Born: 1149
Born In: Ajmer
Prithviraj Chauhan
(Rajput king of the Chauhan dynasty)
Maharana Pratap was a Hindu ruler of the Rajput confederacy of Mewar, located in the present-day state of Rajasthan. Renowned for his steadfast resistance against the Mughal emperor Akbar's attempts to conquer Mewar, he is revered as a hero in Rajasthan and across India. His father, Rana Udai Singh II, is often considered a less assertive ruler, but Maharana Pratap, in contrast, is celebrated as a courageous and valiant warrior who refused to submit to Mughal dominance. He tirelessly defended his land and people until his death. As the eldest son of Rana Udai Singh II, Maharana Pratap was the designated crown prince and displayed exceptional valor even during his father's reign. While some of Pratap’s brothers—Shakti Singh, Jagmal, and Sagar Singh—aligned themselves with the Mughal emperor Akbar, Pratap chose to resist Mughal pressures and refused to submit. Akbar sent six diplomatic missions to Maharana Pratap in an attempt to negotiate an alliance, but Pratap steadfastly rejected all overtures. The conflict between the Rajputs and the Mughals escalated into war. Despite being vastly outnumbered, Maharana Pratap displayed unparalleled bravery, most famously during the Battle of Haldighati in 1576, where his forces fought valiantly against the Mughal army. Although the Mughals won the battle, they could not capture Maharana Pratap or subjugate Mewar completely. Maharana Pratap died on January 19, 1597, and remains a symbol of resistance and honor. His birth anniversary (Maharana Pratap Jayanti) is celebrated annually as a festival on the 3rd day of the Jyestha Shukla phase in the Hindu calendar.
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