Chandrasen Rathore was an Indian ruler of Marwar. He was the third son of Maldeo Rathore, who broke the Rajput tradition of primogeniture by naming Chandrasen as his successor. Chandrasen followed his father's policy and stayed hostile to the ruling foreign powers in India. He defended his kingdom for nearly two decades against relentless attacks from the Mughal Empire. In 1562 Chandrasens elder brother Ramchandra took the aid of Akbar and invaded Jodhpur. Chandrasen Rathore was reluctant to fight as his fathers ashes had not been immersed. Ramchandra occupied Jodhpur and was recognized as its raja by Akbar. Chandrasen waited till the mourning period had passed. He then led an army towards Jodhpur and defeated Ramchandra. Chandrasen Rathore crowned himself in Jodhpur and ousted his brothers, Udai Singh and Ramchandra out of Marwar. Akbar took advantage of these internal disputes and with the help of Raja's from Bikaner and Amer fought Chandrasen in several battles. In 1564 Hussain Quli Khan-i-Jahan captured Jodhpur. Chandrasen was forced to retreat to Bhadrajun. Chandrasen Rathore continued to defy the Imperial authority by attacking the imperial forces every now and then. He also succeeded in establishing himself in the northern part of Marwar. However he failed to consolidate his position and lost both men and material. He was forced to sell his family heirlooms in order to continue his struggle. In 1570 Akbar hosted the Nagaur durbar, Chandrasen attended the court but left without the permission of the emperor after disagreeing to his demands. In 1571 the fort of Bhadrajun was put to siege and captured. Chandrasen escaped to Siwana. The same year Rao Chandrasen was welcomed by Rana Udai Singh of Mewar and his daughter was married to the Rao. After the matrimonial alliance Chandrasen attacked several Mughal outposts with renewed vigour. The situation however changed after Rana Udai singhs death. Rana Pratap who succeeded to the thronerefused to help Chandrasen as he was himself faced with many problems. Disappointed by these developments Chandrasen left Mewar. In 1575 a powerful Mughal operation was launched against Chandrasen under Shah Quli Khan, Rai Singh, Keshav Das and Shahbaz Khan. In 1576 the powerful fort of Siwana which served as Chandrasen's capital was captured by the Mughals. Chandrasen made attempts to ask his brother in law, Rawal Askaran of Dungarpur for help. However Askaran had already submitted to the Mughals and refused. Chandrasen was forced to move from one place to another. Rawal Askaran informed of these events to the Mughal Emperor who appointed Payanda Khan and Sayyid Qasim to punish Chandrasen. Chandrasen by this time was left with just a few hundred loyal companions and was unable to face the imperial army. He was forced to retreat to the mountain defiles of Sarand Chandrasen made Sojat his capital and rallied his clansmen, he used the hills of Sarand to continue his war against the Mughal empire. Chandrasen continued his struggle until his death in 1581 at Pali, after which Marwar was brought under direct Mughal administration, and in August 1583 Akbar restored the throne of Marwar to Udai Singh.
