Complete Guide to Mansabdari System: Understanding the Mughal Military-Administrative Framework
Imagine running an empire that stretches from Kashmir to Karnataka, from Gujarat to Bengal. How would you manage millions of people, maintain a massive army, and ensure efficient administration across such vast territories? This was the challenge the Mughal emperors faced in medieval India.
The mansabdari system was their innovative solution—a unique military and civil administrative framework that became the backbone of Mughal governance. Introduced by Emperor Akbar in the 16th century, this system revolutionised how the empire managed its nobility, military forces, and revenue collection.
For students preparing for competitive examinations like UPSC, state civil services, or studying Indian history, understanding the mansabdari system is crucial. It shaped medieval Indian administration and influenced governance structures that followed, leaving a lasting impact on the Indian subcontinent.
What Was the Mansabdari System?
The mansabdari system was essentially a ranking and payment structure for military officers and civil administrators in the Mughal Empire. Think of it as a comprehensive grading system that determined an official’s position, salary, and responsibilities.
The term “mansab” comes from the Arabic word meaning “rank” or “position.” Every official in the Mughal administration held a mansab, which indicated their status in the imperial hierarchy.
Key Features of the System
The mansabdari system had several distinctive characteristics:
Dual Ranking System: Each mansabdar (holder of a mansab) received two numerical ranks:
– Zat: Personal rank indicating the officer’s position and salary
– Sawar: Cavalry rank showing the number of horsemen the officer had to maintain
No Hereditary Rights: Unlike feudal systems in Europe, mansabs were not hereditary. When a mansabdar died, their rank returned to the emperor, who could reassign it to someone else.
Flexible Hierarchy: The emperor could promote, demote, or transfer mansabdars based on their performance and loyalty.
Origins and Evolution of the Mansabdari System
Introduction by Akbar (1595-1596)
Emperor Akbar formally established the mansabdari system around 1595-96 CE, though its foundations were laid earlier in his reign. Before this, the Mughal military and administrative structure was less organised and borrowed heavily from Central Asian traditions.
Akbar recognised that managing a diverse empire required a systematic approach. He needed loyal officials who owed their position directly to the emperor rather than to local power bases.
Influences on the System
The mansabdari system drew inspiration from various sources:
- Mongol military organisation: The decimal system of military units
- Persian administrative practices: Bureaucratic structures from Safavid Iran
- Indian traditions: Elements from the Delhi Sultanate’s iqta system
However, Akbar’s genius lay in combining these influences into something uniquely suited to Mughal India’s needs.
Changes Under Later Emperors
The system evolved significantly under Akbar’s successors:
Jahangir’s Modifications (1605-1627):
– Introduced the du-aspa sih-aspa system
– This allowed certain mansabdars to maintain additional cavalry beyond their sawar rank
– Created more flexibility in military deployments
Aurangzeb’s Expansion (1658-1707):
– Increased the number of mansabdars significantly
– Extended the system to cover the expanded empire in the Deccan
– However, this also led to financial strain on the imperial treasury
Understanding the Ranking System
The Zat Rank
The zat rank determined an official’s personal status and basic salary. Ranks ranged from commanders of 10 soldiers to those commanding 10,000 or more.
The hierarchy worked like this:
- 10 to 500: Lower-ranking officers and officials
- 500 to 2,500: Middle-ranking nobles
- 2,500 to 5,000: Senior nobles and provincial governors
- Above 5,000: Highest-ranking nobles, often royal princes
Only members of the royal family typically held ranks above 7,000. The highest mansab theoretically went up to 10,000, though some exceptional cases exceeded this.
The Sawar Rank
The sawar rank indicated the number of cavalry troops a mansabdar was required to maintain. This was crucial because cavalry formed the backbone of Mughal military power.
Interestingly, the sawar rank could be:
– Equal to the zat: Standard appointment
– Lower than the zat: Common for civil administrators
– Higher than the zat: Rare, for exceptional military commanders
Salary Structure
Mansabdars received their payment in one of two ways:
Naqd (Cash Payment):
– Direct salary paid from the imperial treasury
– More common in areas near the capital
– Gave the emperor greater control over the mansabdar
Jagir (Land Assignment):
– Right to collect revenue from assigned territories
– The mansabdar kept a portion for personal expenses and troop maintenance
– More common in distant provinces
The salary calculations were complex. A mansabdar of rank 1,000/500 (zat/sawar) might receive revenue rights over villages producing lakhs of rupees annually, from which they had to maintain their cavalry, equipment, and personal household.
Duties and Responsibilities of Mansabdars
Military Obligations
The primary duty of any mansabdar was military service. They had to:
- Maintain cavalry: Keep the required number of horses and horsemen ready
- Ensure quality: Horses had to meet imperial standards and were regularly inspected
- Provide equipment: Supply weapons, armour, and other military necessities
- Lead in battle: Command their troops during military campaigns
The Mughal administration was meticulous about verification. Officials called dagh (branding) and chehra (descriptive roll) systems ensured that mansabdars actually maintained the required number of horses and soldiers.
Administrative Functions
Many mansabdars also served as civil administrators:
- Provincial governors (Subahdars): Managed entire provinces
- District officers (Faujdars): Maintained law and order in smaller regions
- Revenue collectors: Oversaw jagir territories and ensured revenue collection
- Judicial duties: Dispensed justice in their assigned areas
Court Attendance
Mansabdars were expected to attend the imperial court regularly. This served multiple purposes:
- Demonstrated loyalty to the emperor
- Allowed the emperor to monitor his nobles
- Facilitated coordination of administrative and military activities
- Reinforced the centralised nature of Mughal authority
Categories of Mansabdars
The Mughal administration classified mansabdars into several categories based on their efficiency and the quality of troops they maintained.
Based on Performance
Tabinan: First-class mansabdars who maintained troops above their sawar requirement.
Tabinan-du-aspa-sih-aspa: Elite category introduced by Jahangir. These mansabdars maintained two horses for every cavalryman (du-aspa) and could claim salary for three horses (sih-aspa).
Regular: Mansabdars who maintained exactly the required number of troops.
Irregular: Those who failed to maintain their required strength, often facing salary deductions.
Based on Ethnic Background
The Mughal Empire was remarkably cosmopolitan, and mansabdars came from diverse backgrounds:
- Turanis: Central Asians, especially from Turkistan
- Iranis: Persians and people from Iran
- Afghans: From Afghanistan and frontier regions
- Rajputs: Indian Rajput chiefs and nobles
- Marathas: Particularly during Aurangzeb’s reign
- Deccanis: Muslims from the Deccan region
- Indian Muslims: From various parts of the subcontinent
This diversity was deliberate policy. Akbar especially promoted sulh-i-kul (universal peace) and integrated people from all backgrounds into his administration.
The Jagirdari System: Land Assignments
The jagir system was closely linked to the mansabdari system. Since paying all mansabdars in cash would have bankrupted the treasury, most received jagirs instead.
How Jagirs Worked
A jagir was essentially a revenue assignment. The mansabdar received the right to collect land revenue from specific villages or territories. From this revenue, they had to:
- Maintain their required cavalry and soldiers
- Cover personal and household expenses
- Remit any surplus to the imperial treasury (though this rarely happened)
Types of Jagirs
Tankha Jagirs: Assignments that paid salaries in cash from local revenue.
Mashrut Jagirs: Conditional assignments with specific obligations.
Watan Jagirs: Hereditary assignments given to local chiefs who submitted to Mughal authority, particularly common among Rajput nobles.
Transfer Policy
The Mughal emperors regularly transferred jagirs to prevent mansabdars from developing local power bases. A mansabdar might hold a jagir in Punjab one year and Gujarat the next.
This policy had both advantages and disadvantages:
Advantages:
– Prevented regional power centres
– Maintained central authority
– Reduced chances of rebellion
Disadvantages:
– Mansabdars often exploited jagirs ruthlessly, knowing they’d be transferred
– Little incentive for long-term agricultural development
– Administrative discontinuity affected local governance
Strengths of the Mansabdari System
The mansabdari system had several notable advantages that contributed to Mughal administrative efficiency.
Centralised Control
The emperor held absolute power over all appointments, promotions, and dismissals. This created a unified command structure unlike the fragmented feudal systems elsewhere.
Every mansabdar owed their position directly to the emperor, fostering loyalty to the crown rather than to regional power centres.
Meritocracy Elements
While not entirely merit-based, the system did allow talented individuals to rise through the ranks. Akbar particularly promoted based on ability rather than just birth.
Examples include:
– Birbal: A Brahmin who rose to high rank through his wit and wisdom
– Todar Mal: A Kayastha who became Akbar’s finance minister
– Man Singh: A Rajput who commanded vast armies
Efficient Military Mobilisation
The system allowed quick military mobilisation. When needed, the emperor could summon mansabdars with their contingents, creating large armies rapidly.
During Akbar’s reign, this system could potentially mobilise over 4 million cavalry, though actual numbers in any campaign were much smaller.
Administrative Flexibility
The dual ranking system provided flexibility. Civil administrators could have high zat but low sawar, while military commanders might have both ranks equal or sawar higher than zat.
Weaknesses and Limitations
Despite its innovations, the mansabdari system had significant flaws that contributed to the eventual Mughal decline.
Financial Strain
Maintaining the system was enormously expensive. As the empire expanded, the number of mansabdars increased, but revenue didn’t grow proportionally.
By Aurangzeb’s time, the system faced severe financial stress:
– More mansabdars competing for limited jagirs
– Declining quality of troops as mansabdars cut costs
– Delays in salary payments causing discontent
Exploitation of Peasantry
The transfer policy encouraged mansabdars to extract maximum revenue quickly from their jagirs. Since they might be transferred any time, there was little incentive for sustainable revenue collection or peasant welfare.
This led to:
– Excessive taxation
– Agricultural decline
– Peasant rebellions
– Reduced long-term productivity
Corruption and Inefficiency
The verification systems (dagh and chehra) became increasingly corrupt. Mansabdars often:
– Maintained fewer troops than required
– Presented borrowed horses during inspections
– Kept poor-quality equipment
– Paid bribes to inspection officers
Lack of Hereditary Stability
While preventing feudalism, the non-hereditary nature created instability. Families of deceased mansabdars often faced financial ruin, leading to:
– Resentment among nobles’ families
– Attempts to secure wealth through corruption
– Reduced long-term loyalty to the empire
Decline of the Mansabdari System
The mansabdari system began declining during the late 17th and early 18th centuries.
Contributing Factors
Over-expansion Under Aurangzeb: The conquest of the Deccan created more mansabs than available jagirs. This led to the jagirdari crisis, where mansabdars couldn’t find adequate assignments.
Economic Decline: Continuous warfare drained the treasury. Revenue collection became irregular, and mansabdars’ salaries fell into arrears.
Rise of Regional Powers: As central authority weakened, regional governors (subahdars) began acting independently, transforming their positions into hereditary kingdoms.
Maratha Raids: Constant Maratha attacks disrupted revenue collection, making jagirs less valuable and harder to maintain.
Transformation After Aurangzeb
After Aurangzeb’s death in 1707, the system rapidly deteriorated:
- Mansabdars became virtually independent in their jagirs
- The distinction between jagir and hereditary land blurred
- Regional kingdoms emerged from former Mughal provinces
- The emperor became increasingly powerless over mansabdars
By the mid-18th century, when the British East India Company began expanding, the mansabdari system existed only in name around Delhi and nearby regions.
Legacy and Historical Significance
Influence on Later Systems
The mansabdari system influenced subsequent administrative structures in India:
Maratha Administration: The Marathas adapted elements of the system in their saranjam (land grant) system.
British Indian Army: The British incorporated some organisational principles from the mansabdari system, particularly the ranking structure.
Modern Civil Services: The concept of a centralised, merit-based bureaucracy (though imperfectly implemented) influenced thinking about modern Indian administrative services.
Lessons for Students
Understanding the mansabdari system teaches valuable lessons about:
- Administrative innovation: How rulers adapted different traditions to create new systems
- Centralisation vs. local autonomy: The eternal challenge of governance
- Economic sustainability: Why even brilliant administrative systems fail without sound finances
- Cultural integration: How diverse populations can be incorporated into unified structures
Relevance for Competitive Examinations
For UPSC and state civil service examinations, the mansabdari system appears regularly in:
- History papers: Medieval Indian history section
- General Studies: Questions on administrative systems
- Essay topics: Themes of governance, centralisation, and military organisation
- Interview questions: Historical parallels to modern administrative challenges
Key Takeaways for Quick Revision
When studying the mansabdari system, remember these essential points:
Definition: A Mughal
Key Takeaways for Quick Revision
When studying the mansabdari system, remember these essential points:
Definition: A Mughal administrative and military ranking system introduced by Akbar that combined civil and military responsibilities under a unified hierarchy.
Core Components:
– Zat ranking: Determined personal status and salary
– Sawar ranking: Indicated cavalry command responsibility
– Mansabdars: Noble officials holding ranks from 10 to 10,000
– Jagir system: Land revenue assignments for salary payment
Historical Significance:
– Created centralized control over nobility and military
– Integrated diverse ethnic and religious groups into administration
– Established merit-based promotion alongside hereditary privilege
– Provided framework for Mughal expansion and governance
Major Limitations:
– Heavy financial burden on state treasury
– Corruption in jagir assignments and revenue collection
– Hereditary tendencies weakened merit principles
– Contributed to eventual Mughal decline
Conclusion
The mansabdari system stands as one of the most sophisticated administrative innovations of medieval India, representing Akbar’s genius in creating a centralized bureaucratic structure that could govern a vast, diverse empire. By combining military organization with civil administration, the system provided the Mughal Empire with unprecedented control over its nobility, armed forces, and territorial administration. For nearly two centuries, it served as the backbone of Mughal power, enabling emperors to maintain authority over millions of subjects across the Indian subcontinent.
However, like many historical institutions, the mansabdari system contained the seeds of its own decline. The financial strain of maintaining an elaborate hierarchy of mansabdars, the growing corruption in jagir assignments, the inability to control hereditary succession, and the weakening of central authority under later Mughal rulers gradually undermined the system’s effectiveness. By the 18th century, as regional powers asserted independence and the empire fragmented, the mansabdari system could no longer sustain the imperial structure it was designed to support.
Despite its eventual decline, the mansabdari system’s legacy extends far beyond the Mughal period. It influenced subsequent administrative systems in India, including those developed by the British colonial administration. Modern students of history, public administration, and governance continue to study the mansabdari system as a case study in centralization, bureaucratic organization, and the challenges of managing diverse populations through institutional frameworks. Understanding this system provides valuable insights not only into medieval Indian history but also into timeless questions about power, administration, and the relationship between rulers and their officials.
Ready to deepen your understanding of Mughal administration? Explore our related articles on the Mughal Empire’s revenue system, Akbar’s religious policies, and comparative studies of administrative systems across medieval empires. Share this article with fellow history enthusiasts and UPSC aspirants to help them master this crucial topic.
