Rana Karan Singh rise to Power

Rana Karan Singh was the Maharana of Mewar Kingdom. He was one of the sons of Maharana Amar Singh I and the grandson of Maharana Pratap. He succeeded his father on 26 Jan 1620 at the age of 36.

Rana Karan Singh succeeded the last independent king of Mewar in 1621. Rana Karan Singh was deficient neither in courage nor military skill.

Rajput Hunting Boar
                    Rajput Hunting Boar

He had given a decided proof of both when, to relieve the pecuniary difficulties of his father. He passed through the midst of his foes, surprised and plundered Surat. Rana Karan Singh carried off a booty which was the means of postponing the subjugation of his country.

He fortified the heights round the capital, which he strengthened with a wall and a ditch, enlarged the noble dam which retains the waters of the Peshola, and built that entire portion of the palace called the rdwula still set apart for the ladies of the court.

Action of Rana Younger Brother Bhim

The Sisodia chieftains soon distinguished themselves amongst the Rajput vassals of the Mogul, and got full share of power.

Of these Bhim, the younger brother of Maharana Karan, and leader of the Mewar contingent, was conspicuous, and became the chief adviser and friend of Khuram, who well knew his courage.

At his son’s solicitation, the emperor conferred upon him the title of Raja, and assigned a small estate on the banks of the Banas for his residence.

Ambitious of perpetuating his name, he erected a new city and palace which he named Rajmahal, and which remained in the possession of his descendants for many generations.

Notwithstanding these favours, Jahangir soon had a specimen of the insubordinate spirit of Bhim. Being desirous to separate him from Prince Khuram, who aspired to the crown, to the prejudice of his elder brother Parvez, he appointed him to the government of Gujarat,

But Bhim boldly declined to accept the post. Bhim remembered that Parvez invaded Mewar, so he hated Parvez.

Parvez was ravaged by excessive drinking and an indulgent lifestyle. Soon he died at the age of 38. The emperor suspected poison from the hand of Shah Jahan to be cause of death cause of death.

Khuram manifested his guilt by taking to arms against his father. In 1622 Prince Khurram raised an army with the support of Mahabat Khan and marched against his father and Nur Jahan. Jahagir defeated him at Bilochpur in March 1623.

Jahagir destroyed Bhim’s army and killed Bhim.

Later Life

The defeat compelled Khuram and Muhabbat Khan to take refuge in Udaipur. Soon he was first lodged in Delwada Ki Haveli and subsequently shifted to Jagmandir Palace on his request.

Later Prince Khurram exchanged his turban with the Maharana and that turban is still preserved in, Udaipur. Rana Karan had enjoyed eight years of complete tranquillity.

The sanctuary he gave Prince Khuram had no apparent effect on Jahangir. He believed that the Rana disapproved of the conduct of his son Bhim. Jaggat Singh succeed him in 1628.

Soon Jahangir died after Jaggat’s accession, and while Khuram was in exile. This event was announced to the latter by the Rana, who sent his brother and a band of Rajputs to Surat to form the escort of the new emperor, who went directly to Udaipur. It was in the Badal Mahal of his island palace that he was first saluted by the title Shah Jahan.

People of Mewar highly respected Jaggat Singh. He did much to remove the remembrance of the rude visitations of the Moguls. The dignity of his character, his benevolence of address and personal demeanor, secured the homage of all who had access to him.

He had the proud satisfaction of redeeming the ancient capital from ruin, rebuilding the Chaplet bastion, restoring the portals, and replacing the pinnacles on the temple of Chattarkot. He had two sons from princess of Mewar, the elder of whom succeeded him.

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