Maldeo Rathore

Maldeo Rathore
Rao Maldeo Ji Rathore
Ruler of Marwar (now Jodhpur)
Reign	9 May 1532 – 7 November 1562
Predecessor	Rao Ganga
Successor	Chandrasen
Issue	Ram Singh Chandrasen
Father	Rao Ganga
Mother	Rani Padmavati

Rao Maldeo Ji Rathore (b.1511 – November 7, 1562) was an Indian ruler of Marwar, which was later known as Jodhpur (in the present day Rajasthan state of India). He was a scion of the Rathore clan. His father was Rao Ganga Ji and his mother was Rani Padmavati of Sirohi. Rao Maldeo fought in the Battle of Khanwa as a young prince, the defeat at Khanwa greatly weakened all the Rajput kingdoms in India but Marwar under Maldeo's rule turned into a strong Rajput Kingdom that resisted foreign rule and challenged them for northern supremacy. Maldeo refused to ally with either the Sur Empire or the Mughal Empire after Humayun regained control of north India in 1555. This policy was continued by his son and successor Chandrasen Rathore.

The then Muslim historian Ferishta calls him as the "most Potent Ruler of Hindustan".

The period of Rao Maldeo Ji's reign was marked by the paucity of a dominant power in northern India. He had made the wall of Jodhpur city. In 1540, Humayun fled into exile after being displaced by Sher Shah Suri as ruler of the Delhi sultanate. The Sisodia rulers of Mewar were yet to recover from their defeat at Khanwa in 1527. Maldeo used the opportunity to extend his territory. He annexed Bikaner, Merta, Jaitaran, Siwana, Jalor, Tonk, Nagaur and Ajmer. By regaining the territories of Jalor and Nagaur from Afghan occupation, Maldeo Rathore restored Hindu rule in the area and abolished the Jizya tax there. His boundary at Jhajhar was only about fifty kilometers from Delhi. Conflict between Maldeo and Suri became inevitable.