Medini Rai


Medini Rai or Medini Rao was one of Rana Sanga's most distinguished lieutenants. In his early years, Medini served the Malwa sultan and helped him consolidate his rule, but the sultan grew suspicious of Medini because of his rising power and asked the Sultan of Gujarat to destroy Medini Rai. Upon knowing of the betrayal, Medini asked Rana Sanga for help and together with the Rana he defeated the Malwa-Gujarat armies and became the rajah of Eastern Malwa, under the over lordship of Rana Sanga. The Sultan of Malwa was captured and released after six months by Rana Sanga. The capture of Chanderi shocked the court of Delhi as they were not expecting the Rajputs to invade Malwa. This led to several skirmishes and battles between the Lodi Empire and the Kingdom of Mewar. Medini Rai actively helped Rana Sanga in these battles and helped him score a series of victories. Rana Sanga's influence after the war extended to Pilia Khar, a river on the outskirts of Agra. He assisted Rana Sanga in many campaigns against the Sultans of India. Medini Rai was later killed in the Battle of Chanderi against the Mughal emperor Babur, where he was given a chance to surrender but chose to die and remain loyal to the Rana.
Babur offered Medini Rao Shamsabad in exchange for Chanderi. But Medini Rao spurned the offer, and preferred to die fighting.