Hammiradeva

Hammiradeva
Hammira's palace at the Ranthambore Fort
king
Reign	1238-1301

Hammiradeva (r. c. 1283-1301), also known as Hammir Dev Chauhan in medieval vernacular legends, was an Indian king who ruled parts of present-day Rajasthan. He was the last king of the Chahamana (Chauhan) dynasty of Ranastambhapura (modern Ranthambore). He subjugated several neighbouring Hindu kings to expand his kingdom, which ultimately left him without allies against Alauddin Khilji, the Muslim Sultan of Delhi. Khilji's 1301 invasion of his kingdom resulted in his defeat and death.

Hammiradeva ascended the Chahamana throne sometime between 1283 and 1289 CE. He was the successor of Jaitrasimha (also known as Jaitra Singh in vernacular legends). The name "Hammira" is a Sanskritized form of the Arabic title Amir.Hammira Mahakavya, his biography by Nayachandra Suri, is a major source of information about his lfie.

The Balvan inscription of 1288 CE mentions that Hammira captured the elephant force of Arjuna II, the Paramara king of Malwa. The Hammira Mahakavya suggests that he also defeated Arjuna's successor Bhoja II. He also subjugated the Paramara branch of Abu.

He is said to have marched to Chitrakuta (Chittor). He raided several neighbouring Rajput territories, including Medapata (Mewar) and Vardhamanpura (modern Wadhwan).

Hammira's wars with fellow Hindu Rajputs ultimately left him without any allies against the Delhi Sultanate. He successfully resisted invasions by Jalal-ud-din and Ala-ud-din's general Ulugh Khan. But he was killed in an invasion led by Ala-ud-din Khilji in 1301.