| Sawai Madho Singh I | |
| Maharaja Sawai of Amber | |
| Succession: | 3rd Raja of Jaipur |
| Predecessor: | Ishwari Singh |
| Successor: | Prithvi Singh II |
| Birth Date: | 20th May 1728 |
| Birth Place: | Jaipur, Jaipur Kingdom, Rajputana |
| Death Date: | 5 March 1768 (aged 39) |
| Death Place: | Jaipur, Jaipur Kingdom, Rajputana |
| Spouse: | Chundawatji Kundan Kanwarji of Devgarh in Mewar Sisodiniji Ratan Kanwarji of Banera in Mewar |
| Issue: | Man Singh (died infant) Bhawani Singh (died infant) Raghubir Singh (died infant) |
| House: | Kachwaha |
| Father: | Jai Singh II |
| Mother: | Ranawatji Chandra Kanwarji d.of Maharana Amar Singh II of Udaipur-Mewar |
| Religion: | Hinduism |
Sawai Madho Singh I (December 1728 – March 5, 1768) was the Kachwaha Rajput ruler of the Kingdom of Jaipur. He was the younger son of Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II and younger half brother of Sawai Ishwari Singh. He became ruler of Jaipur after his brother Sawai Ishwari Singh died in 1750.
Following the death of Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II in 1748, a succession dispute arose in Jaipur. The designated heir, Ishwari Singh, ascended the throne. However, Madho Singh, Jai Singh's younger son from a Mewar princess, contested the claim.
He based his claim on a historical agreement between Rana Pratap of Mewar and other Rajput states, including Amber (Jaipur's predecessor). This pact supposedly ensured succession for any son born of a Mewar princess, regardless of birth order. Upholding this tradition, Rana Jagat Singh of Mewar supported his grandson, Madho Singh, and launched a military campaign to enthrone him.
A decisive battle ensued near Raja Mahal, where the Mewar forces under Rana Jagat Singh clashed with the Marathas, who sided with Ishwari Singh. The Mewar army suffered defeat. Despite the setback, Ishwari Singh, emboldened by the initial victory, marched against and defeated the Hada chiefs of Bundi and Kota with Maratha assistance.
Facing continued opposition from Mewar, Ishwari Singh sought additional Maratha support. However, Malhar Rao Holkar demanded a hefty sum and territorial concessions in exchange for aiding Madho Singh's claim. Unable to bear the pressure and fearing for his safety, Ishwari Singh committed suicide in 1750. This paved the way for Madho Singh's ascension to the throne of Jaipur as Maharaja Sawai Madho Singh I.[1]
Madho Singh I was at Udaipur when his half brother Ishwari Singh committed suicide. Following this Madho Singh was crowned as the king of Jaipur state.[2]
Madho Singh invited Jayappa Scindia who arrived in due time along with Malhar Rao Holkar to dinner where the Maratha sardars were served poisoned food which they detected and evaded in time. Next day on 10 January 1751, about 5000 Marathas marched through Jaipur and started exploring the city's temples and monuments. Marathas seemed to have behaved towards Jaipur like city taken by storms. Suddenly the pent-up hatred of the Rajputs burst forth and a riot broke out at noon and citizens attacked unsuspected Marathas. Madho Singh I posted assassins along the escape routes to kill off the Maratha envoys calling for aid.[3] [4]
He won several important battles against other kings. He later reconciled with the Marathas after rewarding Holkar for his help in gaining the Jaipur throne by giving him the parganas of Rampura, Bhanpura and Tonk in 1753.[5] According to Vir Vinod which is 19th-century creation, Madho Singh gave poison to Raja Bakht Singh of Marwar but according to contemporary Persian sources Bakht Singh died due to cholera.[6]
Madho Singh decided to ally with Ahmed Shah Abdali during the Third battle of Panipat in 1761. This was also a reason why Marathas lost the war on 14 January 1761.
He died in 1768 after a rule of 17 years after contracting dysentery after a battle with Jawahar Singh.[7] Madho Singh's queen, Chundawatji who belonged to the Chundawat clan, was the daughter of Rawat Jaswant Singh of Deogarh, ruled Jaipur along with her father following her deceased husband's death as the new ruler, Sawai Prithvi Singh II was only five years old at the time.[8] Following Prithvi Singh's death, her second son Sawai Pratap Singh succeeded to the throne.
His contribution to the field of art, architecture, town-planning, literature and religion was remarkable. He founded the well planned city of Sawai Madhopur and the well planned town of Sri Madhopur, built several palaces including Madho Niwas in the Chandra Mahal complex of the City Palace, Madho Vilas the leisure palace in the centre of Jai Mahal, the Sisodia Rani ka Bagah (Queens gardens) as well as several temples. The painting atelier (surathkhana) was rejuvenated and a variety of court scenes and several portraits were painted there. He patronized Sportsmen of his State and even sent them to other places within the country to take part in competitions. Likewise, he sent artists from his State to other places to exhibit their skills and produce. He was fond of watching elephant fights, bullfights and other similar sports. He had Shaikh Sadi's Gulistan translated into Sanskrit. A few Sanskrit works were also attributed to him. Many dramas and poetic works were written under his patronage such as Veli Rukmani, Madhav Natakam, Madahava Vijaikavyama, Rajaritinirupana, Sataka, etc. Greatest contribution, at the end of his reign was political stability in the state of Jaipur.