1508, May 4: Maharana Sanga ascended on Mewar throne.
~1512-13: Maharana Sanga attacked and captured territories of eastern Rajasthan from Sikandar Lodi’s Delhi Sultanate
3. 1515: Maharana Sanga was a proactive strategist. To expand Mewar's influence into Gujarat, he helped its deposed ruler, Rao Raimal, become ruler again.
Muzaffarid Gujarat Sultan, Muzaffar Shah II sent 2 armies to Idar. Both of them were defeated by Idar's army.
4. 1516-18: Fearing Medini Rai's commanding influence in Malwa administration, the Khalji Sultan of Malwa (Mahmud II) fled to Gujarat. The Muzaffarids then attacked & captured Malwa capital, Mandu (Mandavgarh) in 1518.
But hearing of the march of Maharana Sanga, Muzaffar fled!
5. 1518: Maharana Sanga undertook conquest of E.Rajasthan. He captured Gagron & appointed Medini Rai its chief.
He further defeated the armies of Ibrahim Lodi's Delhi Sultanate twice - at Khatoli, & Bari (near Dholpur)
6. 1518-21: Maharana Sanga also defeated the combined armies of Muzaffarid & Khalji Sultanates at Gagron in 1518/9.
But next year, the Muzaffarids provoked Maharana Sanga with an insult. Maharana set off to Idar with 40k cavalry & more infantry.
7. In a *Hindu blitzkrieg*, Maharana won Idar within a day! Muzaffarids fled towards Himmatnagar (~30 kms away); they were besieged & again defeated in battle. Maharana Sanga returned to Mewar after laying waste the Gujarati lands.
Within a week, the Gujarat Sultan was humbled.
8. Muzaffar Shah sent 120k cavalry under Malik Ayaz to invade Mewar. They captured Dungarpur, Banswara & besieged Mandsaur fort.
Maharana tactfully isolated Gujarat by dissuading Malwa Sultan from helping Malik (by releasing his hostage son). Malik left the campaign demoralised.
9. 1524-26: This was a period of political changes around Mewar. The Gujarat Sultan's unhappy prince came to Mewar, then went away to Mewat, & Lodi at Delhi. He became Guj Sultan in Feb 1526.
Apr 1526: Babur defeated Ibrahim Lodi at 1st Battle of Panipat to found Mughal rule
10. At the dawn of 1527, Mewar under Maharana Sanga was at its zenith! (Map 👇)
Within a year of Panipat battle, Mughals reached & occupied upto Bayana, very close to Mewar borders.
11. 1527, Feb 15-21: The Hindu confederacy, numbering over 2 lakh cavalry & infantry, united under Maharana Sanga.
Several illustrious names appear here, uniting under a banner to fight for the Hindu Dharma - Prithviraj Kachwaha, Medini Rai, etc.
12. The strong force besieged Bayana. A Mughal army, sent for relief, was also utterly defeated. They fled to Babur’s camp, & their reports to Babur completely demoralised the Mughal generals & army over the next week.
This was the last great triumph of Maharana Sanga's life.
13. 1527, Mar 16: Battle of Khanwa.
Rajputs charged the Mughal wings, but they were stalemated. Musketeer fire from Mughals kept weakening the Hindu centre. Towards the end of battle, Babur brought in his artillery in the centre, which won Babur the battle in the end.
14. Maharana Sanga was injured in the eye during the battle. He was escorted away from Khanwa by Prithviraj Kachwaha, Rao Maldeo, Rao Akhai Raj Deveda.
1528, May 20: However, Maharana Sanga passed away ~1 year after Khanwa
15. Throughout his whole life, Maharana Sanga was victorious against the Sultans of Gujarat, Malwa & Delhi, even a victory against Mughals!
Historians till now have done great harm to the Hindu collective memory by reducing him only to Battle of Khanwa.
16. Hence, as Hindus, it's our duty to remember, unabashedly celebrate, and get inspired by Maharana Sanga's proactive & courageous life.
1. This is the second-part of the thread-series on the great Maharana Kumbha.
The first part of the series described the initial half of Maharana Kumbha's reign 👇 This part will describe his encounters with Gujarat Sultan & tackling the united invasions.
2. ~1421: Maharana Kumbha was born to Maharana Mokal Singh & Sobhagya Devi.
1433: Kumbhakarna became Maharana at age of 13, after Mahipal Panwar assassinated young Maharana Mokal. Mahipal fled Mewar & took refuge with Malwa’s Sultan Mahmud Khalji aka Alauddin Mahmud Shah-I.
3. Rao Ranmal Rathore was the regent of Mewar during the initial phase of Kumbha’s rule. He destroyed the internal rebels.
1439: Maharana Kumbha told Sultan Mahmud Khalji to deport Mahipal Panwar to Mewar for exacting the revenge of the murd3r of Maharana’s father.
2. After Raja Martanda Varma's ascension to the Travancore throne in 1729, he adopted expansionist policies through the 1730s (interestingly enough, simultaneously as Bajirao Peshwa's policy vs Mughals in the north).
3. The expansion of Travancore into central Kerala threatened the monopoly of the Dutch in black pepper trade. Dutch commander Maten sought to warn Raja Martanda.
But, he received a warning in return, not to interfere in politics of Malabar & stay restricted to trade activities.
2. 1503 CE: Prithviraj Kachwaha ascended the throne of Amer. His reign was marked by stability and progress for the Jaipur kingdom.
3. During his reign, he cultivated marital alliances with many neighbouring Rajput states. This contributed to making Amber a major regional political player.
Even the sister of Maharana Sanga was married to Prithviraj Kachwaha, thereby uniting with Mewar under Hindu banner!
1. #Thread on Peshwa Madhavrao - the Glorious Ornament of Maratha Empire
He became Peshwa this day 260 years ago. This thread forms the 1st part of two-part series on Peshwa Madhavrao.
2. 1745, Feb 16: Peshwa Madhavrao was born.
1761, Jul 20: Madhavrao becomes Peshwa at age of 16, with Raghunathrao (paternal uncle) as co-regent with Gopikabai, Madhavrao’s mother
3. Although Nizam had been humbled at Battle of Udgir (1760), the Maratha setback at Panipat (1761) had emboldened Nizam to invade Pune in Dec 1761. Nizam's army was surrounded by Marathas near Pune, and forced to cede territory to Marathas worth 40 lakhs.
2. Hyder Ali didn’t spare even girls of 4-5 years old, who were purchased on account of beauty to train them in music, dance and to give pleasure.
3. 1763: Hyder Ali fought with Rani of Bednur, Rani Virammaji. When people of Bednur heard about his attack, they fled to jungle. Hyder systematically looted Bednur. His loot was estimated 12 mn sterling.