Hammir Singh

Rana Hammira (1314–78), or Hammira, was a 14th-century ruler of Mewar in present-day Rajasthan, India.^[1] Following an invasion by the Delhi sultanate at the turn of the 13th century, the ruling Guhilot clan had been displaced from Mewar. Hammir Singh, who belonged to an impoverished cadet branch of that clan, regained control of the region, re-established the dynasty, and became the first of his dynasty to use the royal title 'Rana'. Hammir also became the progenitor of the Sisodia clan, a branch of the Guhilot clan, to which every succeeding Maharana of Mewar has belonged.

He built the Annapoorna Mata temple which is located in the Chittorgarh Fort in Chittorgarh, Rajasthan.

Synopsis

Rana Hammir (not to be confused with Chauhan Hammir of Ranthambore), the 14th century ruler of Mewar in present-day Rajasthan, was the first ruler using the title Rana before his name. He belonged to the Guhilot dynasty. After an invasion by the Delhi sultanate at the turn of the 13th century, the ruling Guhilot dynasty had been removed from Mewar. Rana Hammir belonged to a cadet branch of that clan; however regained control of the region, re-established the dynasty, and also became the propounder of the Sisodia clan, a branch of the Guhilot clan, to which every succeeding Maharana of Mewar belonged.

A distant kinsman of Rawal Ratan Singh, by name 'Laksha' or Lakshman Singh, joined Rawal Ratan Singh against invasion of Alluddin Khilji. He died along with his seven sons while defending Chittor following the first Jauhar(led by famous Rani Padmini) took place and Chittor was lost. Laksha was descended in direct patrician lineage from Bappa Rawal, and hence belonged to the Gehlot(Guhilot) clan. Laksha came from the village of Sisoda near the town of Nathdwara and thus his children came to be known as 'Sisodia'. Laksha had nine(or Eight) sons, of whom the eldest, Ari, married Urmila, a pretty lady from the nearby village of Unnava, who belonged to a poor Rajput family of the Chandana clan. Rana Hammir was the only child of this couple.

Both Laksha and Ari died while defending Chittor under leadership of Rawal Ratan Singh and left behind young Hammir. He was almost an infant, however grew up under the guidance of his uncle Ajay(who too was engaged in same war and was saved as he got injured), the second son of Laksha. Rana Hammir gave his uncle an initial proof of his bravery when, at a young age, he killed a treacherous King of kantaliya named Munja balecha (chouhan of bali State) who was causing chaos in the nearby area. It is said that this event impressed his uncle that he immediately bestowed on Hammir with the claims of ruler ship.

The Khiljis had allocated their newly acquired territories to the administration of Maldeo, ruler of the nearby state of Jalore, who had associated with them during the war years. In a requirement to settle and co-opt the citizens of the land to his rule, Maldeo arranged for the marriage of his widowed daughter Songari with Rana Hammir, the scion of an impoverished cadet branch of the erstwhile ruling dynasty. Rana Hammir Singh thus re-established the state of Mewar in 1326 and engineered a coup d'état against his father-in-law. The dynasty thus founded by Hammir, who was descended in direct lineage from Bappa Rawal, came to be known as Sisodia after the mountain village where Rana Hammir belonged.. Rana Hammir is credited with laying foundation stone for Rajput resurgence in North India by defeating Muhammed Bin Thugluq, Delhi Sultan at that time. Under Hammir, Rajputs inflicted a crushing defeat to Turkish army and captured Muhammed Bin Thugluq. He was released only after freeing the entire Rajputana which was previously under Delhi Sultanate. This campaign had far reaching consequences such that it paved way for the beginning of decline of Turkish Empire of Delhi established by Muhammed Ghori in 1193. Empire's decline was complete, when warriors like Harihara, Bukka & Proleya Varma Reddy defeated and overthrew Turkish garrisons which was earlier established by former Delhi Sultan, Alaudhin Khilji. Thus by the second half of 14th century (1350-1400 AD) Delhi Sultanate was reduced to a minor princely state from the status of Empire. Rajput victory over Sultans was really a moment of pride for people of Rajasthan and this legacy was carried on by Hammir's later successors Rana Kumbha and Rana Sanga making Rajputs the mightiest power in North India. For Delhi Sultans, they could never turn this Rajput tide that started with defeat of Muhammed Bin Thugluq until their end.

See also

• List of Rajputs

References