libterm.com Mansabdari was a hierarchical system of administration and military ranking used in the Mughal Empire to maintain governance and control. It assigned ranks, known as mansabs, to officials and military commanders, determining their salary and duties based on loyalty and service. Explore the rest of the article to understand how the Mansabdari system shaped Mughal administration and military structure.
Table of Comparison
| Feature | Mansabdari System | Iqta System |
|---|---|---|
| Period | Mughal Empire (16th-18th century) | Medieval India (8th-13th century) |
| Purpose | Administrative & military ranking system | Land revenue assignment for military service |
| Authority | Centralized under Mughal Emperor | Delegated by Sultan or ruler |
| Land Control | No direct land ownership; salary assigned | Land granted as revenue source to nobles |
| Revenue | Fixed salary linked to rank (mansab) | Collected from assigned land (iqta) |
| Military Role | Mansabdars required to maintain cavalry | Iqta holders obliged to provide troops |
| Hereditary | Non-hereditary, transferable rank | Often hereditary land grants |
| Examples | Akbar's Mansabdari reforms | Early Delhi Sultanate Iqta assignments |
Introduction to Mansabdari and Iqta Systems
The Mansabdari system was a hierarchical administrative and military framework implemented by the Mughal Empire, assigning ranks called mansabs to officers who were responsible for maintaining troops and collecting revenue. In contrast, the Iqta system was a medieval land revenue arrangement where land grants, or iqta, were allocated to military officers or officials in lieu of salary, allowing them to collect taxes directly from the assigned territory. While Mansabdari emphasized a centralized control with fixed ranks and salaries, the Iqta system revolved around decentralized revenue collection based on land grants.
Historical Background of Mansabdari and Iqta
The Mansabdari system, established during the Mughal Empire in the 16th century under Akbar, was a centralized bureaucratic structure granting military and civil ranks (mansabs) to officials who were paid through jagirs (land revenue assignments). The Iqta system, prevalent in earlier Islamic Sultanates like the Delhi Sultanate, involved assigning land revenues to military officers and officials in exchange for service, primarily as a decentralized revenue collection method. While both systems linked administrative authority to land revenue, Mansabdari introduced a hierarchical ranking system and greater imperial control compared to the more fragmented Iqta framework.
Origins and Evolution of Each System
The Mansabdari system, introduced by Mughal Emperor Akbar in the 16th century, evolved as a military-administrative framework assigning ranks (mansabs) to officials for maintaining army personnel and land revenue collection. Originating from Persian influences, it centralized authority by integrating military hierarchy with civil administration, allowing flexible control over vast territories. In contrast, the Iqta system, rooted in early Islamic governance and adopted in South Asia by Delhi Sultanate rulers, involved granting land revenue rights to nobles (iqtadars) in exchange for military service, emphasizing decentralized land control and revenue collection over direct administration.
Structural Differences between Mansabdari and Iqta
The Mansabdari system implemented under the Mughal Empire featured a hierarchical military and administrative ranking with mansabdars assigned specific ranks (mansabs) and numbers of troops to maintain, while the Iqta system, prevalent in medieval Islamic states, granted land revenues to officials in lieu of salary without formal rank structures. Mansabdars held both civil and military responsibilities and received salaries directly from the imperial treasury, contrasting with the Iqta holders who collected tax revenue from assigned lands but had limited administrative roles. Unlike the fixed territorial assignments in the Iqta system, Mansabdari ranks were transferable, and mansabdars did not possess proprietary rights over the land they administered.
Administrative Roles and Functions
Mansabdari was a hierarchical administrative system in Mughal India where officials, called mansabdars, were assigned ranks and granted jagirs to maintain military and administrative responsibilities. Iqta was a land revenue assignment system used mainly in medieval Islamic states where the iqta holder collected taxes and maintained troops in exchange for revenue rights but lacked a fixed administrative rank. While mansabdars had defined civil and military roles integrated into a centralized bureaucracy, iqta holders primarily focused on revenue collection and local military support without a structured rank system.
Revenue and Land Assignment Mechanisms
The Mansabdari system assigned ranks (mansabs) to officials, determining their salary and military responsibilities, with revenue often collected from assigned jagirs (land grants) which were non-hereditary and linked to service tenure. In contrast, the Iqta system involved assigning land revenue rights directly to military officers or officials, who collected taxes as a form of payment without owning the land, often leading to decentralization and hereditary claims. Mansabdari emphasized centralized control with periodic reassignment of jagirs, while Iqta focused on localized revenue collection through land tenure rights.
Military Organization under Mansabdari vs Iqta
Mansabdari system featured a hierarchical military organization where mansabdars were assigned ranks (mansabs) that determined their troop strength and salary, ensuring a structured and centralized command. In contrast, the Iqta system granted land revenue assignments to military officers in exchange for troop maintenance, creating a more decentralized and feudal military structure. Mansabdari emphasized direct control over soldiers recruited and maintained by the state, whereas Iqta relied on local lords who managed their own forces.
Impact on Society and Governance
The Mansabdari system centralized administrative control by assigning military and civil duties to officials based on ranks, promoting loyalty to the Mughal emperor and streamlining governance across vast territories. In contrast, the Iqta system granted land revenue rights to officers in exchange for military service, often leading to decentralized power and local autonomy that could challenge central authority. The Mansabdari system fostered a more hierarchical and disciplined society, while the Iqta system's localized governance sometimes resulted in fragmented political structures and varying degrees of societal stability.
Decline and Transformation of Both Systems
The Mansabdari system declined due to administrative corruption, the rise of local powers, and the diminishing control of the Mughal central authority in the 18th century. Similarly, the Iqta system transformed as it evolved from a military revenue assignment to a feudal land grant, but gradually disintegrated with the weakening of central authority and the rise of regional kingdoms. Both systems' decline reflects the broader fragmentation of imperial governance and the shift towards decentralized, hereditary landholding patterns in medieval India.
Comparative Analysis: Mansabdari vs Iqta
The Mansabdari system, prevalent in Mughal India, assigned military and administrative ranks called mansabs to officials, integrating revenue collection with military obligations, whereas the Iqta system in medieval Islamic empires granted land revenue rights to officials in exchange for military service without direct land ownership. Mansabdars received salaries from the emperor, enabling centralized control, while Iqta holders collected revenue directly from assigned lands, often leading to decentralization and regional autonomy. The Mansabdari system emphasized administrative hierarchy and bureaucratic accountability, contrasting with the more feudal and decentralized nature of the Iqta system's land revenue assignments.
Mansabdari Infographic
