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{{Short description|16th-century Rajput prince of Mewar}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2022}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2022}}
{{Infobox royalty
| name = Kunwar Prithviraj Sisodia
| title = Udno Prithviraj (Flying Prithviraj)
| alt = Udano Prithviraj
| death_place = [[Kumbhalgarh]]
| spouse = Tarabai Solanki, Pama De
| house = [[Sisodias of Mewar|Sisodia]]
| father = [[Rana Raimal]]
| mother = Jhali Ratan Kanwar
| religion = [[Hinduism]]
| issue =[[Vanvir Singh|Banvir]]
}}

'''Prithviraj Sisodia''', generally known as '''Kunwar Prithviraj''' (born late 15th century; died 16th century), was the eldest son of [[Rana Raimal|Maharana Raimal]] (died 1509) of [[Mewar]] and heir apparent of Mewar, of the [[Sisodia]] [[Rajput]]s. His mother was Jhali Rani Ratan Kanwar. His rapidity of moving from one place to another and lightning speed of attack earned him the title of ''Udno Prithviraj'', the flying Prithviraj.<ref>[[#Sarda|Maharana Sanga The Hindupat]], p31</ref><ref name="Maṇḍāvā 1993">{{cite book | last=Maṇḍāvā | first=D. | title=Svatantratā ke pujārī Mahārāṇā Pratāpasiṃha | publisher=Raṇabān̐kurā Prakāśana | year=1993 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gFRuAAAAMAAJ | language=lv | access-date=2022-04-07 | page=27}}</ref> He added the regions of [[Godwar]] and [[Ajmer]] to the territory of Mewar.

Harbilas Sarda wrote ''"If Prithviraj had been the leader of Indian opposition to Babur, Babur would have ended his days as an unsuccessful adventurer in Khanwa."''<ref>[[#Sarda|Maharana Sanga The Hindupat]], p44</ref>

== Early life ==
Maharana Raimal had 14 sons, of whom Prithviraj was the eldest and heir apparent. Prithviraj's two real brothers were Jaimal and Sangram Singh, who later became the Maharana of Mewar, popularly known as [[Rana Sanga|Maharana Sanga]] (1482–1528).<ref>[[#Sarda|Maharana Sanga The Hindupat]], p12</ref> Their mother was Jhali Ratan Kanwar, daughter of Rajdhar Jhala. These three brothers played an important role in shaping Mewar's history.{{citation needed|date=May 2022}}

== Conflict with Sanga ==
A Charan woman, who lived at Nahar Magra, had prophesied that Sanga would be the heir to the throne, not Prithviraj. Upon hearing this, Prithviraj attacked Sanga, but Surajmal (uncle of Prithviraj, grandson of [[Mokal Singh|Maharana Mokal]]) interposed himself and took the blow, but that blow still injured Sanga's eye. Sanga, unwilling to attack the heir apparent, left the fight while Surajmal engaged Prithviraj. Sanga succeeded in getting away with five cuts and the loss of an eye. Jagmal chased Sanga, but Sanga was saved by Rathore Bida, who died in the fight at Sewantri.<ref>[[#Sarda|Maharana Sanga The Hindupat]], p16</ref> Sanga then remained for a few months under Karamchand Panwar at Shrinagar, near Ajmer.<ref>[[#Somani|History of Mewar]], p152</ref>

== Conquest of Godwar ==
After Prithviraj's conflict with Sanga, Maharana Raimal forbade Prithviraj his presence. Prithviraj made [[Kumbhalgarh]] fort his base and expanded his control over the plains of [[Godwar]], suppressing the Meenas who ravaged the countryside. He also subdued the Balecha and Madrecha Chauhans of Godwar, except for their stronghold of [[Desuri]].<ref>[[#Sarda|Maharana Sanga The Hindupat]], p21-22</ref>

He took the help of Raimal Solanki, who sent his sons Shankar Singh and Samant Singh to attack the Madrechas of Desuri. The Solankis defeated the Madrechas, and Sanda the leader of the Madrechas was killed in the battle. Prithviraj then granted Patta of Desuri with its 140 villages to the Solankis. The Solankis of Jhilwara and [[Roopnagar]] are descendants of Shankar Singh and Samant Singh respectively.<ref>[[#Sarda|Maharana Sanga The Hindupat]], p23-24</ref>

Prithviraj then established civil and military authority over the entire Godwar and he appointed administrators, Raimal Solanki for the military and an Ojha for civil administration.<ref>[[#Sarda|Maharana Sanga The Hindupat]], p24</ref> The Narlai inscription mentions that Prithviraj remained in charge of Godwar for a considerable time.<ref>[[#Somani|History of Mewar]], p150</ref>

Ram Kanwar Bai, daughter of Rana Kumbha Kunwar and aunt of Prithviraj, was married to Mandalik, King of Girnar.<ref>[[#Sarda|Maharana Sanga The Hindupat]], p31</ref> When she was alienated from her husband, Prithviraj made a swift march and surprised Mandalik in his palace. He spared his life however and brought Rama Bai back to Mewar. Jawar was conferred upon Ram Kanwar. She built a temple of Rama Swami and a large [[stepwell]] here.<ref>[[#Somani|History of Mewar]], p152</ref><ref>[[#Sarda|Maharana Sanga The Hindupat]], p32-33</ref>

== Attack on Toda ==
Toda, which was earlier under the Solankis, was taken over by the Afghan Lalla Khan when Rao Surtan Solanki was living in [[Badnor, Rajasthan|Badnor]], which was granted to the Solankis by Rana Raimal. Prithviraj vowed to''"restore Toda to Solankis or he was no true Rajput"''.<ref>[[#Sarda|Maharana Sanga The Hindupat]], p26</ref>

Prithviraj, with his chosen 500 horsemen and Tarabai Solanki, daughter of Rao Surtan Solanki, attacked Toda. They reached it when the [[Tazia]] procession was ongoing. Prithviraj, one of his trusted chiefs and Tarabai left their cavalcade and joined the procession. As they reached under the balcony of the Afghan chief, the Afghan enquired about these strange horsemen who were part of the procession. Prithviraj threw his lance and Taraibai shot an arrow, which struck the Afghan lord, and he fell on the ground. Before the public recovered from the shock, the three of them dashed for the gate of the city, which was obstructed by an elephant. Tarabai sliced the elephant's trunk: with the elephant fleeing, the passage was clear to join their cavalcade. The Afghans could not withstand the attack and those who could not flee were killed.<ref>[[#Sarda|Maharana Sanga The Hindupat]], p27-28</ref>
[[File:Prithviraj Sisodiya Cenotaph.jpg|thumb|Cenotaph of Prithviraj Sisodiya]]

== Capture of Ajmer ==
Prithviraj captured [[Taragarh Fort, Ajmer|Taragarh]] fort of Ajmer towards the end of the 15th century, after slaying Governor Mallu Khan.{{sfn | Dhoundiyal | 1966 | p=54}}<ref>[[#Sarda|Maharana Sanga The Hindupat]], p28</ref><ref>[[#Ajmer|Ajmer:Historical and Descriptive]], p45</ref> The fort is also called Taragarh, named after Prithviraj's wife Tarabai.{{sfn | Rajawat | 1991 | p=87}} It remained under the control of Mewar and later [[Rana Sanga|Maharana Sanga]] granted it to Karamchand Panwar.{{sfn | Dhoundiyal | 1966 | p=55}}

== Family ==
The names of the wives of Prithviraj which are known:
* Tara Bai Solanki, daughter of Rao Surtan Solanki. Tara Burj, a bastion in Kumbhalgarh, is named after her.<ref>[[#Somani|History of Mewar]], p152</ref><ref>[[#Kumbha|Maharana Kumbha: Sovereign, Soldier, Scholar]], p133</ref>
* Pama De

Prithviraj also had a concubine, by whom he had a son, named [[Banvir]], who was ruler of Mewar from 1536 or -37 to 1540.

== Death ==
Rao Jagmal was married to Prithviraj's sister, Ananda Bai, but their relations were not good. Prithvriraj went to [[Sirohi]] to punish Jagmal, but in the end pardoned him. It was suspected that Prithviraj died of poisoning by Rao Jagmal.<ref>[[#Somani|History of Mewar]], p152</ref> Prithviraj died just after entering the Kumbhalgarh fort, where his cenotaph is still standing near Mamadeo Temple.<ref>[[#Kumbha|Maharana Kumbha: Sovereign, Soldier, Scholar]], p136</ref> Under the dome, there is a memorial stone with figures sculpted on all four sides. On one side, the figure riding a horse is Prithviraj (his horse's name was Sahanadiva). Out of the other four figures, the names of two are known: they were Prithviraj's wives Tarabai and Pama De. They committed ''[[Sati (practice)|sati]]'' after Prithviraj's death.<ref>[[#Kumbha|Maharana Kumbha: Sovereign, Soldier, Scholar]], p137</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== Sources ==
* {{cite book | last=Rajawat | first=D.S. | title=Glimpses of Rajasthan: Off the Beaten Track | publisher=Delta Publications | year=1991 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=edofAAAAIAAJ | access-date=2022-04-07}}
* {{cite book | last=Dhoundiyal | first=B.N. | title=Rajasthan District Gazetteers: Ajmer. Gazetteer of India. Ajmer. Hauptbd | publisher=Bharat Printers | year=1966 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0vzttgAACAAJ | access-date=2022-04-07}}
* {{cite book|title=Maharana Sanga, The Hindupat |last=Sarda|first=Har Bilas|ref=Sarda|publisher=Scottish Mission Industries Company Limited|year=1918|edition=1st|location=Ajmer}}
* {{cite book|title=Kumbhalgarh, Archaeological Survey Of India, 2012|ref=ASI|publisher=The Director General, Archaeological Survey of India, Janpath, New Delhi-110011|year=2012|edition=1st|location=New Delhi}}
* {{cite book|title=History Of Mewar [From the earliest times to 1751 AD]|last=Somani|first=Ram Vallabh|ref=Somani|publisher=Shantidevi, Matheshwari Publications|year=1976|edition=1st|location=Jaipur}}
* {{cite book | last=Sarda | first=H.B. | title=Maharana Kumbha: Sovereign, Soldier, Scholar |ref=Kumbha| publisher=HardPress | year=1932 | isbn=978-1-290-94260-7 | page = 137 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XQdEngEACAAJ | access-date=2022-04-17}}
* {{cite book | last=Sarda | first=H.B. | title=Ajmer: Historical and Descriptive | ref = Ajmer| publisher=Fine Art Printing Press | year=1941 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VU_RAAAAMAAJ | access-date=2022-04-18}}

[[Category:Mewar dynasty]]
[[Category:History of Rajasthan]]
[[Category:Rajputs]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing]]
[[Category:Year of death missing]]
[[Category:15th-century births]]
[[Category:16th-century deaths]]

Prithviraj Sisodia - Revision history

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