Rao Shekha

Rao Shekha (1433–1488) was a prominent Kachwaha Rajput ruler and the founder of the Shekhawat clan and the Shekhawati region in present-day Rajasthan, India. A descendant of the rulers of Amber, Rao Shekha established an independent principality with its capital at Amarsar, laying the foundations for a powerful Rajput federation in northeastern Rajputana.

Early Life

Rao Shekha was born in 1433 as the son of Rao Mokal, a Kachwaha Rajput ruler of Amber. He belonged to a younger branch of the ruling family and inherited the estate of Barwara, northwest of Amber, through his grandfather Baloji, the third son of Rao Udaikaran of Amber.

Rise to Power

Rao Shekha's rise coincided with the decline of the Delhi Sultanate following the death of Sultan Firuz Shah Tughlaq in 1388. This period of political instability created an opportunity for ambitious Rajput chieftains to assert their independence.

During the mid-15th century, Shekha began to consolidate power in the region between Ajmer and Delhi, historically known as Matsyadesh. He captured numerous forts and villages from rival Rajput clans such as Chauhans, Tomars, and Gaurs, as well as from local Muslim rulers including the Kaimkhanis.

Establishment of Shekhawati

By the later half of the 15th century, Rao Shekha had carved out a significant territory in northeastern Rajasthan. He declared himself an independent Rao and established Amarsar as his capital. His dominion eventually came to be known as Shekhawati—the "land of Shekha"—and his descendants took on the clan name Shekhawat.

The Shekhawats, following Rajput tradition, divided land among sons and established numerous feudal estates (thikanas), which continued to grow in power and influence in the centuries to follow.

Conflict with Amber

As Shekha’s influence expanded, tensions rose with the parent Kachwaha kingdom of Amber, which attempted to reassert its authority. Rao Shekha successfully resisted an invasion from Amber, solidifying his status as an independent ruler. This victory was critical in affirming Shekhawati's autonomy.

Legacy

Rao Shekha passed away in 1488, but his legacy lived on through the Shekhawat clan, which went on to become one of the most influential Rajput lineages in Rajasthan. His descendants established dozens of principalities, including Khandela, Sikar, Jhunjhunu, and Fatehpur, which played a key role in regional politics and military campaigns under the Mughal Empire and later the Kingdom of Jaipur.

Shekhawati, the region he founded, became renowned not only for its martial tradition but also for its rich architectural heritage, especially during the 18th and 19th centuries when merchant families from the region built elaborate frescoed havelis.