The Mori was a kingdom that ruled over southwestern Rajasthan and northern Malwa from the 7th century and for a period of about 120 years. They controlled the Chittor Fort. The Mori Rajputs were probably the most powerful power in this region before the rise of the Gurjara-Pratihara dynasty. They are considered as the branch of later Mauryans.

History

The Mori Rajputs are mentioned as one of the thirty-five branches of the Parmar Rajput clan by British scholars. Chitrangada Mori, a Mori Rajput ruler, laid the foundation of the fort of Chittorgarh.

A dynasty belonging to the Mori clan controlled the Chittor Fort and the surrounding region before the Guhila dynasty. The fort of Chittor was a well established citadel in the 8th century under the Moris. The Chittorgarh inscription dated 713 AD gives four names of Mori Rajput rulers of Chittor.

The Chittorgarh inscription dated 713 AD gives four names of Mori Rajput rulers of Chittor. Manuraja is identified with Māna, mentioned in the Chittorgarh Māna-sarovara inscription of 713 AD. Māna was described as the son of Bhoja. Māna's great - grandfather was named Maheśvara.

Bappa probably led the Mori campaign against the Arabs, which made him more famous than his overlord. Later, he either deposed Manuraja and became the king of Chittor with the help of the nobles or became the king after Manuraja died childless. The Moris were expelled from Chittorgarh by Bappa Rawal.

Defeat by the Arabs

According to C.K. Majumdar, the Moris were ruling at Chittor when the Arabs (mlechchhas) invaded north-western India around 725 CE. The Arabs defeated the Moris, and in turn, were defeated by a confederacy that included Bappa Rawal.

Decline of Mori Kingdom

King Maan Mori was defeated by Bappa Rawal. Bappa Rawal, defeated his maternal grandfather and captured the kingdom of Chittor. This event is mentioned in the Rajprashasti Abhilekh, in the epic Mahakavya, in Canto 3.

As per yet another saying, the last king of Mori Dynasty of Chittor was Maan Singh Mori who fought against Arabs (mlechchhas) invasion north-western India around 725 CE. Muhammad bin Qasim who was an Arab military commander in service of the Umayyad Caliphate, attacked Chittor via Mathura. Bappa Rawal, of guhilote (Sisodia) dynasty, was a commander in Mori army. After defeating Bin Qasim, Bappa Rawal obtained Chittor in dowry from Maan Singh Mori in 734 A.D. Then onwards Chittor is ruled by Sisodia Rajputs. Still descendents of Chitrangada Mori are surviving in the Malwa region of India.

See also

• List of Indian monarchs
• Chitrangada Mori
• Bapa Rawal