The Cambridge History of India, Vol. III: Turks and Afghans v3.c29.s2.42

v3.c29.s2.42

The operations of the Muslims after the second battle of Tarāorī, in 1192, have been described in Chapter III. Muhammad b. Sām marched at once on Ajmer, the Chauhān capital, and, after sacking the city and enslaving many of its inhabitants, appointed Govindarāja, the son of Prithvī Rāj, as its governor. According to the Muslim chroniclers the new raja was distasteful to his subjects by reason of his illegitimacy¹, but the truth was that he was a minor, and was not fit to contend with the enemies of his people. Harirāja, called Hemrāj by Muslim historians, who was the younger brother of Prithvī Rāj, accordingly deposed his nephew and usurped the throne. Govindarāja fled to the fortress of Ranthambhor, where, as will be seen, he carried on the line of his house, not without glory. He was succeeded by his son, Balhanadeva, who was reigning in 1215, and Balhanadeva was succeeded by his son Prahlād, who was killed by a lion. Vīra Nārāyan, Prahlād’s infant son, succeeded to the throne of Ranthambhor, and his uncle, Vagbhata, assumed the regency. The history of the Chauhāns of Ranthambhor will be resumed later.