Chauhan

The Chauhans, whose name is the vernacular form of the Sanskrit Chahamana, were a great Rajput clan. In the Agnivanshi legend, the first Chauhan sprang from the sacrificial fire on Mount Abu to defeat demons. From the seventh century their main line, the Chahamanas of Shakambhari, held the Sambhar lake country and later Ajmer, ruling Rajasthan for some four hundred years.

Their king Prithviraj III and his romance with Sanyogita filled the epic Prithviraj Raso. In 1192 he was defeated and killed by Muhammad of Ghor at the Second Battle of Tarain, and Qutb al-Din Aibak's invasion of 1197 shattered the old kingdom.

Chauhan power lived on: Hammiradeva of Ranthambore defied Alauddin Khalji until his fort fell in 1301, while the Songara held Jalor and the Deoras founded Sirohi in 1311. Chauhan houses later ruled Bundi, Kota, Patna and Sambalpur.