During the Medieval Period, the army was thought to be well-equipped and intelligent in terms of knowing which war technique to use in order to achieve the best results. However, it is also claimed that, with a few exceptions, the army during the medieval period was not entirely united, but rather indisciplined. The army during the medieval period was very different from the modern army's structured form. From the ancient period to the medieval period to the modern period, the army underwent numerous changes in its formation, structure, and war policy. In this article, we will discuss Military Conditions in the Medieval Period which will be helpful for UPSC exam preparation.

Military Conditions - Features

• Both the Sultanate and the Mughal state relied on an army whose primary strength was cavalry.
• The officers in charge were Ariz–i–Mumalik under the Sultans and Mir Bakshi under the Mughal Emperors, but the ruler himself commanded all armed forces.
• Balban was the first to recruit a regular standing army, and this system was strengthened by Ala-ud-din Khalji, who introduced the horse branding system (Dagh).
• In the Delhi Sultanate, the royal cavalry was known as Hasham-i-Qalb or Afwaj-i-Qalb. The cavalry posted at the provincial level was Hasham-i-Atraj. This army was organised using the decimal system.
• The Mughal army was organised using the mansab system. The royal troopers directly under the command of the emperor were known as Ahadis.
• Following Babur's arrival, artillery developed rapidly in India. Aside from siege, which is the process of encircling and attacking a fortified location, there were heavy guns mounted on forts.
• The infantry, despite its size, was divided into fighting and non-fighting classes. Banduqchis, or matchlock men, were the majority of the fighting men.
• Matchlock troops were included in the infantry by the time of Akbar. Elephants were used in battle by both the Sultans of Delhi and the Mughals.

Military Contribution During the Sultanate

• The military underwent significant changes during the rule of the Delhi Sultanate. As and when power was transferred to new Kings, the military was reorganised.
• The supreme commander of the armed forces was usually the king or the Sultan. A new war ministry was established to administer the military department, which was overseen by a Minister known as the 'diwan-i-arz.'
• He was in charge of recruiting soldiers, training them, and maintaining army discipline. Infantry, cavalry, and elephants were among the army's branches.
• These branches' loyalty was ensured by keeping them under the command of experienced and trusted individuals.
• The cavalry branch was regarded as the most important because of its mobility and effectiveness.
• A strong central army was maintained during the rule of Ghiyas-ud-din Balban of the Slave dynasty to put down internal uprisings.
• Commands were established in the military. Each command was in charge of maintaining law and order as well as providing support to the Sultan during rebellions.
• Borders were fortified to ensure strong rule, and an effective intelligence or spy system was established.
• During the reign of Alauddin Khilji (1296-1316), a large standing permanent army was established to support the empire's expansion and to protect it from Mongol invasion.
• Because the Mongols used gunpowder, it spread to India as well. However, the Delhi Sultanates used firearms and canons in limited and varying degrees during military operations.
• It was only during the Mughal rule that these weapons were used effectively.

Military Structure of the Mughals

• When the Mughals arrived from Central Asia, they brought with them the Central Asian military tradition.
• Because of the introduction of gunpowder, a new style of combat was developed, as were new tactics.
• Previously, fighting was primarily centred on the use of horses and elephants, as well as weapons such as bows, arrows, swords, and shields.
• However, a new phase of military combat was introduced, focusing on the use of artillery and the use of muskets, bombs, and so on.
• This does not imply that older weapons have been completely replaced. They were, in fact, supplemented with new ones, particularly artillery.
• This contributed to a shift in battlefield tactics regarding unit deployment, infantry, cavalry, and artillery positions on the battlefield, and how they were to be used.
• Not only were there changes in the adoption of military tactics, but also in the manner in which these various military units were to be maintained. Civilian administrative institutions were used to form new organisations.
• In terms of structure, the Mughal Army was made up of cavalry, infantry, and artillery. In comparison to the infantry and cavalry, artillery held a subordinate position. Elephants were also employed.
• The Mughals placed a premium on the quantity and quality of horses in an army. However, artillery was extensively used to break through enemy lines and defeat them.
• Even during the first battle of Panipat, artillery was crucial in defeating Ibrahim Lodhi's forces.

The Mansabdari System

• Mansabdari was a military administration system introduced by Akbar with the goal of sustaining his army.
• It was a Central Asian system, but in the Indian context, Akbar included Indian Muslims, Rajputs, and Afghans as well.
• The system was the foundation for Mughal military and civil administration. Every man in the Mughal State who held a position higher than that of a common soldier (or messenger) became a mansab under this system.
• A Mansab could be transferred from one department to another and belonged to both civil and military administration. In other words, it is a military position, rank, or status.
• The mansabdari system was not inherited. Mughal officers, whether Hindus or Muslims, were given territorial commands in exchange for their military service.
• Each of them had to bring a certain number of men at arms, horses, or elephants to the army and were rated based on the numbers they brought.

Military Under Vijayanagar Kingdom

• The Vijayanagar Empire's army was made up of infantry, cavalry, and elephants, but it was not as powerful as the armies of the Sultans or the Mughals.
• The army consisted of 703,000 infantry, 32,600 cavalry, and 551 elephants during the reign of Krishna Deva Raya in 1522.
• In 1620 Krishna Raya actually assembled for the operations against Raichur - 703,000 foot, 32,600 horses, and 551 elephants, along with an uncounted host of camp followers and dealers.
• According to foreign visitor, Nuniz, "The efficiency of the massive army was not proportionate to the force's size. The soldiers were terrified of the Muslims, and their action against a fortress like Raichur was pitiful."

Military Conditions under Marathas

• In 1674, Shivaji Bhosale carved an independent Maratha zone around Pune, Maharashtra, from the Bijapur Sultanate, launching the Marathas as India's most powerful force, filling the void left by the decline of the Mughal Empire.
• Shivaji set up an efficient civil and military administration. Shivaji died in 1680, after a lifetime of conquest and guerrilla warfare with the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, leaving behind a vast but ill-defined kingdom.
• This was followed by a period of unrest that culminated with Aurangzeb's death.
• Shivaji was the second king in Indian history to keep an active navy.
• Kanhoji Angre, the first Maratha naval chief under Shivaji's grandson Shahuji, controlled illegal entries into Maratha territory by Dutch, English, and Portuguese commercial ships on India's Western coast in the early 18th century. He was undefeated until his death in 1729.
• Although Shivaji's descendants continued to rule, the office of the Peshwa, or prime minister, became the centre of Maratha power and patronage.
• The Peshwas were the Maratha state's effective rulers and oversaw the period of greatest Maratha expansion, which was brought to an end by the Maratha defeat by an Afghan army at the Third Battle of Panipat in 1761.
• By 1772, the Marathas had reclaimed their position as India's dominant power, until the last Peshwa, Baji Rao II, was defeated by the British in the Third Anglo-Maratha War.
• With the defeat of the Marathas, no native power posed a threat to the British. The end of the last Anglo-Maratha War marked the beginning of the British era in India.
• The Marathas also developed a powerful Navy around the 1660s, which at its peak dominated the territorial waters of India's western coast from Mumbai to Savantwadi.
• It would attack British, Portuguese, Dutch, and Siddi naval ships in order to keep their naval ambitions in check. The Maratha Navy dominated until the 1730s, then declined until it ceased to exist in 1818.

Conclusion

During medieval period, the armies did not appear to be standing armies, but rather were drawn as needed from the community as a whole. Individual training was also provided to members of the Indian Armies during the medieval period as part of their military training. During the eighth century AD, Indian society was divided into two major classes: warriors and non-warriors, with peasant militia fighting alongside charioteers and elephant-mounted aristocrats. The Indian Army reflected the society from which it was formed, and it was also under-professionalized.

FAQs

MCQs

1. Which of the following was a major feature of the Mughal military system?

A) Centralized military control
B) Feudal military system
C) Dependence on mercenaries
D) Lack of artillery

2. What was the primary role of war elephants in medieval Indian warfare?

A) Carrying artillery
B) Infantry combat
C) Transporting goods
D) Serving as generals

3. Which of the following was NOT a major challenge faced by medieval Indian military forces?

A) Geographic barriers
B) Internal political stability
C) Technological gaps in warfare
D) Lack of strategic alliances

4. The decline of war elephants in medieval Indian warfare was due to the:

A) Use of gunpowder and firearms
B) Reduced importance of cavalry
C) Advent of naval power
D) Decline of centralized military systems

5. Which of the following was a characteristic feature of the military system of the Rajputs in medieval India?

A) Use of war elephants
B) Professional standing army
C) Emphasis on gunpowder
D) Heavy reliance on naval forces

GS Mains Questions and Model Answers

Q1: Analyze the military system under the Mughals and its impact on the military conditions in medieval India.

Answer: The Mughal military system was highly organized and centralized, with the emperor as the supreme commander. Unlike previous decentralized systems, the Mughals established a standing army with paid soldiers, including cavalry, infantry, and artillery units. The use of gunpowder weapons, including cannons, gave the Mughals a significant advantage in warfare. This system allowed the Mughal Empire to expand rapidly and maintain control over vast territories. The Mughal military also set standards for future military organizations in India. The impact of this system was far-reaching, introducing new tactics, technologies, and military strategies that shaped the future of warfare in India.

Q2: Discuss the evolution of military conditions from the Rajput period to the Mughal period in medieval India.

Answer: During the Rajput period, the military system was largely feudal, with local chieftains maintaining their own armies. War elephants played a significant role, and the cavalry was the backbone of Rajput armies. However, the Mughal military system introduced a more centralized approach with the emperor at the helm, supported by a salaried army and advanced military technologies like firearms and artillery. The Mughal army was better organized, with distinct units for infantry, cavalry, and artillery. While the Rajput system was more decentralized, the Mughal system allowed for more efficient coordination and greater military expansion, marking a shift in the structure of Indian warfare.

Q3: Evaluate the role of technological advancements in shaping military conditions in medieval India.

Answer: Technological advancements played a pivotal role in shaping military conditions in medieval India. The introduction of gunpowder weapons, particularly firearms and cannons, revolutionized warfare during the Mughal period, shifting the focus from traditional weapons like swords and bows to more advanced artillery. The use of cannons in battle, especially during sieges, provided strategic advantages and altered the dynamics of military conflicts. The evolution of fortifications also kept pace with technological developments, as kingdoms built stronger defenses to withstand artillery attacks. These advancements allowed empires like the Mughals to expand their territories and maintain control over large regions, marking a significant shift in the military landscape of medieval India.

Previous Year Questions on Military Conditions in Medieval India

1. UPSC CSE Prelims 2020:

Question: Which of the following was a significant feature of the Mughal military system?

A) Feudal structure
B) Centralized military control
C) Heavy reliance on war elephants
D) Naval supremacy

Answer: (B)

Explanation: The Mughal military system was highly centralized, with the emperor as the supreme commander and a salaried army supporting the empire's expansion and control.

2. UPSC CSE Mains 2019 (GS Paper 1):

Question: Examine the role of technological advancements in shaping military conditions in medieval India.

Answer: Technological advancements in medieval India, particularly during the Mughal period, had a profound impact on military conditions. The introduction of gunpowder weapons such as firearms and cannons revolutionized Indian warfare, providing an edge over traditional weaponry. These advancements in technology allowed empires like the Mughals to expand rapidly and secure their territories. The use of firearms, along with the development of advanced fortifications, changed the nature of battles and sieges, making them more destructive and strategic. These innovations marked a significant shift in military strategies and tactics, shaping the course of Indian history during this period.