Fall of the Mughal Empire v4.c59.s1.4

v4.c59.s1.4

The British recognised the remnant of the functional aristocracy of the Mughal empire as hereditary princes enjoying their lands, but without any duty to the new suzerain power. Thus India’s face came to be pitted with more than six hundred Native States, like so many pock-marks, each legally of a higher status than the largest zamindari. Feudal rights and duties ceased altogether in British India, but in the mediatised States, the feudal services due to the Rajas disappeared as well as baronial turbulence, but their vassals continued to enjoy all the profits of feudalism.