Anangpal Tomar or Anangpal I (fl. 731-36 AD) was the first ruler to make Delhi his capital. Anangpal, a Chief of Tomar Rajput dynasty, who came from north west but according to Harihar Nivas Dwivedi Tomers came from central-south India . Anangpaal 1 built his capital in Delhi was rebuilt again in 731-36 AD, Anangpal II again rebuilt it in 1052 AD.[1] He was followed by Prithvi Raj (1164 - 1 192 AC) who was killed in a battle with the Turks at Tarauri in 1192. From then onwards Muslims ruled Delhi.[2]
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Anangpal Tomar II ruled Delhi in the mid-eleventh century.[3] He gave Mihirawali (now Mehrauli) name to modern Delhi which means path of Mihir.[4] In middle of 11th century, he built a fort called Lal Kot (literally Red Fort), in which the Qutb Minar stands today, and founded a town. He also removed the famous Iron pillar of Delhi on which are inscribed the eulogies of Chandragupta Vikramaditya (r. 375–415 CE), probably from Mathura, and set it up in 1052 CE, near a group of temples.[5] He also built the Yogmaya Temple nearby.
The dynasty lasted just a century, as after him, came his son, Ausan Singh and then his grandson Kosal Dev Singh, when in 1151 CE, it was taken over by Visaldev or Bisaldeo, a Chauhan chief of Ajmer. Bisaldeo's grandson, the famous Prithvi Raj Chauhan (1149-1192 CE), rename the Lalkot fort as Qila Rai Pithora, and ruled both Delhi and Ajmer, and built the city which bore his name at the former place.[6]
Anangpal Tomar was kshatriya and belonged to Tomar clan of famous 36 royal Rajput clans . He gave his throne to his nephew Prathviraj Chauhan and went down south near Chambal river [ Large population of Tomar Rajputs is still here and is called Tomarghar . Tomars under Man Singh Tomar also built great fort of Gwalior to balance the administration acivity between north and central India. Gwalior fort was eyed by Babur as well post occupation of Delhi which he described said as pearl of Central India. Delhi, Gwalior, Chittorgarh & Kannauj were major administrative centers of Rajputs prior to Muslim invasion. After defeat in Second Battle of Tarain (Md. Ghori defeating Prithviraj Chauhan) and successive major blow by defeat in Battle of Khanwa (Babur defeating Rana Sanga and his allies) Rajputs suffered huge losses in life and kingdoms. Some converted into vassal states and even converted to islam to avoid death. Rajputs were pushed south and eastwards post these battles & occupation by turks & mughals. Some were later evolved as Marathas in south western India. Tomars are now concentrated near Gwalior in MP & in Rajasthan .
History shows that Rajputs were named for their royal lineage i.e. sons of kshatriya kings and rulers. Rajputs, Gurjars, Jats and Ahirs Yadav all were kshatriyas as per the varna of Hinduism, however over a period of time elite kshtriyas became rulers and called got Rajputs lineage / name. Rajputs were royal elite clans evolved from kshtriya tribes of suryavanshi (pratihar or parihar , sisodia, raghav , sikarwar), somvanshi (tomar , jadon , jadeja etc.). Fours of them are also called as Agnivanshi -- Pratihar , Chauhan , Parmar and Solanki . Post invasion of turks & mughals many kshatriyas got dispersed. Rajputs who evolved united post Battle of Rajasthan under Mihir Bhoja after end of Kannauj triangle as unified kshatriyas from Rashtrakutas (southern kshtriyas), Gurjara prathiharas (north western kshtriyas) & Palas (north eastern kshtriyas) lost their immense power. Some lost to low level work activity to sustain their living like farming & livestock maintenance were later identified themselves as Ahirs, Gurjars & Jats segregating from Rajputs.
Kshtriyas in northern India under control of Mughals split from rajputs and classified themselves as Gurjars & Jats as their main activity was now farming and cattle grazing. Kashtriyas who still worked served as soldiers under vassals & hindu kings maintained their rajput status. Northern India (Punjab, Haryana, northern Rajasthan & weatern UP) bear most war prone atmosphere and Hinduism mere got limited to lower varna as upper varnas were killed or lost control of society to Mughals.
