Mughal Army

Mughal Army
Flag of the Mughal Empire
Great Mogul And His Court Returning From The Great Mosque At Delhi India - Oil Painting by American Artist Edwin Lord Weeks
Founded	Late 15th Century
Disbanded	1805
Leadership
Commander-in-Chief	Mughal emperor

The Army of the Mughal Empire was the force by which the Mughal emperors established their empire in the 15th century and expanded it to its greatest extent at the beginning of the 18th century. Although its origins, like the Mughals themselves, were in the cavalry-based armies of central Asia, its essential form and structure was established by the empire's third emperor, Akbar.

The army had no regimental structure and the soldiers were not directly recruited by the emperor. Instead, individuals, such as nobles or local leaders, would recruit their own troops, referred to as a mansab, and contribute them to the army.

The Mughals originated in Central Asia. Like many Central Asian armies, the mughal army was horse-oriented. The ranks and pay of the officers were based on the horses they retained. Babur's army was somewhat small and looked like an army of Afghan origin. Akbar restructured the army and introduced a new system called the mansabdari system. Later emperors followed this system.

Mughal emperors mainted a small standing army. They numbered only in thousands. Instead the officers called as mansabdars provides much of the troops.

The Mughal Emperors maintained small standing armies. The emperor own troopers called as Ahadis. They are directly recruited by mughal emperor himself. They have their own pay roll and pay master. They are mainly recruited from emperor own blood relatives and his own tribesmen. They are better paid than normal hormen sowars.

They are gentle men troopers.They are normally in administrative duties in palace. They also include palace guards, emperor's own body guards shahiwalas, gate keepers etc. They are better equipped and have own horses.

Emperor also maintain a division of foot soldiers and have his own artillery brigade.

Akbar introduced this system. It was a unique system in the world. Mughal army has no regimental structure. In this system each officer worked for government was a military officer. He must recruit and maintain his quota of horsemen. His rank is based on the horse men he maintain. Normally the highest rank 5000 to lowest 10. Prince has the rank of 25000. This called as zat and sowar system.

He must maintain 1:2 ratio of men to horses. Horses must be carefully verified and branded. The good horses Arabian breed. He must also maintain his quota of horses, elephants and cots for transportation. He also maintain foot soldiers and artillery. He had paid in cash or jagir, cash paid for month to maximum one year. but many choose jagir. Emperor allocated jagir for maintenance of mansabs.

Mughal army had no real branches. But virtually it has four branches cavalry, infantry, artillery and navy. Cavalry has main role others are auxiliary and neglegible.