The Administration of the Sultanate of Dehli c12.69

c12.69

The sultanate also maintained infantry.¹⁰ The foot soldiers were called *pāyaks*. These men were mostly Hindus, slaves or other persons of a humble origin who wanted employment and could not afford horses. They were useful as personal guards and door-keepers, and, in spite of their humble position, sometimes took part in matters of great importance. It was by his pāyak bodyguard that ‘Alā-u’d-dīn Khaljī’s life was saved when Akat Khān’s men attacked him.¹ Quṭb-u’d-dīn Mubārak Shāh was placed on the throne of Dehlī as the result of the pāyak conspiracy against Malik Kāfūr.² They are mentioned as taking part in various battles, though it was difficult to transport them to distant places, and thus they could not very well be used in campaigns which required swift movement. The numerous archers were called dhānuks, a term which obviously comes from the Sanskrit word dhanush, meaning a bow.³ Barbosa thus describes the foot soldiers of the Deccan: “They carry swords and daggers, bows and arrows. They are right good archers and their bows are long like those of England.” They were mostly Hindus.⁴ The most famous pāyaks came from Bengal.⁵ Sher Shāh increased the effectiveness of the Baksariyahs by giving them matchlocks.⁶ Some authorities mention a class of soldiers called ‘pāyak-ba-asp’ which means ‘foot soldiers with horses.’⁷ The early sultans, in view of their limited man power, supplied some foot soldiers with horses for actual fighting; but because these men did not bring their own horses, they were treated as infantrymen for the purpose of salary and allowances.⁷