Kiladar

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. 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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