Shivaji and His Times c17.s5: §5. Army organization

Shivaji and His Times c17.s5

Language: English

§5. Army organization

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We now turn to Shivaji's civil and military regulations.

Every fort and outpost (*thanah*) was placed under three officers of equal status, *viz.*, the *havladar*, the *sabnis* and the *sar-i-naubat*, who were to act jointly. "No fort was to be left solely under a *havladar*, lest a single traitor should be able to deliver it to the enemy. The *havladar* and the *sar-i-naubat* were selected from the Maratha caste and the *sabnis* from the Brahmans,"—so that one caste served as a check upon another. The stores and provisions in the forts were in charge of a Kayastha officer called the *karkhanah-navis*, who wrote the accounts of their incoming and expenditure. In the larger forts, where the bounds were extensive, the walls were divided into five or six sections, and each of these was guarded by a special *tat-sar-i-naubat*. The environs of a fort were watched by men of the Parwari and Ramushi castes.

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∗ So says Chitnis. But Oxinden's letters imply that all the ministers endorsed Shivaji's treaty with the English.

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The *havladar* of a fort was empowered to change the lower officers and to write official letters and seal them with his own seal. All letters from Government were to be addressed to him. He was to lock the fort-gates at sunset and open them at sunrise, carry the keys with himself and sleep with them under his pillow. He had to make frequent tours of inspection in and outside the fort, pay surprise visits to the sentinels, while the *sar-i-naubat* had to inspect the work of the patrolling parties and the night-watch. Minute written instructions were given by Shivaji for keeping in each fort munition, provisions, building-materials, and other necessary stores adequate to its size, and for keeping proper watch; and these regulations were rigidly enforced.

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All soldiers, whether musketeers, spearmen, archers or swordsmen, were recruited only after a careful personal inspection by Shivaji himself and taking security for every new soldier from the men already in his service.

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In the State cavalry (*paga*), the unit was formed by 25 troopers (*bargirs*); over 25 men was placed one havladar, over 5 havladars one jumladar,* and over 10 jumlas or 1,250 men one hazari. Still higher ranks were the 5-hazaris and the supreme commander or sar-i-naubat of cavalry. For every twenty-five troopers there were a water-carrier and a farrier.

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The silahdars, or troopers who supplied their own horses and arms, were organized on a different plan, but were under the orders of the same sar-i-naubat of cavalry, and ranked lower than the paga horsemen.

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In the infantry, whether fort-garrisons or Mavle militiamen, there was one corporal (nayak) to every nine privates (paiks); over 5 nayaks one havladar, over two (or three) havladars one jumladar, and over 10 jumladars one hazari† There seems to have been no 5-hazari among the infantry, but only 7-hazaris, over whom was the sar-i-naubat of infantry. Shivaji's Guard brigade of 2,000 select Mavle infantry was splendidly equipped dressed and armed at great expense to the State. (Sabh. 58.)

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† Chit., 83, gives one jumladar over five havladars and one hazari over five jumladars.

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The paga jumladar had a salary of 500 hun a year and the right to use a palki. Attached to him was a majmuadar on 100 to 125 hun. A hazari drew 1,000 hun a year; under him were a majmuadar, a Maratha karbhari (manager or steward), and a revenue-writer (jama-navis) of the Kayastha caste, for whom 500 hun was assigned. The accounts of military income and disbursement had to be made up with the signature of all the four. A commander of 5,000 drew 2,000 hun and had the same three civil officers attached to his office.

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∗ Chit., 81, says that there was an intermediate officer called subahdar in command of 5 jumlas, below the hazari.

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Karkuns (collectors), reporters, couriers and spies were posted to every higher command down to a hazari, under the orders of the sar-i-naubat.

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An infantry jumladar drew 100 hun a year, and had a sabnis (muster-writer) on 40 hun. A hazari drew 500 hun and his sabnis 100 to 125 hun.

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It was Shivaji’s settled policy* to use his army to draw supplies from foreign dominions every year. “The troops were to go into cantonments in the home territory during the rainy season (June—September.) Grain, fodder and medicines were kept in stock for the horses, and the huts of the troopers were kept thatched with grass. On the day of Dashahara (early in October) the army should set out from the camp for the country selected by the Rajah. At the time of their departure a list was made of all the property that every man, high or low, of the army carried with himself. The troops were to subsist in foreign parts for eight months and also levy contributions. No woman, female slave or dancinggirl was to be allowed to accompany the army. A soldier keeping any of these was to be beheaded. No woman or child was to be taken captive, but only men. Cows were exempt from seizure, but bullocks might be taken for transport only. Brahmans were not to be molested, nor taken as hostages for ransom. No soldier should misconduct himself [during a campaign.]

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∗ The method followed by the Pindharis in 1810-16, as described by a contemporary English officer, may be taken to illustrate the conduct of the Maratha troops in Shivaji’s time, though not of the more developed forces of the Peshwas: “Until the close of the rains and the fall of the rivers, their horses were carefully trained, to prepare them for long marches and hard work. The rivers generally became fordable by the close of the Dassera. The horses were then shod......... and all that were so inclined set forth on a foray......... All were mounted, though not equally well; .........the favourite weapon was a bamboo spear, from 12 to 18 feet long ......... It is not surprising that a body so constituted, and moving without camp-equipage of any kind, should traverse the whole of India in defiance of the most active pursuit by regular troops along the same line of march. ......... As it was impossible for them to remain more than a few hours on the same spot, the utmost despatch was necessary in rifling any towns or villages into which they could force an entrance; every one whose appearance indicated the probability of his possessing money, was immediately put to the most horrid torture......... It was their common practice to burn and destroy what could not be carried away.” [Prinsep’s History, of...... Marquess of Hastings, i. 38-39.]

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Eight months were to be passed in such expeditions abroad. On their return to their own frontier in Baishakh (April) the whole army was to be searched, the property found was to be compared with the old list, and the excess was to be deducted from their salary. Any one secreting any booty was liable to punishment on detection by the general.

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The generals on their return should see the Rajah, deliver their booty in gold silver jewels and costly cloth to him, present their accounts, and take their dues from the Treasury. The officers and men were to be promoted or punished according to their conduct during the late campaign. Then they would again remain for four months in camp.'' [Sabh. 27-30.]