Jaisal Singh

Jaisal Singh Bhati (1113–1168) was the founder and first ruler of the Kingdom of Jaisalmer. Singh was a Rajput chief of the Bhati clan who lived during the 12th century. A direct descendant of Rao Bhatti, the 3rd-century Hindu monarch and the common ancestor of the Bhati Rajputs, Singh rose to power in 1143 by defeating his nephew, Rawal Bhojdeo of Lodhruva, in battle and seizing his nephew's position as Rawal. In 1156, Singh founded the city of Jaisalmer and became the Rawal of the Kingdom of Jaisalmer. Singh's descendants ruled Jaisalmer as Rawal, and later as Maharawal, until India's independance in 1947. Through his other descendants, Singh is the direct ancestor of the Phulkian Dynasty and other notable families and individuals.

Ancestry
Jaisal Singh Bhati belonged to an ancient lineage. Singh was a direct descendant of Rao Bhatti, a 3rd-century Hindu monarch and the common ancestor of the Bhati Rajput clan. The first monarch in Singh's ancestry to have the title of Rawal was Devraj of Derawar, his ancestor in the 9th century. Devraj built the Derawar Fort in the modern-day Bahawalpur District, Punjab, in Pakistan.

According to some historians, Singh's ancestor was Shalivahana, a semi-legendary emperor. Shalivahana, according to some historical accounts, defeated the Indo-Scythians in a battle near the modern-day city of Multan in 78 CE. In commemoration of his victory, Shalivahana assumed the title 'Sakari', a title that meant 'foe of the Scythians'.

Mythological ancestry
Singh and his descendants also claim direct descent from Yadu, a mythological Hindu king who, according to Hindu mythological texts, founded the Yadu dynasty branch of the legendary Lunar dynasty.

Early life and rise to power
Jaisal Singh was born in 1113. His father Dusaj, was the Rawal of Lodhruva. After Dusaj's death, his younger brother Bijai Rai II was appointed Rawal over Jaisal and his other elder brother. Bijai Rai II married the daughter of King Jayasimha Siddharaja of the Chaulukya dynasty, and their son, Bhojdeo, succeeded his father as Rawal in 1143. In the same year, Singh began to conspire against his nephew Bhojdeo; however, Bhojdeo's personal guard of 500 Chaulukya warriors made it impossible for Singh to attack his nephew. Singh then allied with the Persianate Islamic Ghurid dynasty, who provided the forces Singh needed to attack Bhojdeo and his capital Lodhruva. In 1143, Singh, with the help of the Ghurid dynasty forces, sacked Lodhruva, and Bhojdeo died in battle.

Within the year of 1143, Singh had become the Rawal. However, Singh would later move his capital from Lodhruva as he found the area ill-defended.

Founding of Jaisalmer
In 1156, Singh founded the city of Jaisalmer and Kingdom of Jaisalmer. He also began the construction of Jaisalmer Fort in 1156.

Building Jaisalmer Fort
In 1156, Singh met a hermit named Eesaal, who told him a legend from the Hindu epic, Mahabharata. Eesaal told Singh that the Hindu deity Krishna, during the Kurukshetra War, wandered the desert with the Pandava Arjuna and prophesied that a citadel would be founded by a descendant of the Yadu dynasty on top of Trikuta Hill, a triple-peaked desert hill in what is now the modern-day city of Jaisalmer.

After hearing the legend, Singh decided to build a fort at that location and began the construction of Jaisalmer Fort in 1156. The name of the city of Jaisalmer and its fort is a combination of Jaisal's name and Mount Meru, a sacred mountain in Hindu, Jain, and Buddhist cosmology. Singh also chose Trikuta Hill for the location of Jaisalmer Fort because it would provide protection from other Bhati Rajput rivals and Muslims who had begun to make inroads into the Thar Desert. Jaisalmer Fort's construction was completed in 1171, three years after Singh's death.

Death and succession
Singh died in 1168 and was succeeded as Rawal by his son, Salbahan II. The construction of Jaislamer Fort was completed under Salbahan II.

Legacy
Singh was the founder of the Kingdom of Jaisalmer, which in 1818, became Jaisalmer State, a princely state in British India. Singh's descendants, who ruled the Kingdom of Jaisalmer and Jaisalmer State, held the title of Rawal until 1661, after which the ruler's title became Maharawal. His other direct descendants migrated to the region that became modern-day Punjab, Haryana, and Pakistan. Through his descendants that migrated, Singh is the direct ancestor of the royal families of Patiala, Nabha, Jind, Kapurthala, and Faridkot. Singh's descendants that had royal titles maintained them until 1971, when they were abolished in India by the 26th Amendment to the Constitution of India. Through Singh's descendants that were members of the Patiala royal family, he is also the direct ancestor of various members of the Khanna family.