Sisodias of Mewar

A succession of Mewar rulers- Udai Singh II, Maharana Pratap & Amar Singh I resisted the Mughals for a long time.[10][11][12][13] Eventually Amar Singh had to surrender and become a vassal of the Mughals after his resources were too depleted.[14] Several building projects took place under his successor, Karan Singh II.[15] During the reign of Jagat Singh I, there was some tension between him and emperor Shah Jahan, but they came to an understanding, and prevented war between the two sides.[16]

Raj Singh I was a highly successful ruler who fought against emperor Aurangzeb on many occasions.[17][18][19] This was continued by his successor Jai Singh.[4]

The next two rulers after Raj Singh I, Amar Singh II & Sangram Singh II kept peace and prosperity in their realm, but then were followed by a long line of weak & insignificant successors.[20][21][22] During this period Rajputana was dominated by Jaipur then the Marathas.[23] Bhim Singh of Mewar had to sign a treaty with the British, accepting their protection.[24][25][26]

By 1818, the armies of Holkar, Scindia, and Tonk had plundered Mewar, pauperising its ruler and people. [27]As early as 1805, Maharana Bhim Singh of Mewar approached the British for assistance but the Treaty of 1803 with Scindia prevented the British from entertaining the request. [27] But by 1817, the British too were anxious to have alliances with Rajput rulers and the Treaty of Friendship, Alliances and Unity was concluded between Mewar and East India Company (on behalf of Britain) on 13 January 1818.[27][28]

Under the treaty, the British Government agreed to protect the territory of Mewar, in return for which Mewar acknowledged British supremacy and agreed to abstain from political associations with other states and to pay one-fourth of its revenues as tribute for 5 years, and three-eighth in perpetuity.[28]

Shambhu Singh set up various new rules and offices for improving administrative resources, organised administration and income of temples and sacred places and introduced new legal code for Mewar. Under him the military was reorganised, various jail reforms were introduced and new construction of roads and railway tracks started. In spite of being formally uneducated, he gave education supreme importance and expanded various existing schools and introduced numerous new ones. Most importantly, he was the first to set up a school for girls and thus promoted opportunities of education for everyone. He enforced special measures to curb the Sati pratha and imposed heavy monetary fines on offenders.

Thus with various reforms in public facilities and infrastructure, Shambhu Singh was considered a liberal and well-managed king of his times. But with his untimely death at a young age of 27 years, his dreams of the revival of his homeland to the ancient golden times were stalled. He left behind no heir and his cousin Sajjan Singh, who himself was a minor at the time of his death; succeeded him and went ahead in continuation with the reforms paved by his predecessor.[29]

Bhupal Singh was the last ruler of the Udaipur State.[30] After the independence and partition of British India in 1947, Singh was one of the first of the Indian princes to sign an Instrument of Accession to the new Dominion of India on 7 April 1949.[31] His son, Bhagwat Singh was titular ruler of Udaipur until the Indian government abolished all royal titles in 1971.[32]

The current head of the House of Mewar is disputed, with both sons of Bhagwat Singh- Mahendra Singh Mewar & Arvind Singh Mewar claiming the title. The relationship between the two branches of the family have remained tense.[33][34] While in the international press, Arvind Singh Mewar is mentioned as the current head of the family, the local old noble families of Udaipur recognise Mahendra Singh Mewar as the rightful head.[35][36]