Created by Zwerubae
Last edited November 8, 2022
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{{About|the Indian military title|the magazine|Sowar (magazine)}}
{{About|the Indian military title|the magazine|Sowar (magazine)}}
 
{{Short description|Military rank of India and Pakistan}}
{{Infobox military unit
{{Infobox military unit
| unit_name = Sowar
| unit_name = Sowar
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| caption =
| caption =
| date =  
| date =  
| country = [[Delhi Sultanate]] <br> [[Deccan Sultanates]] <br> [[Mughal Empire]] <br> India <br> [[Pakistan]]
| country = [[Delhi Sultanate]] <br> [[Deccan Sultanates]] <br> [[Mughal Empire]] <br/>[[Maratha Empire]]<br/> [[British Raj]] <br> [[India]] <br> [[Pakistan]]
| branch = [[Cavalry]]
| branch = [[Cavalry]]
| size =   
| size =   
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[[File:A Deccani courtier who may or may not be the king himself, c.1600.jpg|thumb|A Deccani courtier, c.1600.]]
[[File:A Deccani courtier who may or may not be the king himself, c.1600.jpg|thumb|A Deccani courtier, c.1600.]]
[[File:Madras cavalry.jpg|thumb|A sowar of the [[6th Madras Light Cavalry]], serving the [[British East India Company]], c. 1845.]]
[[File:Madras cavalry.jpg|thumb|A sowar of the [[6th Madras Light Cavalry]], serving the [[British East India Company]], c. 1845.]]
'''Sowar''' ({{lang-hi|सवार}}, {{lang-pnb|ਸਵਾਰ}}, {{lang-ur|سوار}}, also ''siwar'' meaning "the one who rides" or "rider", from [[Persian language|Persian]] {{lang|fa-Latn|sawār}})<ref>{{cite book|last1=Ostler|first1=Nicholas|title=The Last Lingua Franca: English Until the Return of Babel|date=2010|publisher=Penguin UK|pages=1–352|isbn=978-0141922218}}</ref> was originally a rank during the [[Mughal Empire]] and [[Maratha Empire]]. Later during the [[British Raj]] it was the name in [[Anglo-Indian]] usage for a horse-soldier belonging to the [[cavalry]] troops of the native armies of [[British India]] and the feudal states. It is also used more specifically of a mounted orderly, escort or guard. It was also the rank held by ordinary cavalry troopers, equivalent to [[sepoy]] in the [[infantry]] — this rank has been inherited by the modern armies of [[India]] and [[Pakistan]].
'''Sowar''' ({{lang-ur|سوار}}, also ''siwar'' meaning "the one who rides" or "rider", from [[Persian language|Persian]] {{lang|fa-Latn|sawār}})<ref>{{cite book|last1=Ostler|first1=Nicholas|title=The Last Lingua Franca: English Until the Return of Babel|date=2010|publisher=Penguin UK|pages=1–352|isbn=978-0141922218}}</ref> was originally a rank during the [[Mughal Empire]] and [[Maratha Empire]]. Later during the [[British Raj]] it was the name in [[Anglo-Indian]] usage for a horse-soldier belonging to the [[cavalry]] troops of the native armies of [[British India]] and the feudal states. It is also used more specifically of a mounted orderly, escort or guard. It was also the rank held by ordinary cavalry troopers, equivalent to [[sepoy]] in the [[infantry]] — this rank has been inherited by the modern armies of [[India]] and [[Pakistan]].


==History==
==History==
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* {{EB1911|wstitle=Sowar}}
* {{EB1911|wstitle=Sowar}}


[[Category:Urdu-language words and phrases]]
[[Category:Military of the Mughal Empire]]
[[Category:Military ranks of British India]]
[[Category:Military ranks of British India]]
[[Category:Military ranks of Pakistan]]
[[Category:Military ranks of Pakistan]]
[[Category:Hindi words and phrases]]
[[Category:Urdu-language words and phrases]]
[[Category:Bengali words and phrases]]
[[Category:Military ranks of the Indian Army]]
[[Category:Military ranks of the Indian Army]]


[[fr:Sepoy]]
[[fr:Sepoy]]

Latest revision as of 18:26, 8 November 2022

Sowar
Sowar
CountryDelhi Sultanate
Deccan Sultanates
Mughal Empire
Maratha Empire
British Raj
India
Pakistan
BranchCavalry
EquipmentComposite bow, Scimitar, Spear, and Musket
A Deccani courtier, c.1600.
A sowar of the 6th Madras Light Cavalry, serving the British East India Company, c. 1845.

Sowar (Urdu: سوار, also siwar meaning "the one who rides" or "rider", from Persian sawār)[1] was originally a rank during the Mughal Empire and Maratha Empire. Later during the British Raj it was the name in Anglo-Indian usage for a horse-soldier belonging to the cavalry troops of the native armies of British India and the feudal states. It is also used more specifically of a mounted orderly, escort or guard. It was also the rank held by ordinary cavalry troopers, equivalent to sepoy in the infantry — this rank has been inherited by the modern armies of India and Pakistan.

History[edit | edit source]

An image from the Carnatic Wars features a Sowar armed with a Musket.

Sowar has been used as the name of a line of wrist-watches by the Swiss West End Watch Co.

See also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. Ostler, Nicholas (2010). The Last Lingua Franca: English Until the Return of Babel. Penguin UK. pp. 1–352. ISBN 978-0141922218.