Rani Padmini / Padmavati

The story of Mata Padmini is well known. Every Rajput worth his salt grew up learning about the glories of great Rawal Ratansingh and Mata Padmini. What is not well known is how the great sacrifice of hers saved the Rajputs from the Turkic occupation. The Saka which occurred after Johar eliminated the majority of the Turkic invasion army. Rawal saheb attained martyrdom, so did most of his soldiers. But Turks lost much of their invading horde. Terrified, in vengeance, Allahuideen Khilji maintained an imperial garrison and gave Chittor to his son Khizr Khan. These were empty orders. He knew he has lost. Soldiers he counted on to hold Chittor were now mostly in hell.

7 years after his hollow victory, he was forced to give Chittor back to the Rajputs. Chauhan ruler Maladeva was given the great fortress because of the pressure from the local Rajputs against the depleted occupation army.

Finally, just in few years, Hammir, a close cousin of Rawal Ratansingh reconquered Chittor from Maladeva's son and defeated the Imperial army from Delhi.

Without Jauhar-Saka of Mata Padmini, the Imperial garrison would be strong enough to give the land forever to the Turks, which would be the launchpad for the destruction of all Rajput states.