Prithviraj Chauhan

History Of Prithviraj Chauhan

Full Name: Prithvirāja III

Date and Place of Birth: 1166, Gujarat

Death: 1192, Agmer

Father: Someshwar Chauhan

Mother: Kamaladevi

Children: Gobindaraja IV, Jhoda, Laikha, Shaikha, Taikha, Bhirda

Prithviraj Chauhan, the last ruler of Chauhan dynasty to sit on the throne of Delhi, was born in 1168 as the son of Someshwar Chauhan, the king of Ajmer. He was a brilliant child and very sharp at learning the military skills. He had the skill of hitting the target only on the basis of its sound. He succeeded to the throne of Ajmer at the age of thirteen, in 1179,when his father died in a battle.His grandfather Angam, ruler of Delhi, declared him heir to the throne of Delhi after hearing about his courage and bravery. He once killed a lion on his own without any weapon. He was known as the warrior king.

When he ascended to the throne of Delhi, he built Qila Rai Pithora here. His whole life was a continuous chain of bravery, courage, chivalrous deeds and glorious exploits. He defeated the mighty Bheemdev, ruler of Gujarat, at the mere age of thirteen.

His love story with his enemy, Jaichand’s daughter, Samyukta is very famous. He rode off with her on the day of her ‘Swayamwara’.

He expanded his empire, during this time Mahmud Ghori attacked India in 1191 and he was defeated at the first battle of Tarain. After defeating the army of Mahmud Ghori he was asked to attack the retreating army but in true Rajput tradition he refused to do so as it did not conform to the fair war rules. As a result Mahmud ghori again attacked India and in the second battle of Tarain Prithviraj Chauhan was defeated and captured. He was treated very badly, his eyes were burnt with red-hot irons and he was made blind. But Prithviraj did not lose courage. Helped by his court poet and friend Chand Bardai, he is believed to kill Mahmud ghori with his “shabdabhedi baan”.

His skill of hitting the target just on the basis of sound made by it come handy. and during the archery competition organized by Mahmud ghori, he displayed his skill. When Mahmud ghori praised him he heard his voice and attacked him. Mahmud ghori was killed. In order to escape death at the hands of enemies he and his friend Chand Bardai stabbed each other.

Chand Bardai compiled the story of the life of Prithviraj Chauhan in his epic poem Prithviraj Raso. Prithviraj Chauhan died in 1192, with his death a period of bravery, courage, patriotism and principles came to an end. Prithviraj Raso of Chand Bardai and Prithviraj Vijay of Jayanak have immortalized deeds of Prithviraj Chauhan.

Ascending the throne about 1177, the young Prithviraja inherited a kingdom that stretched from Sthanvishvara (Thanesar; once the capital of the 7th-century ruler Harsha) in the north to Mewar in the south. Within a few years, Prithviraja had personally assumed control of the administration, but, shortly after taking power, he was faced with a rebellion from his cousin, Nagarjuna, who asserted his own claim to the throne. The revolt was brutally crushed, and Prithviraja turned his attention to the nearby kingdom of the Bhadanakas. The Bhadanakas had been a persistent threat to the Chauhan-held region around Delhi, but they were so comprehensively destroyed sometime prior to 1182 that they ceased to be mentioned in subsequent historical records.

In 1182 Prithviraja defeated Parmardin Deva Chandela, ruler of Jejakbhukti. Although the campaign against the Chandelas enhanced Prithviraja’s reputation, it added to the number of his enemies. It united the Chandelas and Gahadavalas (anther ruling family of northern India) and forced Prithviraja to increase military expenditures and vigilance on his southeastern frontier.