The revolt of Hariraja at Ajmer

01Brother against the new order

Hasan Nizami’s Taj al-Maasir tells how Hariraja, whom it calls Hiraj, rose in arms, expelled Govindaraja from Ajmer and sent an army toward Delhi. Govindaraja took refuge at Ranthambore, where his descendants later ruled as a separate Chahamana branch. Aibak came against Hariraja with a strong force. Hariraja’s army was beaten in the field, and he was besieged in Ajmer. His general Jaitra, who had advanced on Delhi, was also driven back.

02The end at Ajmer

Rajput tradition and the later chronicles say that when defeat was certain, Hariraja and his household chose death by fire rather than captivity. Ajmer was then placed under a Muslim governor, and Govindaraja’s line ruled on from Ranthambore as tributaries. A generation later Hammir Dev of that same line would defy Alauddin Khalji there in 1301. Hariraja’s stand is remembered in Rajasthan as the last act of Prithviraj’s house at Ajmer, the city his ancestor Ajayaraja had founded early in the twelfth century.

Person · reigned 1283–1301 CEHammiradeva ChauhanThe last Chauhan king of Ranthambore turned back Jalaluddin Khalji in 1291, refused to hand over Mongol refugees to Alauddin Khalji, and died defending his fort in July 1301.Read →