Early Life
Maharana Pratap was born on 9th May 1540 to Udai Singh II and Jaiwanta Bai. He was the eldest son and his younger brothers were Shakti Singh, Vikram Singh and Jagmal Singh. Pratap also had 2 stepsisters: Chand Kanwar and Man Kanwar. He was married to Ajabde Punwar of Bijolia.
In 1572, Four years had Udai Singh survived the loss of his capital when he expired, at the early age of forty-two. His last act was to entail contention upon his sons.
He set aside the established law of primogeniture and proclaimed his favourite son Jagmal his successor. In Mewar there is no interregnum.
The family priest held the ceremony of mourning at his house. While royal servant decorated the palace in honor of the new ruler.
While his brothers and the nobles attended the funeral pyre, Jagmal took possession of the throne in the infant capital.
Rise to Power
The group of nobles convinced powerful nobles like Kistna and prince of Gwalior to support the rightful cause of his grandson, Pratap.
Jagmal was just about to enter the rassora, when Kistna appeared, accompanied by the ex-prince of Gwalior. Each chief took an arm of Jagmal, and, with gentle violence, guided him to a seat in the front of the “cushion” he had occupied.
The old noble remarking, ” You made a mistake, Maharaj that place belongs to your brother”. Nobles of Maharana Pratap hailed him as king of Mewar and given the ancesteal sword.
No sooner was the ceremony concluded, than the young prince reminded them that it was the festival of the Ahairia, and that ancient customs should not be forgotten. Therefore he climbed the horse, and slay a boar to Gauri, and take the omen for the coming year.”
They slew abundance of animal, and, in the mimic field of war, the nobles who surrounded the gallant Maharana Pratap anticipated happier days for Mewar.
Rise of Mughal
By the time Maharana Pratap became Rana of Mewar, the other Rajput ruler realized that Mughal power was irresistible. Rather than suffer political annihilation, they preferred accept best terms of generous foe.
One by one they surrendered to Akbar their kingdoms, receiving them back with a grant, thereby acknowledging him as lord paramount, and themselves as fiefs of the empire.
On these occasions, they received from emperor the gifts of honour and investiture, consisting of elephants, horses, arms, and jewels. Emporer added the title of mansabdar, or military commander to their hereditary title of prince.
Besides this acknowledgment of supremacy, they offered nazarana, and paid homage, engaging to attend the royal presence when required, at the head of a stipulated number of their vassals.
The emperor presented them with a standard, kettle-drums, and other insignia, which headed the contingent of each prince.
Though Humayun had gained the services of several of the Rajput princes, their aid had been uncertain. It was reserved for his wise and magnanimous son to induce them to become at once the ornament and the support of his throne.
Political Situation in North India
Akbar knew that a constant exhibition of authority would be both ineffectual and dangerous. So, the surest way to gain a hold on the loyalty and esteem of the conquered. He would give them a personal interest in the support of the monarchy.
Ambar, the nearest state to Delhi, and the most exposed. It was the first to unite itself to the empire. Subsequently the practice became so common that some of the most celebrated of the Mogul emperors were the offspring of Rajput princesses.
The last Mogul sovereign to marry a Rajput princess was Farrukhsiyar. He espoused the daughter of Raja Ajit Singh of Marwar.
Of the four hundred and sixteen mansabddrs of Akbar’s empire forty-seven were Rajputs. The aggregate of their quotas amounted to fifty –three thousand horse.
Of these, seventeen held mansabs of from two thousand to five thousand horse, and thirty from one hundred to two thousand. The princes of Ambar, Marwar, Bikanir, Bundi, Jaisalmir, and Bundalkand held mansabs of above one thousand. Being allied to the royal family, Ambar had the mansab of five thousand.
Kingdom of Mewar and Mughal Empire on Collision path
Maharana Pratap succeeded to the titles and renown of an illustrious house. But, without a capital and resources, his kindred and clans weakened and dispirited.
Yet he took oath to recover of Chittor, the vindication of the honor of his house, and the restoration of its power. He always hurried into conflict with his powerful antagonist, nor stopped to calculate the means which were opposed to him.
The wily Mogul arrayed against Maharana Pratap his kindred in faith as well as in blood. The princes of Marwar, Ambar, Bikanir, and even Bundi, his former ally, took part in war aginst Akbar. Even his own brother, Sagarji, deserted him, and received the ancient capital of his race and the title of Maharana.
Maharana Prepare for War
But the magnitude of the peril confirmed the fortitude of Maharana Pratap. He single-handedly, for a quarter of a century, withstood the combined efforts of the empire and other Rajput.
Maharana Pratap at one time carrying destruction into the plains, at another, flying from rock to rock. He fed his family from the fruits of his native hills.
Noble fully supported Pratap and though wealth and fortune tempted the fidelity of his retainers, no one desert him. The sons of Jaimal shed their blood in his cause along with the descendants of Patta.
The Chondawats, the descendants of Chonda, redoubled their devotion to the fallen house. The chief of Dilwara pressed to his standard, as did many others, attracted by the very desperation of his fortunes.
Maharana Pratap prohibit to himself and his followers every article of luxury or pomp, until he redeemed the insignia of Chittor glory.
With the aid of his chiefs Maharana Pratap remodelled his government, adapting it to the exigencies of the times and to his slender resources. He issued new grants along with regulations defining the service required. He strengthened Kumbhalgarh, now the seat of his government.
Being unable to keep the field in Mewar, he followed the system of his ancestors, and commanded his subjects, on pain of death, to retire to the mountains. He enforced the obedience of of his stern policy with unrelenting severity. Frequently, with a few horse, he issued forth to see that his edicts were obeyed.
The silence of the desert prevailed in the plains. Once, in the midst of this desolation, a single goat-herd, trusting to elude observation, disobeyed his prince’s injunction, and pastured his flock in the luxuriant meadows of Ontala, on the banks of the Banas. After a few questions soldier killed him hung up on tree.