ARMY ORGANISATION UNDER THE SULTANS OF DELHI

291 Pages·2015·9.53 MB·English

ARMY ORGANISATION UNDER THE
SULTANS OF DELHI
{13th AND 14th CENTURY)
THESIS SUBMITTED FOR THE DECREE OF
Doctor of Philosophy
IN
HISTORY
BY
ALI ATHAR
M. Phil.
Under the Supervision of
Prof. Khaliq Ahmad Nizamr
CENTRE OF ADVANCED STUDY
DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY
ALIGARH MUSLIM UNIVERSITY
. ALIGARH (INDIA).
19 8 7
T3617
A B S T R A C T
The Delhi Sultans had assimilated, accepted and
rejected in its military organisation the Central Asian and
Rajput traditions of warfare. These two diverse military
organisations had deep impact on the Indian army during the
13th and 14th centuries. It was therefore deemed necessary
to incorporate the 'Military Organisation of the Mongols'and
the Rajput Traditions of warfare* in the Introduction of this
work which enables a better understeisding of the Army Organi-
sation of the Delhi Sultans,
The MongolJ adopted the Central Asian traditions of
warfare which gave emphasis on cavalry and the mobility of
troopsib They were a well knit kmilitary force, dlsaijilined
and ferocious* All these combined to give them enough success
in their military eXi>editions,
The Turks established themselves as rulers in India
after overcoming their Rajput adversaries whose resistance
lasted till mid of 13th century. The incorporation of the
Rajputs in the array resulted in the assimilation of Indian
modes of warfare of employing elephants and the increase in the
number of the infantry corps which was constituted mostly of
Indian soldiers. A critical analysis of the Rajput tradition
- ii -
of warfare has been dealt with in later part of the Introduction.
After tho establishment of the Delhi Sultans a seperate
unit of administration called the Diwan-i-i^ took over the
charge of organising the whole army. Chapter I deals with
the duties and function of the Ariz, the administration of
the cavalry, elephantry and infantry corps, the military hiera-
rchy, duties of the military officers and mode of payments made
to the army.
This chapter incorporates the study of the supply of
horses and elephants for the army and their effectiveness in
battles.
Recruitment of the soldiers their composition and
Training is the second chapter of my thesis in which I have
discussed the mode of recruitment of the soldiers in the army
whicb was open to all and any one who possessed the desired
qualification. This ushered a change in the composition of
the army which now consisted of soldiers belonging to diffe-
rent races and nations. The significance of this change in the
army brought criticism from BSrani who abhored the rise of low
caste people in the state's administration. The change gradua-
lly led to the dominance of the Afghans who ultimately cajrved
out a seperate kingdom for themselves.
- iii -
The Delhi army inspite of being composed of men
belonging to different social background never suffered
from any problem relating to the conduct of the battle as
all the soldiers were given thorough military training on
the same pattern. The trainings imparted to the soldiers
kept them agile and fit which were greatly responsible for
maintaining the political authority in northern India and
its extent ion in the Deccan,^ inspite of constant foreign
invasions by the Mongols, Brave and able military generals like
Zafar Khan and Ghazi Malik were ^aredby the Mongols.
Sultans like Balban and Ala-ud-Din Khalji paid due
attention in maintaining an efficient army and took great
interest in its upkeep. All the sultans took the army out
for h\inting which was organised in the manner of a military
campaign.
Various military exercises and trainings had been
discussed in this chapter on the availability of references
as found in the sovirces.
The 'Methods of warfare* which constitutes the third
chapter is a detailed account on the traditions and systems
of warfare prevalent during our period of stud|f, A military
campaign was a well organised aifair in which minute details
of communications, routes to be followed, length of march.
- iv -
speed, provisions etc, were chalked out.
Various methods of fighting a battle was adopted
to surprise the enemy. The army was usually divided into
four main divisions with flanking parties and the attack
was initiated from the wing which could provide the initial
success. Strategies and tactics of war changed considerable
from time to time like feigned retreat, ambush, Sirriva,Shabkun
etc. The camps was well protected and warriors always rem-
ained on duty as guards.
Apart from battles fought on the open plains, the
army of the Delhi Sultans excelled in seige operations too.
In such operations the army put into use mechanical artille-
ries, mines, sabats etc, which gave them easy victory over
the Rajput strong holds.
Chapter IV deals with the study of various arms and
armours used by the soldiers. It incorporates the details of
their origin, means of manufacture? their use and effectiveness,
The army of the Delhi Sultans had used weapons belonging to
foreign origin and also those made in India, Among the offe-
nsive weapons the Kaman-i-hindavij mau1-i«» dairva and neza-i-
hindivi were considered the best. The soldiers equipped them-
selves with bow and arrows, swords* lance along with laasoes and
dagger which were used as the situation demanded. The soldiers
protected themselves with shields and other armours like breast
plate, helmet etc. The horses and the elephants were covered
- V -
with steel armours called barcaistawana.
Weapons like manlanlas, arradas* Cnarkh, Zaniburak
etc, which discharged heavy missiles and fiery arrows were
used during seige operations,
Chapte^r V« Forts and Their Importance is a survey of
different forts in possession of the Delhi Sultans. The forts
of the Rajput inilers were constructed on high altitude and
had a defensive purpose. There forts had abundance of provi-
sions, independent sources of water supply etc, and were
capable of offering stiff resistance, but they were never
employed as a military station. The Sultans of Delhi used
these very forts as a means of initiating attack. They seirved
as military garrisons which defended the territories located
in its jurisdiction and maintained law and order.
This chapter includes the description of medieval
forts as described in the contemporary records, supplemented
by modern archaeological works. Some forts like Delhi; Gwalior,
Ranthambor, Chittor, Deogir are studied in detailed.
Lastly the conclusion of this work is given along
with a select bibliography.
Icahsd Do
^axiLni^
C O N T E N TS
Page
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT 1 « Hi
INTRODUCTION 1 ~ 20
1, THE CENTRAL ASIAN BACKGROUND,
MILITARY ORGANIZATION OP THE MONGOLS, 1
2, INDIAN TRADITIONS OP WAR BEFORE THE
TURKISH CONQUEST OP NORTH INDIA 21
CHAPTER I
ADMINISTRATION OF THE ARMY 46 • 86
1, OFFICIAL HIERARCHY 46
2, DIWAN-i-ARZ POSITION AND DUTIES
OF THiS ARIZ-i-MUMALIK. 54
3, HASHM^i-ATRAF 60
4, PORTS 62
5, DIVISION OF THii ARI-IY, CAVALRY,
SUPPLY OF WAR HORSi:;S, 63
6, EFi'j^CTIVEN^SS OF CAV^^LRY 68
ELEPHAI^ITRY, 72
8, SUPPLY OF Wi\R ELEPH^\i^ITS 73
9, THE ROLE OF INF.^^TRY 75
10, NAVY 78
11, ARZ 79
12, OTHER UNITS OF ADMINISTRATION. 81
13, SALARY 82
14, SPOILS 85
- B -
THESIS SECTION
Page
CHAPTER II
RECRUITI4ENT OF TH:: SOLDIERS
THEIR CQlg>OSITION AIID TR^UHIHG. 87 - 111
1, RECRUITIffiNT. 87
2. COMPOSITION, 89
3. SLAVES, 97
4, MILITARY EXERCISES. 102
CHAPTER III
METHODS OF WARFARE 112 - 154
1, STANDARD 112
2, PROVISIONS AND SUPPLY LINE 114
3, Ai-iBULANCE 118
4, BATTLE GROUl© 118
5, CAl'lP 119
6, SPIES AND SCOUTS 122
7, BATTLE ARRAY 126
8, STRATEGIFS AND TACTICS 131
9, SEIGE OPER<\TIONS 143
CHAPTER IV
WEAPONS AND ARMOURS USED 156 - 177
1. BOWS AND ARROWS 158
2, SWORDS 160
3, LANCE 164
4. BATTLE AXE AI^D mCS 166