Pratap Singh of Jaipur

Sawai Pratap Singh (2 December 1764 – 1 August 1803) was the Kachwaha Rajput ruler of the Kingdom of Jaipur. He was brought on the throne by his mother Maji Chundawatji after the suspicious death of his elder full brother Sawai Prithvi Singh II in 1778.He is known for constructing the magnificent Hawa Mahal in Jaipur in the year 1799. [1]

Sawai Pratap Singh
Maharaja Sawai of Amber
Reign1778 – 1803
PredecessorPrithvi Singh II
SuccessorJagat Singh II
Born2 December 1764
Jaipur, Jaipur Kingdom, Rajputana
Died1 August 1803(1803-08-01) (aged 38)
Jaipur, Jaipur Kingdom, Rajputana
SpouseRathorji Gulab Kanwarji from Ratlam

Jadonji Indra Kanwarji of Karauli

Sisodiniji Chatra Kanwarji of Bagore in Mewar

Tanwarji Nawal Kanwarji of Patan in Jaipur

Bhatiyaniji Fateh Kanwarji of Jaisalmer

Gaurji Lal Kanwarji of Sheopur in Malwa

Jhaliji Taj Kanwarji of Dhrangadhra in Gujarat

Hadiji Vichitra Kanwarji of Bundi

Rathorji Abhai Kanwarji of Jodhpur-Marwar
IssueJagat Singh

Chand Kanwarji (died young)

Anand Kanwarji m.to Maharaja Bhim Singh of Marwar

Suraj Kanwarji m.to Maharaja Man Singh of Marwar
HouseKachwaha
FatherMadho Singh I
MotherChundawatji Kundan Kanwarji d.of Rawat Jaswant Singhji of Devgarh in Mewar

Biography edit

Sawai Pratap Singh was born as a younger son of Sawai Madho Singh I on 2 December 1764 . Pratap Singh became the Maharaja at the age of 14 after the death of his elder full brother Sawai Prithvi Singh II. He ruled from the year 1778 to 1803. His 25-year rule witnessed many spectacular achievements and strategic failures. Being constantly goaded by the Marathas and the Mughals, he had to face repeated threats and a heavy drainage of funds by the former.

The fountains behind the Govind Dev temple are credited to him, his poetic talent and patronage of arts and crafts. During his time, the art of paintings reached its peak. By the time of his ascension to the throne, the Mughal Empire was almost in shambles and the artists were fleeing the once imperial capital of Empire i.e Delhi. Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh gave them patronage and they came and settled in Jaipur. It was these artists who brought recognition to the Jaipur school of painting.

 
The Hawa Mahal was constructed by Pratap Singh.

The finest example of his connoisseurship is the unique architectural marvel Hawa Mahal (the palace of the Winds) and few rooms of the City Palace , which he got constructed. A large number of scholarly works were produced during his time. He himself was a good poet and wrote poems in Braj Bhasha and Dhundari language under the pen name of Brijnidhi.

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Pratap of Jaipur".