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{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}
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{{Use Indian English|date=January 2020}}
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{{More citations needed|=September 2018|date=September 2020}}<!-- DO NOT REMOVE till Correct Sources and references are added -->
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{{Infobox royalty
{{Infobox royalty
| image       = Rani Durgavati.jpg
| image       = Rani Durgavati.jpg
| caption     = Portrait of Durgavati
| caption     = Portrait of Rani Durgavati
| succession = [[Maharani]] of [[Gondwana, India|Gondwana]]
| succession   = ''De facto'' ruler and [[Maharani]] of [[Garha-Mandla|Gondwana]]
| birth_date = 5 October 1524
| birth_date   = {{birth-date|5 October 1524}}
 
| birth_place = [[Kalinjar Fort]]
| birth_place = [[Kalinjar Fort]] [[Banda district (India)|(Banda) (Uttar Pradesh)]]
| death_date   = {{death date and age|1564|06|24|1524|10|05|df=y}}
| death_date = {{death date and age|1564|06|24|1524|10|05|df=y}}
| death_place = Narrai Nala, [[Jabalpur]], [[Madhya Pradesh]]
| death_place = Narai Nala, [[Jabalpur]], [[Madhya Pradesh]]
| spouse       = [[Dalpat Shah]]
| spouse     = [[Dalpat Shah]]
| issue       = Vir Narayan  
| issue       = Vir Narayan
| successor   = Vir Narayan
| successor   = ''possibly'' Vir Narayan
| father       = Keerat Rai
| father     = Keerat Rai
| religion     = [[Hinduism]]
| religion   =Hinduism
}}
}}
'''Rani Durgavati''' (5 October 1524 – 24 June 1564) was the ruling Queen of [[Garha Kingdom|Gondwana]] from 1550 until 1564. She was born in the family of [[Chandel (Rajput clan)|Chandel]] Rajput king Keerat Rai at the fort of [[Kalinjar]] ([[Banda district (India)|Banda]], [[Uttar Pradesh]]). Rani Durgavati's achievements further enhanced the glory of her ancestral tradition of courage and patronage.
'''Rani Durgavati''' (5 October 1524 – 24 June 1564) was the ruling Queen of [[Garha Kingdom|Gondwana]] from 1550 until 1564. She was married to [[Dalpat Shah]], the son of king [[Sangram Shah]] of the [[Garha Kingdom]]. She is chiefly remembered for [[Mughal conquest of Garha|defending her kingdom]] against the [[Mughal Empire]].


==Life==
==Life==
Durgavati was born on 5 October 1524 at the fortress of [[Kalinjar]]. She was born in the family of the [[Chandela dynasty#Final decline|Chandela]] [[Rajput]] king Shalivahan, who ruled the [[Mahoba]] kingdom.<ref name="akbarnama">{{cite book |last1=Beveridge |first1=H. |title=The Akbarnama Of Abul Fazl : Vol. II |date=1907 |page=323-333 |url=http://www.new.dli.ernet.in/handle/2015/55649 |archive-url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.55649/page/n333/mode/2up |archive-date=16 January 2017 |language=en |chapter=Conquest of the country of Gadha Katanga by the sword of the genius of Khwaja Abdul Majid Asaf Khan}}</ref>
In 1542, she was married to [[Dalpat Shah]], the adopted son of king [[Sangram Shah]] of the [[Gondwana Kingdom|Gondwana kingdom]]. According to Abul Fazl, Dalpat Shah was son of a [[Kachwaha|Kachhwaha]] Rajput adopted by Raja of Gadha Mandla.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Dikshit|first=R. K.|url=https://books.google.co.in/books?id=a9j9ZJGJOV0C&pg=PA130&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q&f=false|title=The Candellas of Jejākabhukti|date=1976|publisher=Abhinav Publications|isbn=978-81-7017-046-4|pages=8|language=en}}</ref> The [[Chandel (Rajput clan)|Chandel]] and [[Gondi people|Rajgond]] dynasties were allied because of this marriage. This resulted in Keerat Rai gaining the help of the Gonds at the time of Muslim invasion of [[Sher Shah Suri]].
 
In 1542, she was married to [[Dalpat Shah]], the son of the king [[Sangram Shah]] of the [[Garha Kingdom]].<ref>{{Cite book|last=Dikshit|first=R. K.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=a9j9ZJGJOV0C&pg=PA130|title=The Candellas of Jejākabhukti|date=1976|publisher=Abhinav Publications|isbn=978-81-7017-046-4|pages=8|quote=According to Abu Fazl however, Durgavati husband, Dalpat Shah was the son of a Kachavaha Rajput, who had been adopted by the raja of Gadha Mandla|language=en}}</ref><ref name="akbarnama"/> The [[Chandela dynasty#Final decline|Chandela]]s of [[Mahoba]] and Rajgonds of [[Garha Kingdom|Garha-Mandla]] dynasties became allies through this marriage.<ref name="women of India">{{cite book |author1=Archana Garodia Gupta |title=The Women Who Ruled India- Leaders. Warriors. Icons. |date=20 April 2019 |publisher=Hachette India |isbn=9789351951537 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4XuLDwAAQBAJ&dq=Dalpat+Shah&pg=PT67 |language=English |format=Ebook}}</ref>
 
===Queen regnant===
Dalpat Shah died in 1550 and due to the young age of Vir Narayan, Durgavati took the reins of the Gondwana kingdom. [[Diwan (title)|Diwan]] Adhar Kayastha and Minister Man Thakur helped the Rani in looking after the administration successfully and effectively. Rani Durgavati promoted peace, trade, and good will throughout her realm.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Knight|first=Roderic|title=The "Bana", Epic Fiddle of Central India|journal=Asian Music |year=2000 |volume=32 |issue=1 |pages=101–140|doi=10.2307/834332 |jstor=834332 }}</ref>


She gave birth to a son in 1545 A.D. who was named Vir Narayan. Dalpat Shah died in 1550 and due to the young age of Vir Narayan, Durgavati took the reins of the Gond kingdom. [[Diwan (title)|Diwan]] Beohar Adhar Simha and Minister Man Thakur helped the Rani in looking after the administration successfully and effectively. Rani moved her capital to [[Pachmarhi:Chauragarh|Chauragarh]] in place of
Rani Durgavati moved her capital from [[Singorgarh fort]] to [[Narsinghpur|Chauragarh fort]]. It was a fort of strategic importance situated on the [[Satpura]] hill range.<ref name="akbarnama"/>
[[Singorgarh fort]]. It was a fort of strategic importance situated on the [[Satpura]] hill range.


After the death of Sher Shah, Shuja at Khan captured [[Malwa]] and was succeeded by his son [[Baz Bahadur]] in 1556. After ascending to the throne, Baz attacked Rani Durgavati but the attack was repulsed.
After the death of [[Sher Shah Suri]], Shuja Khan captured [[Malwa]] and was succeeded by his son [[Baz Bahadur]] in 1556.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Gupta|first=Parmeshwari Lal|url=https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13223223-coins|title=Coins|date=1969|publisher=National Book Trust|isbn=9788123718873|pages=128|language=en}}</ref> After ascending to the throne, Baz attacked Rani Durgavati but the attack was repulsed.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Abul Fazl|first=Henry Beveridge|title=Akbarnama Volume-2|year=1907|pages=327–328}}</ref>


In the year 1562, [[Akbar]] vanquished the [[Malwa]] ruler [[Baz Bahadur]] and conquered [[Malwa]], made it a [[Mughal Empire|Mughal]] dominion. Consequently, the state boundary of the Rani touched the [[Mughal Empire]].
===War with the Mughal===
In 1562, [[Akbar]] vanquished the [[Malwa]] ruler [[Baz Bahadur]] and conquered [[Malwa]], made it a [[Mughal Empire|Mughal]] dominion. Consequently, the state boundary of the Rani touched the [[Mughal Empire]]. Rani's contemporary was a [[Mughal Empire|Mughal]] General, Khwaja Abdul Majid Asaf Khan, an ambitious man who vanquished Ramchandra, the ruler of [[Rewa (princely state)|Rewa]]. The prosperity of Rani Durgavati's state lured him and he invaded Rani's state after taking permission from [[Mughal Empire|Mughal]] emperor [[Akbar]].


The Rani's contemporary was a [[Mughal Empire|Mughal]] General, Khwaja Abdul Majid Asaf Khan, an ambitious man who vanquished Ramchandra, the ruler of [[Rewa (princely state)|Rewa]]. The prosperity of Rani Durgavati's state lured him and he invaded the Rani's state after taking permission from [[Mughal Empire|Mughal]] emperor [[Akbar]]. This plan of Mughal invasion was the result of [[expansionism]] and [[imperialism]] of Akbar.
When Rani heard about the attack by Asaf Khan she decided to defend her kingdom with all her might although her Diwan Beohar Adhar Simha (Adhar Kayastha)<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://byjus.com/pdf/Medieval-India-Satish-Chandra.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=18 September 2018 |archive-date=10 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190810134208/https://byjus.com/pdf/Medieval-India-Satish-Chandra.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> pointed out the strength of Mughal forces. Rani maintained that it was better to die respectfully than to live a disgraceful life.


When the Rani heard about the attack by Asaf Khan she decided to defend her kingdom with all her might although her Diwan Beohar Adhar Simha (Adhar Kayastha) <ref>https://byjus.com/pdf/Medieval-India-Satish-Chandra.pdf</ref> pointed out the strength of Mughal forces. The Rani maintained that it was better to die respectfully than to live a disgraceful life.
To fight a defensive battle, she went to Narrai, situated between a hilly range on one side and two rivers [[Gaur]] and [[Narmada]] on the other side. It was an unequal battle with trained soldiers and modern weapons in multitude on the Mughal side and a few untrained soldiers with old weapons on the side of Rani Durgavati. Her Faujdar Arjun Das was killed in the battle. Rani then decided to lead the defense herself. As the enemy entered the valley, the soldiers of the Rani attacked them. Both sides lost some men but Rani lost more.  


To fight a defensive battle, she went to Narrai, situated between a hilly range on one side and two rivers [[Gaur]] and [[Narmada]] on the other side. It was an unequal battle with trained soldiers and modern weapons in multitude on the Mughal side and a few untrained soldiers with old weapons on the side of Rani Durgavati. Her Faujdar Arjun Das was killed in the battle and the Rani decided to lead the defence herself. As the enemy entered the valley, the soldiers of the Rani attacked them. Both sides lost some men but the Rani lost more.
Rani's domains were very federal and feudal, much more decentralised than a usual non-tribal kingdom. There were fortress districts, which were administrative units, were controlled either directly by the queen or through subordinate feudal lords (jagirdars) and junior rajas. Around half of the villages were in the hands of feudal lords. These local rajas recruited and contributed much of the soldiers, and also contributed arms to the sovereign Rani during the times of war. The recruitment standards, training and equipment of these soldiers were not uniform, and were often substandard. Also, the feudal lords held much sway over sections of the army during a war. This decentralized structure created disadvantages during the war against mighty Mughals.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sengupta |first=Nandini |title=A new biography visits the life of Durgawati, warrior queen of the tribal kingdom of Garha Mandla |url=https://scroll.in/article/1039220/a-new-biography-visits-the-life-of-durgawati-warrior-queen-of-the-tribal-kingdom-of-garha-mandla |access-date=2022-12-11 |website=Scroll.in |language=en-US}}</ref>


At this stage, the Rani reviewed her strategy with her counselors. She wanted to attack the enemy in the night to enfeeble them but her lieutenants did not accept her suggestion. By next morning Asaf Khan had summoned big guns. The Rani rode on her elephant Sarman and came for the battle. Her son Vir Narayan also took part in this battle. He forced Mughal army to move back three times but at last, he got wounded and had to retire to a safe place. In the course of battle, the Rani also got injured badly near her ear with an arrow. Another arrow pierced her neck and she lost her consciousness. On regaining consciousness she perceived that defeat was imminent. Her [[mahout]] advised her to leave the battlefield but she refused and took out her dagger and killed herself on 24 June 1564.  Her martyrdom day (24 June 1564) is even today commemorated as "Balidan Diwas".
At this stage, Rani reviewed her strategy with her counselors. She wanted to continue the attacks on the Mughals in the night, but her chiefs discouraged her and insisted that she took on the army in open combat in nightlight. But by the next morning, Asaf khan summoned big guns. Rani rode on her elephant Sarman and came for the battle. Her son Vir Narayan also took part in this battle. He forced the Mughal army to move back three times but at last, he got wounded and had to retire to a safe place. In the course of the battle, Rani also got injured badly near her ear with an arrow. Another arrow pierced her neck and she lost consciousness. On regaining consciousness she perceived that defeat was imminent. Her [[mahout]] advised her to leave the battlefield but she refused and took out her dagger and killed herself on 24 June 1564.  Her martyrdom day (24 June 1564) is even today commemorated as "Balidan Diwas"
[[File:Maharani Durgavati.jpg|thumb|250px|right|alt=Painting of a soldier preparing for battle|Rani Durgavati preparing for the battle of Narrai; fresco by Beohar Rammanohar Sinha in Jabalpur's Shaheed-Smarak]]


==Legacy==
==Legacy==
In the year 1983, the Government of [[Madhya Pradesh]] renamed the University of [[Jabalpur]] as [[Rani Durgavati Vishwavidyalaya]] in her memory.
The [[Madan Mahal, Jabalpur|Madan Mahal]] fort Jabalpur is well associated with Rani Durgavati and her son Veer Narayan.
Government of India issued a postal-stamp commemorating her death, on 24 June 1988. The train between [[Jabalpur Junction]] and [[Jammutawi]] is known as [[Durgavati Express]] (11449/11450) after the name of the Queen.
 
In 1983, the Government of [[Madhya Pradesh]] renamed the University of [[Jabalpur]] as [[Rani Durgavati Vishwavidyalaya]] in her memory.


The government of India issued a postal stamp commemorating her death, on 24 June 1988.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Rani Durgavati Stamp, Government of India, 1988|url=https://www.mintageworld.com/stamp/detail/1333/}}</ref>
The train between [[Jabalpur Junction]] and [[Jammutawi]] is known as [[Durgavati Express]] (11449/11450) after the name of the Queen.
Indian Coast Guard on 14 July 2018 commissioned ''ICGS Rani Durgavati'', the third Inshore Patrol Vessel (IPV) of its kind.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Coast Guard commissions 3rd IPV 'Rani Durgavati' at Vizag|newspaper=The Economic Times |url=https://m.economictimes.com/news/defence/coast-guard-commissions-3rd-ipv-rani-durgavati-at-vizag/articleshow/47962552.cms}}</ref>[[File:Delivery_of_ICGS_Rani_Durgavati.jpg|thumb|alt=ICGS Rani Durgavati|ICGS Rani Durgavati]]
==See also==
==See also==
* [[Chand Bibi]]
* [[Chand Bibi]]
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* [[Rani of Jhansi]]
* [[Rani of Jhansi]]
* [[Rudrama Devi]]
* [[Rudrama Devi]]
* [[Rani Avantibai]]


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}
*https://www.magadhuniversity.ac.in/download/econtent/pdf/Satish%20Chandra%20-%20History%20of%20Medieval%20India%20(2018,%20Orient%20Blackswan)%20-%20libgen.lc.pdf


== External links ==
== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
 


{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}
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[[Category:Women in 16th-century warfare]]
[[Category:Women in 16th-century warfare]]
[[Category:People from Banda district, India]]
[[Category:People from Banda district, India]]
[[Category:Indian female royalty]]
[[Category:16th-century Indian women]]
[[Category:16th-century Indian women]]
[[Category:16th-century Indian people]]
[[Category:16th-century Indian people]]
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[[Category:Indian queen consorts]]
[[Category:Indian queen consorts]]
[[Category:Hindu monarchs]]
[[Category:Hindu monarchs]]
[[Category:Rajput monarchs]]
[[Category:Suicides in India]]
[[Category:Suicides in India]]
[[Category:16th-century suicides]]
[[Category:16th-century suicides]]

Latest revision as of 09:20, 22 July 2023

Rani Durgavati
Rani Durgavati.jpg
Portrait of Rani Durgavati
De facto ruler and Maharani of Gondwana
SuccessorVir Narayan
Born5 October 1524 (1524-10-05)
Kalinjar Fort
Died24 June 1564(1564-06-24) (aged 39)
Narrai Nala, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh
SpouseDalpat Shah
IssueVir Narayan
FatherKeerat Rai
ReligionHinduism

Rani Durgavati (5 October 1524 – 24 June 1564) was the ruling Queen of Gondwana from 1550 until 1564. She was married to Dalpat Shah, the son of king Sangram Shah of the Garha Kingdom. She is chiefly remembered for defending her kingdom against the Mughal Empire.

Life[edit]

Durgavati was born on 5 October 1524 at the fortress of Kalinjar. She was born in the family of the Chandela Rajput king Shalivahan, who ruled the Mahoba kingdom.[1]

In 1542, she was married to Dalpat Shah, the son of the king Sangram Shah of the Garha Kingdom.[2][1] The Chandelas of Mahoba and Rajgonds of Garha-Mandla dynasties became allies through this marriage.[3]

Queen regnant[edit]

Dalpat Shah died in 1550 and due to the young age of Vir Narayan, Durgavati took the reins of the Gondwana kingdom. Diwan Adhar Kayastha and Minister Man Thakur helped the Rani in looking after the administration successfully and effectively. Rani Durgavati promoted peace, trade, and good will throughout her realm.[4]

Rani Durgavati moved her capital from Singorgarh fort to Chauragarh fort. It was a fort of strategic importance situated on the Satpura hill range.[1]

After the death of Sher Shah Suri, Shuja Khan captured Malwa and was succeeded by his son Baz Bahadur in 1556.[5] After ascending to the throne, Baz attacked Rani Durgavati but the attack was repulsed.[6]

War with the Mughal[edit]

In 1562, Akbar vanquished the Malwa ruler Baz Bahadur and conquered Malwa, made it a Mughal dominion. Consequently, the state boundary of the Rani touched the Mughal Empire. Rani's contemporary was a Mughal General, Khwaja Abdul Majid Asaf Khan, an ambitious man who vanquished Ramchandra, the ruler of Rewa. The prosperity of Rani Durgavati's state lured him and he invaded Rani's state after taking permission from Mughal emperor Akbar.

When Rani heard about the attack by Asaf Khan she decided to defend her kingdom with all her might although her Diwan Beohar Adhar Simha (Adhar Kayastha)[7] pointed out the strength of Mughal forces. Rani maintained that it was better to die respectfully than to live a disgraceful life.

To fight a defensive battle, she went to Narrai, situated between a hilly range on one side and two rivers Gaur and Narmada on the other side. It was an unequal battle with trained soldiers and modern weapons in multitude on the Mughal side and a few untrained soldiers with old weapons on the side of Rani Durgavati. Her Faujdar Arjun Das was killed in the battle. Rani then decided to lead the defense herself. As the enemy entered the valley, the soldiers of the Rani attacked them. Both sides lost some men but Rani lost more.

Rani's domains were very federal and feudal, much more decentralised than a usual non-tribal kingdom. There were fortress districts, which were administrative units, were controlled either directly by the queen or through subordinate feudal lords (jagirdars) and junior rajas. Around half of the villages were in the hands of feudal lords. These local rajas recruited and contributed much of the soldiers, and also contributed arms to the sovereign Rani during the times of war. The recruitment standards, training and equipment of these soldiers were not uniform, and were often substandard. Also, the feudal lords held much sway over sections of the army during a war. This decentralized structure created disadvantages during the war against mighty Mughals.[8]

At this stage, Rani reviewed her strategy with her counselors. She wanted to continue the attacks on the Mughals in the night, but her chiefs discouraged her and insisted that she took on the army in open combat in nightlight. But by the next morning, Asaf khan summoned big guns. Rani rode on her elephant Sarman and came for the battle. Her son Vir Narayan also took part in this battle. He forced the Mughal army to move back three times but at last, he got wounded and had to retire to a safe place. In the course of the battle, Rani also got injured badly near her ear with an arrow. Another arrow pierced her neck and she lost consciousness. On regaining consciousness she perceived that defeat was imminent. Her mahout advised her to leave the battlefield but she refused and took out her dagger and killed herself on 24 June 1564. Her martyrdom day (24 June 1564) is even today commemorated as "Balidan Diwas"

Legacy[edit]

The Madan Mahal fort Jabalpur is well associated with Rani Durgavati and her son Veer Narayan.

In 1983, the Government of Madhya Pradesh renamed the University of Jabalpur as Rani Durgavati Vishwavidyalaya in her memory.

The government of India issued a postal stamp commemorating her death, on 24 June 1988.[9]

The train between Jabalpur Junction and Jammutawi is known as Durgavati Express (11449/11450) after the name of the Queen.

Indian Coast Guard on 14 July 2018 commissioned ICGS Rani Durgavati, the third Inshore Patrol Vessel (IPV) of its kind.[10]

ICGS Rani Durgavati
ICGS Rani Durgavati

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Beveridge, H. (1907). "Conquest of the country of Gadha Katanga by the sword of the genius of Khwaja Abdul Majid Asaf Khan". The Akbarnama Of Abul Fazl : Vol. II. p. 323-333. Archived from the original on 16 January 2017.
  2. ↑ Dikshit, R. K. (1976). The Candellas of Jejākabhukti. Abhinav Publications. p. 8. ISBN 978-81-7017-046-4. According to Abu Fazl however, Durgavati husband, Dalpat Shah was the son of a Kachavaha Rajput, who had been adopted by the raja of Gadha Mandla
  3. ↑ Archana Garodia Gupta (20 April 2019). The Women Who Ruled India- Leaders. Warriors. Icons (Ebook). Hachette India. ISBN 9789351951537.
  4. ↑ Knight, Roderic (2000). "The "Bana", Epic Fiddle of Central India". Asian Music. 32 (1): 101–140. doi:10.2307/834332. JSTOR 834332.
  5. ↑ Gupta, Parmeshwari Lal (1969). Coins. National Book Trust. p. 128. ISBN 9788123718873.
  6. ↑ Abul Fazl, Henry Beveridge (1907). Akbarnama Volume-2. pp. 327–328.
  7. ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 August 2019. Retrieved 18 September 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  8. ↑ Sengupta, Nandini. "A new biography visits the life of Durgawati, warrior queen of the tribal kingdom of Garha Mandla". Scroll.in. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
  9. ↑ "Rani Durgavati Stamp, Government of India, 1988".
  10. ↑ "Coast Guard commissions 3rd IPV 'Rani Durgavati' at Vizag". The Economic Times.

External links[edit]

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