Organization of Bahawalpur Army during First Half of Nineteenth Century

Abstract

From its inception, this State was a military-entrepreneur which was stabled by a warrior group, the Daudputras. Later, when they became able to cope with the political crises of the State, they adopted the classical mansabdari system to deal with the matters of land revenue and military requirements, simultaneously. At local level, they termed this system as iwaz-e-lashkari. It was not a true copy of mansabdari system but the basic concept was adopted in which state provided land to jagirdars in return of their military services. This article is concerned with the military aspect of iwaz-e-lashkari system and will not deal with land revenue under this system. This system continued in Bahawalpur State even after the inclusion of Bahawalpur in the British Protectorate areas in 1838. The British did not interfere in this formation rather they benefited by this in their wars of this realm and got control of Sindh, Punjab and Rajputana with the support of Bahawalpur Army.