Rathors Or Gahawars (1090

The Rathors or Gahawars ruled over Kanauj for more than a century (1090 -1194 CE.) The founder of this dynasty was Chandradeva. His kingdom included Banaras, Ayodhya and Kanauj. Govindachandra, grandson of Chandradeva, enjoyed long reign (1112 – 1155 CE) and succeeded in restoring the glory of the Kanauj kingdom. He was succeeded by Vijayachandra. He drove out Amir Kushro from Lahore. The last great ruler of this dynasty was Jaichandra well known in popular legend as Raja Jaichand (1170-1194).

Background

Rathors of Kanauj governed North India mainly in the 12th century.
This dynasty hails from Utter Pradesh’s Banaras (Varanasi) and Oudh (Ayodhaya).
They eventually settled in Kanauj, which became medieval India’s political centre.
The Rathore kingdom grew till it reached Delhi, then went east to Bihar’s Patna and Munjar regions.
Yashovigraha of Rathors of Kanauj was a powerful and foresighted monarch but Chandradeva was the real founder of Rathors of the Kanauj dynasty.
Govinchandra was the greatest ruler of this dynasty and during his time, Rathors reached at the peak of power.
He ruled for a long time (1112–1155) and was successful in restoring the Kanauj kingdom’s splendour.
Jaichanda was the last great ruler of this dynasty and killed by Muhammad of Ghori after that Rathors of Kanauj fell down.

Important Kings of Rathors of Kanauj Dynasty

Yashovigraha

He was a powerful and foresighted monarch with well-thought-out policies.
‘Maharaja Dhiraj’ and ‘Parambhattark’ were his titles.
In order to secure the empire, he formed alliances with Muslims and paid tributes.
His reign focused mostly on creating and safeguarding the empire for future generations.

Mahichandra

He was the son of Yashovigraha and proved as a weak ruler.
Mahichandra could not reign on his own because he lacked the traits of a strong monarch like his father.
He was also named ‘Mahipala’ or ‘Mahitala’.

Chandradeva

He was the real founder and first independent ruler of Rathore of Kanauj dynasty.
He was also known as ‘Parmeshwar’.
The Rathors of Kanauj had expanded their dominion to include Ayodhaya, Varanasi, and Kannauj by the time of Chandradeva.
Chandradeva gained popularity after defeating Samanta Gopala and Panchala in a tough fight.
He defended the holy sites of Kusika (Kannauj), Kashi, and Dttara Kosala (Ayodhaya) against Muslim invaders.
During his reign, the kingdom was able to spread its wings and reach Khusi, North Kisala, and Indraprastha.

Madanpala

He ruled with the aid of a five-member committee.
During his reign, he was successful in suppressing the Muslim invasion.
He also defeated Rampala of the Pala Dynasty in battle.
He withdrew in 1109 AD due to his poor health and died in 1114 AD.

Govinchandra

During his lifetime, he primarily served as an administrator for his father Madanpala, yet he rose to become the Dynasty’s most powerful king.
He faced an invasion by Muslims, yet he was able to overcome all obstacles because to his abilities and knowledge.
During his reign, he was known as a “policy maker” and a “brave” monarch who protected Varanasi from Masud’s onslaught.
He was known as ‘Hari Bhakt’ and was worshipped in Varanasi’s temples.
He is also referred to as ‘Hari Bhagwan’ in the Sarnath description.
During his lifetime, there were several religious developments.
Even Muslims were free to practise their faith.
He married ‘Kumardevi,’ a Buddhist girl.
He extended his kingdom to the Yamuna’s outskirts.

Vijaychandra

He joined as an administrator and later became the ruler of dynasty.
During his tenure, Muslims had become stronger and attacked the Kanauj continuously.
As a result, the dynasty started to decline.

Jaichanda

He was the last great ruler of this dynasty.
Due to his inability to unite with other Hindu Rajputs, he lost parts of his kingdom to Muhammad Ghori.
And finally, he was killed in the battle of Chandwar in 1194 A.D. by Muhammad of Ghori.
Some historians have harsh comments for him because of his role in the conflict between Mohammad Ghori and Prithviraj.
He had previously supported Mohammad Ghori in his fight against Prithviraj.

Harish Chandra

He was the son of Jaichandra and the last ruler of the Rathors of Kanauj Dynasty.
Much information concerning his abilities, whether he was an independent king or not, is unavailable.
However, the Rathors of Kanauj Dynasty came to an end after his brief reign, and Muslims seized over.

Conclusion

In the medieval era, Kanauj stood as a significant political hub, witnessing numerous battles that shaped its destiny. Among the ruling dynasties, the Rathors of Kanauj held sway from the latter half of the eleventh century to the close of the twelfth century. The zenith of their dominance was realized under the rule of Govinchandra. However, the kingdom faced a formidable challenge during the late 12th century raids led by Muhammad Ghori. These incursions laid bare the internal vulnerabilities of the Rathors of Kanauj, ultimately leading to the downfall of their once-mighty kingdom.

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