Hammir was the third son of his father Jaitra Singh. Being the most capable of all the sons, his coronation ceremony was conducted by Jaitra Singh during his lifetime itelf in 1282 CE. After gaining control of administration Hammir followed the Digvijaya policy till 1288 and extended the fronteirs of his kingdom. He released various conquered states after procuring wealth from them.
After Digvijaya, Hammir organised Koti Yajnas which increased his reputation. By defeating the Mewar ruler Samar Singh, Hammir established his awe in the entire Rajasthan. Hammir and Alauddin Khilji In 1296 CE, Alauddin Khilji assassinated his uncle Jalaluddin Khilji and beame the Sultan of Delhi. After few years, Alauddin Khilji started attacking upon Ranthambore, the reasons of which were as given below
1. Ranthambore was strategically very important. Alauddin Khilji wished to occupy this invincible fort and dominate the Rajput kings.
2. Ranthambore was situated quite close to Delhi. Due to this, Alauddin Khilji could not bear the increasing power of the Chauhans of this region.
3. Before Alauddin Khilji, his uncle Jalaluddin Khilji had made efforts twice to occupy this fort but he had remained unsuccessful. Alauddin Khilji wished to avenge the failure of his uncle.
4. Alauddin Khilji was an ambitious and imperialistic ruler. The attack upon Ranthambore was the result of this policy.
Protection to the Rebels of Alauddin Khilji by Hammir Dev: According to Nayanchandra Suri’s ‘Hammir Mahakavya’, one reason for attack upon Ranthambore was that its ruler Hammir had given protection to Alauddin Khilji’s rebel commander Mir Muhammad. Muslim historian Isami has also confirmed this reason in his description. He has written that in 1299 CE, Aladuddin Khilji had sent his two commanders Ulugh Khan and Nusrat Khan to invade Gujarat.
After conquering Gujarat when the army was returning, then on the issue of division of booty the ‘Nav Muslims (Mongols who had settled in India during the reign of Jalaluddin Firoz Khilji and had accepted Islam as their religion) revolted near Jalore. Although the rebels were barbarically suppressed yet out of them Muhammad Shah and his brother Kamru were successful in running away from there and reaching Ranthambore ruler Hammir.
Hammir not only provided them protection, but also conferred the Jagir of ‘Jagana’ upon Muhammad Shah. According to Chandrashekhar’s composition ‘Hammir Hath’, Muhammad Shah had fallen in love with a Maratha wife of Alauddin Khilji and they both became united and framed a conspiracy to eliminate Alauddin Khilji.
As Alauddin Khilji got information about this conspiracy in due time, efforts were made to imprison Mir Muhammad Shah, but he fled away and reached Hammir’s haven. From Alauddin Khilji’s side, a demand was made to hand over these rebels.
When Hammir rejected this demand, the army of Alauddin Khilji attacked Ranthambore. Initial Success of Hammir In the end of 1299 CE, Alauddin Khilji sent an army under the joint leadership of Ulugh Khan, Alap Khan and Nusrat Khan to occupy Ranthambore. This army occupied Jhain Fort named name ‘Ranthambore Ki Kunji’. According to Isami after this conquest Ulugh Khan changed the name of Jhain to ‘Nau Shahar’.
It is written in ‘Hammir Mahakavya’at that time Hammir had just completed the Koti Yajna and was busy in ‘Muni Vrat. Due to this he did not proceed himself instead he sent his two commanders-Bhim Singh and Dharam Singh to confront the enemy. Both these commanders ousted the Khilji’s army backwards and seized the looted goods. The Rajput army violently attacked upon the army of the enemy in which the army of Alauddin Khilji had to face defeat.
Under the leadership of Dharam Singh one group of the army returned to Ranthambore along with the booty looted from the royal army, while Bhim Singh lagged behind. Taking advantage of this opportunity, the scattered royal army attacked upon him under the leadership of Alap Khan. In this struggle, Bhim Singh was killed along with hundreds of his supporters.
The appointment of Bhojraj as new minister-Hammir held Dharam Singh responsible for the death of Bhim Singh and blinded him and made Bhojraj as the new minister. Bhojraj could not control the disfigured situation of Ranthambore and he soon became unpopular. In such condition, Dharam Singh convinced Hammir of increasing the revenue of the kingdom and reoccupied his earlier titles.
Dharma Singh wished to avenge his insult and he imposed several taxes on the subjects and started to collect them forecefully. Due to this, dissatisfaction increased among the people. On the other hand, Bhojraj got angered as he was debarred from the services of Hammir and so he went away to Alauddin Khilji’s court. He started to induce the Sultan to invade Ranthambore.
Though Sultan sent his army to conquer Ranthambore, the Chauhan army defeated the royal army badly in the battle which took place in the Valley of Hinduvat. After getting information about this insulting defeat, the Sultan sent a massive army under the leadership of Ulugh Khan and Nusrat Khan. This army occupied the Jhain fort. After conquering Jhain, Ulugh Khan resent the message of Alauddin Khilji via an ambassador named Mehalnasi in the court of Hammir.
In this message, demand was made to hand over both the rebels – Muhammad Shah and Kamru and as well the hand of Hammir’s daughter Devaladevi for the Sultan. Although Devaladevi suggested to accept this offer for the protection of the kingdom yet Hammir chose the option of struggle. Ulugh Khan surrounded the fort of Ranthambore and built Pashibs and Gargachs on all the four sides and showered stones upon the fort keepers through Magrabs.
In the fort also various Bhairav Yantras, Thikuliya and Makrati Yantras were installed to shower stones, through which one stone that was thrown incidentally hit Nusrat Khan. Nusrat Khan got injured and after a few days, he died. Due to this, the royal army got desperate. Taking due advantage of this situation, Hammir came out of the fort and attacked upon the royal army.
Due to this sudden attack, upset Ulugh Khan was forced to move back from Jhain’s side. Alauddin’s reaching Ranthambore and occupying Ranthambore After the failure of Ulugh Khan, Alauddin Khilji himself reached Ranthambore. In his composition ‘Khazain – Ul – Futuh’, Amir Khusrau has depicted the eye witnessed description of this compaign and has said that – In this invasion, the Sultan took assistance from Pasheb, Magrabi and Arradaa.
After several efforts when Alauddin Khilji remained unsuccessful in conquering the fort, he resorted to treason and diplomacy and sent an offer of reconciliation to Hammir. For this treaty, Hammir sent his commander Ratipal. Alauddin Khilji tempted Ratipal and with his assistance antoher commander of Hammir named Rannal to grant them the fort of Ranthambore and got their favour.
In Chauhan compositions, it has been mentioned that Alauddin won the favour of one of the officers of Hammir and adulterated the food present in the fort. Due to this, severe crisis of food emerged in the fort. In this context, Amir Khushru has written that “In exchange of two grains of gold, not even one grain-rice was available.” Due to lack of food, Hammir was forced to get out of the fort but due to the betrayal of Ranmal and Ratipal, he had to face defeat.
During the battle, Hammir died while confronting the enemy while the brave Rajput women performed Jauhar under the leadership of his queen Rangdevi. According to Jodhraj’s composition ‘Hammir Raso’, in this Jauhar, the women of Muhammad Shah were also burnt along with Rangadevi. At some places, it is mentioned that Rangadevi had performed ‘Jal Jauhar’ in ‘Padmala Pond’ situated in the fort.
In this way Alauddin Khilji occupied Ranthambore on 11th July 1301 CE. In the battle, Mir Muhammad became injured while fighting from Hammir’s side. As Alauddin Khilji noticed the injured Muhammad Shah, he questioned “If you are cured, what will you do ?” At this Muhammad Shah bravely assured, “Firstly I would kill you and secondly, I will enthrone a successor of Hammir on the throne of Ranthambore.” Alauddin got extremely angered at this answer and he got Muhammad Shah assasinated by crushing him under the feet of elephants.
