RANA SANGRAM SINGH (RANA SANGA) OF MEWAR.

Maharana Sangram Singh was one of the greatest Rajput princes of India who stood against Babur but was unfortunately defeated at the battale of Khanwa in Babur’s hands due to deceipt and treachery. Despite that, but for Baburs cannons the victory would have been Rana Sanga's.  

Maharana Sangram Singh also known as Rana Sangha was born to Rana Raimal of Mewar from the Sisodiya clan in the year 1484. Rana Sangha succeeded his father Rana Raimal in the year 1508 after a battle of succession with his brothers. He was the grandson of Rana Kumbha under whose name the fort of Kumbalgarh was erected. 

When Rana Sanga came to power the Sultanate of Gujarat was at the height of its power under Sultan Mujaffar Shah II. Idar was a small Rajput principality situated on the border of Gujarat. There was a succession fight after the death of the king between Rai Mal and Bhar Mal. Rai Mal was a minor and took refuge with Rana Sanga at Chitor while Bhar Mal became the ruler at Idar.

In 1514 Rai Mal got control of Idar with the help of Rana Sanga. Bhar Mal appealed to Mujaffar Shah II for help. The Sultan sent Nizam Ul Mulk along with an army to reinstate Bhar Mal. In this Rai Mal was defeated and he withdrew to the mountains. After reinstating Bhar Mal, Nizam Ul Mulk went in pursuitof Rai Mal who ensued from the mountains and defeated him convincingly in 1517. In the battle the best officers were slain and the Sultan recalled Nizam Ul Mulk. The Sultan sent Zahir Ul Mulk with a large army who was roundly defeated by Rai Mal and his army had to suffer a great slaughter. The Sultan then sent Nusrat Ul Mulk but with little success. All the conquests of Rai Mal were achieved with the help of Rana Sanga.

In 1517 Ibrahim Lodi succeeded on the throne of Delhi. He received news of Mewars encroachments on the empire and marched against Mewar. Rana Sanga advanced to meet him at Khatoli where their armies joined battle. The Delhi army could not withstand the Rajputs and in just 5 hours time    the army fled with the Sultan following them. A Lodi prince was left prisoner in the hands of Rana Sanga but he was released later on payment of ransom.

In the battle, the Rana lost his hand due to a sword cut and an arrow made him lame for life.

Ibrahim Lodi did not forget his defeat and after careful preparations set a march to defeat Rana Sanga 1519 and their armies met at Dholpur. As usual the Sultans army could not withstand the onslaught of the Rajput cavalry and were roundly defeated. With this battle almost the entire Rajasthan fell into the Ranas hands.

Medini Rai was granted Chanderi as a Jagir by Rana Sanga which the sultan of Malwa Mohammed Khilji II encroached upon. This was an affront to the Rana and he advanced with a large army from Chittor reinforced by the Rathors of Merta and met the Sultans forces reinforced by his Gujarat Auxilaries led by Asaf Khan at the battle of Gagron in the year 1519.

The Sultans cavalry could not withstand the charge of the Rajput cavalry and their defences tore. Later the Rajput cavalry fell on the remaining Malwa forces which were decisively defeated. Most of the Sultans army was annihilated and most of his officers killed including Asaf Khans son. Asaf Khan fled the scene of battle and the Sultan was taken prisoner wounded and bleeding.

In the line of Rajput chivalry, the Rana treated the Sultan with honor and restored the kingdom to him. In turn the Sultan gave his jewelled crown and belt to the Rana. The Rana also kept the Sultans son in Chittorgarh as a hostage for the Sultans future good conduct. 

This clemency was acknowledged by Muslim historians including Abul Fazal and is treated as an act of great magnanimity. But this act proved to be injurious to the national cause of the Rajputs.    

In the year 1520, a minstrel narrated the bravery and generosity of Rana Sanga but was insulted by Nizam Ul Mulk the fief holder of the Sultan of Gujarat. This made the Rana angry and he marched against Gujarat along with a coalition of Rajput forces. He decisively defeated the Sultans armies and Nizam Ul Mulk fled. He then plundered Gujarat and the Sultan dared not coem to stop him. He returned back to Chittor feeling that his mission was accomplished.

The sultan of Gujarat did not forget this insult. In the same year later he raised a large army of 100,000 cavalry and 100 elephants and sent it under Malik Ayaz. This army was joined by the army of the Sultan of Malwa Mohammed Khilji from Mandu.  All the Rajput chiefs rallied under Rana Sanga.  

The sultans army laid seize to Mandsaur which was under Rana sangas governor Asok Mal. Asok Mal was killed but the fort did not fall. The enoromous forces assembled by the Sultan and Rana Sanga faced each other.

Due to the ill feeling the Amirs had on Malik Ayaz he could not advance on the fort with full force. He felt that he is bound to be defeated and made peace with Rana Sanga and retreated back to Gujarat where he was seen as a coward.

After the number of gains of Rana Sanga his objectives grew in scope. It was at this juncture that Babur has become the master of Delhi. Now the Rana eyed Babar as his defeat would yield him Delhi which is considered as a prestigious seat of power.

Rana Sanga decided to wage a war againsthe Moghul Emperor Babur. He first coerced Afgan fugitive princes like Mehmud Lodi to join him. A number of Mewati msulims under Hasan Khan Mewati also promised their support to Rana Sanga.  

In 1527 the Rana ordered Babur to leave India. He sent his vassal Sardar Silhadi of Raisen to negotiatae with Babur. Silhadi was won over by Babur and they both hatched a plot that Silhadis forces numbering around 35,000 would join Baburs camp at the critical moment of battle. Silhadi went back to Chittor and told the Rana that a battle is a must. This is treachery.   

Their armies met in 1527 at Khanwa near Fatehpur Sikri. The battle was bitter and bloody. At a critical moment of battle Silhadi’s forces defected to Babur as planned. The battle turned but even then Rana Sanga while trying to rebuild his front was wounded and fell unconscious from his horse. The Rajput army thought that their leader was killed and fled in disorder leaving the Moghuls to win the battle.

The Rana was rescued by the Rathore contingent from the battle and went back to Chittor. When he again tried to assemble armies to fight Babur his chiefs found the plan to be suicidal and therefore poisoned him in 1528.

Rana Sangram Singh married Karnavati who later committed jauhar at Chittorgarh in 1535 after the Ranas death. Rana Pratap Singh was her grandson.