Rani Karnavati, also known as Rani Karmavati, was a legendary queen of Mewar in Rajasthan, India. She is particularly remembered for her bravery.
Rani Karnavati, also known as Rani Karmavati, was a princess from Bundi, India, and the wife of Rana Sanga of Mewar. She was the mother of Rana Vikramaditya and Rana Udai Singh, and the grandmother of Maharana Pratap. After Rana Sanga’s death, she served as regent from 1527 to 1533 during her son’s minority.
Known for her fierce spirit, Rani Karnavati defended the fort of Chittor against the Gujarat army led by Bahadur Shah. Despite having only a small contingent of soldiers, she resisted bravely. When the fort fell, she chose to perform Jauhar (self-immolation) to protect her honor rather than flee. Her bravery and sacrifice are remembered as symbols of Rajput valor and dedication to honor.
After Babur captured the throne of Delhi in 1526 AD, Rana Sangram Singh, also known as Rana Sanga of Mewar, led a coalition of Rajput kings against him in an attempt to reclaim the throne. Initially, the Rajputs succeeded in pushing back Babur’s army in the Battle of Bayana, but they were ultimately defeated in the Battle of Khanua due to Babur’s superior tactics, cannons, and artillery.
Following Rana Sanga’s death, Rani Karnavati took up the regency on behalf of her elder son, Vikramaditya, who was a weak ruler. During her regency, Mewar was attacked again by Bahadur Shah of Gujarat, who had previously defeated Vikramaditya. This renewed threat greatly concerned Rani Karnavati.
The nobles, disillusioned with Vikramaditya’s leadership, were initially reluctant to fight. However, Rani Karnavati appealed to their sense of honor and persuaded them to defend Mewar, even if not for Vikramaditya. The nobles agreed on the condition that Vikramaditya and his younger brother, Udai Singh, be sent to Bundi for their safety. According to some legends, Rani Karnavati also sent a Rakhi to Mughal Emperor Humayun, asking for his help by invoking the brother-sister bond. While this story has linked her to the festival of Raksha Bandhan, modern historians like Satish Chandra consider it more a fable than a historical fact.
Rani Karnavati agreed to send her sons to Bundi under the care of her trusted maid Panna Dai. Despite the nobles’ valor, the Sisodia forces were outnumbered, and the battle was lost. Bahadur Shah entered Chittorgarh and ransacked it for the second time.
Realizing that defeat was inevitable, Rani Karnavati and the noble ladies of the court performed Jauhar (self-immolation) on March 8, 1535 AD, to protect their honor. The men donned saffron robes and fought to the death in an act of Saka. This was the second of the three Jauhars performed at Chittor.