The Cambridge History of India, Vol. IV: The Mughul Period v4.c3.13

v4.c3.13

In rendering official designations into English it is desirable to avoid terms which have a specialised sense in European countries. This applies particularly to the term *jāgīr*, which appears as “assignment”. Many writers have translated it by “fief”, which is not appropriate for several reasons. The system is explained at pp. 455–456, and the reason for discarding the term “fief” is that the “assignment” of an official was always liable to change, was not hereditary, and was not necessarily within the area of the official’s jurisdiction. The largest administrative division of the empire (*sūba*) has been called a province, and the officer in charge (*sipāh sālār* or *sūbadār*) a viceroy. The term “commandant” represents the officer in executive charge of a smaller area (*Faujdār*) or of a fort (*qila‘dār*).