Rawal Jaisal
| Rawal Jaisal | |
|---|---|
| Rawal | |
 Portrait of Rawal Jaisal inside Jaisalmer Fort
| |
| Predecessor | Rawal Bhojraj (1147-1152) |
| Successor | Rawal Shalivahan II (1168-1190) |
| Born | Jaisal Singh Bhati 1113 |
| Died | 1168 |
| Spouse | Sodhiji (Parmarji) of Thar Parkar
Pratiharji Udai Deiji of Nagaur Chauhanji Vilay Deiji of Nimrana Vagheliji of Pawagarh Parmarji |
| Issue | Rawal Kelhan (Kaliyan)
Rawal Salwahan (Shalivahan II) Hemraj Shyam Deiji |
| House | Bhati |
| Father | Rawal Dusaj (1098-1122) |
| Religion | Hinduism |
Rawal Jaisal (r. c. 1153–1168), was a Rajput ruler of the Bhati clan who lived during the 12th century and founded the city of Jaisalmer and Jaisalmer state.
Sixth in descent from Rawal Devraj Bhati of Derawar/Derawad (Derawar Fort is named after him) he was the eldest son of Rawal Dusaj, who had its capital at Laudrava. When his father appointed Jaisal's younger half-brother Vijayraj Lanjha as his successor, Vijayraj, upon ascending the throne, drove Jaisal out of the kingdom. Then after some years Jaisal ousted Vijayraj's son and his nephew Rawal Bhojraj and succeeded to the throne of Laudrava. Later he laid the foundation of Jaisalmer state and the city of Jaisalmer in 1155 AD as previous capital Laudrava was ruined in war. He was married to daughter of Haibat Khan and named her as 'Somaldevi'.
His descendants were Maharajas of Kapurthala State, Nabha State, Patiala State, Jind State and Faridkot State.
Founding of Jaisalmer
While surveying Trikuta hill, a massive triangular rock rising more than 75 metres out of the surrounding sands, as a more secure location for a new capital, Rawal Jaisal met a sage called Eesul, who was staying on the rock. Upon learning that Jaisal was of Yaduvanshi descent, Eesul told him that according to ancient mythology Krishna and Bhima had come to this location for a ceremony, where Krishna had prophesied that a descendant of his Yaduvanshi clan would one day establish a kingdom here. Eesul showed him a spring which Krishna had created and his prophecy carved into a rock. This rock still remains in a well in the Jaisalmer fort. Encouraged by this meeting Jaisal moved his capital to this location and established it in 1156 in the form of a mud fort and named it Jaisalmer after himself.