Dynasties: Rajputs - The Rathores of Marwar The Rajputs claim descent from an 8th Century
king. The
Rajputs who till the 10th century were mostly local feudal lords holding the
status of revenue collectors for their Gurjara-Pratihara overlords, asserted
themselves as independent rulers, after the Ghaznavid storm had blown over,
and took over the earlier kingdoms of the Gurjara-Pratiharas. The main Rajput
kingdoms in the 11th and 12th centuries were that of the Cahamanas (Chouhans)
in East Punjab, Northern Rajasthan and Delhi. The Gahadwalas (Rathores) ruled
the Ganges valley today's UP. [http://www.hindubooks.org/sudheer_birodkar/hinduhistory/landrajput.html] By tenth century the Kshatriyas or warriors of northern India, who were descendents of post-Gupta rulers, took up a name for themselves, Rajputs, sons of Kings (derived from Sanskrit word Rajputra). These warriors depending upon lineage, divided into various clans. Each clan had a distinct lineage and kingdom. These Rajput rulers often fought among themselves to assert the supremacy, but none could build an empire. Instead, the northern, central and western parts of India were divided among many of these rulers into kingdoms of various sizes. This was the major factor that prompted the Islamic invaders to pour in India, mainly from Afghanistan and central Asia, as there was no central authority left to challenge them. [http://www.med.unc.edu/~nupam/kshatr1.html] Subsequent to the sack of Kannuaj by Muhammad Gazhnavi
in 1018, resulting in the destruction of this once powerful kingdom, Kannuaj
split into several kingdoms, ruled by Rajput kings Origin
of the Rathore Family: The Rathores (Gahadvalas) of Banaras and Kannauj
Quoted from http://www.med.unc.edu/~nupam/kshatr1.html
Chandradeva,
who belonged to Rathore clan of Rajput warriors, established the Gahadavala
dynasty. It was during rule of Govind Chandra Rathor, grandson of
Chandradeva, this dynasty reached it's pinnacle of power. Govind Chandra
occupied most of the Gangetic valley consisting of modern Bihar and Uttar
pradesh states. He had his capital at Banaras and it was a prosperous
kingdom. At
this juncture a rival empire was established at the western boundry of
Gahadavalas. This kingdom was by another clan of warrior Rajputs, Chauhans
(Chahmanas). The grandson of Govind Chandra, Jai Chandra (Jai Chand) was the
last Gahadavala ruler. According to legends, Jai Chandra’s daughter was
abducted by King of Chauhan dynasty, Prithviraja, which added bitterness to
long-standing rivalry. When
Mahmud of Ghor (or Ghur) invaded India, the Rathors and Chauhans, the two
most prominent dynasties of northern India, could not put up a joint struggle
against foreign invader. Ghori defeated both Prithviraja Chauhan and Jai
Chandra Rathor separately and later killed them A prince of the Kannauj kings founded the Rathore
Dynasty of Marwar in 1226. In turn, he became the ancestor of founders of
several Rajput states, big and small. In those days, possession was ten
tenths of the law, and legitimacy was confirmed by killing the previous king
and declaring yourself king in his place. If you and your descendents could hold
on to the throne, well and good. If you or they could not, the next man who
defeated you became king. ANCESTORS [KINGS OF KANNAUJ] 1090–1114 Chandradeva 1114-1154
Govindchandra 1154-1170 ?? 1170–1194 Jaichand ----
Quarrels with Prithviraj Chauhan 1194-? Harishchandra FOUNDER 1226-1273 SHEOJI founder of the State of Marwar
in 1226, ancestor of the rulers of
Marwar, Jodhpur, and many other states. DESCENDENTS
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