Army during the Delhi Sultanate and the Mughal Empire 

(i) Both the Sultanate and the Mughal state were dependent on army. The main strength of the army in both cases was the cavalry.

(ii) Ariz-i-Mumalik under the Sultans and Mir Bakshi under the Mughal Emperors were the officers in-charge but the ruler himself commanded all the armed forces.

(iii) Balban was the first one to recruit a regular standing army, this system was further strengthened by Ala-ud-din-Khalji who introduced the branding system (Dagh) of the horses.

(iv) The royal cavalry in Delhi Sultanate was called Hasham-i-Qalb or Afwaj-i-Qalb. Hasham- i-Atraj was the cavalry posted at provincial level. This army was organised on the basis of decimal system.

(v) Mughal army was organised on the basis of mansab system. Ahadis were the royal troopers directly under the command of the emperor.

(vi) The artillery had developed rapidly in India after the advent of Babur. Apart from siege i.e. the process of surrounding and attacking a fortified place there were heavy guns mounted on forts.

(vii) The infantry, though numerous, consisted of both fighting and non-fighting classes. The fighting men were mainly matchlock men, called banduqchis.

(viii) By the time of Akbar, matchlock contingent was also included in the infantry.

(ix) Both Sultans of Delhi and Mughals used elepahtns on the battle fields. Navy always remained a weak point of the Indian rulers.