The Foundation of Muslim Rule in India: A History of the Establishment and Progress of the Turkish Sultanate of Delhi, 1206–1290 A.D. c14.29

c14.29

Next in importance to the *wazir* was the *ariz-i-mamalik*, the head of the army department (*diwan-i-arz*). He kept the *iqtadar's* (military assignee) muster-roll, recruited new troops, and looked after the equipment and efficiency of the fighting forces⁵. He was, besides, the paymaster-general of the army. His *naib* of whom there could be more than one at a time, accompanied the army in campaigns and arranged for provision and transport and took charge of the booty⁶. The *ariz* occasionally held reviews of the fighting services. These were meant, in addition to inspecting the equipment and general smartness, to facilitate the disbursement of pay and also to receive the contingents furnished by the provincial governors. Balban's *ariz*, Imadul Mulk, used to reward the troops out of his own resources and is specially praised for his conscientious discharge of duties⁷. He was given wide powers to increase the rate of soldiers' pay, and was made independent of the *wazir's* financial control. Barani records his practice of occasionally entertaining his office staff and begging of them not to take bribe from the *muqti's* representatives or to misappropriate any portion of the soldiers' pay, a vice which would thus appear to have been quite common and which by later instances is not proved as having been rooted out. The *ariz* was probably paid in assignments for Imadul Mulk is said to have granted may villages for public charities out of his own *iqta*¹.