Udai Singh II
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| Maharana Udai Singh | |
|---|---|
| The ruler of Mewar | |
 | |
| Reign | 1540 - 1572 (32 years) |
| Coronation | 1540,Chittor |
| Predecessor | Vikramaditya Singh Bhadouriya |
| Successor | Maharana Pratap |
| Born | 4 August 1522 Chittorgarh Fort, Rajasthan, India |
| Died | 28 February 1572 Gogunda, Rajasthan, India |
| Consort | Maharani Jaivantabai[1] |
| Wife |
|
| Issue | Pratap Singh Shakti Singh Kunwar Vikramdev Jagmal Sagar Singh Ram Singh Hari Singh Chand Kanwar Maan Kanwar (Over 56 sons and 22 daughters) |
| House | Bhadouriya |
| Father | Rana Sanga |
| Mother | Maharani Karnavati Hada (Chauhan) |
| Religion | Hinduism |
Udai Singh II (August 4, 1522 – February 28, 1572) was the Maharana of Mewar and the founder of the city of Udaipur in the present day Rajasthan state of India. He was the 53rd ruler of the Mewar Dynasty. He was the fourth son of Maharana Sangram Singh (Rana Sanga) [3] and Rani Karnavati, a princess of Bundi.
Early Life, Marriage And Parenthood
Udai Singh was born in Chittor. In August, 1522. after the death of his father, Maharana Sangram Singh,[4] he was succeeded by his eldest surviving son, Maharana Ratan Singh. Ratan Singh was assassinated in 1531. He was succeeded by his brother Maharana Vikramaditya Singh. During his reign, when the Turkic Sultan of Gujarat Bahadur Shah sacked Chittor in 1534, Udai Singh was sent to Bundi for safety.[3] In 1537, Banbir killed Vikramaditya and usurped the throne. He tried to kill Udai Singh also, but Udai's nurse Panna Dhai sacrificed her own son 'Chandan' to save him from his uncle Banbir and took him to Kumbhalgarh. She did not ask for anything in return either. She started living in Bundi and did not allow Udai Singh to come and meet her. He lived in secret in Kumbhalgarh for two years, disguised as a nephew of the governor Asha Shah Depura(Maheshwari).
In 1540, he was crowned in Kumbhalgarh by the nobles of Mewar. His eldest son Maharana Pratap from his first wife, Maharani Jaivantabai Songara[daughter of Akhey Raj Songara of Jalore], was born in the same year.[5] He had twenty two wives and over 56 sons and 22 daughters. His second wife, Sajjabai Solankini gave birth to his son Shakti, Sagar Singh and Vikram Dev. Dheerbai Bhattiyani was his favourite wife and was the mother of his son Jagmal Singh and daughters Chand kanwar and Maan Kanwar. His fourth wife was Rani Veerbai Jhaala daughter of Rana Jaith Singh of Kherwa.
The reign
In 1562, he gave refuge to Baz Bahadur of Malwa. Using this as a pretext, Akbar attacked Mewar in October,1563. On October 23, 1567 Akbar formed his camp near Udaipur. Akbar had thought of a tricky plan to kill Udai Singh.He sent his soldier Alim Khan to take a message to Chittor that the Emperor wants peace and also wants to meet him personally.Pratap,Jaimal and Kalla prevented the king to go and meet Akbar but Udai Singh didn't listen and went to meet him.Akbar had kept a gunman who had to hide behind a bush and shoot Udai Singh to death.Udai Singh approached Akbar.Pratap had spotted the gunman and threw a spear towards the gunman.The spear pierced the gunman's body.Furious Udai Singh started fighting with Akbar in which Akbar ordered an archer to shoot Udai Singh.The quick arrow slit Udai's throat.When the kingdom and the royal family got news about the death of Udai everyone was shocked.Just then,Udai Singh appeared with Pratap in the court.The nobles were surprised to see their king alive.They asked him and then Udai replied "Pratap captured me and locked me in a room.He sent a lookalike soldier to Akbar.The soldier who died was a lookalike.According to Kaviraj Shyamaldas, Udai Singh called a council of war. The nobles advised him to take refuge along with the princes in the hills, leaving a garrison at Chittor. Udai Singh retired to Gogunda (which later became his temporary capital) leaving Chittor in the hands of his loyal chieftains Jaimal and Patta. Akbar captured Chittor after a long siege on February 25, 1568.[6][7] He later shifted his capital to Udaipur. He died in 1572 in Gogunda. Before his death, he nominated his fourth son Jagmal as his successor under the influence of his favourite queen and Jagmal's mother Rani Bhattiyani. But after his death, the nobles of Mewar prevented Jagmal from succeeding and placed Maharana Pratap Singh on the throne on March 1, 1572.[5] qetfhty hgty tghghht
References
- ^ Rana, Bhawan Singh (2004). Maharana Pratap. Diamond Pocket Books. pp. 28, 105. ISBN 9788128808258.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Jeevat kanwarwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ a b Tod, James (1829, reprint 2002). Annals & Antiquities of Rajasthan, Vol.I, Rupa, New Delhi, ISBN 81-7167-366-X, p.240-52
- ^ Mahajan V.D. (1991, reprint 2007) History of Medieval India, Part II, S. Chand, New Delhi, ISBN 81-219-0364-5, p.11
- ^ a b Tod, James (1829, reprint 2002). Annals & Antiquities of Rajas'than, Vol.I, Rupa, New Delhi, ISBN 81-7167-366-X, p.252-64
- ^ Majumdar, R.C. (ed.) (2007). The mughal Empire, Mumbai: Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, ISBN 81-7276-407-1, pp.332-5
- ^ Mahajan V.D. (1991, reprint 2007) History of Medieval India, Part II, S. Chand, New Delhi, ISBN 81-219-0364-5, pp.74-6