History of Mediaeval Hindu India (being a History of India from 600 to 1200 A.D.) v1.c13.6

v1.c13.6

There does not appear to have been any mercenary forces in the army of Harsha.* It consisted generally of Rajputs and other lower castes of the king’s country. The Kulaputras (or relatives of the kingly family or king’s clansmen) seem to have always been of importance. What they represent in modern times we cannot exactly say. (Perhaps they are the modern Bhāiband of Rajput states). Each arm had its commander, and the whole was under the commander-in-chief. The description by Bāṇa of Harsha’s commander-in-chief is as detailed and complete as any by a modern English novelist. (H. C. p. 257) He was a tall, yellow-complexioned, massive, deep-voiced, bearded and whiskered man of about 80 bearing many scars on his half bare body. The mention of many scars seems somewhat strange, for the higher grades of officers must have worn an armour when in fight. Armours however are not mentioned in the descriptions given by Bāṇa. All the same, they must have been used as they are mentioned even in the Mahābhārata and the Rāmāyaṇa.