Rawal Ratan Singh

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Rawal Ratan Singh was the 42nd ruler of Mewar, a state that then covered part of the present-day Indian state of Rajasthan. He ruled from 1302-03 AD. Singh was a rajput belonging to the Guhilote clan.

[edit] Wars

Ratan Singh's ruled Mewar from the citadel of Chittor. He was married to Rani Padmini, who was renowned as a peerless beauty. In 1303, Alauddin Khilji, ruler of the Delhi sultanate, laid siege on Chittor. Khilji sent word to Rawal Ratan Singh that if he is allowed a glimpse of Rani he would leave. At the time time, the situation inside the fort was worsening. Rawal discussed this with his advisers and they agreed to meet and ton show Padmini's face in a mirror to the sultan. Following the meeting, Ratan Singh walked Khilji out of the palace only to have Khilji's men captured Rawal Ratan Singh. Khilji sent a message to the fort that Ratan Singh can be spared by exchanging Rani Padmini.

Padmini discussed this incident with her maternal uncle Gora, who was a Chauhan Rajput. Gora told her not to worry and that he would go and bring back Rawal Ratan Singh and that the Sultan would not be brave enough to stop him. Padmini's nephew Badal who was just sixteen also assured her. A message was sent from the fort to Khilji that Padmini would come with 700 of her servants in palanquins and that no muslim soldier should peek inside the palki to outrage the modesty of the women. The message also stated that before Padmini meets Khilji she would like to talk to Rawal Ratan Singh. Khilji agreed.

The palki's werearmed with the best Rajput warriors with two swords each. When Padmini's palki reached Ratan's tent, which was occupied by Gora, he asked Rawal to mount the horse and go back to the fort. Then Gora gave a signal and every Rajput came out of the palki and attacked the muslims who were cut to pieces. Gora reached Khilji's tent and was about to kill the sultan when khilji moved his concubine in front of himself. Gora, being a Rajput, could not kill an innocent women and these few seconds were enough for Khilji's guards to kill Gora from behind.

[edit] Padmavat

Padmavat is a poem based around of the historic seige of Chittor by Alauddin Khilji in 1303 AD, who attacks Chittor after hearing of the beauty of queen Rani Padmini, the wife of King Rawal Ratan Singh.^[1]