Kiladar was a title for the governor of a fort or large town in early modern India.[1] During the Maratha Empire, the title was commonly pronounced 'Killedar' (Marathi: किल्लेदार). The office of Kiladar had the same functions as that of a European feudal Castellan.[2]

Etymology

The title is composed of the Urdu word for fort "Kila", and the suffix "-dar", signifying an occupation. The military historian R.H.R. Smythies originally translated the term as "Custodian of the Fort".[3][4]

History

The position of Kiladar was used in the Hindu Maratha Empire as well as northern India. Most large settlements or strategic forts in the Maratha Empire had a Kiladar.[5]

However, while in northern India the autonomous position of Kiladar implied sovereignty, in the Maratha Empire the position was subordinate to the civil administration of a town.[5]

Ruling kiladars

In the case of Banganapalle, the Mughal-loyal kiladars ruled it as a princely state, which continued during the British Raj, until and after 24 January 1876, when Fath `Ali Khan was granted the higher style Nawab.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Archaeological Survey of India (1885). Reports. Office of the Superintendent of Government Printing. pp. 122–. Retrieved 13 June 2010.
  2. ↑ Taylor, Alice Meadows; Bruce, Henry (1920). The story of my life. H. Milford, Oxford university press. pp. 312–. Retrieved 13 June 2010.
  3. ↑ Smythies, Raymond Henry Raymond (1894). Historical records of the 40th (2nd Somersetshire) Regiment, now 1st Battalion the Prince of Wales's Volunteers (South Lancashire Regiment).: From its formation, in 1717 to 1893. Printed for the subscribers by A.H. Swiss. pp. 256–. Retrieved 13 June 2010.
  4. ↑ Smith, Vincent Arthur; Cunningham, Sir Alexander (1887). General index to the reports of the Archaeological Survey of India, volumes I to XXIII. Printed by the Superintendent of Government Printing. pp. 207–. Retrieved 13 June 2010.
  5. 1 2 Chaurasia, R.S. (2004-01-01). History of the Marathas. Atlantic Publishers & Distributors. pp. 196–. ISBN 978-81-269-0394-8. Retrieved 13 June 2010.
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