SOAS Research Online

Abstract

The present work deals with the history of the Guhilas of Mewar from c. A.D.550 up to the conquest of Chitor by 'Ala-ud-Din Khalji in A.D.1303, when Mewar was sacked and for a short time this brave Rajput clan remained in abeyance. The first chapter is a brief introduction to this monograph, in which we have outlined the sources of our history and discussed the importance of this Rajput race, which produced personalities such as Maharana Kumbhakarna, Maharana Samgramasimha and Maharana Pratapa, who never bent before the Muslim monarchs of their times. The second chapter deals with the origin of the Guhilas, controversial like those of other ruling dynasties of India. After examining all known sources we have found reason to believe in their priestly origin, similar to those of the Kadambas, Satavahanas, Cahamanas, Pratiharas and other important dynasties, who after acquiring kingdoms gave up their priestly calling and gradually became known as the important Rajput or Ksatriya races of India. The rise of the Guhilas is included in the third chapter, which presents the history of Guhila, the founder of this dynasty, and other princes up to Kalabhoja or Bappa, the eighth prince, whose reign ended in A.D. 753 and who is regarded as the founder of the importance of this dynasty. The fourth chapter is devoted to the history of the Guhilas, whose power was in abeyance at the time when the struggle for empire convulsed the whole Indian polity from the ninth century onwards. The tripartite struggle between the Palas, Pratiharas and the Rastrakutas left no room for the rise of the Guhilas and they were insignificant during this period. This chapter includes the history of the Guhila princes from Khommana I to Saktikumara, i.e. from A.D. 753 to the last quarter of the tenth century. Our fifth chapter covers the history of this dynasty from Ambaprasada to Samantasimha, i.e. from about the end of the tenth century to A.D. 1179, the last known date of Samantasimha, who tried to consolidate the Guhila power and ultimately came into conflict with the Caulukyas of Gujarat and the Cahamanas of Jalor.The Guhilas at their zenith and at the beginning of their decline are discussed in the sixth chapter, which covers the history of Mewar up to A.D.1301-2. The reign of Jaitrasimha marked an epoch in the history of the Guhilas, when Mewar faced various attacks but successfully repelled its enemies. Jaitrasimha founded a very strong government which lasted for some time, but during the reign of Samarasimha Mewar could not resist the Muslim raids and he finally saved the country only after paying homage to the Muslims. The seventh chapter gives the history of the fall of the Guhilas in the reign of Ratnasimha, when Chitor was sacked by 'Ala-ud-Din Khalji. We have discussed at length the various traditions and legends about the Padmini episode and its historicity. The conclusion consists of a short account of Mewar under the governorship of Khizr Khan, the son of 'Ala-ud-Din, and then under the Songira Cahamanas of Jalor, enlisted as vassals of the Delhi sultanate. The monograph ends with a short account of the recovery of Mewar by the Sesodiya (Guhila) Hammira, who was remotely related to the Guhilas of the main line.