largely ahistorical by Ziegler.[7][d] Ziegler notes the theme of migrations to be common across Rajput genealogies; a construct, borrowed from literary canon of other regions.[7] Later genealogies of Rathores went as far as to derive origin from Gods of the Hindu pantheon — Indra, Narayana et al.[4][e]
History
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/dc/Rao_Amar_Singh_of_Jodhpur_%286125095904%29.jpg/230px-Rao_Amar_Singh_of_Jodhpur_%286125095904%29.jpg)
Early history
The first Rathore chieftain was
Under Asthan's regime, and that of his successor-rulers, the Rathore territories significantly expanded courtesy confrontations and diplomatic negotiations with other pastoral groups; the primary base shifted multiple times.[4][h] Marital alliances with any warrior-group operating out of Thar were especially favored and they were welcome to be inducted in the Rathore fold.[4][i] Multiple new Rathore branches seem to have split out in these spans.[12][j]
The precise accuracy of events which allegedly occurred across these spans is questionable and may not be relied upon except for a generic reconstruction.
Sovereignty
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/44/H0900-L185162829.jpg/220px-H0900-L185162829.jpg)
In 1453, Rao Jodha regained Marwar, and expanded his territories by entering into multiple alliances with fellow Rajputs; the Jodha line was established with his consecration of a new capital at Jodhpur. Rao Jodha was successful in annexing several territories from the Delhi Sultanate, due to which the Rathores of Marwar became the most powerful kingdom in Rajputana during his reign. [15] Among his sons, Rao Bika found a new state in Bikaner in 1465; he and his successors would go on to expand territories therefrom, adopting similar tactics.[4] This Bikawat branch became the new bearer of Rathore legacy, even bringing Gahdavala-time emblems and heirlooms from Marwar.[4] Another of Jodha's sons Rao Varsingh found a new state at Merto in 1462, establishing the Mertiyo branch.[4][16]
All these while, multiple matrimonial and military alliances with local Islamic kingdoms; the Delhi Sultanate have been noted; Hindu-Muslim relations were largely fraternal.[6][m]
Mughal period
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f5/Young_Jodh_bai_with_Jahangir.jpg/220px-Young_Jodh_bai_with_Jahangir.jpg)
The situations deteriorated once
This span of cohabitation led to the introduction of strict endogamy into Rathore folds and hypergamy with Mughals.[4] It was also under the Mughals, that bardic genealogies were crafted to present themselves as worthy appointees of the Mughals and distinguish themselves from other "once-fraternal" communities, thereby staking a claim to power irrespective of temporal situations.[4][7][9] Also, by this time, the nomadic memories were better suppressed and the Rathores had themselves rebranded as the elite "protectors" of local cattle-rearers; in a couple of centuries, figures from early Rathore polity would be deified.[4]
Many scions of the Rathore clan were able to establish their own kingdoms during the Mughal reign. Barbara Ramusack notes how a 23-year-old Ratan Singh Rathore, who was from a younger branch of the Jodhpur ruling family, was able to rise in rank by fighting against a mad elephant in Delhi. Shah Jahan was so impressed by his valour that he enlisted Ratan Singh in his army. Ratan Singh was able to rise to a rank of 3,000, received the Mahi-Maratib and Jagirs in Malwa, where he founded his own kingdom in Ratlam. The dynasty started by Ratan Singh would further breakaway and form the kingdoms of Sailana and Sitamau.[17]
During Aurangzeb's reign major rebellions would break out resulting in a 30 year war between the Mughals and the Rathores. The rebellion would continue until Bahadur Shah I's reign. Durgadas Rathore played an instrumental role in protecting the Rathore dynasty of Jodhpur during this war.[18][19]
British period
The Rathore ruler of Jodhpur
During the 20th century the lower castes in India tried to uplift their social standing by adopting surnames of other castes. The Rajput clan name "Rathore" was adopted as a surname by the Teli community in 1931, who started calling themselves Vaishyas Rathore for caste upliftment.[23] During the same period of British Raj, the Banjaras began styling themselves as Chauhan and Rathor Rajputs.[24]
Princely states
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/af/CoA_Jodhpur_1893.png/109px-CoA_Jodhpur_1893.png)
The various cadet branches of the Rathore clan gradually spread to encompass all of Marwar and later founded states in Central India and Gujarat. The Marwar Royal family is considered the head house of Rathores. At the time of India's independence in 1947, the princely states ruled by various branches of the Rathore clan included:[25][1]
- Jodhpur(Marwar) in present-day Rajasthan, founded in 1226 by Rao Siha.
- Bikaner in present-day Rajasthan, founded in 1465 by Rao Bikaji (son of Rao Jodha).
- Kishangarh in present-day Rajasthan, founded in 1611 by Maharaja Kishan Singh.
- Idar in present-day Gujarat, founded in 1257 by Rao Sonag, reconquered in 1729 by Rao Anand Singh.
- Ratlam in present-day Madhya Pradesh, founded in 1651 by Maharaja Ratan Singh.
- Jhabua in present-day Madhya Pradesh, founded in 1584 by Raja Keshav Das.
- Sitamau in present-day Madhya Pradesh, founded 1701 by Raja Kesho Das.
- Sailana in present-day Madhya Pradesh, founded in 1730 by Raja Jai Singh.
- Alirajpur in present-day Madhya Pradesh, founded in 1437 by Raja Anand Deo.
Notes
- ^ Alternative spellings include Rathor.[4]
- ^ Nainsi's was the Chief Revenue Officer of Jaswant Singh I, during the time of compilation and his' is the oldest Khyat of the region.[7] Other written sources include the much formal "Marvar Ri Parganam Ri Vigat", compiled by Nainsi.[9] Both does not record any entry later than 1666, his last year in service.[9]
- ^ It may not be assumed that prior to Nainsi, the literary worlds of Thar were barren.[6] A vast corpus of literature — vamsavalis, bat, and pidhavali — were maintained and transmitted across centuries, prim. in oral forms, by specialists from lowers castes.[6] Even the relatively newer forms of Khyat or Vigat were probably there for about a century before Nainsi.
- ^ An inscription in Bithoor commemorates the death of one Siho in 1273 CE, noting him to be the son of Set Kanwar; there is no mention of any Gahadavala descent.[7] Rao Jaitsi ro Chhand, a Charan poetry composed about a century earlier in 1535 had started with Salkha as the first of Rathores.[4]
- ^ "Rathodam Ri Vamsavali", edited out of three undated manuscripts (prob. 18th c.), mentions the earliest ancestor of Rathores to be one Raja Rastevswar, a Suryavanshi Rajput in the Treta Yuga.[12] He took birth from his father's spine ("ratho") and with the blessings of Rsi Gotam, established a sovereign state from Kannauj.[12] Even Rama, from the Dyapara Yuga, is noted to be a Rathore![12]
- ^ For context of production (and circulation), see section on history.
- ^ An inscription in Bithoor commemorates the death of one Siho in 1273 CE, noting him to be the son of Set Kanwar; there is no mention of any Gahadavala descent.[7] Rao Jaitsi ro Chhand, a Charan poetry composed about a century earlier in 1535 had started with Salkha as the first of Rathores.[4]
- ^ After Asthan, came in order — Raipal, Kanhadde, Jalhansi, Chhada, Teedo, Salkha, Malo, Chunda, and Rinmal.[4] A fair share of internecine rivalry was present since Malo's ascension to the throne.[4]
- ^ Ziegler doubts that these rulers (till Raso/Chunda) were extrapolated from popular memory and incorporated into Rathore genealogy; very little exists in the form of historical evidence.[7][12] David Henige also points out that Nainsi accommodates 10 kings within a span of 74 years, which is quite improbable unless plagued with telescoping.[4]
- ^ All of these branches — Sindhal, Uhar, Petar, Mulu etc. — reigned over different areas of Marwar.[12]
- ^ The earlier periods are referred to in Rajput histories as period of "Vikhau". Contemporary anxieties of caste-pollution and unstable hierarchy are projected back onto these spans.
- ^ Ziegler notes that the chronicles become reasonably reliable since mid-fifteenth century and is supported by epigraphical evidence.[7] There is a strong probability that Nainsi copied off some parts from much older sources without attribution.[9] However, Nainsi did add anachronistic elements to his narratives.[9]
- ^ At the same time, desecration of temples, and forced conversions have been noted. Some fled Marwar to avoid Muslim subjugation.
References
- ^ a b Dhananajaya Singh (1994). The House of Marwar. Lotus Collection, Roli Books. p. 13.
He was the head of the Rathore clan of Rajputs, a clan which besides Jodhpur had ruled over Bikaner, Kishengarh, Idar, Jhabhua, Sitamau, Sailana, Alirajpur and Ratlam, all States important enough to merit gun salutes in the British system of protocol. These nine Rathore States collectively brought to India territory not less than 60,000 square miles in area.
- ISBN 978-81-250-1306-8. Archivedfrom the original on 21 June 2024. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
- ISBN 0226742210. Archivedfrom the original on 25 February 2021. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
- ^ ISBN 9781139946186. Archivedfrom the original on 9 July 2021. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
- ISBN 978-1-10708-031-7. Archivedfrom the original on 21 June 2024. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
- ^ a b c d e Ziegler, Norman (1973). Action power and service in Rajasthani culture: a social history of the Rajputs of middle period Rajasthan (Thesis). University of Chicago.
- ^ from the original on 9 July 2021. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
- ^ ISBN 978-90-04-30056-9. Archivedfrom the original on 3 November 2020. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
- ^ JSTOR 10.3998/mpub.19305.9.
- ISBN 978-81-224-1198-0.
- ^ Niyogi, Roma (1959). The hsotory of the Gahadvala dynasty. Calcutta oriental books. pp. 30–31. Archived from the original on 1 June 2024. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
- ^ JSTOR 10.3998/mpub.19305.12.
- ^ Saran, Richard Davis (1978). Conquest and Colonization: Rajputs and Vasis in Middle Period Marvar (Thesis). University of Michigan.
- ISBN 9789004300569. Archivedfrom the original on 21 June 2024. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
- ISBN 9781107080317. Archivedfrom the original on 21 June 2024. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
- JSTOR 10.3998/mpub.19305.13.
- ISBN 9781139449083. Archivedfrom the original on 8 April 2023. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
- ISBN 9788129115010.
- ISBN 9788125003335. Archivedfrom the original on 5 April 2023. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
- ^ Hooja, Rima. A History of Rajasthan. Rupa Publication. p. 833.
- ^ Dhananajaya Singh (1994). The House of Marwar. Lotus Collection, Roli Books. p. 117-119.
Ascetics from all over India who flocked to Maan Singh drawn by tales of his generosity. It is save to assume, and the worried British certainly did, that many of these fakirs were spies and messengers. Most interesting of this traffic in subterfuge are letters to and from Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the lion of Punjab. The Sikh had a healthy respect for the Rathore as his letters reveal....Part of a bigger larger anti-British cabal....King of Afghanistan and the Russians....Jodhpur's master-spy Dhumdas, however was arrested in 1838...Ranjit Singh died in 1839. In September of the same year....the company's force marched on and occupied Jodhpur....Maan Singh left Mehrangarh, donned the garb of a mendicant and renounced material life. Weak and ill, he died on 5 September 1843
- ISBN 978-81-291-0890-6. Archivedfrom the original on 4 April 2023. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
- ISBN 8170998670. Archivedfrom the original on 2 May 2021. Retrieved 28 August 2020.
- ISBN 9781527518568. Archivedfrom the original on 7 April 2023. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
- ^ Indian Princely Medals: A Record of the Orders, Decorations, and Medals Archived 21 June 2024 at the Wayback Machine by Tony McClenaghan, pg 179
Further reading
- Gopinath Sharma (1970). Rajasthan Studies. Agra, India: Lakshmi Narain Agarwal. p. 201. OCLC 137196.
- ISBN 978-81-250-0333-5.
- Niyogi, Roma (1959). The History of the Gāhaḍavāla Dynasty. Oriental. OCLC 5386449.
- ISBN 978-0-14-196655-7.
- ISBN 978-93-80607-19-1.