Jodhpur was founded in 1459 by the Rajput leader of the Rathore Rao Jodhaya clan. Rao Jodha successfully conquered nearby territories, and thus the state of Marwar was formed. Initially, Rao Jodha was based in the neighboring town of Mandor , and he served as the capital of the state. However, soon, during the life of this leader, this role passed to Jodhpur. The city was located on the strategic road from Delhi to Gujarat . This allowed him to prosper, receiving income from the trade of opium, copper, silk, sandalwood and coffee. At the beginning of its history, the state became the possession of the Empire of the Great Moguls, preserving, however, autonomy. At this time, Marwar gave the Moguls a number of remarkable military leaders, such as Maharaja Jaswant Singh. Jodhpur and its people received some benefit from being part of the empire: new styles of art and architecture penetrated here, trade flourished.
