Administrative System of the Marathas c27.s12.1

c27.s12.1

In rewarding distinguished services in war, the Maratha rulers followed the Muhammadan precedent. Titles were conferred on successful generals, they sometimes obtained the honour of using Sunshades or Aftagirs, Palquis and Nalquis and another distinction which brave officers could expect was the use of Chaughada. And Sabhasad tells us that Shivaji rewarded his soldiers with gold bracelets, earrings, necklaces, crests and medallions,¹¹ after his success against Afzal Khan, while officers of rank got horses and higher ranks. According to Irvine jewelled ornaments, weapons with jewelled hilts, palkis, with fringes of gold lace and pearls, horses with gold mounted and jewelled trappings and elephants were presented by Mughal Emperors to their military officers in acknowledgment of their services to the State.¹² Aftabgir is mentioned in the Ain-i-Akbari and Irvine says that in the Mughal army only royal princes were entitled to this high distinction. He writes, "Aftabgir—This sun screen shaped like an open palm leaf fan was also called Suraj-mukhi. By the Moghul rulers it could only be granted to royal princes. In the eighteenth century, however, the Marathas adopted it as one of their commonest ensigns, and even the smallest group of their cavalry was in the habit of carrying one."¹³ Aftagir was conferred by Shivaji on his generals and officers of lesser rank as early as the seventeenth century. Similarly the honour of carrying Jari Patka, the golden standard, conferred on distinguished Maratha generals, was also quite in accord with the Mughal custom. Irvine remarks that in the Mughal army "apart from titles or money rewards, or ordinary gifts, a man might be awarded, among other distinctions (i) "the right to carry a flag or simple standard and (ii) the right to use kettle drums and beat the naubat." 14 The Chaughadas granted by Maratha rulers were nothing but kettle drums 15 and the principal Maratha Sardars had their naubats as well.