Mewar–Malwa conflicts

The Mewar–Malwa conflicts were a series of wars between the Kingdom of Mewar and the Sultanate of Malwa. The conflict erupted due to mutual territorial expansion triggered by both sides on each other. The war was fought in the modern-day regions of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. The Rana branch of the Guhilas, following their successful recovery of the Rajput stronghold of Chittorgarh and the entire region of Mewar alongside Rajputana after the Battle of Singoli,^[2] embarked on an ambitious expansion at the cost of their neighbouring kingdoms. On the other side, with the invasion of Timur, the Delhi Sultanate grew weak and many of its provinces gained independence which included Malwa, adjacent to Mewar.^[3]

Mewar–Malwa conflicts
Location Rajasthan Madhya Pradesh Territorial changes Hadoti, Gagron Fort, Sarangpur, Raisen, Chanderi, Bhilsa, Kalpi, and Ranthambore captured by Mewar.[1]
Belligerents
Kingdom of Mewar	Malwa Sultanate
Commanders and leaders
Kshetra Singh Rana Kumbha Ranmal Rana Raimal Prithviraj Sisodia Rana Sanga Medini Rai Silhadi Ratan Singh Chananji Khidiya Ajja Jhala Gajadhar Singh  †	Hoshang Shah Mahmud Khalji Ghiyas-ud-Din Shah Zafar Khan Nasir-ud-Din Shah Muzaffar Shah II Ashaf Khan Shihab-ud-Din Mahmud Shah II

The conflict started in the reign of Rana Kshetra and Dilawar Khan Ghori at Bakrole.^[4] Further carried out by Rana Kumbha with Sultan Mahmud Khalji in the Battle of Sarangpur, Siege of Gagron, and battles of Mandalgarh and Banas.^[5] The next rulers of Mewar and Malwa Rana Raimal and Ghiyas-ud-Din Shah fought the battle of Mandalgarh.^[6] The last battle drawn between these states was under the Reign of Rana Sanga and Shihab-ud-Din Mahmud Shah II named as the Battle of Gagron and Siege of Mandsuar.^[7]

Background

Mewar

The Kingdom of Mewar rose to prominence between the 14th and 16th centuries after the battle of SIngoli and took Mahmud (might be identified with Sultan Mohommad Bin Tuqlaq) prisoner. Capturing Idar and laying its sovereignty over Badnore, Bakrole, Ajmer, Mandalgarh, Jahazpur, Hadoti, and Chappan. The Kingdom was an expanding power that was looking forward to expanding its territories on the verge of its neighbouring polities.^[8][9]

Malwa

After the fall of the Parmara Kingdom in 1305 against the Delhi Sultanate, Malwa was annexed and controlled by the latter, until the invasion of Mongol Conqueror Timur. It was due to Timur's invasion that the governor of Malwa Dilawar Khan declared Malwa independent of the Delhi Sultanate and made his capital Dhar. It remained independent till 1562 after which Mughals conquered it.^[3][10]

Conflict

The first battle drawn between the Kingdom of Mewar and Malwa Sultanate was in the reign of Rana Kshetra, son and successor of Rana Hammir who after consolidating his power in Mewar started to take the key points of eastern Rajasthan. He captured Ajmer, Jahazpur, re-annexed Mandalgarh, Mandsaur, and the whole of Chappan to Mewar.^[8] It was at that time when Dilawar Khan Ghori attacked him at Bakrole(the first Sultan of Malwa). The battle ended with the victory of the latter and the complete retreat of the Malwa army.^[4] The conflict was further carried out by Rana Kumbha in 1437 at the decisive clash of Sarangpur, where he not only secured victory over the Malwa army but also took Sultan Mahmud Khalji as a prisoner for six months.^[11][12] He also captured Sarangpur and some other territories of Malwa. Mahmud was later freed as Kumbha was not willing to encourage neighbouring sultanates to attack him on the grounds of the captivity of the Sultan.^[13] Mahmud to avenge his defeat fought with Kumbha again at the battles of Mandalgarh and Banas between 1443 and 1446, both of which turned out to be indecisive.^[14] In the coming years, Kingdom of Mewar suffered setbacks as Sultan Mahmud Khilji was able to raid as far as inland in Ajmer and succeeded in establishing his governor there as the Kingdom was already busy in continuous battles against the Sultans of Gujarat and Nagore in the meantime it also had to contend with Rathors of Marwar. However, Rana Kumbha tenaciously repulsed all the setbacks and reconquered Ajmer, and was able to hold onto the majority of his hard-won conquests. Only the border area of Ranthambore, nestled in the rugged region of Hadoti, eluded his grasp.^[15] In 1468 Rana Kumbha was assassinated by his oldest son Uday Singh I which caused a period of political instability in Mewar. Taking advantage of this vacuum the next Sultan of Malwa Ghiyas-ud-Din Shah captured Ajmer and Sheopur. He also supported Surajmal (son of Udai Singh I) to become the Rana of Mewar as Uday himself died of a lightning strike and another son of Kumbha named Raimal was crowned as the King. At this time Malwa had an upper hand against Mewar.^[16] However, Sultan's ambitions were thwarted when he encountered setbacks during the Battle of Mandalgarh in 1473, resulting in the loss of Sheopur ^[17] Ajmer too was later conquered by Kunwar Prithviraja, a son of Raimal.^[18]

The conflict entered its last phase when Rana Sanga ascended the throne of Mewar in 1508 and supported the cause of a rebellious feudal lord, Medani Rai, who then was serving the Sultan of Malwa Shihab-ud-Din Mahmud Shah II, but Rana during his first invasion of Malwa was driven out by the combined armies of Malwa and Gujarat. In an attempt to make Rana pay for his previous invasion, the Sultan of Malwa launched an assault on Gagron. This led to the historic Battle of Gagron in 1519, a conflict that resulted in the Sultan's complete annihilation and capture, and the near-total loss of his Malwa territory.^[19][20]

Aftermath

After the victory of Rana Sanga in the battle of Gagraun and restoring Hindu rule in Malwa, Sanga ordered Medini Rai to remove the Jizya tax from the Hindus of the region. Rai made Chanderi his capital and became king of Malwa. At the same time, another Rajput Chief Silhaditya Tomar established himself as master of the Raisen and Sarangpur region. According to historian Satish Chandra, these events took place between 1518 and 1519.^[21]

List of Battles

Name of Conflict(time)	Maharana/ Commander	Sultan/Commander	Outcome
Battle of Sarangpur (1437)	Maharana Kumbha	Mahmud Khalji	Mewar Victory Sarangpur, Hadoti and Gagron Captured. Sultan Mahmud was taken prisoner for six months.[11]
Battle of Mandalgarh (1443)	Maharana Kumbha	Mahmud Khalji	Inconclusive[14]
Siege of Gagron (1444)	Palan Singh and Dahir Singh	Mahmud Khalji	Malwa Victory Gagron reaptured[14]
Battle of Banas (1446)	Maharana Kumbha	Mahmud Khalji	Inconclusive[14]
Siege of Mandasaur (1447)	Maharana Kumbha	Mahmud Khalji	Mewar Victory Mandasur successfully defended.[14]
Conquest of Ajmer	Gajadhar Singh  †	Mahmud Khalji	Malwa Victory
Conquest of Mandalgarh	Uparamal  †	Mahmud Khalji	Malwa Victory
Battle of Kumbhalgarh (1459)	Maharana Kumbha	Ghiyath Shah	Mewar victory[22]
Siege of Chittor (1473)	Maharana Raimal	Mahmud Khalji	Mewar Victory[17]
Battle of Mandalgarh (1473)	Maharana Raimal	Mahmud Khalji	Mewar Victory Kherabad captured by Mewar.[17]
Battle of Gagron (1519)	Maharana Sanga	Shihab-ud-Din Mahmud Shah II	Mewar Victory Raisen, Chanderi, Bhilsa, Kalpi and Ranthambore captured by Mewar[23]
Siege of Mandsaur (1520)	Maharana Sanga	Shihab-ud-Din Mahmud Shah II	Mewar Victory[24]

References

1. Rima Hooja (2006). A History of Rajasthan. Rupa and Company. pp. Page no- 340 and 450. ISBN 978-81-291-0890-6.
2. Majumdar, R.C (1960). A History and Culture of Indian People (2nd ed.). Bharatiya Vidya Bhawan. pp. Pg- 70 "The story of Hammira's success against the Muslims cannot, therefore, be regarded as altogether baseless. We may accept the conclusion of Ojha that not only Mewar but nearly the whole of Rajputana became practically independent of Delhi Sultanate, ".
3. Sarda, Har Bilas (1917). Maharana Kumbha: sovereign, soldier, scholar. University of California Libraries. Ajmer, Scottish Mission Industries co.
4. Mankekar, D. r (1976). Mewar Saga.
5. Sarda, Har Bilas (1917). Maharana Kumbha: sovereign, soldier, scholar. University of California Libraries. Ajmer, Scottish Mission Industries co.
6. Majumdar, R.C (1967). History and Culture of the Indian People, Volume 06, The Delhi Sultanate. Public Resource. Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan.
7. Hooja, Rima (2006). A History of Rajasthan. Rupa & Company. pp. Page no 450. ISBN 978-81-291-0890-6.
8. Hooja, Rima (2006). A History of Rajasthan. Rupa & Company. pp. Pg- 332 "Hammir’s son and successor, Kheta, or Kshetra Singh (r. 1364-1382), successfully annexed areas like Ajmer and Jahazpur from Lilla Pathan, and added the whole of the Chappan plains territory to his patrimony. Kheta re-annexed Dusore and Mandalgarh, which had been occupied by the Hada Chauhans, and forced the subjugation of the Hada Chauhans". ISBN 978-81-291-0890-6.
9. Hooja, Rima (2006). A History Of Rajasthan. Rupa & Company. pp. Pg- 332 "Following Rana Kheta’s death in 1382, Lakha (r.1382-1421), the eldest of his seven legitimate sons succeeded to the throne of Mewar. Tod tells us that Lakha’s “first act was the entire subjugation of the mountainous region of Merwarra, and the destruction of its chief stronghold, Beratgurh, where he erected Badnore”". ISBN 978-81-291-0890-6.
10. Majumdar, R.C (1967). History and Culture of the Indian People, Volume 06, The Delhi Sultanate. Public Resource. Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan.
11. Hooja, Rima (2006). A History of Rajasthan. Rupa & Company. pp. Pg-526-529"The Rana's promise of help to Umar Khan against Mahmud Khilji, the garrisoning of Mewars frontier outposts, and Kumbha's assertion of overlordship over Hadauti, Mandsaur, Gagron....The armies of Mewar and Malwa clashed at Sarangpur in 1437. The latter army was conclusively routed here... Furthermore, the Rana laid siege to Mandu, the capital of Malwa, and carried off its Sultan Mahmud Khilji...Mahmud was kept prisoner in Chittor for six months before being granted his freedom and an honourable return to his own kingdom. This act of generosity has been favourably commented upon by Abul Fazl.". ISBN 978-81-291-0890-6.
12. Mankrekar, DR. (1976). Mewar Saga. pp. Pg- 30 "When Sultan Mohmad of Malwa refused to surrender to him a fugitive, Mahipal Panwar, one of the assassins of Maharana Mokul, Kumbha marched on Mandu (1437). The Rana’s army met the sultan’s forces near Sarangpur, between Chittor and Mandsaur. The engagement that followed saw Mohmad Khilji routed and, according to the Kumbhalgarh Inscription, Kumbha “captured countless Muslim women and burnt down Sarangpur.” The sultan shut himself up in the fort of Mandu. The Rana stormed the fort and took Mohmad Khilji prisoner, while his army fled in all directions. The sultan was brought to Chittor as prisoner, ".
13. Hooja, Rima (2006). A History of Rajasthan. Rupa and Co. pp. Page no- 340. ISBN 978-81-291-0890-6.
14. Day, Upendra Nath (1978). Mewar Under Maharana Kumbha, 1433 A.D.-1468 A.D. Rajesh Publications.
15. Chandra, Satish (2004). Medieval India: From Sultanat to the Mughals-Delhi Sultanat (1206-1526 ). Har-Anand Publications. pp. Pg-223 "The conflict with Gujarat and Malwa occupied Kumbha throughout his reign. During most of the time, the Rana also had to contend with the Rathors of Marwar. Although sorely pressed from all sides the Rana was largely able to maintain his position in Mewar. Kumbhalgarh was besieged a couple of times by Gujarat forces while Mahmud Khalji was able to raid as far inland as Ajmer and install his own governor there. The Rana was able to repulse these attacks and retain possession of most of his conquests with the exception of some of the outlying areas such as Ranthambore.". ISBN 978-81-241-1064-5.
16. Sarda, Har Bilas (1918). Maharana Sanga; the Hindupat, the last great leader of the Rajput race. University of California Libraries. Ajmer, Scottish Mission Industries.
17. Sarda, Harbilas (1918). Maharana Sanga: The last great leader of the Rajput race. Scottish Mission Industries.
18. Sarda, Harbilas (1970). Maharana Sanga; the Hindupat, the last great leader of the Rajput race. Scottish Mission Industries. pp. Page no-28 "Nawab Malloo Khan, then holding Ajmer, determined to oppose the Sesodia prince in person, who, resolved upon being the assailant, advanced to Ajmer, encountered his foe in the camp at day-break, and after great slaughter entered Garh Beetli, the citadel, with the fugitives. 'By these acts/".
19. Sharma, Dasharatha (1970). Lectures on Rajput History and Culture. Motilal Banarsidass. pp. Page no- 27 "The early 16th century marks the rise of the patriotic one-eyed chief of Mewar named as Rana Sanga who defeats several of his neighbour kingdoms and establish Rajput hold on Malwa first time after falling of Parmara dynasty through series of victories over Malwa, Gujarat and Delhi Sultanate". ISBN 978-0-8426-0262-4.
20. Sharma, Gopi Nath (1954). Mewar & the Mughal Emperors (1526-1707 A.D.). S.L. Agarwala.
21. Chaurasia, Radhey Shyam. History of Medieval India: From 1000 A.D. to 1707 A.D. Atlantic Publishers and Dist. pp. 156, 155, 158–160.
22. Somani, Ram Vallabh (1976). History of Mewar: from earliest times to 1751 A.D. C.L. Ranka, Jaipur.
23. Hooja, Rima (2006). A History of Rajasthan. Rupa and Co. pp. Page no- 450.
24. Majumdar (1990), The History and Culture of the Indian People: the Delhi sultanate. vol. [6], Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan