 Military administration of Sher Shah Suri was a huge success. He maintained a standing army at the centre like Ala-ud-din Khilji. His military strength consisted of one lakh and fifty thousand cavalry, twenty five thousand infantry and five thousand elephants. His artillery, probably, was the weakest part of his military strength while the cavalry consisted mostly of the Afghans. However, other Muslims and the Hindus, too, were employed in the army. Sher Shah took personal interest in the recruitment, training, promotion, discipline, disbursement of salary and supply of arms, clothes etc. to his soldiers. Sher Shah succeeded in maintaining a large, disciplined and effective army during his time.
Sher Shah adopted the practices of maintaining the huliya of the soldiers and that of branding of the horses. Besides the army of the Sultan, provincial governor, nobles and subordinate rulers were also allowed to maintain their separate armies which were called in for the assistance of the Sultan when needed. Soldiers were kept in all forts and military cantonments spreading all over the territory of the empire. The strength of the army which was so spread in different parts of the empire must also be in large number. Sher Shah's administration, both civil and military, has been regarded highly successful. He infused a new spirit in the old institutions and improved it. Thus during his time Sher Shah succeeded in maintaining a strong and effective army. This article is a stub. You can enrich by adding more information to it. Send your Write Up to content@indianetzone.com (Last Updated on : 16-08-2013) |
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