The Mughal Army: Cavalry, Mansabdars, War Elephants, and Artillery

The Mughal Army: Structure, Strengths, and Comparisons

The cavalry formed the principal arm of the Mughal army, with mansabdars providing the majority.
Ahadis were individual troopers recruited directly by the emperors, known as gentlemen-troopers, with higher salaries.
Ahadis had diverse roles including clerks, painters, and imperial order carriers, often skilled as musketeers and bowmen.
Footmen (piyadgan) comprised matchlock-bearers, porters, servants, newsrunners, swordsmen, wrestlers, and slaves.
Royal bodyguards (walashahis) and palace guards served on foot in the citadel and palace.

The Mughal emperors maintained a large stable of war elephants and a well-organized park of artillery.
Artillery included heavy guns for fort defense and assault, and light, mobile artillery ('artillery of the stirrup').
Artillery development included hiring Ottomans and Portuguese initially, improving significantly by Aurangzeb's reign.
Infantry and cavalry strengths under Shah Jahan and Aurangzeb reflected the army's structure and capabilities.
Comparison with European and Central Asian armies highlighted strengths and weaknesses in infantry and artillery.

Evaluation of the Mughal army's efficiency compared to Western, Central Asian, and Persian armies.
European travelers' observations on Mughal infantry deficiencies in drill, organization, and leadership.
Successes against neighboring states like the Uzbeks highlighted Mughal military capabilities in open contests.
Development and challenges in artillery mirrored advancements and deficiencies compared to global powers.
Integration of cavalry with the jagirdari system emphasized the interdependence of land relations and military strength.

Discover the Mughal Army's strength and structure, from cavalry and mansabdars to war elephants and artillery, which played a pivotal role in shaping the Mughal Empire.