Rana Sanga
Maharana Sangram Singh Sisodia (12 April 1482 – 30 January 1528)[1] commonly known as Rana Sanga, was an Indian ruler of Mewar and head of a powerful Rajput confederacy in Rajputana during the 16th century.[2] Sanga succeeded his father, Rana Raimal, as king of Mewar in 1508. He fought against the Afghan Lodhi dynasty of Delhi Sultanate, and later against the Turkic Mughals of Ferghana.
| Maharana Sanga | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | |||||
| Rana of Mewar | |||||
| Reign | 1508–1528 | ||||
| Predecessor | Rana Raimal | ||||
| Successor | Ratan Singh II | ||||
| Born | 12 April 1482 Chittor, Mewar | ||||
| Died | 30 January 1528 (aged 45) Kalpi | ||||
| Spouse | Rani Karnavati | ||||
| Issue | Bhoj Raj Ratan Singh II Vikramaditya Singh Udai Singh II | ||||
| |||||
| House | Sisodia | ||||
| Father | Rana Raimal | ||||
| Sisodia Rajputs of Mewar II (1326–1884) | |
|---|---|
| Hammir Singh | (1326–1364) |
| Kshetra Singh | (1364–1382) |
| Lakha Singh | (1382–1421) |
| Mokal Singh | (1421–1433) |
| Rana Kumbha | (1433–1468) |
| Udai Singh I | (1468–1473) |
| Rana Raimal | (1473–1508) |
| Rana Sanga | (1508–1527) |
| Ratan Singh II | (1528–1531) |
| Vikramaditya Singh | (1531–1536) |
| Vanvir Singh | (1536–1540) |
| Udai Singh II | (1540–1572) |
| Pratap Singh I | (1572–1597) |
| Amar Singh I | (1597–1620) |
| Karan Singh II | (1620–1628) |
| Jagat Singh I | (1628–1652) |
| Raj Singh I | (1652–1680) |
| Jai Singh | (1680–1698) |
| Amar Singh II | (1698–1710) |
| Sangram Singh II | (1710–1734) |
| Jagat Singh II | (1734–1751) |
| Pratap Singh II | (1751–1754) |
| Raj Singh II | (1754–1762) |
| Ari Singh II | (1762–1772) |
| Hamir Singh II | (1772–1778) |
| Bhim Singh | (1778–1828) |
| Jawan Singh | (1828–1838) |
| Sardar Singh | (1828–1842) |
| Swarup Singh | (1842–1861) |
| Shambhu Singh | (1861–1874) |
| Sajjan Singh | (1874–1884) |
| Fateh Singh | (1884–1930) |
| Bhupal Singh | (1930—1955) |
Early life and asscession
Rana Sanga was born in a Hindu Rajput family on 12 April 1482 to Rana Raimal. He lost his one eye in combat with his elder brother Prithviraj. It was during his rule later when Mewar reached its pinnacle in power and prosperity.[3]
Life and reign
Rana Sanga was a grandson of Rana Kumbha. Sanga became the ruler of Mewar after a battle for succession with his brothers.[4]
As ruler of Mewar he united the warring clans of Rajputana and formed a powerful confederacy, uniting the Rajputs after 300 years. The Rana expanded the boundaries of his Kingdom through war and diplomacy with the goal of forming an empire which was governed by a confederacy of ethnic Indian kings, irrespective of their religion.
Sanga was said to have fought a 100 battles and lost his eye, arm and leg in the various struggles.[5] Some of the Major battles that he fought were:
Struggle with Babur
Following the victory of Babur over the Lodhi Dynasty, Sangram Singh gathered a coalition of Rajputs from the kingdoms of Rajasthan. They were joined by Muslim Rajputs from Mewat and Afghans under Mahmud Lodhi, the son of Sikandar Lodhi of Delhi. This alliance fought against Babur in the Battle of Khanwa to expel Babur from India. The Rana attacked the Mughal advance guard on 21 February 1527 and completely decimated it. Reinfocements sent by Babur met the same fate.
The battle of Khanwa turned into a disaster for the Rana when Silhadi defected; the Mughal victory was decisive and turned out to become Rana Sangas first and last defeat. Rana Sanga wanted to prepare another army and fight Babur. However, on 30 January 1528, Sanga died in Chittor, apparently poisoned by his own chiefs who held his plans of renewing the fight with Babur to be suicidal.[6]
It is suggested that had there not been the cannons of Babur, Sanga might have achieved a historic victory against Babur.[7] The historian Pradeep Barua notes that Babur's cannons had put an end to the outdated trends in Indian warfare.[7]
Legacy
Sanga was last medieval ruler to unite all the powers under one flag to fight the invaders by uniting all Rajput states and fought against foreign invaders despite loosing one eye, one hand and with close to 80 wounds on his body.[8] Though He lost to Babur in his last battle, his courage continued to inspire many including his grandson Maharana Pratap.[9]
References
- "All you need to know about the fierce Rajput king Rana Sanga". India Today. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
- Sen, Sailendra (2013). A Textbook of Medieval Indian History. Primus Books. pp. 116–117. ISBN 978-9-38060-734-4.
- "Maharana Sanga; the Hindupat, the last great leader of the Rajput race : Sarda, Har Bilas, Diwan Bahadur, 1867-1955 : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming". Internet Archive. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
- Chandra, Satish (2004) [1997]. Medieval India: From Sultanat to the Mughals-Delhi Sultanat (1206-1526). 1 (Revised ed.). Har-Anand Publications. p. 224. ISBN 978-8-12411-064-5.
- A Comprehensive History of India: Comprehensive history of medieval India p107.
- Chandra, Satish (2006). Medieval India: From Sultanat to the Mughals (1206-1526). 2. Har-Anand Publications.
- Barua, Pradeep (2005). The State at War in South Asia. University of Nebraska Press. pp. 33–34. ISBN 978-0-80321-344-9.
- "Maharana Sanga; the Hindupat, the last great leader of the Rajput race : Sarda, Har Bilas, Diwan Bahadur, 1867-1955 : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming". Internet Archive. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
- "All you need to know about the fierce Rajput king Rana Sanga". India Today. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
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Bibliography
Bahadur), Har Bilas Sarda (Diwan (1970). Maharana Sāngā, the Hindupat: The Last Great Leader of the Rajput Race. Kumar Bros.