Hammira Deo, Rana

(?-1301)

   The Chahamana ruler of Ranthambhor, Rana Hammira (a corruption of Arabic Amir), was attacked by 'Ala al-Din Khalji for his refusal to return a fugitive from the Delhi court in 1299. After a prolonged siege during which Nusrat Khan, one of the commanders deputed by 'Ala al-Din, was killed, the fort of Ranthambhor was defeated. Rana Hammira Deo was captured and put to death (1301). That this conflict was not per-ceived by many of the participants as a religious war is borne out by the following anecdote recorded by Nayachandra Suri. Mir Muhammad Shah, a Mongol neo-Muslim who had fought on Ham-mira's side, was also captured. While interrogating him, 'Ala al-Din asked, "What would you do if I order your wounds to be dressed and spare your life?" Mir Muhammad Shah's reply was, "If I recover from my wounds, I would have thee slain and raise the son of Ham-mir Deo upon the throne."