Rana Sanga

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Rana Sanga bigraphy, stories - Indian maharaja

Rana Sanga : biography

April 12, 1484 – March 17, 1527

Commonly known as Rana Sanga, the Rajput Maharana Sangram Singh (April 12, 1484 – 17 March 1527) was the ruler of Mewar, which was located within the geographic boundaries of present-day India’s modern state of Rajasthan. He ruled between 1509 and 1527.

A scion of the Sisodia clan of Suryavanshi Rajputs, Rana Sanga succeeded his father, Rana Raimal, as king of Mewar in 1509. He fought against the Mughals in the Battle of Khanwa, which ended with Mughal victory, and died shortly thereafter on March 17, 1527.

Victories over Ibrahim Lodi

After conquering Malwa, Rana turned his attention towards North Eastern Rajasthan, which was then under the control Khilji’s ally, Ibrahim Lodi of Delhi. Rana invaded this province after a rebellion in Delhi had diverted Sultan Lodi’s attention. Under Rana, the Rajputs scored several victories, capturing some key strategic assets in the process, included the fort of Ranthambore. In retaliation, Lodi invaded Sanga’s home province of Mewar after having put down the rebellion in Delhi.LP Sharma

Sanga counterattacked, invading enemy territory. Rajputs fought ethnic Afghans under Lodi at Khatauli (Gwalior) in 1517-18. Although Sanga lost his left arm and was crippled in one leg, he also won and captured land.

Lodi, reportedly stunned by this Rajput aggression (the extent of which was unprecedented in the preceding three centuries), once again moved against Sanga’s country in 1518-19, period but was humbled at Dholpur. Lodi fought Sanga repeatedly, only to be defeated each time, losing much of his land in present-day Rajasthan, while the boundaries of Sanga’s military influence came to extend within striking distance of Agra.LP SharmaBR Verma and SK Bakshi, Rajput Role in History

War Between Sanga and Babur

After his initial gains Rana Sanga became recognized within north India as a principal player in the power struggle to rule the Northern territories of princely India. His objectives grew in scope – he planned to conquer the much sought after prize of the Muslim rulers of the time Delhi and bring whole of India under his control.

He had crushed Gujarat and conquered Malwa and was now close to Agra. It was at this juncture that he heard that Babur had defeated and slain Ibrahim Lodi and was now master of the Delhi sultanate.

Rana Sanga believed that Babur had plans to leave India, indeed from all the information he was getting it seemed that Babur was getting ready to consolidate his newly gained northern holdings, Rana Sanga decided in a miscalculation of Barbur’s strength and determination, to wage a war against the Mughal invader.

As a first move, he coerced Afghan fugitive princes like Mehmod Lodi and Hasan Khan Mewatito join him. Then he ordered Babur to leave India. Initially he hoped to attain this by sending his vassal sardar Silhadi of Raisen as his emissary.Upendra Nath Day, Medieval Malwa: A Political and Cultural History Siladitya who went to Babur’s camp was won over by Babur. Babur accepted that to rule North India he may have to engage in battle with Rana Sanga and hence had no desire for retreat. Babur and Siladitya hatched a plot that in war, Siladitya, who had large contingent of 30,000 men would join Babur’s camp at critical moment of battle and thus defeat Rana Sanga. Siladitya who went back to Chittor, told Rana that war is a must.Upendra Nath Day

Rajput army supplemented by Afghan contingents of Hasan Khan and Mehmod Lodi met Babur’s army at Khanwa near Fatehpur Sikri in 1527. The Battle which lasted for more than 10 hours was hotly contested and became an exceedingly brutal affair. At a critical moment of battle, defection of Silhadi and his contingent caused a break up of Rajput front. Rana Sanga while trying to rebuild his front was wounded and fell unconscious from his horse. The Rajput army thought their leader was dead and fled in disorder, thus allowing the mughals to win the day.Refer LP Sharma, Bakshi & Verma, Upendra Nath DayNilakanta Sashtri and Srinivasachari, Advanced History of India