Administrative System of the Marathas c27.s13.1

c27.s13.1

Sabhasad tells us that Shivaji captured about four thousand horses at Surat and "a cavalry force was organised with them. As the distinctive mark of this force, a quadrangular sign was branded on the right buttock of the horses." ¹⁹ For this practice of branding horses the Marathas were certainly indebted to the Muslims. Branding was first introduced by Allauddin Khiliji, but the practice was discontinued by his immediate successors. It was however revived by Sher Shah and finally introduced into the Mughal army by Akbar, to continue till the downfall of his dynasty.²⁰ Abul Fazl has given detailed information about the branding of horses in Akbar's time. Manucci, who was quite familiar with the military regulations of the great Mughal, is not silent about it. "All the horsemen," writes he, "who are *mansabdars* under the king must have impressed on the right flank of their horses a mark made like this [image of a symbol], which is the royal brand. From the day that they get this mark made their pay begins. The Generals also cause a brand to be placed on the horses of their troopers, but it is made on the left flank. Their brand is usually the first letter of their name, and their men's pay begins also on the day that the brand is imprinted." ²¹ It seems that Shivaji first branded his horses after the second sack of Surat. By that time he must have become well acquainted with the military regulations of his Mughal enemies. But we do not know for certain whether this practice of branding horses survived Shivaji in the Maratha army.