Maharana Pratap Biography 
Maharana Pratap was the ruler of Mewar, of present day Rajasthan. His father Udai Singh II was founder of Udaipur. His mother was Maharani Jaiwanta Bai and Pratap was born as their elder son. This great king has inspired many through folk tales and widely known as a fearless warrior. He successfully fought the great Mughal Emperor Akbar and safeguarded his subjects until his death. His life has been depicted on television several times in the form of television serials. Pratap ruled Mewar for 25 years from 1572 to 1597. He successfully used guerrilla strategy to defy Mughals, which later inspired many revolutionary leaders and rebels in the Indian freedom movement.
When Chittorgarh Fort was conquered by the Mughal emperor Akbar in 1568, Udai Singh II was forced to leave the palace and he, along with his family resorted to the foothills of the Aravalli Range, where the city of Udaipur was already built in 1559. Though Rani Dheer Bai wanted her son Jagmal to succeed Udai Singh, the eldest son of Udai Singh II, Pratap succeeded the throne. It was the opinion of many senior members of Royal court too.
It was a time when Mughal Emperor was keen in expanding his kingdom and converting Rajput chiefs the vassalage of the Mughals. Though Akbar repeatedly sent invitation to Maharana Pratap to accept negotiation in the same sort of peaceful alliance, the brave warrior was not willing to do so, resulting in the inevitable battle. In short five missions were sent which Rana rejected.
In 1576, Akbar deputed Man Singh I and Asaf Khan I to lead a force of 60,000 soldiers. Rana Pratap fought the war in traditional means with 3,000 horseborne soldiers, 2,000 infantry soldiers, 100 elephants and 100 spearmen. Known as Battle of Haldighat, though Man Singh I conquered Gogunda the third day, Rana Pratap recaptured it and made Kumbhalgarh his temporary capital. Mughals exorted pressure to the kingdoms situated in Mewar border and the rulers of these states submitted to the Mughals which later left Rana isolated and marginalized in Rajput affairs.
Following 1579 rebellions in Bengal and Bihar and Mirza Hakim's incursion into the Punjab, Mughals were quiet for a while and Akbar too moved to Lahore in 1585. No mughal expedition was sent to Mewar during next 12 years and taking advantage of this situation, Rana expanded his kingdom. He also built a new capital--Chavand, near modern Dungarpur. Though Pratap had 11 wives, he loved his first wife Maharani Ajabde Punwar most and their son Amar Singh I succeeded the throne after his death, following a hunting expedition.
Published: N/A
Updated: January 03, 2018
