Raj Singh I

Raj Singh I (24 September 1629 – 22 October 1680), was the Maharana of Mewar Kingdom (r. 1652–1680).

Reign

During the Mughal war of Succession, all the Mughal Princes including Aurangzeb requested him to send contingents in their support but Maharana remained aloof. Raj Singh ignored repeated demands for assistance from Aurangzeb. Instead he embarked on his own expeditions using pretence of a ceremonial "Tikadar", traditionally taken in enemy land. The Maharana swooped down on various Mughal posts in May 1658. Levies were imposed on outposts and tracts like Mandal, Banera, Shahpura, Sawar, Jahazpur, Phulia etc which were then under Mughal control, and some areas were annexed. He next attacked pargana of Malpura, Tonk, Chatsu, Lalsot and Sambhar. He plundered these areas and triumphantly returned with spoils to Udaipur.

Raj Singh in 1659 attacked Dungarpur, Banswara and Devaliya who were originally under Mewar rule but later became independent states under Mughal suzerainty. These rulers accepted the suzerainty of Mewar.

Raj Singh opposed Aurangzeb multiple times, once to save the Kishangarh princess Charumati from the Mughals and once by denouncing the Jizya tax levied by Aurangzeb. Shivaji had once taunted Aurangzeb by telling him to ask the Rana of Mewar for Jizya if he had the guts, instead of terrorising unarmed citizens. Rana Raj Singh is also known for giving protection to the Shrinathji idol of Mathura, he placed it in Nathdwara. No other Hindu ruler was ready to take the image in his kingdom as it would mean to oppose the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, who was the most powerful man in Asia at that time.

The Rana gave aid to Durgadas Rathore during the Rathore rebellion and fought many battles against Aurangzeb as he was the maternal uncle of Ajit Singh of Marwar. Rana was eventually poisoned by his own men who were bribed by the Mughal Emperor. He was succeeded by his son Jai Singh who continued his father's war against Aurangzeb.