PRESENT HEAD:

HH Maharaja Sri Bhupendrasinhji Virbharasinhji, 24th and present Maharana Saheb of Lunawada since 1986

STATES AND ESTATES:

Bansda, Lunawada, Sathamba, Bhagora, Bhandarej, Bhinda, Datonda, Jhilwara, Jogda, Khojankhera, Kot Solankiyan, Lahecha, Manchalgarh, Marchyakheri, Mehlol, Mehsana, Mevi, Mogar, Naswadi, Oghna, Pagara, Panota, Patan-Mewar, Prukhedi, Ratwal, Ravdecha, Roopnagar, Sansari, Shujaota, Siriyari, Toda, Uparwara and others.

BRANCHES AND SUB-BRANCHES:

There are 16 branches including the following, Almecha, Baghela (Rewah, Pethapur, Tharad, Adalaj), Bahala (Kalyanpur), Bhurta (Baru, Tekra and Chahir), Birpura (Lunawada), Brika (Muslim), Kalacha (Baru, Tekra and Chahir), Kalamor (in Gujarat), Kharara (Alota and Jawara), Langaha (Muslim), Raka (Toda), Ranakia (Desuri), Surki (in the Deccan), Sarwaria (Girnar), Rantia, Togra (Muslim), Bharsuria, Kataria, Sikharia, Sarakia, Solanke, Tantia (Chandbhar, Sakanbari) etc., as well as many lineages or sub-clans, including, Jogda, Hameersinghot-Sawansinghot, Jaitmalot, Khetsinghot, Lahecha, Manchla, Ravdecha, Sattawat, Shankersinghot, etc.

SHORT HISTORY:

The Solanki dynasty are the Heirs of the Chalukya Dynasty (whose oldest known area of residence is in present-day Karnataka), who, according to one theory, were originally Chandravanshi ^(#4), and became Agnivanshi Solanki Rajputs in the 7th century after consecration in the sacred fire on Mount Abu, along with the Pratihara, Chauhan and Parmar. They ruled in Gujarat from their capital Anhilwara (modern day Siddhpur Patan) from 942 to 1244. Gujarat was conquered by the Delhi Sultan in 1304 and remained in Muslim hands till the defeat of the Mughal Viceroy by the Marathas in 1758. The Solankis were patrons of the great seaside temple of Shiva at Somnath Patan in Kathiawar, and after it was sacked by Mahmud of Ghazni in 1026, Raja Bhima Dev helped to rebuild the temple. His son Karandev defeated the Bhil Raja Ashapall or Ashaval, and after his victory established a city named Karnavati on the banks of the Sabarmati River, at the site of modern Ahmadabad. The Solankis lost control of Gujarat in 1244 to their feudatories and distatnt relatives, the Vaghela chiefs of Dholka who came to dominate Gujarat, though they managed to retain some control of their capital until 1476. Descendants of Raja Tribhuvanpal settled in Rajasthan under King Ranak Deo, where a branch settled at Lach village in Sirohi. Raja Bhoja of this line was defeated and killed by Rao Lakharaj of Sirohi in 1477, forcing his family to flee. His grandson, Rao Raimal, settled at Kumbalgarh and was granted the jagir of Desuri (later Roopnagar) for ridding the district of some Madrecha Chauhans. Other descendants of Rao Raimal spread throughout Rajasthan, while descendants of Raja Bhimadeva II, Raja of Gujarat 1178/1241, eventually founded the Princely State of Rewah which endured till accession to the Republic of India. Rulers were...

• Maharajadhiraj Raji Solanki, he most likely ruled in Gurjaratra region around Jodhpur; he was a suba of King Mahipal Parihar of Kanyakubja and married his daughter; married 1stly (amongst others), a sister (or daughter) of Raja Samantsinh Chavda, Raja of Patan (see above), married 2ndly, a sister of Jam Lakhaji Jadeja (Lakho Fulani), married 3rdly, a daughter of Raja Mahipal Parihar of Kanyakubja, and had issue. He lived around 942.

  • Raja Mulraja I, Raja of Patan ^(#3) (see below)

  • Rao Rakhayat, married Rani Raymati, she committed sati, and had issue.

    • Rao Vyaghradeo, married a daughter of the Kashi Raja, and had issue, five sons, ancestors of the Vaghela dynasty.

      • Rao Karandeo, he married a Kalchuri (Haihaya: Yadu) princess of Mandla and received in dowry the fort of Bandhogarh which, until its destruction in 1597 by Akbar was the Baghel Capital, he was the ancestor of the Vaghela rulers of Rewah State.

      • Rao Kandhardeo (Kasota)

      • Rao Suratdeo, he went to Gujarat and stay in Dholka Gadi (named Vairatnagar of the Pandavas), married and had issue.

        • Maharana Dhavaldeo Vaghela, he became the Raja of Vairatnagar, and renamed it Dholka, married and had issue.

          • Maharana Aranorajdeo Vaghela in Dholka [aka Anaka Solanki], he was the son of a sister of the mother of Raja Kumarapala, he was appointed to the rank of Samanta and was granted the village of Vyaghrapalli or Vaghela (the Tiger's Lair) in jagir, before 1172, married and had issue.

            • General Maha mandleshwar Rao Lavanrajdeo [Lawan Prasad] in Dholka, Governor of Udayapura and Bhilsa about 1176, he served as a General in the army of Raja Bhimadeva II; he gained control over an area known as Dhavalgadh, around present day Dholka and later rebelled against the Raja in the late 1230's due to internal differences, and took complete control over the areas of Dhavalgadh and Dhandhuka, and also some areas in the south of Gujarat; married Rani Madannarajni, and had issue.

              • Maharana Virdhavaldeo Vaghela of Dholka 1219/1238, he had already started to annex territories belonging to the Solanki rulers of Gujarat, and had greatly increased his dominions as well as his military powers; married and had issue, two sons. He died 1238.

                • Raja Vishaldeva of Dholka 1238/1262, he refused to recognize Raja Tribhuvanapala (of Gujarat) as the overlord, and seized Anhilwara making it his capital; married and had issue.

                • >> Raja Arjunadeva, Raja of Anhilwara 1262/1274, married and had issue.

                • >> >> Raja Sarangdeva, Raja of Anhilwara 1274/1296, married and had issue.

                • >> >> >> Raja Karnadeva, Raja of Anhilwara 1296/1304 and 1st Raja of Bandhogarh, he was attacked in 1298, by Ulugh Khan, brother of the Emperor, Alauddin, who captured and sacked the capital, forcing him to seek asylum at Devagiri where he died some years later; he was titled 'Karan Ghelo' for his bravery; his sons and one of his wives, the Jadeja Rani, were sent to the Kutch Saurashtra region; married Rani Padma Kumari, daughter of Rao Somadatta, the Haihaya Raja of Ratanpur, who brought him in dowry the fort of Bandhogarh, which remained the capital of the Vaghela rajputs till 1597, and had issue (see Rewah)

                • Raja Viramdeo, Raja of Viramgam

                • Raja Vyaghradeva, 1st Raja of Marpha, he made his way from Gujarat into Baghelkhand in Northern India around 1234, and obtained possession of the fort of Marpha, 47 kilometres north-east of Kalinjar, married Rani Sindur Mati, daughter of Raja Makund Dev Chandrawat, and had issue, five sons.

                • >> Raja Kandhar Dev, ancestor of the Rajas of Barra in Allahabad District.

      • Rao Kiratdeo (South)

      • Rao Shyamdeo (East)

• Param Bhattarak Maharajadhiraj Parmeshawara Mulraja I Gurjaresh, Raja of Gujarat 942/997, Chalukya prince of Kalyani 960/997, Raja of Patan 942 (or 960)/997, in 942, Mulraja I, Chalukya prince of Kalyani 960/997, founded an independent dynasty, known as Chalukya of Anahilapataka or the Solanki dynasty by overthrowing his father-in-law, Raja Samantsinh Chavda, Raja of Patan; early in his reign he defeated the Abhir king, Grahripu of Saurashtra and Jam Laxraj (Lakha Fulani) of Kutch, but was defeated by Vigrahraj Chauhan, Raja of Shakambhari and by the Malwa king, Munj Vakpati II Parmar, after the death of the latter in 995, he assumed the title of Param Bhattarak Maharajadhiraj Parmeshawara and Gurjaresh (King of Gurjardesh), he invited many learned Brahmins and other castes to settle in Saraswat mandal, constructed several temples, including the great temple of Rudramahalya at Sidhpur, his reign marked the start of a golden period during which Gujarati culture flowered as manifested in art, architecture, language and script; married Rani Madhavi, daughter of Raja Bhoj Chauhan, and had issue. He died 997.

  • Raja Chamundaraja (qv)

  • Rani Chachinidevi

• Raja Chamundaraja, Raja of Gujarat 997/1009, he was unable to extend his kingdom and to throw of his allegiance to the Malav Raja, Sindhuraj, he was deposed by his sister and his son was placed on the throne, married and had issue. He is said to have ended his life by immersing himself in the Narmada river near Shuklatirth in 1009.

  • Raja Vallabharaja [aka Vallabhsen] (qv)

  • Raja Durlabharaj (qv)

  • Rao Nagraj, married Rani Chauhaniji Laxmidevi, a Princess of Naddul, and had issue.

    • Raja Bhimdev I (qv)

    • Rao Padam Dev, married Rani Ranna De, daughter of Raja Narbhram Dev of Kerantigadh in Sindh, and had issue.

      • Rao Pratap Dev, married and had issue.

        • Rani Shakti De, married Raja Harpal Dev of Kerantigadh in Sindh, and had issue (see Jhala Dynasty).

• Raja Vallabhsen, Raja of Gujarat in 1009 (for six months), he attacked Raja Sindhuraj's territory as soon as he became the ruler but his life was cut short due to smallpox; married and had issue.

  • Rani (name unknown) Devi, married 1011, Rawal Bachharaj, Rawal of Ludarva 979/1044.

• Raja Durlabharaj, Raja of Gujarat 1009/1024, he was said to be of good character and invited Jain saints to his kingdom; he too was unable to extend his domain; married the sister of Rao Mahendra of Naddul, and daughter of Chauhan Rao Baliraj.

• Raja Bhimdev I, Raja of Gujarat 1024/1064 or 1021/1063, early on in his reign he was a mandlik of the Malav king, Bhoj; when Sultan Mahmud of Ghazni invaded Anhilpur Patan in December 1025, he had to flee and take shelter in Kanthkot fort in Kutch and afterwards in January 1026, Sultan Mahmud razed the temple of Somnath to the ground; a combined Gujarat and Malav army forced Sultan Mahmud to flee and they both helped to rebuild the temple of Shiva at Somnath, he became independent of the Malav kingdom after the death of Raja Bhoj in 1054; married 1stly, (morgantically), Rani Bauladevi, married 2ndly, Rani Udaymati [Uday De], a princess of Saurasthra, daughter of Ra Narvahan Khengar Chudasama, and had issue. He died 1063.

  • Rao Kshemraj (by Rani Bauladevi), he died young.

  • Rao Mulraj (by Rani Bauladevi), married and had issue.

    • Rao Devprasad, married and had issue.

      • Raja Kumarpal, he is also said to have been a Chauhan Prince and was adopted to the Solanki ruler (qv)

      • Rao Kirtipal

      • Rao Mahipal, married and had issue.

        • Raja Ajaypal (qv)

        • Raja Bhimdev II (qv)

  • Raja Karna I [Karan Dev I] (by Rani Udaymati)(3rd son) (qv)

  • Rani Vinay De, married Raja Kesar Dev of Kerantigadh (sic. Kirtigarh/Kirtinagar) in Sindh (see Jhala Dynasty), and had issue.

    • Raja Harpal Dev, married Rani Shakti De, daughter of Rao Pratap Dev (see above), and had issue.

• Raja Karandev, Raja of Gujarat 1064/1093, he defeated the Bhil king Ashapall, and after his victory established a city named Karnavati on the banks of the Sabarmati River, at the site of modern Ahmedabad, which lasted till 1411, his conquests extended his kingdom till his territories were touching Konkan in the south and Naddul in the north; he built many temples, lakes and cities; married Rani Mayanalladevi (Minaldevi), daughter of Jaykeshi, the suba of Konkan, and had issue. He was killed in a battle with the Raja of Shakambhari.

  • Raja Siddhraja Jaisinh I (by Rani Mayanalladevi) (qv)

  • Rani (name unknown), married Rao (name unknown), the Chavda ruler of Tuktoda, and had issue.

    • Rani Virmati Devi, married Rao Rao Jaggadeva, son of the Raja of Malwa (see Parmar Dynasty), and had issue.

• Raja Siddhraj Jaysingh Avantinath, Raja of Gujarat 1094/1143, born about 1077, he was still a minor when his father died and his mother assumed power until he came of age in 1096; he was one of the most remarkable kings of Gujrat, who inflicted a crushing defeat on the ruler of Malwa and annexed it to his dominions, and assumed the title of "King of Avanti", he also conquered Saurashtra, Kachchh and south Gujarat; he renovated and widened the lake constructed by Durlabhraj and named it as Sahastraling Lake; he constructed two lakes in the memory of his mother and also renovated Rudramahal; he was a just, kind and sagacious ruler and extended his patronage to learned men and during his reign, Patan flourished in education, religion and commerce; married and had issue. He died spm in 1143.

  • Rao Jaipaladeva, married a daughter of Raja Raidhuwal Puar, King of Dhar (see Parmar Dynasty). He died vpsp.

  • Rani (name unknown) Devi, married Rao Bijay Rai, brother of Rao Jaisal, founder of Jaisalmer in 1156.

  • Rani Kanchan Devi, married (as his first wife), Raja Anajideva [Arnoraja], 2nd Raja of Ajmer 1130/1150, and had issue.

    • Rao Someshwar Chauhan

• Raja Kumarapala, Raja of Gujarat 1143/1172 (deposed), the nobles of Patan nominated him as the next in line, but Raja Sidhraja Jaisinh I, was against the idea and he was forced to flee to avoid being killed by the Raja, after the Rajas death he was appointed to the throne, though he faced much resistance and with his loyal nobles, he eventually crushed his enemies, he adopted the Jain religion in 1160, becoming vegetarian and banning animal slaughter, in his declining years he left the administration of the state to his nobles, causing internal conflict once again, he was a patron of scholars and he also rebuilt the Somnath temple; he died (possibly by poisoning) in early 1174.

• Raja Ajaypal, Raja of Gujarat 1172/1176, said to be shrewd and merciless, he rid himself of all the people associated with his uncle and also discouraged Jain saints and leaders; married Rani Naiki Devi, who inflicted a crushing defeat on Muizzuddin Muhammad Ghori at Kayadra, a village near Mount Abu; married (amongst others) (a), Rani Naiki Devi, married (b), a daughter of Rao Raidhawal, Raja of Dhar (see Parmar Dynasty), and had issue. He died of a knife injury in 1176.

  • Raja Mulraja II (by Rani Naiki Devi) (qv)

  • Raja Bhimadeva II (qv)

• Raja Mulraj II, Raja of Gujarat 1176/1178, he succeeded as a young child, with his mother ruling in his stead; she was forced to confront the army of Shahbuddin Ghori near Gadrar ghat and forced them to flee. He died sp in 1179.

• Raja Bhimdev II Abhinava-Siddharaja Saptama-Chakravarti Bala-Narayana, Raja of Gujarat 1178/1241, at the start of his reign, he defeated Muijuddin Ghouri in 1179, but much later, Kutbuddin Aibak defeated the Gujarat army in 1197 near Abu, forcing Bhimdev into hiding, but in 1199, he defeated Aibak and expelled him from Guajarat, taking the title of 'Abhinav Siddhraj' in commemoration; the Malav King, Raja Subhat Varma invaded Gujarat in 1209 and Bhimdev fled to either Saurashtra or Kutch; a Chalukya Prince, Jaisinh, then ruled Gujarat from 1209 to 1226, when Bhimdev returned with the help of Mantri Vastupal and Rao Lavan Prasad of Dholka, married (a), 1205, Rani Liladevi, daughter of Raja Samarasimha, Chahamana Raja of Jalore, married (b), Rani Sumaladevi, and had issue. He died 1241.

  • Raja Tribhuvanpal (qv)

  • Raja Mangaldev (qv)

  • Rao Lakshman Prashat, married and had issue.

    • Rao Veerhaval, married and had issue.

      • Rao Vyaghra Dev (brother of the Raja of Gujarat, sic.!), moved to Bagelkhand in the middle of the 12th or 14th century, and obtained the fortress of Marpha, 47 kilometres northeast of Kalinjar, married and had issue.

        • Rao Karan Dev, married a Kalychuri (Haihaya-Yadava) princess of Mandla, and received the fortress of Bandogarh as her dowry. Bandogarh continued to serve as the seat of the Solankis of Bagelkhand until its destruction by the Mughal emperor Akbar in 1597.

        • Rao Kandhar Dev, founder of Kasota.

        • Rao Keerti Dev, founder of Pitapur.

        • Rao Surat Dev, married and had issue.

          • Rao Shaktivan, after the destruction of Bandogarh, the Vaghela moved their capital to Rewah, founder of the Princely State of Rewah [1499]

  • Rao Sangram Singh, married and had issue, the Rao Sahebs of Toda.

    • Rao Raning Deo of Desuri, married and had issue, the Madrecha Solanki clan.

  • Rani (name unknown) Devi, married Ra Mahipal, Ra of Junagadh, and had issue (see Chudasama Dynasty).

• Raja Tribhuvanpal, last Raja of Gujarat 1241/1244, he was Raja in name only as power was snatched by the Vaghela rulers of Dholka, a branch of this Solanki dynasty, a further four Kings ruled over Gujarat till 1304 when it was conquered by the Delhi Sultanate; married and had issue. He died 1244.

  • Raja Ranakdev 1276/1307, founder of the Rajawat branch of the Solanki dynasty, left Patan and settled in Ranakpur around 1276, he attacked the Sonigra rajputs of Jalore and the Deora rajputs of Sirohi and annexed their jagirs, he married 1stly, Rani Raimati Kanwar Chavda of Kathumbar, married 2ndly, Rani Man Kanwar, daughter of Rao Duda Parihar of Mandore, and had issue. He died 1307.

    • Raja Karandev (by Rani Raimati Kanwar) 1307/1336, married 1stly, Rani Raj Kanwar, daughter of Rao Bharmal Bhati of Jaisalmer, married 2ndly, Rani Chundawatiji, and had issue. He died 1336.

      • Raja Godadev (by Rani Raj Kanwar) 1336/1377, fought with Nawab Himmat Khan Mohabat Khan of Palanpur in 1343, married 1stly, Rani Roop Kanwar, daughter of Rao Sujan Singh Sonigra of Jalore, married Rani Man Kanwar of Salumbar, and had issue. He died 1377.

        • Raja Sarangdev (by Rani Roop Kanwar) 1377/-, married 1stly, Rani Phool Kanwar, daughter of Rao Jaimal Rathore of Barmer, married 2ndly, Rani Bhavanti Kanwar of Khanderav Man, and had issue.

          • Raja Tribhuvanpal (by Rani Phool Kanwar) -/1409, married 1stly, Rani Rajmati Kanwar Madrecha Chauhan of Desuri, married 2ndly, Rani Raimati Kanwar Chavda of Saranpur, and had issue. He died 1409.

            • Raja Deepa (by Rani Rajmati Kanwar) 1409/1439, he migrated away from Ajmer and eventually conquered a large around the present-day Sirohi; married 1stly, Rani Roop Kanwar, daughter of Raja Ram Singh Deora of Sirohi, married 2ndly, Rani Damyanti Kanwar Sonigara of Mallargarh, and had issue. He died 1439.

              • Raja Bhoja (by Rani Damyanti Kanwar) 1439/1477, married and had issue. He was killed in a battle with the Rao of Sirohi in 1477.

                • Raja Fateh Singh 1477/1480, after the defeat of his father by the Rao of Sirohi, much of the clan migrated to Mewar, where they became ancestor of the Thakurs of Roopnagar, Siryari, Sansari and Jilwara. He died 1480.

                • Rao Goda

                • Rao Panchyavan Singh

                • Rao Govindrao

                • Rao Prem Singh

                • Rao Bacchraj Singh

                • Rao Saidas

                • Rao Karan Singh

                • Rao Ladu Singh

                • Rao Kalyan Singh

                • Rao Sukh Singh

                • Rao Maan Singh

                • Rao Deokaran (qv)

                • Kumari Raj Kanwar

                • Raja Tarade Kanwar

              • Rao Bheem (by Rani Damyanti Kanwar)

              • Rao Saidas (by Rani Damyanti Kanwar)

              • Rao Sajja (by Rani Damyanti Kanwar)

              • Kumari Jatan Kanwar (by Rani Damyanti Kanwar)

            • Rao Devidas (by Rani Raimati Kanwar), settled in Manchalgarh and was the ancestor of the Manchla Solankis.

            • Rao Deidas (by Rani Raimati Kanwar), settled in Lahecha village and was ancestor of the Lahecha Solankis.

            • Rao Duda (by Rani Raimati Kanwar), settled in Ravdecha village and was ancestor of the Ravdecha Solankis.

            • Rao Satta (by Rani Raimati Kanwar), ancestor of the Sattawat Solankis who held the thikanas of Kot Solankiyan, Panota, Mevi and Bhagora.

            • Rao Chanda (by Rani Raimati Kanwar)

            • Rao Jassa (by Rani Raimati Kanwar), settled in Jogda village and was ancestor of the Jogda Solankis.

            • Kumari Dev Kanwar (by Rani Raimati Kanwar)

          • Kumari Hans Kanwar (by Rani Phool Kanwar)

          • Kumari Lal Kanwar (by Rani Phool Kanwar)

          • Rao Gauda (by Rani Bhavanti Kanwar)

        • Rao Surtan (by Rani Roop Kanwar)

        • Rao Baj Singh (by Rani Man Kanwar)

        • Rao Pratap Singh (by Rani Man Kanwar)

        • Rao Pehap Singh (by Rani Man Kanwar)

        • Kumari Raj Kanwar (by Rani Roop Kanwar)

      • Rao Udaikaran (by Rani Raj Kanwar)

      • Rao Inder Singh (by the Chundawat Rani)

      • Rao Keshar Singh (by the Chundawat Rani)

    • Rao Tejpal Singh (by Rani Man Kanwar)

    • Rao Bajraj Singh (by Rani Man Kanwar)

    • Rao Manraj Singh (by Rani Man Kanwar)

• Rao Mangaldev, Raja in Siddhpur Patan 1244/1260, married and had issue.

  • Rao Ganesh Dev (qv)

• Rao Ganesh Dev, Raja in Siddhpur Patan 1260/1290, married and had issue.

  • Rao Bhanu Dev (qv)

  • Rao Bhisham Dev, founder of the ruling family of the Princely State of Lunawada [1295].

• Rao Bhanu Dev, Raja in Siddhpur Patan 1290/-, married and had issue.

• ......

• Rao Devraj Singh, Raja in Siddhpur Patan 1430/1476, married and had issue.

  • Rao Jai Singh

  • Rao Ram Singh

  • Rao Amrat Dev, married the daughter of Raja Bariar Dev, and had issue.

    • Rao Kesar Dev, founder of the Mehsana Thikana family of Patan in Gujarat.

TREES:

1. Solanki Dynasty: Anhilwar Patan 942 - 1244 (Tree)

2. Solanki Dynasty: Ranakpur and descendants (Tree)