The Rathore dynasty is an Indian dynasty belonging to the Rathore clan of Rajputs that has historically ruled over parts of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Jharkhand.For a map of their territory see: The Rathores trace their ancestry from the Suryavamsha (Solar dynasty) and to the Rashtrakutas and later to the Gahadavalas of Kannauj, migrating to Marwar region of Rajasthan after the fall of Kannauj.
Origins Rashtrakuta origin A section of some historians argue for a Rashtrakuta origin. Branches of Rashtrakutas had migrated to Western Rajasthan as early as the late tenth century. Multiple inscriptions of Rathauras have been located in and around Marwar dating from the tenth to thirteenth century, indicating that the Rathores may have emerged from one of the Rashtrakuta branches.
Bardic origins Muhnot Nainsi, employed by the Rathores of Marwar, chronicled Nainsi ri Khyat, a bardic genealogical history of the Rajputs in western Rajasthan ; one of the oldest extant historical records of the region, the Khyata collated information from existing oral literature, genealogies and administrative sources in a chronological fashion. Nainsi had noted of the Rathores to have originated from Kannauj before migrating to Marwar.
British indologist V. A. Smith theorized that the Rathores and Bundelas are an offshoot of the Gahadavala dynasty. Roma Niyogi considers this claim to be of a later origin.
Accuracy These bardic claims of descent have been since deemed to be largely ahistorical by Ziegler. Ziegler notes the theme of migrations to be common across Rajput genealogies; a construct, borrowed from literary canon of other regions. Later genealogies of Rathores went as far as to derive origin from Gods of the Hindu pantheon — Indra, Narayana et al.
History Early history The first Rathore chieftain was kunwar Siha Setramot, grandson of the last Gahadavala king Jayachandra. Raja Setram abdicated the throne of Kanauj to become an ascetic but got embroiled in a royal rivalry and eventually married the daughter of a Gujarati ruler, who birthed him many sons, siha was younger and had no claim to throne so he went on his own expedition of becoming a ruler. Siha setramot went on to establish his kingdom in Pali on the invitation of local paliwal Brahmins who were oppressed by local mer plunders, he established himself in a place named khor in pali by defeating an oppressive tribal lord named Kanha Mer, and he adopted Rao title presented to him by the Feudal lord of sewari who was a Rao chieftain ruling under parmar kingdom of abu. Other contemporary sources claim the same descent and construct slightly variable narratives about migration from Kanauj: Setramot fled the Ghurid Sultanate to Marwar and established the first Rathore polity. The Bithoor inscription provides the date of Siha's death in 1273 CE and calls him the son of Set Kunwar; however, it does not claim any Gaharwal origin.
Under Rao siha’s son Asthan's regime, and that of his successor-rulers, the Rathore territories significantly expanded courtesy confrontations and diplomatic negotiations with other pastoral groups; the primary base shifted multiple times. Marital alliances with any warrior-group operating out of Thar were especially favored and they were welcome to be inducted in the Rathore fold. Multiple new Rathore branches seem to have split out in these spans.
The precise accuracy of events which allegedly occurred across these spans is questionable and may not be relied upon except for a generic reconstruction.
Sovereignty
Rao Chunda, who was ninth in descent from Asthan, married a Pratihara princess and was gifted the territory of Mandore as a dowry by the Pratihara clan. In return Chunda promised to defend Mandore against the Tughlaq Empire. Mandore thus became the new capital of the Rathore clan, c. 1400. This prompted a significant sociopolitical shift: the hitherto nomadic lifestyle frequented with cattle raids etc. would gradually give way to landed aristocracy. His son Ranmal was assassinated in 1438; Marwar was annexed by Sisodias whilst other parts were captured by Delhi Sultanate.
In 1453, Rao Jodha regained Marwar, and expanded his territories by entering into multiple alliances with fellow Rajputs; the Jodha line was established with his consecration of a new capital at Jodhpur. Rao Jodha was successful in annexing several territories from the Delhi Sultanate, due to which the Rathores of Marwar became the most powerful kingdom in Rajputana during his reign. Among his sons, Rao Bika found a new state in Bikaner in 1465; he and his successors would go on to expand territories therefrom, adopting similar tactics. This Bikawat branch became the new bearer of Rathore legacy, even bringing Gahdavala-time emblems and heirlooms from Marwar. Another of Jodha's sons Rao Varsingh found a new state at Merto in 1462, establishing the Mertiyo branch.
Rao Maldeo's regime (1532-1562) harbored another significant shift from clannish rule to monarchy; Malde forced his distant relatives, who conquered new territories, to submit to him or else be deprived of gains. Bikaner was raided, too. Large palaces were constructed and fortifications were committed to, in what signaled the effective end of pastoral lifestyle. By mid-sixteenth century, the Rathors had a firm hold over entire Rajasthan.
All these while, multiple matrimonial and military alliances with local Islamic kingdoms; the Delhi Sultanate have been noted; Hindu-Muslim relations were largely fraternal.
Mughal period
The situations deteriorated once Akbar was ordained as the Mughal Emperor, and rao Maldeo died. His son rao Chandrasen Rathore defended his kingdom for nearly two decades against relentless attacks from the Mughal Empire. The Jodhawat Rathores lost much of their territory rapidly and were effectively subsumed. The Bikawat Rathores entered into friendly relations with the Mughals, led their armies, and were extensively patronaged to the extent of being allowed to control the Jodhpur Fort. In 1583, Uday Singh finally accepted Mughal suzerainty and in return, was granted part of a Pargana in Jodhpur; this would enable the Jodhawat Rathores to become all-weather allies of the Mughals though punctuated with discords.
This span of cohabitation led to the introduction of strict endogamy into Rathore folds and hypergamy with Mughals. It was also under the Mughals, that bardic genealogies were crafted to present themselves as worthy appointees of the Mughals and distinguish themselves from other "once-fraternal" communities, thereby staking a claim to power irrespective of temporal situations. Also, by this time, the nomadic memories were better suppressed and the Rathores had themselves rebranded as the elite "protectors" of local cattle-rearers; in a couple of centuries, figures from early Rathore polity would be deified.
Many scions of the Rathore clan were able to establish their own kingdoms during the Mughal reign. Barbara Ramusack notes how a 23-year-old Ratan Singh Rathore, who was from a younger branch of the Jodhpur ruling family, was able to rise in rank by fighting against a mad elephant in Delhi. Shah Jahan was so impressed by his valour that he enlisted Ratan Singh in his army. Ratan Singh was able to rise to a rank of 3,000, received the Mahi-Maratib and Jagirs in Malwa, where he founded his own kingdom in Ratlam. The dynasty started by Ratan Singh would further breakaway and form the kingdoms of Sailana and Sitamau.
During Aurangzeb's reign major rebellions would break out resulting in a 30 year war between the Mughals and the Rathores. The rebellion would continue until Bahadur Shah I's reign. Durgadas Rathore played an instrumental role in protecting the Rathore dynasty of Jodhpur during this war.
British period The Rathore ruler of Jodhpur, Man Singh, initially refused to form treaties with the British. However in 1805-1806 he approached the British for military advice and paid the British to protect his state against the predatory actions of the Marathas and Pindaris. By 1816 the British changed this treaty and expelled all foreign influence in Jodhpur, they also started arbitrating in state matters. By 1818 the alliance was cemented and in 1832 the Rajputana agency was formed. Man Singh was not always cordial with the British during this time, in 1829 Man Singh gave shelter to Mudhoji II Bhonsle and antagonized the British. Mudhoji was zealously protected by Man Singh and lived his remaining life in Jodhpur till his death in 1840. Man Singh was finally caught with evidence, when his spy Dhumdas was arrested by the British. Man Singh was using ascetics as spies and messengers. The letters proved that Man Singh was part of an "anti-British cabal" which included Maharaja Ranjit Singh of Punjab, Dost Muhammad, King of Afghanistan and the Russians. In September 1839 the British sent an army and captured Jodhpur. Man Singh chose to relinquish his throne and became an ascetic to avoid war. The exiled maharaja of Jodhpur died on 5 September 1843 due to poor health. The 1857 rebellion sparked uprisings amongst several Rajput chieftains of the Rathore clan in Jodhpur State. Prominent amongst them was Kushal Singh of Auwa. After several failed attempts by the British, the rebellion was quelled by the British army under the command of Brigadier Holmes.
Princely states
Gun-salute states The various cadet branches of the Rathore clan gradually spread to encompass all of Marwar and later founded states in Central India and Gujarat. The Marwar Royal family is considered the head house of Rathores. At the time of India's independence in 1947, nine states were considered important enough to receive gun salutes and had a total area of 60,000 sq. miles, which was merged to India.Indian Princely Medals: A Record of the Orders, Decorations, and Medals by Tony McClenaghan, pg 179
Jodhpur State (Marwar) in present-day Rajasthan, founded in 1226 by Rao Siha. Bikaner State in present-day Rajasthan, founded in 1465 by Rao Bika (son of Rao Jodha). Kishangarh State in present-day Rajasthan, founded in 1611 by Maharaja Kishan Singh. Ratlam State in present-day Madhya Pradesh, founded in 1651 by Maharaja Ratan Singh. Jhabua State in present-day Madhya Pradesh, founded in 1584 by Raja Keshav Das. Sitamau State in present-day Madhya Pradesh, founded 1701 by Raja Kesho Das. Sailana State in present-day Madhya Pradesh, founded in 1730 by Raja Jai Singh. Alirajpur State in present-day Madhya Pradesh, founded in 1437 by Raja Anand Deo. Idar State in present-day Gujarat, founded in 1257 by Rao Sonag, reconquered in 1729 by Rao Anand Singh.
Non-salute states Non-salute States who claimed Rathore ancestry included:
Jobat State in present-day Madhya Pradesh, founded in 1437 by Raja Anand Deo. Jubbal State in present-day Himachal Pradesh founded in by the 12th century by Rana Karam Chand Malpur State in present-day Gujarat, founded in 1466, Vijaynagar (Pol) State in present-day Gujarat, founded in 1577 Valasana State in present-day Gujarat Saraikela State in present-day Jharkhand, founded in 1620 by Raja Bikram Singh. Kharsawan State in present-day Jharkhand, founded in 1650
Rulers
Main Branch in Marwar
Rulers: 1226–1438 (From Pali and Mandore)India: The Peacock's Call by Aline Dobbie p.41 NameReign beganReign ended1Rao Siha122612732Rao Asthan127312923Rao Doohad129213094Rao Raipal130913135Rao Kanhapal131313236Rao Jalansi132313287Rao Chaddo132813448Rao Tida13441357Rao Kanhadev13571374Rao Salkha1374?9Rao Vikramdev ?138311Rao Chunda1383142812Rao Kanha1428142813Rao Ranmal14281438
Rulers: 1438–1949 (From Jodhpur)Niyogi, Roma (1959). The History of the Gāhaḍavāla Dynasty.pg -30 Oriental. OCLC 5386449