A Deccani courtier who may or may not be the king himself, c

Sowar ( ur, سوار, also ''siwar'' meaning "the one who rides" or "rider", from Persian ) was originally a rank during the Mughal Empire and Maratha Empire. Later during the British Raj it was the name in Anglo-Indian usage for a horse-soldier belonging to the

cavalry Historically, cavalry (from the French word ''cavalerie'', itself derived from "cheval" meaning "horse") are soldiers or warriors who fight mounted on horseback. Cavalry were the most mobile of the combat arms, operating as light 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 ''Sepoy'' () was the Persian-derived designation originally given to a professional Indian infantryman, traditionally armed with a musket, in the armies of the Mughal Empire. In the 18th century, the French East India Company and its oth ...

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.

References

* {{EB1911, wstitle=Sowar Urdu-language words and phrases Military of the Mughal Empire Military ranks of British India Military ranks of Pakistan Military ranks of the Indian Army fr:Sepoy

History

See also

References