History of the Khaljis, A.D. 1290–1320 c11.20

c11.20

Thuswise Chingiz Khan made a nation out of dust. He gave the Mughals a huge empire and large armies well disciplined and trained in the art of warfare. In fact he overhauled and organized all spheres of social as well as military life of the Mughals. He divided the inhabitants of a locality by the number of their tents; towns and cities among the early Mughals being unknown. A collection of ten tents was called *aouls*, that of ten *aouls* was called *ulus* or *otaks* and that of these ten *obog* or clan. This order in social life was also preserved for military organisation. From one single individual to a division of ten thousand horsemen all were kept under strict control and supervision. The smallest unit of the Mughal army consisting of ten horsemen (or *fard*) was called *urban*. Ten *urbans* made a *doh* or a division of one hundred. Ten *dohs* formed a *minjan* and ten *minjans* a *tuman*—a division of 10,000 horses, so often alluded to by Persian historians. On each of these units were appointed officers; a *tuman* in the early days of Mughal conquest was commanded by a prince of the royal blood.¹⁶ The Mughal military organization was based essentially on cavalry, the greatest wealth of the Mughal being a horse; and horse stealing among them was considered to be the highest crime punishable by death. The equipment of a Mughal warrior consisted of a javelin; a hook, to pull the enemy from off his horse; bow and arrows; and a sword. The Mughal was a born fighter; the environment as well as tradition made up for his deficiency if there was any. From the very early days of Changiz, brothers and cousins and friends fought side by side, and a defeat even in a sham fight was considered to be a disgrace.¹⁷ The exercises were actual fighting except for the profusion of blood.