Man Singh I of Amber

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Raja Man Singh(Man Singh I) was the Kacchwaha raja of Amber.He ruled Amber from 1589 to 1614.Man Singh's decendent Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh founded a new city 10 kilometeres south from Amber and named it Jaipur which is now capital of Rajasthan state in India. He was a mansabdar and a trusted general of Akbar, who included him among the Navratnas, or the nine gems of the royal court. Raja Man Singh was the grandson of Akbar’s father-in-law, Bharmal. Raja Man Singh was appointed commander in chief of Akbar, and fought many battles for him, including the wellknown battle of Haldighati fought in 1576 between Maharana Pratap and Moughels led by Kunwar Man Singh, among others.At Haldighati Man Singh defeated Maharana Pratap but Pratap managed to escape. Later in 1577 he led Akbar's Gujrat expedition.In 1580-81 He led the army of Akbar to supress revolt in North-Western provinces of India.Later from 1581 to 1587 Man Singh went to Afganistan won Kabul and defeated five major tribes of Afgans.To commerete this victory the flag of Amber was changed from "Katchnar" to "Pachranga".This flag continued till merger of Jaipur state into India.From 1587 to 1594 Man Singh fought many battles in in Bengal Bihar ,Orissa and Assam in the East of India.Thus Man Singh expended moughal empire from Afganistan in the west of India to Assam in the East.Kashmir was already won by his father Raja Bhagawant Das for Akbar.He went to southern most regions and won almost entire India,except the state of Mewar under Maharana Pratap.Maharana Pratap adopted gurilla warfare after Haldighati and was able to recapture entire "Mewar" except the fort of Chittor.It is belived Man Singh allowed Maharana Pratap escape from Haldighati.Two moughal soldiers following the Maharana were killed by his step brother "Shakti Singh" who was also fighting against him and for Akbar in this battle.

Man Singh and his father, Bhagwant Das are reputed to have brought the secret of artillery production to Amber from Kabul and Lahore where they remained as governor for four years after subduing Hakim (Akbar’s rebellious-brother, and governor of Kabul).  He also led campaigns in Orissa and Bengal. As governor of Bengal, Man Singh made Rohtas (in Bihar) his headquarters; he rebuilt the fort and also built a palace there.

   Besides being a great warrier Man Singh was patron of arts culture and religion.He got constructed a seven storey temple of lord Krishna (a famous hindu god.)at Virvandavan.He constructed and got repaired many more temples in Bengal and Bihar.He brought the Famous idol of Shiladevi from Jaisor(now in Bangla Desh)to Amber.He also brought idol of Hanuman and sanga.They are still worshiped at Amber, Jaipur and Sanganer.It is believed he used to attend the sermons of Tulsi Das(a famous poet who wrote Ramcharit Manas populerly known as Tulsi Ramayana,Hanuman Chalisa,and many more.).Man Singh boldly refused to convert to "Din E Elahi" a religion founded by Akbar.

He was courtier, general and an advisor of Mughal emperor Akbar. Raja Mansingh was adopted son of Raja Bhagwant Das (adoptions within the clan being a common means to ensure succession among Rajputs) and he was born at Amber. He was known as Mirza Raja and Akbar conferred on him the title of Farzand (Son). When Bhagwant Das was appointed Subahdar (governor) of the Punjab, Mansingh commanded the districts along the Indus River. In 1585 CE, he was sent to Kabul to keep the country in order, and in 1588, was appointed Subahdar of Bihar. In 1590, Mansingh, hitherto known as Kunwar, was given the title of Raja and a mansab of five thousand. On 17 March 1594, he was appointed subahdar of Bengal and served for three terms: 1594 -1598,1601-1605 and 1605 -1606. Mansingh died a natural death in 1614 at Ilchipur while he was campaigning in the Deccan.