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The Mansabdari and Jagirdari systems were important parts of the administrative and revenue systems during the Mughal Empire in India. The Mansabdari system was a way to organize the army and government officials by giving them ranks called “mansabs.” Each mansabdar (officer) was responsible for maintaining a certain number of soldiers for the empire. On the other hand, the Jagirdari system was related to land revenue. The emperor gave jagirs (land assignments) to mansabdars or nobles, and they collected taxes from the people living there to pay their soldiers and manage the land. Both systems helped the Mughal rulers control their large empire efficiently and keep the army ready. In this blog, ‘What is mansabdari and jagirdari system’, we will learn more about how these two systems worked and why they were important.
Table of Contents
What is Mansabdari?
This system of the Mughal administration was introduced in the year 1571. So a mansab is a rank or position and the one who holds a mansab is called a mansabdar. This rank could be given to both civil or military individuals. Moreover, it was able to bridge the gap between civil and military populations.
| Aspect | Details |
| Meaning | Mansabdari was a system of ranking officers and soldiers in the Mughal Empire. |
| Mansab | The rank or position given to an officer, showing their status and responsibility. |
| Mansabdar | A person who held a mansab and served the emperor, often as a military or civil officer. |
| Purpose | To organize the army and government efficiently by assigning ranks and duties. |
| Number of Soldiers | Each mansabdar had to maintain a certain number of soldiers based on their mansab rank. |
| Salary | Instead of cash, mansabdars were given land grants called jagirs to collect revenue. |
| Ranks | Mansabs ranged from low ranks to very high ranks, showing how important the officer was. |
| Accountability | Mansabdars were checked regularly to ensure they kept the soldiers and did their duties well. |
| Introduced By | The system was introduced and developed mainly by Emperor Akbar (1556–1605). |
The whole system of mansabdari is called a dual system.
- Zat (Sipahi)
- Sawar (Horsemen)
Now depending on the above divisions, mansabdars were further divided into the following –
- First rank mansabdar
- Second rank mansabdar
The payment mode in the mansabdari system was differentiated into two different forms.
- Cash Payment– Mansabdars who were paid in cash were known as Naqdi.
- Land Grants– Mansabdars who were paid in the land were known as Jagirdars. This is the right to collect revenue from the land, not on the land.
Also Read- Birbal: An Overview of Mughal Emperor’s Advisor
What is Jagirdari?
A jagirdari is a system of payment through which the mansabs were given land. Post the control on land, they were known as jagirdars. They are responsible for maintaining the financial systems throughout the land they were given.
It is not a hereditary honour or post. Once a jagir dies, their land or rank will not be given to their children. Moreover, a person cannot hold on to a jagir for a very long time.
The whole system was highly centralized. If someone had a good relationship with the king, the chances of being good jagirs were high. For instance, most jagirs were Rajput because they shared a great connection with the king.
| Aspect | Details |
| Meaning | Jagirdari was a system where the emperor gave land rights called jagirs to officials. |
| Jagir | A piece of land assigned to a mansabdar or noble to collect revenue from. |
| Jagirdar | The person who received the jagir and collected taxes from the people living on that land. |
| Purpose | To provide income to mansabdars and officials to maintain soldiers and manage their duties. |
| Revenue Collection | Jagirdars collected taxes from farmers and villagers living on their jagir. |
| Payment Method | Instead of giving salary in cash, the emperor allowed jagirdars to use land revenue as payment. |
| Temporary Assignment | Jagirs were not permanent and could be changed or taken back by the emperor. |
| Control | The emperor had full control and could transfer jagirs to others anytime. |
| Relationship with Mansabdari | Jagirdari was closely linked with Mansabdari since mansabdars were often given jagirs. |
There were four types of jagirs in the jagirdari system.
- Watan Jagir
- Inam Jagir
- Tankhw Jagir
- Mashrur Jagir
FAQs
The Jagir system was introduced by Emperor Akbar, one of the greatest rulers of the Mughal Empire. He created this system to organize the empire better and to pay his officers and soldiers without using too much cash. Instead of giving money as salary, Akbar gave land called jagir to officials. These officials, called jagirdars, collected taxes from the people living on that land to support themselves and their duties. This system helped Akbar keep control over his large empire and manage his army effectively.
The Jagirdari system was used during the Mughal Empire where the emperor gave land called jagir to officials or soldiers to collect taxes and support their work. These jagirdars did not own the land permanently, and the emperor could take it back or give it to someone else. On the other hand, the Zamindari system was mainly a system of land ownership where zamindars were landlords who owned large areas of land and collected rent from farmers. Zamindars had more permanent control over their land compared to jagirdars. So, the main difference is that jagirdars were given land temporarily by the emperor for service, while zamindars were more permanent landowners who collected rent from farmers.
The Mansabdari system was introduced by Emperor Akbar, a famous ruler of the Mughal Empire. He created this system to organize his army and government better by giving ranks called “mansabs” to officers. This helped Akbar keep control of his large empire by making sure every officer knew their duties and how many soldiers they had to maintain. The Mansabdari system made the Mughal administration strong and efficient.
The relationship between the mansabdar and the jagir was very close. A mansabdar was an officer or soldier who had a rank (called mansab) in the Mughal army or government. Instead of paying the mansabdar with money, the emperor gave them a piece of land called a jagir. The mansabdar, who became the jagirdar, collected taxes from the people living on that land. This tax money helped the mansabdar pay for the soldiers they had to maintain and take care of their duties. So, the jagir was like a salary for the mansabdar, and it helped keep the empire running smoothly.
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| Who Is The Father Of Akbar? | Who Killed Aurangzeb? |
| How Many Wives Did Akbar Have? | How Akbar Died? |
| How did Jahangir Die? | Bengal Partition: Impact and Legacy |
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