[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [General history and culture](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general) › [The Sultanate of Delhi, 711–1526 A.D.](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.srivastava-1950) › c19.s2.t8 # The Sultanate of Delhi, 711–1526 A.D. c19.s2.t8: The standing army The Sultanate of Delhi, 711–1526 A.D. c19.s2.t8 - **Language:** English ### The standing army ### [c19.s2.t8.1](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.srivastava-1950.c19.s2.t8.1) In order to enforce the above regulations, to act upon the principles of his theory of kingship, to satisfy his ambition of conquest and to protect the country from the ever-recurring Mongol invasions, it was necessary for Ala-ud-din to have a powerful army. Royal despotism of the type that was Ala-ud-din’s aim was impossible without a military force of a high order. With this object in view Ala-ud-din undertook the reform of the army. To him belongs the credit of being the first Sultan of Delhi to lay the foundation of a permanent standing army which was always kept in readiness for service at the capital. The army was directly recruited by the army minister (\*ariz-i-mamalik\*). It was paid in cash from the royal treasury. The pay of a trooper was 234 \*tankas\* a year, while one with an additional horse was paid 78 \*tankas\* more. The soldiers were supplied with horses, arms and other equipment at the expense of the State. ### [c19.s2.t8.2](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.srivastava-1950.c19.s2.t8.2) In order to do away with corruption and to prevent proxy at a military review or in the field of battle, Ala-ud-din instituted the practice of recording the descriptive roll (\*huliya\*) of individual soldiers in the army minister's register. To prevent the defrauding of the government by the substitution of a bad horse for a good one the branding of horses (\*dagh\* system) was introduced. These innovations were not altogether new. They had been known before in India and abroad. According to Farishta, the central army consisted of 4,75,000 cavalrymen. The strength of the infantry is not recorded by any contemporary writer, but it must have far exceeded the cavalry. The Sultan bestowed a great deal of personal attention on the organisation, equipment and discipline of his military establishment. --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.srivastava-1950.c19.s2.t8](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.srivastava-1950.c19.s2.t8) · Pramāṇa