Maldeo Rathore, Rao of Marwar (b. 1511)
Rao Maldeo Rathore (5 December 1511 – 7 November 1562) was an Indian ruler of Marwar, which was later known as Jodhpur (in the present day Rajasthan state of India). He was a scion of the Rathore clan. His father was Rao Ganga and his mother was Queen Padmavati of Sirohi. Maldev fought in the Battle of Bayana and Battle of Khanwa as a young prince, the defeat at Khanwa greatly weakened all the Rajput kingdoms in India, but Marwar under Maldev's capable rule turned into a powerful Rajput Kingdom that resisted foreign rule and challenged them for northern supremacy. Maldeo refused to ally with either the Sur Empire or the Mughal Empire after Humayun regained control of north India in 1555. This policy was continued by his son and successor Rao Chandrasen Rathore.The Persian historian Firishta calls him as the "most Potent Ruler of Hindustan".Nizamuddin Ahmad in Tabaqat-i-Akbari calls Maldeo as the "greatest of the rajas of Hind".According to Abul Fazl- Maldeo was the most powerful ruler of the region "both in rank and position and for the number of servants and the extent of his territories."