Kingdom of Mewar

The Kingdom of Mewar was an independent Hindu kingdom that existed in the Rajputana region of the Indian subcontinent and later became a dominant state in medieval India. The kingdom was initially founded and ruled by the Guhila dynasty, followed by its cadet branch, the Sisodia Dynasty.

The earliest kingdom was centered around the south-central part of Rajasthan, state of India. It was bordered by the Aravali Range to the northwest, Ajmer to the north, Gujarat, Vagad and Malwa regions to the south and the Hadoti region to the east.

The house of Mewar rose to prominence in the reign of Bappa Rawal (7th century) known for his involvement in thwarting Arab incursions in India. Over time, it became vassal to Imperial Pratihara, Paramaras and then to Chahamanas. In the early 10th century, Mewar emerged as an independent state, actively battling neighboring powers and confronting the expansion of Delhi Sultanate until the fall of its capital Chittorgarh in 1303 against the latter, leading to the annihilation of Guhila Dynasty.

The Sisodia dynasty, a junior branch of Guhilas, re-occupied Mewar in 1326, ushering in a golden age characterized by military prowess and territorial expansion. Under the reigns of Maharana Kumbha and his grandson Maharana Sanga, Mewar achieved victories against Islamic States of Malwa, Gujarat, and Delhi particularly in Mewar-Malwa conflicts and Mewar- Delhi conflicts. It also successfully fought off and vassalized neighboring Hindu kingdoms. At its zenith under Rana Sanga, it controlled large parts of Northern India, emerging as a contender for hegemony in the region in opposition to the Delhi Sultanate under the Lodi dynasty.However following the Timurid prince Babur's conquest of the latter, Mewar suffered a grave defeat against the nascent Mughal Empire in the Battle of Khanwa, which led to a rapid decline of its power. Nonetheless, it continued to resist Mughal expansion, most notably under Maharana Pratap, though it ultimately became a tributary state with a significant degree of autonomy. Sovereign leaders like Raj Singh and his successors led rebellions culminating in de facto independence for Mewar, notably Rathore Rebellion and Rajput-Mughal war (1708–1710). Eventually, falling under Maratha Empire's influence and accepting British suzerainty in 1818, Mewar remained a princely state until it joined the Union of India in 1947.

Mewar's legacy includes its prolonged resistance against Islamic invasion and traditions like Jauhar (self-immolation) witnessed during the time of defeats. Its imperial era is notable for having reestablished Hindu sovereignty over a large portion of Northern India following a long period of Islamic domination, a feat not replicated until the Maratha Empire. While primarily a Hindu state, the kingdom also patronized Jainism and Buddhism. Among Mewar's UNESCO World Heritage Sites are Kumbhalgarh and Chittorgarh, described variously as the jewels of Rajput architect in India. Udaipur, also known as the city of lakes and one of the largest cities of the North India was also founded by the Rana of Mewar, Udai Singh II.