Mewar is a region in the south-central part of Rajasthan in India. It includes the present-day districts of Bhilwara, Chittorgarh, Pratapgarh, Rajsamand, Udiapur, Pirawa of Jhalawar, Neemuch and Mandsaur in Madhya Pradesh and some parts of Gujarat.
The word ''Mewar'' is vernacular form of ''Medapata'', the ancient name of the region. The earliest epigraph that mentions it is a 996-997 AD inscription discovered at Hathundi (Bijapur).
Mewar was established around 530 AD, although the Mewar State, or Udaipur State was created in 734 AD. The various dynasties included the Moris, up to 734 AD, the Guhilas from 734-1303 AD and the Sisodias from 1326-1952 AD. The historical capitals included Nagda, Chittorgarh and Udaipur.
Bappa Rawal is considered the founder of the Mewar state. While his predecessors had enjoyed control over limited areas in the hilly regions in the west and southwest of Mewar, Bappa was the first ruler to expand the state close to the later boundaries. Bappa, who had his capital at Nagda (19 km north of Udaipur), extended his possessions by ousting Man Singh of the Mori (Maurya) clan from Chittor in 734 AD. He took on the title of ''Rawal''. The capitals included Nagda (734-948 AD), Ahar (948-1213 AD), Chittor (1213-1559 AD) and Udaipur (1559-1947 AD).
The rulers of Mewar were regarded as a powerful Rajput clan in India. The Sisodia Rajputs, traced their descend through Rama to Kanak Sen who ruled in the 2nd century AD. The clan is believed to have migrated to Chitor from Gujarat somewhere in the 8th century.
The Rajputs of Mewar resisted the Muslim invasions into India with great tenacity. In 1568, Akbar conquered Chittorgarh, the capital of Mewar.
Udaipur was founded by Maharana Udai Singh II in 1559 AD . To protect Udaipur from external attacks, Udai Singh built a six-kilometer-long city wall, with seven gates, namely Surajpole, Chandpole, Udiapole, Hathipole, Ambapole and Brahmopole.
In 1576 AD, Maharana Pratap, the ruler of Mewar fought the Battle of Haldighatti. Gogunda, Udaipur and Kumbalgarh were conquered by the Mughals.
However, through guerrilla warfare, Maharana Pratap recaptured western Mewar in the Battle of Dewair in 1582 AD. In 1606 AD, Amar Singh defeated the Mughals. In 1615 AD, after four decades of skirmishes, Mewar and the Mughals entered into a treaty under which Mewar territory under Mughal possession was returned in exchange for the Prince of Mewar attending the Mughal court and Mewar providing 1,000 horsemen.
Later, Mewar would also be called Udaipur after the name of the capital. The Maratha influence into Mewar started in 1725 AD and continued into the 1800s, and this resulted in Maharana Bhim Singh approaching the British. By 1818 AD a Treaty was concluded, and Udaipur became a British Princely State
Mewar became part of Rajasthan when India gained independence in 1947.
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