The Prince of Mewar

Born on 16 March 1559 in the Kumbha Palace of Chittorgarh Fort, Bhanwar Amar Singh was the eldest son of Kunwar Pratap Singh (later Maharana Pratap) and Kunwarani Ajabdeh Punwar. As the first grandson of Udai Singh I, his birth prompted the Maharana's celebratory hunting expedition, during which a sage forewarned of impending danger. Heeding this, Udai Singh established a new palace by Lake Pichola, founding Udaipur as Mewar's capital.

Amar Singh exhibited extraordinary valour from a young age, inheriting his father's martial skills and his mother's reputed compassion. His training commenced early; according to James Tod's Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan, he participated in his first battle alongside Pratap at age eight. By ten, amid Chittorgarh's fall and familial divisions, he assumed responsibility for his siblings. Historical accounts recount his defence of the queens' entourage against enemy soldiers en route to Kumbhalgarh fortress.

He shared a close bond with his half-brother Chand Singh, son of Pratap's fifth wife, Phool Kanwar Rathore. Following Pratap's coronation as Rana and relocation to Kumbhalgarh, his birthplace, Amar Singh played key roles in diplomacy and war.

In 1575, amid repeated peace overtures with Akbar, Pratap sent the 16-year-old Amar, now Senapati of Mewar, to negotiate with Mughal commander Man Singh. A heated exchange ensued, with Amar challenging Man Singh's Rajput lineage, precipitating open conflict. Far from rebuke, Pratap praised his son's resolve.

Amar fought valiantly at the Battle of Dewair II (1582), where his spear pierced the armour of Mughal commander Sultan Khan, pinning him to the ground. Prince Salim (later Jahangir) noted in his memoirs Amar's unyielding resistance to treaties. He aided Pratap in capturing 17 of 18 Mughal strongholds, solidifying his status as heir apparent.

Around 1580, Amar married Princess Aarti Bai Chauhan of Bhilwara, niece of Pratap's third wife, Jasobai. In 1582, the family moved to Chavand; Pratap then arranged his marriage to a second cousin, the Princess of Gwalior and daughter of Shallavan Tanwar, whose family had perished in Mewar's wars. Their son, Karan Singh, was born on 7 January 1584.

As commander, Amar ordered the capture of a Mughal chief's wife and daughter after seizing their camp. Pratap rebuked him, affirming that Rajput honour precluded involving women in politics. Another incident, recorded in the Vir Vinod, stated the Maharana rebuking his firstborn when he overheard him agreeing to his new bride about the unnecessary hardship in the forest. The folklores are an odd contrast to his historical valour.

As Pratap's health declined, Amar managed administration and ascended as Maharana on 20 February 1597, reigning until his death on 26 January 1620 at age 61. He pursued Pratap's quest to reclaim Chittorgarh, though the 1615 campaign against Shah Jahan devastated Mewar's villages.

Pressured by the inept Karan Singh, Amar signed Mewar's first Mughal treaty on 5 February 1617. Its terms preserved dignity: no inter-house marriages with Mughals, no Mewar forces in imperial wars, and no Rana attending Mughal courts. Jahangir returned Chittorgarh to Mewar, which Amar endeavoured to restore, though public fear persisted. He established his capital at Amar Mahal, Udaipur, dying amid concerns over Karan's competence.

Contrary to misconceptions, Amar Singh I proved a worthy successor to Pratap, embodying Mewar's defiant legacy.

Sources:

Chittorgarh, the land of bravehearts, by Dharmender Kanwar
Maharana Pratap by Rima Hooja/Ram Sharma/ Shiv Gajrani/B N. Rana
War Strategy of Maharana Pratap by L.P. Mathur
Vir Vinod

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