Ajmer region
Encyclopedia
Ajmer is a historical region in central Rajasthan
, a central part of a big Chauhan
empire in 11-12th centuries.
The region includes a present day Ajmer district
and is bounded on the west by Marwar
, on the northeast by Dhundhar
, on the southeast by Hadoti
, and on the south by Mewar
regions.
The independent history of the region is closely connected to Chauhan
s, who ruled this part from 11 th till 14th centuries. Chauhan clan was one of the four main Rajput dynasties (Agnivanshis) of that era, the others being Pratiharas, Paramaras and Chalukyas.
One of the branches of Chauhans established themselves in the salt lake Sambhar area (in the Dhundhar
region). Sakhambari branch remained near lake Sambhar and married into the ruling Gurjar-Pratihara
, who then ruled an empire in Northern India.
The Chauhans later asserted their independence from the Pratihara
s, and in the early eleventh century, the Sakhambari king Ajaya-Raja founded the city of Ajayameru (Ajmer
) in the southern part of their kingdom, and in the mid twelfth century, his successor Vigraharaja enlarged the state, captured Dhilika
(the ancient name of Delhi) from the Tomaras and annexed some of their territory along the Yamuna River, including Haryana
and Delhi
.
In 12th century the Chauhans dominated Delhi, Ajmer, Ranthambhor. They were also prominent at Godwar
in the southwest of Rajputana, and at Hadoti
(Bundi
and Kota
) in the east. Chauhan politics were largely campaigns against the Chalukyas and the invading Muslim hordes.
The Chauhan kingdom became the leading state and a powerful kingdom in Northern India under King Prithviraj III
(1165–1192), also known as Prithviraj Chauhan or Rai Pithora. Prithviraj III
has become famous in folk tales and historical literature as the Chauhan king of Delhi who resisted the Muslim attack in the first Battle of Tarain (1191). Armies from other Rajput kingdoms, including Mewar
assisted him. The Chauhan kingdom collapsed after Prithviraj was defeated by Mohammed of Ghor in 1192 at the Second Battle of Tarain.
s, but the Chauhans remained in Ajmer as feudatories of Mohammed of Ghor and the Sultans of Delhi
until 1365, when Ajmer was captured by the rulers of Mewar
.
In 1509 Ajmer became a source of contention between the maharajas of Mewar and Marwar
, and was ultimately conquered by the Marwar ruler in 1532. Ajmer was lost to the Mughal emperor Akbar in 1559. It continued to be in the hands of the Mughals, with occasional revolts, till 1770, when it was ceded to the Maratha
s. From that time up to 1818 Ajmer was the scene of an ongoing struggle, being seized at different times by the Mewar and the Marwar maharajas.
for 50,000 rupees, and it became Ajmer-Merwara
Province. Since then Ajmer had enjoyed unbroken peace and stable governance.
The province consisted of the district
s of Ajmer
and Merwara, which were physically separated by the territory of Rajputana
Agency. Ajmer-Merwara was administered directly by the British Raj, by a commissioner who was subordinate to the governor-general
's agent for Rajputana. Ajmer-Merwara remained a province of India from independence in 1947 to 1950, when it became the state of Ajmer
.
, a noted Congress
leader, was the Chief Minister of Ajmer state from 24 March 1952 to 31 October 1956. Ajmer state was merged into Rajasthan
state on November 1, 1956. Kishangarh sub-division of erstwhile Jaipur district
was added to it to form Ajmer district
.
Rajasthan
Rājasthān the land of Rajasthanis, , is the largest state of the Republic of India by area. It is located in the northwest of India. It encompasses most of the area of the large, inhospitable Great Indian Desert , which has an edge paralleling the Sutlej-Indus river valley along its border with...
, a central part of a big Chauhan
Chauhan
Chauhan, Chouhan or Chohan , , - is a clan who ruled parts of northern India in the Middle Ages. The clan is most famous for Rajput King Maharaja Prithviraj Chauhan...
empire in 11-12th centuries.
The region includes a present day Ajmer district
Ajmer district
Ajmer District is a district of the state of Rajasthan in western India. The city of Ajmer is the district headquarters.Ajmer District has an area of 8,481 km², and a population of 2,180,526 ,Three main groups are; Hindu 1,869,044, Muslim 244,341, Jains 47,812...
and is bounded on the west by Marwar
Marwar
Marwar is a region of southwestern Rajasthan state in western India. It lies partly in the Thar Desert. In Rajasthani dialect "wad" means a particular area. The word Marwar is derived from Sanskrit word 'Maruwat'. English translation of the word is 'The region of desert'., The Imperial Gazetteer...
, on the northeast by Dhundhar
Dhundhar
Dhundhar is a historical region of Rajasthan state in western India. It includes the districts of Jaipur, Dausa, Sawai Madhopur, and Tonk and the northern part of Karauli District...
, on the southeast by Hadoti
Hadoti
Hadoti , is a region of Rajasthan state in western India...
, and on the south by Mewar
Mewar
Mewar is a region of south-central Rajasthan state in western India. It includes the present-day districts of Pratapgarh, Bhilwara, Chittorgarh, Rajsamand, Udaipur, Dungarpur, Banswara and some of the part of Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. The region was for centuries a Rajput kingdom that later...
regions.
Rule of Chauhans
The independent history of the region is closely connected to Chauhan
Chauhan
Chauhan, Chouhan or Chohan , , - is a clan who ruled parts of northern India in the Middle Ages. The clan is most famous for Rajput King Maharaja Prithviraj Chauhan...
s, who ruled this part from 11 th till 14th centuries. Chauhan clan was one of the four main Rajput dynasties (Agnivanshis) of that era, the others being Pratiharas, Paramaras and Chalukyas.
One of the branches of Chauhans established themselves in the salt lake Sambhar area (in the Dhundhar
Dhundhar
Dhundhar is a historical region of Rajasthan state in western India. It includes the districts of Jaipur, Dausa, Sawai Madhopur, and Tonk and the northern part of Karauli District...
region). Sakhambari branch remained near lake Sambhar and married into the ruling Gurjar-Pratihara
Pratihara
The Gurjara Pratihara , often simply called Pratihara Empire, was an imperial Indian dynasty that ruled much of Northern India from the 6th to the 11th centuries. At its peak of prosperity and power , the Gurajara-Pratihara Empire rivaled or even exceeded the Gupta Empire in the extent of its...
, who then ruled an empire in Northern India.
The Chauhans later asserted their independence from the Pratihara
Pratihara
The Gurjara Pratihara , often simply called Pratihara Empire, was an imperial Indian dynasty that ruled much of Northern India from the 6th to the 11th centuries. At its peak of prosperity and power , the Gurajara-Pratihara Empire rivaled or even exceeded the Gupta Empire in the extent of its...
s, and in the early eleventh century, the Sakhambari king Ajaya-Raja founded the city of Ajayameru (Ajmer
Ajmer
Ajmer , formerly written as Ajmere, is a city in Ajmer District in Rajasthan state in India. Ajmer has a population of around 800,000 , and is located west of the Rajasthan state capital Jaipur, 200 km from Jodhpur, 274 km from Udaipur, 439 km from Jaisalmer, and 391 km from...
) in the southern part of their kingdom, and in the mid twelfth century, his successor Vigraharaja enlarged the state, captured Dhilika
Delhi
Delhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census...
(the ancient name of Delhi) from the Tomaras and annexed some of their territory along the Yamuna River, including Haryana
Haryana
Haryana is a state in India. Historically, it has been a part of the Kuru region in North India. The name Haryana is found mentioned in the 12th century AD by the apabhramsha writer Vibudh Shridhar . It is bordered by Punjab and Himachal Pradesh to the north, and by Rajasthan to the west and south...
and Delhi
Delhi
Delhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census...
.
In 12th century the Chauhans dominated Delhi, Ajmer, Ranthambhor. They were also prominent at Godwar
Godwar
Gorwar or Godwad, is a region of Rajasthan state in India, which lies in the southwest Rajasthan and borders with the state of Gujarat.-Geography:...
in the southwest of Rajputana, and at Hadoti
Hadoti
Hadoti , is a region of Rajasthan state in western India...
(Bundi
Bundi
Bundi is a city and a municipality of approximately 88,000 inhabitants in the Hadoti region of Rajasthan state in northwest India. It is of particular architectural note for its ornate forts, palaces, and stepwell reservoirs known as baoris...
and Kota
Kota, Rajasthan
Kota , formerly known as Kotah, is a city in the northern Indian state of Rajasthan. It is located south of state capital, Jaipur. Situated on the banks of Chambal River, the city is the trade centre for an area in which millet, wheat, rice, pulses, coriander and oilseeds are grown; industries...
) in the east. Chauhan politics were largely campaigns against the Chalukyas and the invading Muslim hordes.
The Chauhan kingdom became the leading state and a powerful kingdom in Northern India under King Prithviraj III
Prithviraj III
Prithvi Raj III, commonly known as Prithviraj Chauhan , was a king of the Hindu Chauhan dynasty, who ruled the kingdom of Ajmer and Delhi in northern India during the latter half of the 12th century....
(1165–1192), also known as Prithviraj Chauhan or Rai Pithora. Prithviraj III
Prithviraj III
Prithvi Raj III, commonly known as Prithviraj Chauhan , was a king of the Hindu Chauhan dynasty, who ruled the kingdom of Ajmer and Delhi in northern India during the latter half of the 12th century....
has become famous in folk tales and historical literature as the Chauhan king of Delhi who resisted the Muslim attack in the first Battle of Tarain (1191). Armies from other Rajput kingdoms, including Mewar
Mewar
Mewar is a region of south-central Rajasthan state in western India. It includes the present-day districts of Pratapgarh, Bhilwara, Chittorgarh, Rajsamand, Udaipur, Dungarpur, Banswara and some of the part of Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. The region was for centuries a Rajput kingdom that later...
assisted him. The Chauhan kingdom collapsed after Prithviraj was defeated by Mohammed of Ghor in 1192 at the Second Battle of Tarain.
Ajmer after Prithviraj III
This failure ushered in Muslim rule in North India, the first of the enlightened Delhi SultanateDelhi Sultanate
The Delhi Sultanate is a term used to cover five short-lived, Delhi based kingdoms or sultanates, of Turkic origin in medieval India. The sultanates ruled from Delhi between 1206 and 1526, when the last was replaced by the Mughal dynasty...
s, but the Chauhans remained in Ajmer as feudatories of Mohammed of Ghor and the Sultans of Delhi
Delhi Sultanate
The Delhi Sultanate is a term used to cover five short-lived, Delhi based kingdoms or sultanates, of Turkic origin in medieval India. The sultanates ruled from Delhi between 1206 and 1526, when the last was replaced by the Mughal dynasty...
until 1365, when Ajmer was captured by the rulers of Mewar
Mewar
Mewar is a region of south-central Rajasthan state in western India. It includes the present-day districts of Pratapgarh, Bhilwara, Chittorgarh, Rajsamand, Udaipur, Dungarpur, Banswara and some of the part of Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. The region was for centuries a Rajput kingdom that later...
.
In 1509 Ajmer became a source of contention between the maharajas of Mewar and Marwar
Marwar
Marwar is a region of southwestern Rajasthan state in western India. It lies partly in the Thar Desert. In Rajasthani dialect "wad" means a particular area. The word Marwar is derived from Sanskrit word 'Maruwat'. English translation of the word is 'The region of desert'., The Imperial Gazetteer...
, and was ultimately conquered by the Marwar ruler in 1532. Ajmer was lost to the Mughal emperor Akbar in 1559. It continued to be in the hands of the Mughals, with occasional revolts, till 1770, when it was ceded to the Maratha
Maratha
The Maratha are an Indian caste, predominantly in the state of Maharashtra. The term Marāthā has three related usages: within the Marathi speaking region it describes the dominant Maratha caste; outside Maharashtra it can refer to the entire regional population of Marathi-speaking people;...
s. From that time up to 1818 Ajmer was the scene of an ongoing struggle, being seized at different times by the Mewar and the Marwar maharajas.
Ajmer-Merwara province
In 1818 the Marathas sold Ajmer to the BritishUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
for 50,000 rupees, and it became Ajmer-Merwara
Ajmer-Merwara
Ajmer-Merwara is a former province of British India in the historical Ajmer region. The territory of the province was ceded to the British by Daulat Rao Sindhia by a treaty on June 25, 1818....
Province. Since then Ajmer had enjoyed unbroken peace and stable governance.
The province consisted of the district
District
Districts are a type of administrative division, in some countries managed by a local government. They vary greatly in size, spanning entire regions or counties, several municipalities, or subdivisions of municipalities.-Austria:...
s of Ajmer
Ajmer
Ajmer , formerly written as Ajmere, is a city in Ajmer District in Rajasthan state in India. Ajmer has a population of around 800,000 , and is located west of the Rajasthan state capital Jaipur, 200 km from Jodhpur, 274 km from Udaipur, 439 km from Jaisalmer, and 391 km from...
and Merwara, which were physically separated by the territory of Rajputana
Rajputana
Rājputāna was the pre-1949 name of the present-day Indian state of Rājasthān, the largest state of the Republic of India in terms of area. George Thomas was the first in 1800 A.D., to term this region as Rajputana...
Agency. Ajmer-Merwara was administered directly by the British Raj, by a commissioner who was subordinate to the governor-general
Governor-General
A Governor-General, is a vice-regal person of a monarch in an independent realm or a major colonial circonscription. Depending on the political arrangement of the territory, a Governor General can be a governor of high rank, or a principal governor ranking above "ordinary" governors.- Current uses...
's agent for Rajputana. Ajmer-Merwara remained a province of India from independence in 1947 to 1950, when it became the state of Ajmer
Ajmer
Ajmer , formerly written as Ajmere, is a city in Ajmer District in Rajasthan state in India. Ajmer has a population of around 800,000 , and is located west of the Rajasthan state capital Jaipur, 200 km from Jodhpur, 274 km from Udaipur, 439 km from Jaisalmer, and 391 km from...
.
Ajmer state
In 1950, Ajmer state became a "Part C" state, governed by a chief commissioner appointed by the President of India. Haribhau UpadhyayaHaribhau Upadhyaya
Haribhau Upadhyaya was an Indian politician and an Indian independence activist. He was the Chief Minister of Ajmer state from 1952-56.-Life:He was born in 1892 at Bhonrasa village in present day Ujjain district of Madhya Pradesh...
, a noted Congress
Indian National Congress
The Indian National Congress is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Bharatiya Janata Party. It is the largest and one of the oldest democratic political parties in the world. The party's modern liberal platform is largely considered center-left in the Indian...
leader, was the Chief Minister of Ajmer state from 24 March 1952 to 31 October 1956. Ajmer state was merged into Rajasthan
Rajasthan
Rājasthān the land of Rajasthanis, , is the largest state of the Republic of India by area. It is located in the northwest of India. It encompasses most of the area of the large, inhospitable Great Indian Desert , which has an edge paralleling the Sutlej-Indus river valley along its border with...
state on November 1, 1956. Kishangarh sub-division of erstwhile Jaipur district
Jaipur district
Jaipur District is a district of the state of Rajasthan in western India. The city of Jaipur, which is Rajasthan's capital and largest city, is the district headquarters. It is the tenth most populous district in India .-Geography:...
was added to it to form Ajmer district
Ajmer district
Ajmer District is a district of the state of Rajasthan in western India. The city of Ajmer is the district headquarters.Ajmer District has an area of 8,481 km², and a population of 2,180,526 ,Three main groups are; Hindu 1,869,044, Muslim 244,341, Jains 47,812...
.