Kiladar
Qiladar (Urdu: قلعہدار) was a title for the governor of a fort or large town in early modern India.[1] During the Mughal Empire, the title was commonly pronounced 'Killedar' (Persian: کیلدار). The office of Qiladar had the same functions as that of a European feudal Castellan.[2]
Etymology
[edit | edit source]The title is composed of the Urdu word for fort "Qila", and the Persian suffix "-dar", signifying an occupation. The military historian R.H.R. Smythies originally translated the term as "Custodian of the Fort".[3][4]
History
[edit | edit source]The position of Qiladar was used in the Mughal Empire as well as northern India. Most large settlements or strategic forts in the Mughal Empire had a Qiladar.[5]
However, while in northern India the autonomous position of Qiladar implied sovereignty, in southern India the position was subordinate to the civil administration of a town.[5]
Ruling kiladars
[edit | edit source]In the case of Banganapalle, the Mughal-loyal qiladars 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
[edit | edit source]References
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