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			[[File:Painting of Cavalry in Durbar Procession of Mughal Emperor Akbar II.png\|thumb\|Cavalry in Delhi during British rule]]
			The '''Silladar Cavalry''', also known as the Risalah,<ref>{{cite book\|url=https://www.google.ca/books/edition/The_Cavalry_Journal/1ZsjAQAAIAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=silladar+risalah&pg=PA377&printsec=frontcover \|title= The Cavalry Journal: Volume 24 \|page= 344 \|date= 1934 \|publisher= the University of California }}</ref> was a term describing a mounted force of irregular cavalry regiments in some moment in [[India]]n history. Silladar means “bearer of arms” in [[Persian language\|Persian]] and was given to native cavalrymen ([[sowar]]s) of [[Irregular military\|irregular regiments]]. A recruit or "Khudaspa" was supposed to provide his own mount and weapons as well as stabling attendant, forage, tent and clothing.<ref>{{cite web \|url=http://www.indiandefencereview.com/origin-of-cavalry-in-indian-army-and-the-silladar-system/ \|title=Origin of Cavalry in Indian Army and the Silladar System \|website=www.indiandefencereview.com \|date=21 August 2020 \|access-date=1 July 2022 \|last=Walia \|first=Sumit\|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite book \|url= https://www.google.ca/books/edition/I_Serve_Ich_Dien/zia5AAAAIAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=khudaspa&dq=khudaspa&printsec=frontcover \|title= I Serve ("Ich Dien"): Saga of the Eighteenth Cavalry \|date= 1991 \|author= Gurcharn Singh Sandhu \|publisher= University of California \|page= 2 }}</ref> It was opposed to having them provided for them by any local or central group or command. They were recruited from local dominant landowning clans, who were cultivators and who traditionally owned weapons and provided military service to local feudal chiefs. The irregular cavalry regiments were almost entirely composed of Muslims, because "the Hindoos are not, generally speaking, as disposed as the Mahomedans to the duties of a trooper."<ref>{{cite book \|url= https://www.google.ca/books/edition/The_East_India_Military_Calendar/GR2URX7SRQkC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=hindoos+not+suited+to+the+duties+of+the+trooper&pg=PA132&printsec=frontcover \|title= The East India Military Calendar: Containing the Services of General and Field Officers of the Indian Army · Volume 1 \|author= John Philippart \|date= 1823 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book \|url= https://www.google.ca/books/edition/New_Dimensions_of_Indian_Historiography/AttiEAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=three-fourths+cavalry+muslim&pg=PA297&printsec=frontcover \|title= New Dimensions of Indian Historiography : Historical Facts and Hindutva Interpretation \|author= Dr. Ijaz Ahmed \|date= 2022 \|publisher= K.K. Publications \|page= 297}}</ref>

	{{~~Refimprove~~\|date=~~May 2007~~}}		== East India Company and British Raj ==
			The end of Muslim rule saw a large number of unemployed Muslim horsemen, who were employed in the army of the [[East India Company\|EIC]].<ref>{{cite book \|url= https://www.google.ca/books/edition/Stranglers_and_Bandits/4mgMAQAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=enlist+excluded+the+poorest+segment+of+the+unemployed+Muslim+horsemen&dq=enlist+excluded+the+poorest+segment+of+the+unemployed+Muslim+horsemen&printsec=frontcover \|title= Stranglers and Bandits: A Historical Anthology of Thuggee \|publisher= Oxford University Press \|date= 2009 \|author= Kim A. Wagner }}</ref> British officers such as [[James Skinner (East India Company officer)\|Skinner]], [[2nd Lancers (Gardner's Horse)\|Gardner]] and Hearsay had become leaders of irregular cavalry that preserved the traditions of Mughal cavalry, which had a political purpose because it absorbed pockets of cavalrymen who might otherwise become disaffected plunderers.<ref>{{ cite book \|url= https://www.google.ca/books/edition/Empire_and_Information/8bqEzPPp8xIC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=irregular+cavalry+syud&pg=PA159&printsec=frontcover \|title= Empire and Information: Intelligence Gathering and Social Communication in India, 1780-1870 \|author= Christopher Alan Bayly, C. A. Bayly \|date= 1996 \|publisher= Cambridge University Press }}</ref> This irregular cavalry was raised under the silladar system, which was adopted from the Mughal silladar system, by recruiting khudaspas into the cavalry regiments.<ref>{{cite book \|url= https://www.google.ca/books/edition/The_Military_in_British_India/O2PNDwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=mughal+cavalry+silladari&pg=PT77&printsec=frontcover \|title= The Military in British India: The Development of British Land Forces in South Asia 1600–1947 \|date= 2013 \|author= T. A. Heathcote }}</ref> They were primarily recruited among [[Islam in Uttar Pradesh\|Hindustani Musalman]] [[Baradari (brotherhood)\|biradaris]], such as the [[Ranghar\|Ranghar(Rajput Muslims)]], [[Shaikhs of Uttar Pradesh\|Sheikhs]], [[sayyid\|Sayyids]], [[Mughal people\|Mughals]], and [[Pathans of Uttar Pradesh\|localized Pathans]], who made up three-fourths of the cavalry branch of the British army.<ref>{{cite book \|url= https://www.google.ca/books/edition/Unbattled_Fears_Reckoning_the_National_S/fWEeEAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=skinner%27s+horse+muslims+delhi&pg=PA125&printsec=frontcover \|title= Unbattled Fears: Reckoning the National Security \|year= 2021 \|author= Sumit Walia \|page= 125}}</ref><ref>{{cite book \|url= https://www.google.ca/books/edition/Calcutta_Review/4g8xAQAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=Three+-+fourths+of+the+Cavalry+branch+of+the+Bengal+Army+were+recruited+from+the+Muslims+of+various+descriptions+such+as+Hindusthanee+Muhammadans+,+Sheikhs+,+Syuds+,+Moguls+,+Pathans+,+Rangars+(+Rajput+Mussalmans+)+and+Afghans+,+while&dq=Three+-+fourths+of+the+Cavalry+branch+of+the+Bengal+Army+were+recruited+from+the+Muslims+of+various+descriptions+such+as+Hindusthanee+Muhammadans+,+Sheikhs+,+Syuds+,+Moguls+,+Pathans+,+Rangars+(+Rajput+Mussalmans+)+and+Afghans+,+while&printsec=frontcover \|title= Calcutta Review 1956 \|page= 38 \|publisher= University of Calcutta. \|date= 1956 }}</ref>

			The term 'Horse' indicated in most instances a non regular corps. From 1823 to 1840 irregular cavalry were officially designated 'Local Horse' and included the founder's name in brackets as in ''1st (Skinner's) Rgt. of Local Horse''. Each each man was nominally a sillidar and provided his own horse and arms. From 1851, the privatly owned matchlocks were replaced by government [[carbine]]s and ammunition to ensure greater uniformity.<ref name="stevens">Brian Stevens, ''1851. Hodson's Horse'', Journal of the Society for Army Historical Research, Vol. 86, No. 345 (Spring 2008), pp. 90-94 (5 pages), published By: Society for Army Historical Research, p. 90 </ref>

	'''The ~~Silladar Cavalry~~''' was a [[~~cavalry~~]] ~~force~~ of ~~some moment in [[India]]n history traditionally composed~~ of ~~individuals who provide their own arms~~, ~~as opposed to having them provided~~ for ~~them~~ by ~~any local or central group or command~~. ~~Such men were usually relatively wealthy and prosperous high~~-~~caste landowning cultivators such as the [[Jat]]s~~ and ~~[[Rajput]]~~s of ~~all communities~~ of ~~the erstwhile undivided [[Punjab]] province~~ and ~~[[Rajputana]]~~. ~~They were recruited from local dominant high~~-~~caste landowning clans who traditionally owned weapons~~ and ~~provided military service to local feudal chiefs. Thus most~~ of the Silladar ~~cavalry were recruited from the [[Kshatriya]] caste~~.		[[File:The 4th Irregular Cavalry.jpg\|thumb\|The 4th Irregular Cavalry\|left]]
			The commandants received money advances to equip their regiments, and the silladars repaid these advances from their monthly pay. However, a silladar's position (an ''asami'') was transferrable and was often held by a non-serving investor (a ''benoker silladar''). The benoker sillidar bought mount, arms and further equipment to lease them to a paid substitute (a ''bargir'') who was to serve as [[sowar]] then. In return, the 'bargir-sowar' paid the benoker sillidar a significant share of his pay continuously. Some silladars even held a group (a ''pagai'') of asamis.<ref>Richard Stevenson, ''Highly irregular cavalry: Beatson's Horse 1858-60'', Journal of the Society for Army Historical Research, Vol. 92, No. 372 (Winter 2014), published by: Society for Army Historical Research, pp. 305-325 (21 pages), p. 309</ref> In 1858, an irregular sowar drew some 20 Rs. a month whilst a regular trooper was paid between 9 and 11 Rs. depending on length of service.<ref name="stevens"/> Up to World War I a sowar's pay rose to 34 Rs. plus 5-8 Rs. dearness allowance of which he had to pay his initial expenses of about 450 Rs. for mount, arms, equipment and uniform.<ref name="walia">{{cite web \|url=http://www.indiandefencereview.com/origin-of-cavalry-in-indian-army-and-the-silladar-system/ \|title=Origin of Cavalry in Indian Army and the Silladar System \|website=www.indiandefencereview.com \|date=21 August 2020 \|access-date=1 July 2022 \|last=Walia \|first=Sumit\|url-status=live}}</ref>

	The system was extended to the regular cavalry of the [[Bengal]] and [[Bombay Army\|Bombay Armies]] in 1861.<ref>[http://www.bl.uk/collections/oiocfamilyhistory/familyglossarys.html British Library] {{webarchive\|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080508010514/http://www.bl.uk/collections/oiocfamilyhistory/familyglossarys.html \|date=2008-05-08 }}</ref>		The silladar system was extended to the regular cavalry of the [[Bengal]] and [[Bombay Army\|Bombay Armies]] in 1861.<ref>[http://www.bl.uk/collections/oiocfamilyhistory/familyglossarys.html British Library] {{webarchive\|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080508010514/http://www.bl.uk/collections/oiocfamilyhistory/familyglossarys.html \|date=2008-05-08 }}</ref>

			Native officers resp. [[Viceroy's commissioned officer]]s (VCO, from 1885) in irregular corps, like the silladar cavalry, enjoyed a greater leeway and consequently a higher status due to the lack of british officers established there. Usually, only the Commandant, the [[Second-in-command]] (2i/c), the Adjutant and the [[Surgeon]] were british, so a [[Troop\|troop]] (equivalent to an infantry company) was commanded by an native resp. Indian Officer, who could even rise to [[Squadron (army)\|squadron]] commander.<ref name="raugh">{{cite book\|first=Harold E.\|last=Raugh, jr.\|title=The Victorians at War, 1815-1914: An Encyclopedia of British Military History\|date=2004\|publisher=ABC.Clio\|location=Santa Barbara. Denver. Oxford\|page=179}}</ref><ref name="walia"/> From 1885, a silladar regiment consisted of four (previously three) squadrons, with a British commander and a British 2i/c each. Each squadron had two troops of nine NCOs, 70 [[Sowar\|sowars]] and one trumpeter, led by a Rissaldar and a Jemadar as 2i/c.<ref name="raugh"/>

			== Deficiencies of the silladar system ==
			This traditional system caused some trouble, due to its financial impact. Some men drew e.g. 400 [[Rupee\|Rs.]] and then bought horse and equipment for 100 Rs. less.<ref>Richard Stevenson, ''Highly irregular cavalry: Beatson's Horse 1858-60'', Journal of the Society for Army Historical Research, Vol. 92, No. 372 (Winter 2014), published by: Society for Army Historical Research, pp. 305-325 (21 pages), p. 310-311</ref> A longstanding problem with the silladar system was that a few native officers resp. VCOs and men regularly failed to pay their required financial securities for large amounts advanced to them. This would affect the regiment's founder resp. commandant, when he was to reimburse the money which had been advanced by the authorities. For example, the raising of Beatson's Horse ([[Bengal Army]]) in 1857 produced an expenditure of 475.508 Rs. Big debts could even lead to disbandment, as happened to the 10th Bengal Irregular Cavalry in 1857. The opportunity to disavow debts by changing allegiance was a constant temptation in traditional Indian armies.<ref>Richard Stevenson, ''Highly irregular cavalry: Beatson's Horse 1858-60'', Journal of the Society for Army Historical Research, Vol. 92, No. 372 (Winter 2014), published by: Society for Army Historical Research, pp. 305-325 (21 pages), p. 323</ref>

	== Units of note ==		== Units of note ==
			* 1839 [[Scinde Horse\|Scinde Irregular Horse]]
			* 1857 [[4th Horse (Hodson's Horse)\|Hodson's Horse]]
	* 1861 9th Regiment of Scinde Silladar Cavalry		* 1861 9th Regiment of Scinde Silladar Cavalry
	* 1861 3rd Regiment of Bombay Silladar Light Cavalry		* 1861 3rd Regiment of Bombay Silladar Light Cavalry

	== Further reading ==		== Further reading ==
	*[http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/india/armour.htm For a modern context]		*[http://www.indiandefencereview.com/origin-of-cavalry-in-indian-army-and-the-silladar-system/ Origin of Cavalry in Indian Army and the Silladar System]
			*[http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/india/armour.htm For a modern context: The Indian Armoured Corps as successor of the Sillidar Cavalry]
	*Peers, Douglas M.; "Those Noble Exemplars of the True Military Tradition: Constructions of the Indian Army in the Mid-Victorian Press", in ''Modern Asian Studies'', Vol. 31, No. 1 (Feb., 1997), pp. 109–142.		*Peers, Douglas M.; "Those Noble Exemplars of the True Military Tradition: Constructions of the Indian Army in the Mid-Victorian Press", in ''Modern Asian Studies'', Vol. 31, No. 1 (Feb., 1997), pp. 109–142.

	==~~Notes~~==		==See also==
			*[[Shiledar]]

			== References ==
	<references/>		<references/>

	[[Category:British Indian Army cavalry regiments]]		[[Category:British Indian Army cavalry regiments]]

->Deipnosophista at 14:46, 26 August 2018

2018-08-26T14:46:52Z

New page

{{Refimprove|date=May 2007}}

'''The Silladar Cavalry''' was a [[cavalry]] force of some moment in [[India]]n history traditionally composed of individuals who provide their own arms, as opposed to having them provided for them by any local or central group or command. Such men were usually relatively wealthy and prosperous high-caste landowning cultivators such as the [[Jat]]s and [[Rajput]]s of all communities of the erstwhile undivided [[Punjab]] province and [[Rajputana]]. They were recruited from local dominant high-caste landowning clans who traditionally owned weapons and provided military service to local feudal chiefs. Thus most of the Silladar cavalry were recruited from the [[Kshatriya]] caste.

The system was extended to the regular cavalry of the [[Bengal]] and [[Bombay Army|Bombay Armies]] in 1861.<ref>[http://www.bl.uk/collections/oiocfamilyhistory/familyglossarys.html British Library] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080508010514/http://www.bl.uk/collections/oiocfamilyhistory/familyglossarys.html |date=2008-05-08 }}</ref>

== Units of note ==
* 1861 9th Regiment of Scinde Silladar Cavalry
* 1861 3rd Regiment of Bombay Silladar Light Cavalry

== Further reading ==
*[http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/india/armour.htm For a modern context]
*Peers, Douglas M.; "Those Noble Exemplars of the True Military Tradition: Constructions of the Indian Army in the Mid-Victorian Press", in ''Modern Asian Studies'', Vol. 31, No. 1 (Feb., 1997), pp. 109–142.

==Notes==
<references/>

[[Category:British Indian Army cavalry regiments]]

Silladar Cavalry - Revision history

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->Deipnosophista at 14:46, 26 August 2018