Maldeo Rathore

Rao Maldeo Rathore was a suryavanshi Rajput of the Rathore clan (kula). His father was Rao Ganga Singh and mother was Rani Padmavati of Sirohi. He ruled Marwar from 1532 to 1562. After the Mughal ruler Humayun, Babur's son, was defeated by beaten by Sher Shah, he was forced to leave India and Sher Shah became ruler of Delhi. The Sesodias of Mewar were not yet recovered from Rana Sangha's treacherous defeat. Meanwhile in Marwar the Rathores were becoming very powerful. The Rathore king Rao Maldeo had extended his territory to within a couple of hundred kilometers of Delhi. Sher Shah attacked Maldeo. Maldeo came with a force of 40 thousand and Sher Shah had 60 thousand. In the evening Sher Shah sent forged letters to Maldeo's camp. In these letters it was stated that some generals from Maldeo's army were buying arms from Sher Shah's army. This caused great consternation in Maldeo, who thought that some of his generals had crossed over to Sher Shah. Maldeo left with 20 thousand men. In reality there was no treachery. Later when Maldeo's generals Kumpa (his progeny are Kumpawat rathores) and Jaita (his progeny are Jaitawat rathores) found out what happened they did not lose their cool and decided they would not leave the field even though they just had 20 thousand men, and had to face 60 thousand Pathans. In the ensuing battle of Sammel Sher Shah emerged victorious, but several of his generals lost their lives and his army suffered heavy losses. After this Sher Shah commented that "for a few grains of bajra [a grain crop that grows in Marwar] he had almost lost the entire kingdom of India".

It is a moot point now but had Maldeo not retreated because of the fake letter Rathores Rajputs might well have defeated Sher Shah. In Rajasthan Deoras are considered the most stubborn, Hadas the most brave and Rathores the invincible warriors on the battlefield (Ranbanka Rathore).