Mansabdari System: Origin, Features, Structure and More

The Mansabdari System was one of the most important administrative innovations introduced by Emperor Akbar during the Mughal Empire in the late 16th century. The word ‘Mansab’ means rank or position, and this system was designed to organize both the military and civil services under a common structure. It helped the Mughal rulers manage their vast empire more effectively by assigning officials specific ranks, salaries, and responsibilities. Each officer, known as a mansabdar, was given a Zat rank (personal status and salary) and a Sawar rank (number of cavalry he had to maintain). The system started with ranks from 10 and went up to 10,000, and sometimes even higher for nobles and princes. Explained in detail by Akbar’s court historian Abul Fazl in the Ain-i-Akbari, this system played a major role in centralizing power and maintaining loyalty among the Mughal officials. In this blog, we will explore the origin, features, structure, and historical importance of the Mansabdari System.

Particular	Details
What is the Mansabdari System?	A ranking system used to organize the Mughal military and administration.
Introduced by	Mughal Emperor Akbar
Time of Introduction	Around 1571–1580 AD during Akbar’s reign
Meaning of ‘Mansab’	The word Mansab means rank or position
Purpose	To fix rank, salary, and military responsibilities of officials
Ranks in the System	Mainly two: Zat and Sawar
Zat Rank	Showed the personal rank and salary of a mansabdar
Sawar Rank	Showed the number of cavalry (horsemen) a mansabdar had to maintain
Range of Ranks	Started from 10 and went up to 10,000 (in some cases even higher)
Eligibility	Both military and civil officers could be mansabdars
Why It Was Important	Helped Akbar control his empire better through a centralized system
Changes Over Time	Later Mughal rulers changed some rules, making it more hereditary
Famous Historians’ View	Abul Fazl (Akbar’s court historian) explained this system in the Ain-i-Akbari
End of the System	Slowly declined in the 18th century with the weakening of the Mughal Empire

Origin of the Mansabdari System

The Mansabdari system has its roots in Central Asian traditions of administration and military organization. Emperor Akbar recognized the need for an efficient administrative system and borrowed ideas from the practices of Mongols, Turks, and Persians. He modified these systems according to the requirements of his empire, giving birth to the Mansabdari system. Under this system, the officers were assigned the mansabs (ranks) which were based on their administrative capabilities and military skills and abilities.

Also Read – Jagirdari System: Origin, Features, Impact and More

What was the Mansab?

The word “Mansab” is an Arabic word that means “rank” or “position”. The officers were allotted mansabs (rank) and thus were called Mansabdars. The rank determined the amount of their pay and the number of troops they were to administer under them.

Who were Mansabdars?

The term Mansabdars comes from a Persian word meaning” Holder of a Mansab” Mansabdars were the main point of contact between the government and the people. They were responsible for maintaining both civil and military administration. Instead of salaries, they were paid as land grants known as Jagirs.

Recruitment of Mansabdars

The recruitment of mansabdars was all determined by the sole authority of the Emperor.

• The Emperor held the power to appoint and dismiss a Mansabdar. They were also promoted or demoted on the basis of their performance. 
• Mughals recruited them on the advice and recommendation of Mirbakshi, nobles and provincial governors.
• There was no barrier to societal background in the recruitment process. However, they mostly belonged to the military, nobility and the merchant class. 
• Various factors came into force when it came to their appointment. Some of them are – 

1. Loyalty towards the empire.
2. Administrative experience and
3. Individual military skills

Also Read – What was thе Pеrmanеnt Sеttlеmеnt or Zamindari Systеm?

Features of the Mansabdari System

The Mansabdari system had several distinct features that set it apart from traditional administrative systems. These features were instrumental in ensuring stability and loyalty within the empire. Some of the key features of the Mansabdari system are:

1. Rank-based Assignment: The Mansabdari system was based on the concept of ranks or “mansabs.” Each individual was assigned a specific rank known as a mansab, which determined their status, salary, and military responsibilities.
2. Dual Role: One of the unique aspects of the Mansabdari system was its dual role. Mansabdars, the holders of rank, served both as military commanders and administrators. They were responsible for maintaining law and order as well as leading military campaigns.
3. Zat and Sawar: The system utilized a classification based on two important factors: “zat” and “sawar.” 

Zat referred to the personal status or social standing of an individual

Sawar denoted the number of cavalrymen under their command.

4. Centralized Authority: The Mansabdari system helped centralize the authority of the Mughal Emperor. The emperor had complete control over the appointment, promotion, and dismissal of mansabdars, ensuring their loyalty and obedience.

5. Hierarchy: The Mansabdari system consisted of a hierarchical structure with various levels of mansabs. The highest ranks were reserved for nobles and trusted allies of the emperor, while lower ranks were assigned to individuals based on their abilities and loyalty.

6. Salaries: A Mansabdar was usually granted Jagirs(plots of land), but sometimes they were also paid in cash.

In the Mansabdari System, there were 33 categories of Mansabdars. The lowest rank of Mansabdar commanded ten soldiers while the highest rank mansabdar commanded ten thousand soldiers at once. The ranks also did not pass down to the families. In the cavalry of the Mughal Empire, there were sub-categories, the horses were divided into six categories and the elephants were divided into five. A special troop was also maintained by the Emperor known as Dakhili. Dakhili were not commanded by the Mansabdars and were also not paid directly by the states. 

Also Read – Mahalwari System of Land Revenue: History, Features, Impacts

Structure of the Mansabdari System

The Mansabdari system had a well-defined structure that allowed for efficient administration and military organization. The hierarchy of the system can be divided into different levels, each with its own distinct features. There was a dual representation of Mansab:

Component	Explanation
Mansabdar	An officer in the Mughal Empire who held a rank (mansab)
Meaning of ‘Mansab’	Arabic word meaning rank, position, or status
Types of Ranks	Two main ranks: Zat and Sawar
Zat Rank	Showed the personal status, salary, and importance of the mansabdar
Sawar Rank	Showed the number of cavalry (horsemen) the mansabdar had to maintain
Rank Range	Ranks started from 10 and went up to 10,000 (exceptionally higher too)
Highest Rank	Usually 5,000 to 7,000 for top nobles and princes during Akbar’s reign
Dual Rank System	A mansabdar could have a high Zat rank but a lower Sawar rank
Promotion & Demotion	Ranks were given and changed by the Emperor based on merit or loyalty
Non-Hereditary	Ranks were not hereditary; passed only by Emperor’s approval
Duties of Mansabdars	Maintain soldiers, horses, and equipment; serve in administration and military
Payment System	Mansabdars were usually paid in cash or jagirs (land revenue rights)
Record Keeping	A detailed register was kept to track soldiers and horses under each mansabdar

• Zat indicated the rank and salary of the Mansabdar.
• Sawar represented their cavalry rank and the number of horses and cavalrymen they maintained. 
• A Mansabdar’s position in the hierarchy was determined by their Zat. Based on their Zat and Sawar, Mansabdars were grouped into three categories by Abul Fazl.
• Those with less than half the number of Sawar as compared to their Zat were classified as third-class Mansabdars. 
• Second-class Mansabdars had the same number of Sawar as half of their Zat.
• First-class Mansabdars were those who had an equal number of Sawar and Zat.
• Each mansabdar had both zats and sawars and was paid two rupees for each horse.
• An additional allowance of a thousand rupees was granted if the rank handled more than five hundred Sawars.
• In exceptional situations, a Mashrut mansab was recruited for wars but the position was temporary.
• During the tenure of Akbar, a Dahbisti was established where each mansabdar received twenty horses for every ten sawars in the team. It helped in maintaining a strong cavalry position in the Mughal military.

Also Read – Ryotwari System: About India’s Agricultural Past

Fall of Mansabdari System

During Akbar’s reign, he maintained 1,803 Mansabdars, which increased to 14,499 by the end of Aurangzeb’s reign. 

• Additionally, the number of Mansabdars with a rank of 5,000 zat, increased from 29 to 79 during Aurangzeb’s reign. 
• However, the increase in the number of Mansabdars led to a Jagirdari and agrarian crisis which caused the collapse of the Mansabdari system. 
• The Mansabdari system worked nearly perfectly during Akbar’s reign as the revenue generated from the jagirs collected by the Mansabdar was enough to pay their assigned salary as well. 
• These jagirs were analyzed properly so that their revenues were roughly equal to the salary of the Mansabdar. 
• Unfortunately, in the later stage, there was a shortage of jagirs and the size of the jagirs started to shrink. 
• As a result, the revenue collected by Mansabdars for the government was not enough to pay the salary assigned to them during Aurangzeb’s era, leading to the end of this system.

What is the Jama-Dami System?

The Jama Dami system refers to a land revenue assessment method. It is used during the Mughal Empire. This system had 2 main components-

1. Jama- It is an estimated revenue that is assessed for a piece of land (based on crop, fertility, productivity, etc)
2. Dami– It refers to the actual revenue that is collected from the land 
3. Purpose- The aim was to compare the income from land with the income received. It can help to improve the accuracy in revenue collection and in taxation.

 Was Shivaji a Mansabdar?

Yes. Shivaji was a Mansabdar. He was appointed as a Mansabdar by Aurangzeb (the Mughal emperor). After the Treaty of Purandar, he became a Mansabdar in 1666.

1. He was given a Mansab of 5,000 (Zat and Sawar). It was an honorary position in the Mughal court.
2. Shivaji distrusted the Mughals. Thereafter, he escaped from Agra and declared complete independence. 
3. Later, Shivaji founded the Maratha Empire.

What is the Difference Between Mansabdari and Jagirdari?

The difference between the Manasabdari and Jagirdari systems is provided below:

Feature	Mansabdari System	Jagirdari System
Introduced by	Akbar	Evolved under the Delhi Sultanate; expanded by the Mughals
Purpose	Military-cum-administrative ranking system	Revenue assignment system to pay Mansabdars
Based on	Rank and position (Zat and Sawar)	Land revenue rights (Jagirs)
Main Function	Determined officer’s status, salary, and military duties	Provided an income source to Mansabdars via land revenue
Zat	Denoted personal rank and status	–
Sawar	Denoted number of cavalry a Mansabdar had to maintain	–
Type of system	Centralised bureaucratic system	Semi-feudal system
Ownership of land	Mansabdars did not own land	Jagirdars had right to collect revenue but not own land
Transferability	Ranks and positions were transferable	Jagirs were transferable and temporary
Control by the Emperor	Directly under the emperor’s control	Controlled by the central authority; rotated regularly

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