Dalpat Shah
Dalpat Shah was the 49th ruler of the Garha Kingdom, which controlled the Indian region of Gondwana. His reign was very short, he died shortly, maybe three years after marrying Rani Durgavati, a Chandela princess, in 1542. His father was Sangram Shah, the 48th and greatest ruler of the Garha Kingdom.
| Dalpat Shah | |
|---|---|
| Reign | (1532-1550) |
| Predecessor | Sangram Shah (1482-1532) |
| Successor | Rani Durgavati (1550-1564) |
| Spouse | Rani Durgavati (1550-1564) |
| Issue | Vir Narayan |
| Dynasty | Garha Kingdom dynasty |
| Father | Sangram Shah (1482 –1532) |
He is best known as the husband of Rani Durgavati,[1] known for her bravery and for defending the kingdom against the forces led by Asaf Khan I and sent by the mighty Mughal emperor Akbar.
Biography
Dalpat Shah was the eldest son of the 48th and greatest Gond ruler, Sangram Shah. When he was a brave young lad, he always went out hunting with his father, and Sangram Shah (his father) was impressed with his skill and courage each time. Durgavati, a brave and beautiful princess of a minor branch of the Chandelas of Jejakabhukti which ruled at Mahoba, and whose father was Keerat Rai. Sangram Shah felt that his Dalpat should be married to a princess of very high qualities, equal to Dalpat. He then felt that Durgavati, the princess of Mahoba, was the ideal bride for his eldest son, and sent a proposal to Keerat Rai, asking for the princess's hand. But Keerat Rai was enraged on reading the letter, because he did not like the idea of a princess of the famous Chandela Dynasty to marry a Gond. But then princess Durgavati secretly sent a letter to prince Dalpat on learning about this, inviting him to even take her by force if her father would not agree.[2]
Then, Dalpat, along with an army, marched to Mahoba, and Keerat Rai himself came at the gates of his city and surrendered without even putting up a fight. Then Dalpat took her to Singhorgarh, the Gondi capital, and married her, in 1542.[3]
References