Prithviraj Chauhan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Prithviraj Chauhan |
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Statue of Prithviraj Chauhan at Ajmer
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| Ruler of Sapadalaksha | |
| Reign | c. 1177–1192 CE |
| Predecessor | Someshvara |
| Successor | Govindaraja IV |
| Born | 1166 CE Gujarat |
| Died | 1192 (aged 25–26) Ajmer |
| Spouse | Sanyogita |
| Dynasty | Chahamanas of Shakambhari |
| Father | Someshvara |
| Mother | Karpuradevi (Kalachuri Princess) |
| Religion | Hinduism |
Prithviraj Chauhan, also known as Prithviraja III, was a powerful king from the Chauhan dynasty. He ruled a large area called Sapadalaksha, with his capital city at Ajmer in what is now Rajasthan, India. He became king in 1177 CE when he was only about 11 years old.
Prithviraj Chauhan was known for his military skills. He expanded his kingdom by fighting against neighboring rulers. One of his most famous victories was against the Ghurid army led by Muhammad of Ghor in the First Battle of Tarain in 1191 CE. However, Muhammad Ghori returned in 1192 CE and defeated Prithviraj in the Second Battle of Tarain. Prithviraj was captured and later died. His defeat was a major event in the history of India.
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Learning About Prithviraj Chauhan
Most of what we know about Prithviraj Chauhan comes from old stories and poems. There are not many official records from his time. Some important writings include Prithviraja Vijaya and Prithviraj Raso.
Prithviraja Vijaya was written during Prithviraj's reign. Prithviraj Raso was written later and tells many exciting, but sometimes exaggerated, stories about him. These old texts help us understand his life, but historians also check them against other facts to get the full picture.
Prithviraj's Early Life
Prithviraj Chauhan was born in 1166 CE in Gujarat. His parents were King Someshvara and Queen Karpuradevi. He had a younger brother named Hariraja.
Ancient texts say that Prithviraj was very well-educated. He learned many languages and studied subjects like history, math, medicine, and military skills. He was especially good at archery.
Becoming King
Prithviraj moved to Ajmer when his father became king. In 1177 CE, when Prithviraj was about 11 years old, his father passed away. Prithviraj then became king. Because he was so young, his mother, Queen Karpuradevi, helped manage the kingdom. She had a group of wise advisors to assist her.
Two important ministers during this time were Kadambavasa and Bhuvanaikamalla. Kadambavasa was the chief minister and helped with many military victories. Bhuvanaikamalla was a brave general and Prithviraj's uncle.
Historians believe Prithviraj took full control of the kingdom around 1180 CE.
Expanding the Kingdom
Prithviraj was a strong and ambitious ruler. He wanted to make his kingdom even bigger.
Dealing with Challenges at Home
One of Prithviraj's first challenges was a revolt by his cousin, Nagarjuna. Nagarjuna took over a fort called Gudapura. Prithviraj quickly gathered a large army and surrounded the fort. Nagarjuna escaped, but Prithviraj's army won the battle and took back the fort.
Prithviraj also defeated a group of people called the Bhadanakas. This victory happened before 1182 CE. The Bhadanakas controlled an area that included parts of modern-day Bhiwani, Rewari, and Alwar.
War with the Chandelas
Around 1182–1183 CE, Prithviraj fought against the Chandela king Paramardi, who ruled a region called Jejakabhukti (modern-day Bundelkhand). Prithviraj's army attacked and damaged the Chandela territory.
Old stories say that Prithviraj's army attacked the Chandela capital, Mahoba. The Chandela generals, Alha and Udal, were very brave. After some fighting, Prithviraj won and took control of Mahoba for a short time. However, the Chandela king Paramardi continued to rule his kingdom for many years after this battle.
Conflicts in Gujarat
Prithviraj also had conflicts with the Chaulukya (Solanki) kingdom of Gujarat, ruled by King Bhima II. There was a battle at Nagor around 1184 CE. Eventually, the two kingdoms signed a peace treaty around 1187 CE. This suggests that Prithviraj was successful in his campaigns, leading to a truce.
Rivalry with the Gahadavalas
To the east of Prithviraj's kingdom was the powerful Gahadavala kingdom, led by King Jayachandra of Kannauj. A famous legend says that Prithviraj fell in love with Jayachandra's daughter, Samyogita.
According to the story, Jayachandra held a special ceremony and did not invite Prithviraj. Samyogita, however, had heard about Prithviraj's bravery and wanted to marry only him. Prithviraj bravely went to Kannauj with his warriors and took Samyogita away. This event created a strong rivalry between the two kings. While this story is very popular, historians are not sure if it is entirely true.
Wars with the Ghurids
Prithviraj's kingdom faced a new threat from the west: the Ghurids, led by Muhammad of Ghor. The Ghurids had taken control of areas like Multan and Punjab. Muhammad of Ghor wanted to expand his empire further into India, which brought him into direct conflict with Prithviraj.
Muhammad of Ghor sent an ambassador to Prithviraj, asking him to give up fighting. When Prithviraj refused, Muhammad decided to go to war.
Hindu and Jain writings say that Prithviraj defeated Muhammad of Ghor many times before his final defeat. These might refer to smaller battles where Prithviraj's forces pushed back Ghurid raids.
First Battle of Tarain
In 1190–1191 CE, Muhammad of Ghor invaded Prithviraj's territory and captured a fort called Tabarhindah (modern Bathinda). Prithviraj, along with his allies, marched to meet the Ghurid army.
The two armies met at Tarain. Prithviraj's army, which included many horses and elephants, fought bravely and won a great victory. Muhammad of Ghor was injured and had to retreat. Prithviraj did not chase the retreating army far. He only took back the Tabarhindah fort after a long siege.
Second Battle of Tarain
After his defeat, Muhammad of Ghor returned to his capital, Ghazna, and prepared for revenge. He gathered a very large and well-trained army of horsemen. Prithviraj, however, did not seem to expect another major attack and was not fully prepared.
Muhammad of Ghor marched towards Prithviraj's kingdom again. Prithviraj managed to gather a large army, including over 100 Rajput rulers. However, he had lost some allies due to his earlier wars with other Hindu kings.
Muhammad Ghori used a clever trick. He pretended to agree to a truce and kept fires burning in his camp at night to make it seem like his army was still there. But he secretly moved most of his army away. Early in the morning, while Prithviraj's army was still sleeping, the Ghurids launched a surprise attack.
The Ghurid soldiers attacked and then pretended to retreat. Prithviraj's army chased them, becoming tired. Then, Muhammad Ghori brought out his fresh reserve forces and attacked the exhausted Rajput army. The Chahamanas suffered a huge defeat. Prithviraj tried to escape but was captured near Sirsa.
After this victory, Muhammad of Ghor captured Ajmer. He killed many defenders and destroyed temples in the city.
Prithviraj's Death
Most historical sources say that Prithviraj was taken to Ajmer, his capital. Muhammad of Ghor might have planned to let him rule as a king under Ghurid control for a short time. However, Prithviraj later rebelled and was killed.
After Prithviraj's death, Muhammad of Ghor placed Prithviraj's son, Govindaraja IV, on the throne of Ajmer as a ruler who would report to the Ghurids. But Prithviraj's younger brother, Hariraja, soon took back part of the kingdom from Govindaraja. Hariraja was later defeated by the Ghurid general Qutb al-Din Aibak.
Cultural Activities
Prithviraj Chauhan was a patron of scholars and poets. He had a special department for them, led by Padmanabha. Many talented poets and scholars were part of his royal court, including Jayanaka, who wrote Prithviraja Vijaya.
Prithviraj's Legacy
At its peak, Prithviraj's kingdom was very large, covering parts of modern-day Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Punjab. However, some historians believe his actual kingdom was smaller, and his military campaigns did not always lead to him taking over new lands permanently.
Only a few inscriptions from Prithviraj's reign have been found. These inscriptions help us confirm some events, like his invasion of the Chandela territory.
How Prithviraj is Remembered
Over time, Prithviraj Chauhan has become a legendary hero in India.
- Early stories from the 14th and 15th centuries, especially by Jain writers, sometimes showed him as a king who made mistakes that led to his downfall.
- However, the Prithviraj Raso and other later stories made him a great hero. He is often seen as a brave Hindu warrior who fought against Muslim invaders.
- He is sometimes called "the last Hindu emperor." While there were other strong Hindu rulers after him, his defeat was a very important moment that marked a big change in Indian history. His association with Delhi in later legends also made him a symbol of powerful Indian rule before the arrival of new empires.
Images for kids
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A statue at Qila Rai Pithora in Delhi
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The last stand of Rajputs, depicting the Second Battle of Tarain by Hutchinson & co
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Coins of Prithviraj Chauhan
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The cover of a Prithviraj Raso version published by the Nagari Pracharini Sabha
See also
In Spanish: Prithviraj Chauhan para niños
