The Cambridge History of India, Vol. III: Turks and Afghans v3.c27.22

v3.c27.22

The guards were commanded by officers known as *Tavājī*, many of whom acted as aides-de-camp to the king and gentlemen ushers at court, in which capacity they were styled *Bārdār*. The whole bodyguard, known as *Khāss-Khail*, consisted of 200 esquires to the king (*Aslihadār*) and 4000 gentlemen troopers (*Yaka-Javān*), and was divided into four reliefs (*Naubat*), each consisting of 50 esquires and 1000 troopers, and commanded by one of the great nobles at the capital, with the title of *Sar-Naubat*. The tour of duty of each relief was four days, and the whole force was commanded by one of the ministers, entitled, as commander of the guards, *Sarkhail*, who performed his ordinary military duties by deputy.