| Sowar | |
|---|---|
| Sowar | |
| Country | Delhi Sultanate Deccan Sultanates Mughal Empire Maratha Empire British Raj India Pakistan |
| Branch | Cavalry |
| Equipment | Composite bow, Scimitar, Spear, and Musket |
A Deccani courtier, c.1600.
A sowar of the 6th Madras Light Cavalry, serving the British East India Company, c. 1845.
Sowar (Urdu: سوار, also siwar meaning "the one who rides" or "rider", from Persian sawār)[1] was originally a rank during the Mughal Empire. Later during the British Raj it was the name in Anglo-Indian usage for a horse-soldier belonging to the cavalry troops of the native armies of British India and the feudal states. It is also used more specifically of a mounted orderly, escort or guard. It was also the rank held by ordinary cavalry troopers, equivalent to sepoy in the infantry — this rank has been inherited by the modern armies of India and Pakistan.
History
An image from the Carnatic Wars features a Sowar armed with a Musket.
Sowar has been used as the name of a line of wrist-watches by the Swiss West End Watch Co.
See also
References
- This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Sowar". Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.
Memorial plaque in Christ Church, Mhow, noting two officers who were "killed by their own sowars" in the Indian Rebellion of 1857.
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