Kiladar

Qiladar (Urdu: قلعہ‌دار) was a title for the governor of a fort or large town in early modern India.[1] During the Maratha Empire, the title was commonly pronounced 'Killedar' (Marathi: किल्लेदार). The office of Qiladar had the same functions as that of a European feudal Castellan.[2]

Etymology

The title is composed of the Urdu word for fort "Qila", and the suffix "-dar", signifying an occupation. The military historian R.H.R. Smythies originally translated the term as "Custodian of the Fort".[3][4]

History

The position of Qiladar was used in the Hindu Maratha Empire as well as northern India. Most large settlements or strategic forts in the Maratha Empire had a Qiladar.[5]

However, while in northern India the autonomous position of Qiladar implied sovereignty, in the Maratha Empire the position was subordinate to the civil administration of a town.[5]

Ruling kiladars

In the case of Banganapalle, the Mughal-loyal qiladars ruled it as a princely state, which continued during the British Raj, until and after 24 January 1876, when Fath `Ali Khan was granted the higher style Nawab.

See also

References

  1. ^ Archaeological Survey of India (1885). Reports. Office of the Superintendent of Government Printing. pp. 122–. Retrieved 13 June 2010.
  2. ^ Taylor, Alice Meadows; Bruce, Henry (1920). The story of my life. H. Milford, Oxford university press. pp. 312–. Retrieved 13 June 2010.
  3. ^ Smythies, Raymond Henry Raymond (1894). Historical records of the 40th (2nd Somersetshire) Regiment, now 1st Battalion the Prince of Wales's Volunteers (South Lancashire Regiment).: From its formation, in 1717 to 1893. Printed for the subscribers by A.H. Swiss. pp. 256–. Retrieved 13 June 2010.
  4. ^ Smith, Vincent Arthur; Cunningham, Sir Alexander (1887). General index to the reports of the Archaeological Survey of India, volumes I to XXIII. Printed by the Superintendent of Government Printing. pp. 207–. Retrieved 13 June 2010.
  5. ^ a b Chaurasia, R.S. (2004-01-01). History of the Marathas. Atlantic Publishers & Distributors. pp. 196–. ISBN 978-81-269-0394-8. Retrieved 13 June 2010.