Roxanne The Great

She was a Sixteen-year-old maiden among the captured natives of Bactria. He was the Emperor from Macedon, a young dreamer at twenty-eight. He had toppled their ruler and taken over their fort, hence she was a captive. She was always told about these situations by her father, who was a minor Baron and one of the high socialites in the king's court. Usually, the men who won would enjoy their victory by taking possession of their lands, wealth and women. She was old enough to be called one and dreaded the awaiting consequences.

All the women were lined up in the palace courtyards as per the new king's order. He was coming on an inspection, they said. All the women whispered among themselves. Some were saying he is coming to choose his prize, and after him will follow his generals and the rest of the army. Some said this emperor was kind and respected women. Her eyes blurred with tears. She wanted freedom. The ropes were too tight on her soft hands.

" Bow down to the Basileus of Macedon, Alexander III, son of Philip II, captives!"
With the guard's announcement, everyone was bowing before the figure that walked in. She could only see his royal red shoes and nothing more as he walked past her and announced, "Rise, women of Bactria. You are the respected mothers, sisters and daughters and not our slaves."
She looked up, and their eyes met.

His hazel eyes were fixed on hers in a surprised look. He continued his speech, but his eyes never left hers. " Someday I dream of conquering the world, and that day I want all my subjects to be happy with their Emperor. Do not fear me, but love me and support me, oh women of Bactria! I promise you respect and prosperity in return!"
Something told her that, unlike others with his power, he was not lying.
" Untie their ropes and give them a guest's welcome while I talk to their men."
He walked out, stealing a last glimpse at her and whispering to his general.

Back in the hall where the women were captive, they were given bread and wine. Everyone was blessing the new king for his act of generosity. She could not help remembering his warm stares.
"Roxanne, my dear! Have this delicious bread! What are you thinking?"
" Nothing, Meredith."
" I am sure it's something you can tell your friend dearly."
" Well, I may be wrong, but I think..."
Their conversation was interrupted by a guard.
" Lady Roxanne, the Baselius of Macedon wants to see you at his chambers." Her heart skipped a beat. Women were discussing whether maybe they were wrong about the emperor.

She made her way to his Chambers with the guard. He was sitting on a chair and having wine.
" So your name is Roxanne, and your father is a baron, they tell me."
She stood silent. Feet away. Bowing before the king.
" I saw you in the courtyard today, and I am mesmerised by your beauty." He sounded embarrassed at the confession. " I have been looking for a suitable wife, and I will send my proposal to your father soon. I want your consent before I do. Tell me if you are willing or if your heart belongs elsewhere?"
"My heart belongs to no one, My Lord. I am willing to do anything my father decides."
" Thank you! I am going on a conquest down south, and when I return, I shall make you mine, Roxanne."

A year passed by as the Emperor returned victoriously and sent a proposal and gifts to her father. He readily agreed to make his daughter the emperor's chief wife. The wedding followed. They travelled to Macedon together to meet his mother as his wife. Like her son, Olympias too was mesmerised by her beauty and humble nature. Before long, he wanted to start exploring further southeast to pursue his dreams.
" Roxanne, do you want to come with me on my next conquest and exploration? We can see the world together, my Love!"
" Where are we going, my Lord?" She, who had never travelled beyond her hometown in Bactria and the palaces at Macedon, was excited.
Seeing the childish delight on his young wife's face, he smiled. " To India. The land of natural treasures. The oldest and most spectacular of civilisations lie there. "

Alexander and Roxanne were painted by Pietro Rotari. Source: Wikipedia

They travelled together for years, to India and central Asia. He married two more royals, Daughters of an enemy he killed, but his heart and time belonged to Roxanne. She was his soul mate. He continued wars and conquests as she stayed in Babylon and Macedon, praying for him and waiting to see him. Four years had passed by since their marriage, and she was pregnant and with his mother under her care in Macedon. He did not know if the child was a son and heir or a princess.

News of his death arrived in Macedon when she was in her seventh month of pregnancy. People cried foul play by his trusted Generals. Confused and broken, Roxanne and Olympias sought refuge in each other. Two months later, a beautiful baby boy was born, an heir to the throne. She named him Alexander IV after his father. To protect her baby, all that she had left, she made an indecision under the influence of her husband's trusted people and killed his other two wives to protect her son. She killed them, knowing of their jealousy and intentions to harm her child, and threw their bodies in a well.

She, along with her infant and his mother, wandered in disguise for many years with the help of some trusted Generals and their families. But disaster followed as Olympias was assassinated when her child was only seven years of age, and she was forced to take shelter under the then-ruling General Cassandra with her child. Thinking she was safe, she stayed there for six years before being poisoned to death along with her thirteen-year-old son by the power-hungry son of Antipater, Cassandra.

All through her thirty-three years of life, she struggled to find a place beside her husband through his difficult dreams and to protect her son from traitors. She gave up her life supporting Alexander of Macedon to become Alexander the Great in history, yet people do not know her name or the sacrifices she made to maintain a life she never chose in the first place.

Uttara's Hope

This is part of the "Uttara Series" You will find under the Mahabharata. The series is also available on Wattpad. She was clad in white attire. Her churamani and jewellery were all taken away. She sat numbly in front of his dead body for a whole day, pregnant with his heir, looking at his face as though he was asleep. He had told her more than once that this day could come and that she had to protect their heir. He feared her future without him. That one day turned the fifteen-year-old Princess of Matsya into an aged lady. She became quiet and aloof. Her only concern now was her baby. Her baby wiggled in her womb. She remembered him saying, " I will always be with you." All she wanted now was a son like his father. But she knew all Hastinapur wanted was an heir to the throne. The war had ended five days after his death, and they were back in the palace of Hastinapur victorious. She, for the first time, entered her real in-laws' home, but without him. All sh...

Asuras are not Demons

Demons in the Abrahamic religion are not the same as Asuras of Hinduism. Originally deities of Iranian origin, they were seen in the tribal context as no different from Devas but as counterparts to maintain balance. In early epics and Puranas, asura meant a chosen leader of great capacity. Only later, perhaps due to the Iranian link, their image declined. It was with the Brahmanas that the sharp divide appeared: devas as divine, asuras as evil. Puranic myths demonised them mainly to assert the superiority and immortality of devas, while asuras were cast as symbols of the "other." Since Tribes still worshipped them and embraced their power of negativity, being important to balance, they soon became synonymous with tribes, which was not the case mythologically. There are instances of Bali or Ravana being Kshatriya or Brahmin Asuras and competent kings. Indian demonology itself is vast and layered, shaped by surviving tribes, each with unique myths. Celestial, aerial, and terres...

Maharana Pratap: The Sun of Mewar

Many of you have read my fan fiction as well as historical representations of the life and times of Maharana Pratap Singh of Mewar. I provided small details of his life in many articles. But never have I ever made a separate historical post on him. It is very difficult to put together his life without the help of folklore because historical evidence is scarce. This one was requested, and hence here it goes. Needless to say, this one is very special. This is a blend of history and folklore. Leave your love. ❤️ Background and Birth: The year was 1540. Mewar was under a cloud of uncertainty. Banbir, their ruler for four years now, was a very incompetent ruler who always spent his time in luxury, drinking and dancing with girls. The crown prince Udai Singh was rumoured to have been killed by him. Chittorgarh was in darkness. Around March 1540, Mewar once again saw hope as some trusted generals, along with Kunwar Udai Singh, attacked Chittorgarh, taking Banbir by surprise. He was soon ...

Sisodiya: Kings, Queens and Princes (1538 - 1597)

I am back with another History post, this time it is on the wives and sons of Rana Udai Singh II of Mewar, his son and heir Maharana Pratap and Rana Amar Singh. This is a continuation of the Sisodia Family History I posted some time back. The information has been taken from Annals of Mewar by James Todd, Maharana Pratap by B.N. Rana, and Maharana Pratap by Rima Hooja. Udai Singh II was the son of Ranisa Karnawati and Rana Sangram Singh. He was born on 4th August 1 522, at Chittorgarh and died on 28th February 1 572 at Gogunda . He was the Ruler of the Sisodia Dynasty. He is believed to have 56 sons and 2 5 wives, apart from the many insignificant queens in his Rani Mahal. Here is a list of his main queens and their sons. Maharani Jaivanta Bai Songara of Jalore was his chief queen and consort. Her son is Maharana Pratap. He was married to her before he went to war with Banbir, as her father, Akshayraj Rao, was a friend and ally of his father, Rana Sanga. Saj...

Nawab E Bengal

Background: Nawab Alivardi Khan was ruling Bengal at the peak of Nawabi rule, expanding his strong empire. He had successfully suppressed the Marathas and had given a strong message to the British East India Company’s rising influence at Calcutta. Highly aware of the British Colonial policies across the globe, Nawab Alivardi Khan was strict with his policies and stronghold over Murshidabad, the then capital of Bengal (including present-day Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Orissa, and Bangladesh). He had two daughters and no sons. Amina Begum was the elder one, followed by Ghaseti Begum. Amina had three sons with her husband and courtier, Ahmed Khan. The second son, Mirza Mohammad, fondly called Siraj-Ud-Daulah (light of the country)by his grandfather, was born in 1733C.E. He was his grandfather’s favourite because he was born while he won over the Marathas. Alivardi Khan never let the “fortune child” of the family out of his sight. Siraj grew up accompanying his g...

Mewar: Origin of Guhilots

Origin: Lord Rama had two sons, Labh and Kush . The Ranas of Mewar are descendants of the former. Labh had built his capital at Lah-Kot (Lahore) , and the branch from which the Mewar blue blood arrives resided there until Kanaksen (Often traced as the founder)moved to Dwarika, Saurashtra. "Sen" was used as a title term for many decades by this Suryavanshi clan until it later changed to "Dit" or "Aditya", names of the Sun. Aditya was changed to Guhilot permanently after the expulsion from Saurashtra when they settled in the Ahar valleys (Aravallis). The Sisodia clan sprang from a Prince of Chittoor who had killed a hard chase hare (sissoo in local dialect). The branch often used " Ranawat ", meaning "Royal Blood", as a title, but over time, Sisodia emerged as the retained branch name. Kanaksen wrestled dominance of the Parmar race and founded Birnagar in AD 144. Four generations hence, Vijay Sen ...

Teeja Saka Chittor Ra

23rd February 1568. The sun rose on the eastern horizon, not with the hope of a new day. But, with the horror of what was to follow. The first rays of the Sun God were met by the chants of “Jai Bhavani!” that echoed in the air of Chittorgarh. The Mewaris knew it was time. Four months back, when the Mughals camped at the base of the fort, a helpless Chittorgarh had watched. Rana Udai Singh had left with his closest aides to make the new city westwards, his capital. If rumours were to be believed, he had left behind a cavalry of 8000 soldiers, under Rao Jaimal of Merta and Rawat Patta of Kelwa, to look over the fort. He had also left behind some of his lesser queens and infant princes, as an assurance to the people that Chittorgarh was invincible. Their safety and hope had lived in Kunwar Pratap. Truth be said, they had already taken the Crown Prince as their King. Ever since Ranisa had left with him till he became the Senapati, he had time and again proved to be a better lea...

Prithviraj Chauhan: A Saga

Note: This piece is a work of fiction based on folklore and the Prithviraj Raso, an epic saga by Chand Bardai, who happened to be the court poet of Prithviraj Chauhan. The dates corresponding to wars, names of people and places are, however, historically fact-checked from various sources, including the works of Todd (semi-historical), The Amir Khusrau and contemporary sources like R.C.Majumder. The incidents are fictionally woven. Rai Pithora Around the year 1140 A.D., Ajmer was ruled by Anangpal of the Tomara Dynasty. Delhi was the seat of power of the Sultanate, which was a constant power struggle for them. He managed to capture briefly most parts of west Rajputana, and present-day Haryana and Punjab were also part of his kingdom. The old king had a son and two daughters. His concern grew as his son Surya was not talented enough to rule Ajmer. His youngest daughter, Princess Karpuri Devi, was married to Someshwar Chauhan of the famous Chauhan clan. Their son, Rai Pithora, helped...

Charumati's Love

T his is written based on folklore. This is a representative work of fiction and does not claim any historical happening in the conversations. This is to show the spirit of the women of Rajputana. The year 1657. Shah Jahan had taken ill and was rumoured to be dying in Agra Fort. He was about eighty, and the pressure of having an empire had taken a toll on his body. The seat of power was slowly shifting from Agra to Delhi since the prominence of the Laal Quila had increased, and if the news spread was to be believed, his sons were in a battle for the throne already. It was time each king chose sides once again. Dara Sikhoh was the eldest and the righteous Heir to the throne. He was believed to be a man who held high morals and was hence respected by both enemies and allies as well. Aurangzeb was his sibling and the youngest of the brothers. Short-tempered and cunning, he was always dreaded by the court. As Shah Jahan took ill, Aurangzeb took this as a golden opportunity to wa...

Rani Padmini: The Valiant Queen

This story is a retelling of some parts of Malik Mohammad Jayasi's Padmavat, which was a historical fiction poem written in 1540, an odd 200 years after the siege of Chittorgarh by Allauddin Khilji. Historically, the Rajputs of Mewar didn't keep accounts of their queens, even by name, so the name Padmini or Padmavati was made up by Jayasi to represent the women of Chittor who chose the Jauhar. Historically speaking, Allauddin Khilji wanted the trade route to Surat for himself, which went through Mewar and Rana Ratan Singh, a patron of art, was not known for his military skills. So when Khilji surrounded the fort, the only way out was the Saka and Jauhar. Rani Padmini's Jauhar, as it is now popularly called, is also not the first Jauhar Khilji witnessed. The Jauhars of Ranthambore and Jaisalmer happened before he attacked Chittorgarh. Also, the act of Jauhar happened as early as the Greek invasions of Porus's state, when it is described as the "Mass immolation of Sa...

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