Magadh Mahila College

Patna University

Department of History

Bhawana Singh(Guest Faculty)

Email id- [email protected]

B.A- 3rd year

Paper-5, Unit-10

Mansabdari System of Akbar

Minimum mansab was ranked 10 and maximum was 10,000. But during the period of Akbar
maximum was 5000, Akbar granted the mansab of 7000, only to few distinguished nobles of the
time i.e, Mirza Ajij Koka and Raja Maan Singh, the former being Akbar’s foster brother and the
later being related to him by the ties of matrimony. Although the word mansabdar was a generic
term popularly only those holding ranks upto 500 were called mansabdars, 500-2500 were called
Amirs and from 2500 and above- Amir Umda or Amir-i-azam. Since, it was a single service,
theoretically, a person was supposed to enter at the lowest level, and work his way up. But the
king could and often did appoint distinguished people at a higher level.

Zat and Sawar Rank:

By 1591AD the member of the mansab came to be adopted in the form of pair. The first value
of the pair was the Zat and the second value of the pair was Sawar. Zat indicated the personal
pay and status of noble, and the Sawar ranked the actual number of horsemen he was expected to
entertain. According to Abul Fazl, the mansabdars were grouped into three categories:

a) If the Zat and Sawar mansab were equal then he belonged to the first category of
mansabdar.
 b) If the Sawar mansab was half of Zat mansab then the mansabdar belonged to second
category.
c) If the Sawar mansab was less than half of the Zat mansab then it belonged to the third
category.

Only under special circumstances the number of Sawar mansab would be more than the Zat
mansab for example during the war or foreign aggression. This additional increasement of
Sawar was known as Mashrut mansab and after the fulfillment of the necessity the system was
abolished.

Mansabdars were appointed only by the ruler. However, only at the recommendation of Mir-
Bakshi the mansabdar were appointed. But if the mansabdar was promoted then he was
promoted on the number of Zat which enhanced his salary. The principle of demotion was there
on non performance but generally it was not practiced. Each Mansabdar was given dual
responsibility of both civil and military obligations. Akbar started the rule of Dahbisti . The
general rule was that for 10 sawars there should be 20 horses(i.e, each mansabdar should
appointed to him). This was done to ensure the nobility of the cavalry which was the main
fighting force of the mughals . Second horse was needed as a replacement if the mount was tired
or injured or dead.

Changes introduced by Jahangir and Shah Jahan:

Akbar was the pioneer of Mansabdari system but, this system continued throughout the mughal
rule further changes was made by Jahangir and Shah Jahan:

Changes made by Jahangir:

There was a cut in Mansabdari system right after the death of Akbar as Jahangir reduced the
system of 2 Aspas to 1 Aspa. What this meant was unofficially the number of soldiers were
increased if it was required by that particular mansabdar but officially the number of sawar was
not to be entered in the sawar numerically granted to them. The advantage of this was he was
facilitated with keeping more number of soldiers without bearing the financial burden of this.

Changes made by Shah Jahan:

During the time of Shah Jahan another reform took place in Mansabdari system. The number of
Mansabdars increased but there was shortage of land because of Jagirdari crisis. During Shah
Jahan’s reign an order was passed to reduce the number of sawar under a particular Mnasabdar.
Now mansabdar were to be paid on a monthly scale. If a mansabdar did not get the total salary of
12 months the he could reduce the number of sawars under them. He was now not in position to
pay the total salary of Mansabdar. If a mansabdar was not able to get the salary of six months
then he was allowed to bring a huge reduction in the number of sawars but their rank was not
reduced and classification remains the same. This was the period which witnessed the Jahangir
crisis in India.

Merits of Mansabdari System:

 Mansabdari system was a unique and distinct system and formed and the backbone of
the mughal administration. It is said that, till the system functioned the mughal state
functioned well.
 It introduced the Concept of Uniformity in the administration which led towards the
political unification.
 It also weakened the caste and the feudal system. The two major weaknesses of the time.
So, it made mandatory for the mansabdars to appoint soldiers from all caste and religions.
Thus, Shiva ji and Sher Shah applied this system . There was no discrimination on
account of caste and religion and now they were put on the foot of equality. So, the ruler
was able to obtain the loyalty of all his subjects.
 The system of Mansabdari succeeded in curbing the power of the feudal class and the
class of nobility . Now, they did not belong themselves to the class of nobility they rather
came to be recognized as administrative class who then received a fixed service
conditions imposed on them.
 This Mansabdari system increased the power of the ruler and it further consolidated and
crystallized the polity of the monarchial form of governance and from the time of Akbar
mughal state moved towards an intense form of administration.
 The Mansabdari system also gave recognition to merit. Akbar took stern measures to stop
the dynastic influences.

Demerits of Mnasabdari System:

The system was however, inherently weak, contemporary writers especially Badayuni has given
graphic details how during the first half of Akbar’s reign. Mansabdars cheated the government
by bringing to master men from the streets in military uniform and passing them off as soldiers.
It was by no means rare for troopers to substitute indifferent horses for good ones supplied to
them by military departments. It took Akbar many years indeed to stamp out corruption. But this
was only because of Akbar’s uncommon ability as a leader and administrator and his vigilance
and discipline.

There was lack of strong successors in the mughal empire and it gave Mansabdar immense
power and they tried to enter the political affairs and played a role of nobility. Mansabdari
system could work only under a strong ruler because this system was intensely centralized form
of administration. Therefore, a lot depended on the personality of the ruler and this weakness
came into existence right after the death of Aurangzeb as the mughal empire witnessed the series
of a weak and incompetent rulers therefore, it led towards factionalism in the administration of
the empire since, each mansabdar wanted to work on their own interest and therefore to maintain
a balanced and uniform system of administration became very difficult.

Mansabdari system had no organic centre and lacked the cohesive force which must always be
essential in a national army. The mansabdars got their salaries from the emperor and paid
themselves the salaries to their troops. This made the troops more loyal to the mansabdars than to
the king.

The pomp and display which had become natural with the mandabdars acted as an obstacle to
military efficiencies. Inspite of so many defects the mansabdari system was an important upon
the military establishment of the medieval period. But it could only work under an able guidance
which was only possible till the reign of Aurangzeb. Later on the Mansabdari system turned out
to be weak and led towards the fragmentation of the empire. However, it also combine itself with
several advantages for example, certain Rajput Mansabdars were diplomatically used against
certain other Rajput chiefs with whom they were at fued. This system assured steady loyalty of
the masabdars to the emperor. Thus, we can say that Mansabdari system was perhaps the most
significant administrative institution developed by Akbar.