Ajayaraja I (r. c. 721–734 CE ) was a king belonging to the Chahamana dynasty of Shakambhari (modern Sambhar). He ruled parts of present-day Rajasthan in north-western India. He is also known as Jayaraja, Ajayapala Chakva or Ajayapala Chakri.^[1]

Life

Ajayaraja I succeeded Naradeva as the Chahamana king.^[2] According to the 12th century chronicle Prithviraja Vijaya, he was a great warrior who defeated several enemies.^[1]

According to one theory, Ajayaraja I founded the city of Ajayameru (modern Ajmer). The Prabandha-Kosha states that he commissioned the Ajayameru fort, which later came to be known as the Taragarh Fort of Ajmer.^[3] The Akhbar ul-Akhyar calls it the first hill fort of India. However, the Prithviraja Vijaya attributes the establishment of Ajmer to his descendant Ajayaraja II (12th century CE).^[3] According to historian R. B. Singh, Ajayaraja I is more likely to be the founder of Ajmer, considering the fact that inscriptions dated to 8th century CE have been found at Ajmer.^[4] Singh theorizes that Ajayaraja II later significantly developed the town and moved the kingdom's capital from Shakambhari to Ajmer.^[5] Others, such as Shyam Singh Ratnawat and Krishna Gopal Sharma, believe that it was Ajayaraja II who founded Ajmer.^[2]

Ajayaraja I was succeeded by his son Vigraharaja I.^[6]