Editing Cavalry (section)

==Asia==
{{see also|Horse archer}}

===Central Asia===
{{main|Mongol military tactics and organization|Mongol Empire#Military setup}}
[[File:Imperial Encyclopaedia - Military Administration - pic558 - 鬼箭撒圖.png|thumb|Chinese [[caltrop]] jar]]

[[Xiongnu]], [[Tujue]], [[Avars (Carpathians)|Avars]], [[Kipchaks]], [[Khitan people|Khitans]], [[Mongol]]s, [[Don Cossack]]s and the various [[Turkic peoples]] are also examples of the horse-mounted groups that managed to gain substantial successes in military conflicts with settled agrarian and urban societies, due to their strategic and tactical mobility. As European states began to assume the character of bureaucratic [[nation-states]] supporting professional standing armies, recruitment of these mounted warriors was undertaken in order to fill the strategic roles of scouts and raiders.

The best known instance of the continued employment of mounted tribal auxiliaries were the Cossack cavalry regiments of the [[Russian Empire]]. In [[Eastern Europe]], and out onto the [[steppes]], cavalry remained important much longer and dominated the scene of warfare until the early 17th century and even beyond, as the strategic mobility of cavalry was crucial for the semi-nomadic [[pastoralism|pastoralist]] lives that many steppe cultures led.<!-- This needs a re-write as the chronology is all over the place --> [[Tibet]]ans also had a tradition of cavalry warfare, in several military engagements with the Chinese [[Tang dynasty]] (618–907 AD).

====Khanates of Central Asia====
{{main|Mounted archery}}
<gallery mode=packed heights="130" class="center">
File:Mongol warrior of Genghis Khan.jpg|[[Mongol]] mounted archer of Genghis Khan late 12th century.
File:Ryszkiewicz Tatars in the vanguard.jpg|[[Tatars|Tatar]] vanguard in [[Eastern Europe]] 13th–14th centuries.
File:DiezAlbumsArmedRiders II.jpg|Mongols at war 14th century
</gallery>

===East Asia===
{{further|Horses in East Asian warfare}}

====China====
{{multiple image| align = left | direction = horizontal | header = | header_align = left/right/center | footer = An [[Eastern Han]] glazed ceramic statue of a horse with [[bridle]] and [[halter]] headgear, from [[Sichuan]], late 2nd century to early 3rd century AD| footer_align = left | image1 = Sichuan, han orientali, cavallo con ciuffo e criniera corta, seconda metà II-inizio III sec. 02.JPG | width1 = 108 | caption1 = | image2 = Sichuan, han orientali, cavallo con ciuffo e criniera corta, seconda metà II-inizio III sec. 03.JPG | width2 = 220| caption2 = }}

Further east, the [[Military history of China (pre-1911)|military history of China]], specifically [[North China|northern China]], held a long tradition of intense military exchange between [[Han Chinese]] infantry forces of the settled dynastic empires and the mounted [[nomads]] or "barbarians" of the north. The [[naval history of China]] was centered more to the south, where mountains, rivers, and large lakes necessitated the employment of a large and well-kept [[Naval warfare|navy]].

In 307 BC, [[King Wuling of Zhao]], the ruler of the former [[Jin (Chinese state)|state of Jin]], ordered his commanders and troops to adopt the [[trousers]] of the [[nomad]]s as well as practice the nomads' form of mounted archery to hone their new cavalry skills.{{sfnp|Ebrey|Walthall|Palais|2006|pp=29–30}}

[[File:Emperor Taizongs horses by Yan Liben.jpg|thumb|right|A bas-[[relief]] of a soldier and horse with saddle and [[stirrup]]s, from the tomb of Chinese [[Emperor Taizong of Tang]] (r. 626–649), {{circa|650}}]]
The adoption of massed cavalry in China also broke the tradition of the [[Chariot (Ancient China)|chariot]]-riding [[Four occupations|Chinese aristocracy]] in battle, which had been in use since the ancient [[Shang dynasty]] ({{circa|1600}}–1050 BC).{{sfnp|Ebrey|Walthall|Palais|2006|p=29}} By this time large Chinese infantry-based armies of 100,000 to 200,000 troops were now buttressed with several hundred thousand mounted cavalry in support or as an effective striking force.{{sfnp|Ebrey|Walthall|Palais|2006|p=30}} The handheld pistol-and-trigger [[crossbow]] was invented in China in the fourth century BC;{{sfnp|Ebrey|1999|p=41}} it was written by the [[Song dynasty]] scholars Zeng Gongliang, Ding Du, and Yang Weide in their book ''[[Wujing Zongyao]]'' (1044 AD) that massed missile fire by crossbowmen was the most effective defense against enemy cavalry charges.<ref name="peers 130">Peers, 130. we can right anything</ref>

[[File:The Qianlong Emperor in Ceremonial Armour on Horseback.jpg|thumb|upright|left|The [[Qianlong Emperor]] in ceremonial armor on horseback, painted by [[Giuseppe Castiglione (1688–1766)|Giuseppe Castiglione]], dated 1739 or 1758]]
On many occasions the Chinese studied nomadic cavalry tactics and applied the lessons in creating their own potent cavalry forces, while in others they simply recruited the tribal horsemen wholesale into their armies; and in yet other cases nomadic empires proved eager to enlist Chinese infantry and engineering, as in the case of the [[Mongol Empire]] and its sinicized part, the [[Yuan dynasty]] (1279–1368). The Chinese recognized early on during the [[Han dynasty]] (202 BC – 220 AD) that they were at a disadvantage in lacking the number of horses the northern nomadic peoples mustered in their armies. [[Emperor Wu of Han]] (r 141–87 BC) went to war with the [[Dayuan]] for this reason, since the Dayuan were hoarding a massive amount of tall, strong, Central Asian bred horses in the [[Hellenized]]–[[Greeks|Greek]] region of [[Fergana]] (established slightly earlier by [[Alexander the Great]]). Although experiencing some defeats early on in the campaign, Emperor Wu's war from 104 BC to 102 BC succeeded in gathering the prized tribute of horses from Fergana.

Cavalry tactics in China were enhanced by the invention of the saddle-attached [[stirrup]] by at least the 4th century, as the oldest reliable depiction of a rider with paired stirrups was found in a [[Jin dynasty (265–420)|Jin dynasty]] tomb of the year 322 AD.<ref name="Dien">{{cite web| url = http://www.silk-road.com/artl/stirrup.shtml| title = Dien, Albert. 'The Stirrup and its Effect on Chinese Military History'}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1310/is_1988_Oct/ai_6955868 |title = 'The stirrup – history of Chinese science'. ''UNESCO Courier'', October 1988 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071013231319/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1310/is_1988_Oct/ai_6955868 |archive-date=13 October 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.chinaculture.org/gb/en_madeinchina/2005-07/21/content_70825.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081203175410/http://www.chinaculture.org/gb/en_madeinchina/2005-07/21/content_70825.htm|title="The invention and influences of stirrup"|archive-date=December 3, 2008}}</ref> The Chinese invention of the [[horse collar]] by the 5th century was also a great improvement from the breast harness, allowing the horse to haul greater weight without heavy burden on its skeletal structure.<ref name="needham volume 4 part 2 322">Needham, Volume 4, Part 2, 322.</ref><ref name="needham volume 4 part 2 305">Needham, Volume 4, Part 2, 305.</ref>

====Korea====
The horse warfare of [[History of Korea|Korea]] was first started during the ancient Korean kingdom [[Gojoseon]]. Since at least the 3rd century BC, there was influence of northern [[nomad]]ic peoples and [[Yemaek]] peoples on Korean warfare. By roughly the first century BC, the ancient kingdom of [[Buyeo Kingdom|Buyeo]] also had mounted warriors.{{sfnp|Ebrey|Walthall|Palais|2006 |p=120}} The cavalry of [[Goguryeo]], one of the [[Three Kingdoms of Korea]], were called ''Gaemamusa'' (개마무사, 鎧馬武士), and were renowned as a fearsome heavy cavalry force. [[Gwanggaeto the Great of Goguryeo|King Gwanggaeto the Great]] often led expeditions into the [[Baekje]], [[Gaya confederacy]], [[Buyeo Kingdom|Buyeo]], [[Later Yan]] and against [[Yamato period|Japanese]] invaders with his cavalry.<ref>Lee, Peter H & Wm. Theodore De Bary. ''Sources of Korean Tradition'', pp. 24–26. Columbia University Press, 1997.</ref>
In the 12th century, [[Jurchen people|Jurchen]] tribes began to violate the Goryeo–Jurchen borders, and eventually invaded [[Goryeo]] Korea. After experiencing invasion by the Jurchen, Korean general [[Yun Kwan]] realized that Goryeo lacked efficient cavalry units. He reorganized the Goryeo military into a professional army that would contain decent and well-trained cavalry units. In 1107, the Jurchen were ultimately defeated, and surrendered to Yun Kwan. To mark the victory, General Yun built nine fortresses to the northeast of the Goryeo–Jurchen borders (동북 9성, 東北 九城).[[File:Samurai on horseback.png|thumb|upright|A mounted [[samurai]] with bow and arrows, wearing a horned helmet. {{Circa|1878}}]]

====Japan====
[[File:Sakaotosi.jpg|thumb|upright|In the [[Battle of Ichi-no-Tani]], Japanese cavalry moving down a mountain-side]]
The [[History of Japan|ancient Japanese]] of the [[Kofun period]] also adopted [[Kofun period#Introduction of equine culture to Japan|cavalry and equine culture]] by the 5th century AD. The emergence of the [[samurai]] aristocracy led to the development of armoured horse archers, themselves to develop into charging [[lancer]] cavalry as gunpowder weapons rendered bows obsolete.  Japanese cavalry was largely made up of landowners who would be upon a horse to better survey the troops they were called upon to bring to an engagement, rather than traditional mounted warfare seen in other cultures with massed cavalry units.

An example is [[Yabusame]] (流鏑馬), a type of mounted archery in traditional Japanese archery. An archer on a running horse shoots three special "turnip-headed" arrows successively at three wooden targets.

This style of archery has its origins at the beginning of the Kamakura period. [[Minamoto no Yoritomo]] became alarmed at the lack of archery skills his samurai had. He organized yabusame as a form of practice.
Currently, the best places to see yabusame performed are at the Tsurugaoka Hachiman-gū in Kamakura and Shimogamo Shrine in Kyoto (during Aoi Matsuri in early May). It is also performed in Samukawa and on the beach at Zushi, as well as other locations.

Kasagake or Kasakake (笠懸, かさがけ lit. "hat shooting") is a type of Japanese mounted archery. In contrast to yabusame, the types of targets are various and the archer shoots without stopping the horse. While yabusame has been played as a part of formal ceremonies, kasagake has developed as a game or practice of martial arts, focusing on technical elements of horse archery.

===South Asia===

====Indian subcontinent====
In the Indian subcontinent, cavalry played a major role from the [[Gupta dynasty]] (320–600) period onwards. India has also the oldest evidence for the introduction of toe-[[stirrup]]s.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thoughtco.com/invention-of-the-stirrup-195161|title=Invention of the Stirrup|work=ThoughtCo|access-date=2017-03-11}}</ref>

Indian literature contains numerous references to the mounted warriors of the [[Central Asia]]n horse nomads, notably the [[Saka]]s, [[Kambojas]], [[Yona|Yavanas]], [[The Pahlavas|Pahlavas]] and [[Paradas]]. Numerous [[Puranas|Puranic]] texts refer to a conflict in ancient India (16th century BC)<ref>pp. 182–183, Pargiter.</ref> in which the horsemen of five nations, called the "Five Hordes" (''pañca.ganan'') or [[Kshatriya|Kṣatriya]] hordes (''Kṣatriya ganah''), attacked and captured the state of Ayudhya by dethroning its [[Vedic period|Vedic]] King Bahu<ref>Harivamsa 14.1–19; Vayu Purana 88.127–43; Brahma Purana (8.35–51); Brahamanda Purana (3.63.123–141); Shiva Purana (7.61.23); Vishnu Purana (5.3.15–21), Padama Purana (6.21.16–33) etc.</ref>

[[File:Kurukshetra.jpg|thumb|left|Manuscript illustration of the Battle of Kurukshetra]]

The [[Mahabharata]], [[Ramayana]], numerous [[Puranas]] and some foreign sources attest that the Kamboja cavalry frequently played role in ancient wars. V. R. Ramachandra Dikshitar writes: "Both the Puranas and the epics agree that the horses of the Sindhu and Kamboja regions were of the finest breed, and that the services of the Kambojas as cavalry troopers were utilised in ancient wars".<ref>War in Ancient India, 1944, p. 178, V. R. Ramachandra Dikshtar, Military art and science.</ref> J.A.O.S. writes: "Most famous horses are said to come either from Sindhu or Kamboja; of the latter (i.e. the Kamboja), the Indian [[Indian epic poetry|epic]] [[Mahabharata]] speaks among the finest horsemen".<ref>Journal of American Oriental society, 1889, p. 257, American Oriental Society; The Social and Military Position of the Ruling Caste in Ancient India: As ..., 1972, p. 201, Edward Washburn Hopkins – Caste; Mahabharata 10.18.13; cf: Ancient Indian Civilization, 1985, p. 120, Grigoriĭ Maksimovich Bongard-Levin – History; Cf also: A History of Zoroastrianism, 1991, p. 129, Mary Boyce, Frantz Grenet.</ref>

[[File:ChandraguptaIIOnHorse.jpg|thumb|right|upright|Coin of [[Chandragupta II]] or Vikramaditya, one of the most powerful emperors of the Gupta empire during times referred to as the Golden Age of India]]
[[File:Rajput warrior on horseback, with caption in Kayathi and Nagari..jpg|thumb|upright|Rajput warrior on horseback]]

The Mahabharata speaks of the esteemed cavalry of the Kambojas, Sakas, Yavanas and [[Tusharas]], all of whom had participated in the [[Kurukshetra War and the Kambojas|Kurukshetra war]] under the supreme command of [[Kamboja Kingdom|Kamboja]] ruler [[Sudakshina Kamboja|Sudakshin Kamboj]].<ref>MBH 1.185.13; Felicitation Volume Presented to Professor Sripad Krishna Belvalkar, 1957, p. 260, Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, [[Shripad Krishna Belvalkar]].</ref>

Mahabharata and Vishnudharmottara Purana pay especial attention to the Kambojas, Yavansa, Gandharas etc. being ''ashva.yuddha.kushalah'' (expert cavalrymen).<ref>Ashva.yuddha.kushalah: Mahabharata 7.7.14; See also: Vishnudharmottara Purana, Part II, Chapter 118; Post Gupta Polity (500–700 AD): A Study of the Growth of Feudal Elements and Rural Administration 1972, p. 136, Ganesh Prasad Sinha; Wisdom in the Puranas 1969, p. 64, professor Sen Sarma etc.</ref> In the Mahabharata war, the Kamboja cavalry along with that of the Sakas, Yavanas is reported to have been enlisted by the [[Kuru (kingdom)|Kuru]] king [[Duryodhana]] of [[Hastinapur]]a.<ref>Some Kṣatriya Tribes of Ancient India, 1924, p. 238, Dr B. C. Law – Kshatriyas; The Battle of Kurukshetra, 1987, p. 389, Maggi Lidchi-Grassi – Kurukshetra (India).</ref>

[[Herodotus]] ({{circa|484}} – {{circa|425 BC}}) attests that the [[Gandhara|Gandarian]] mercenaries (i.e. ''Gandharans/Kambojans'' of Gandari Strapy of [[Achaemenids]]) from the 20th strapy of the [[Achaemenid Empire|Achaemenid]]s were recruited in the army of emperor [[Xerxes I of Persia|Xerxes I]] (486–465 BC), which he led against the [[Greeks|Hellas]].<ref>Herodotus, Book VII 65, 70, 86, 187.</ref> Similarly, the ''men of the Mountain Land '' from north of [[Kabul]]-River equivalent to medieval [[Kohistan District, North West Frontier Province|Kohistan]] (Pakistan), figure in the army of [[Darius III]] against [[Alexander the Great|Alexander]] at [[Battle of Gaugamela|Arbela]], providing a cavalry force and 15 elephants.<ref>History of Persian Empire, p. 232, Dr A. M. Olmstead; Arrian's Anabasis III, 8.3–6; Political History of Ancient India, 1996, p. 216, Dr Raychaudhury.</ref> This obviously refers to Kamboja cavalry south of Hindukush.

The Kambojas were famous for their horses, as well as cavalrymen (''asva-yuddha-Kushalah'').<ref>Ashva.yuddha.kushalah: Mahabharata 7.7.14 Kumbhakonam Edition; See also: Vishnudharmottara Purana, Part II, Chapter 118; Post Gupta Polity (500–700 AD): A Study of the Growth of Feudal Elements and Rural Administration 1972, p. 136, Ganesh Prasad Sinha; Wisdom in the Puranas 1969, p. 64, prof Sen Sarma; etc.; Kashmir Polity, C. 600–1200 AD 1986, p. 237, V. N. Drabu – Political Science.</ref> On account of their supreme position in horse (Ashva) culture, they were also popularly known as [[Ashvakas]], i.e. the "horsemen"<ref>Hindu Polity: A Constitutional History of India in Hindu Times, 1943, p. 145, Dr K. P. Jayaswal.</ref> and their land was known as "Home of Horses".<ref>i.e.: ''Kambojo assa.nam ayata.nam''. See: Samangalavilasini, Vol I, p. 124; See also: Historie du Bouddhisme Indien, p. 110, E. Lamotte; Political History of Ancient India, 1996, p. 133 fn 6, pp. 216–220, Dr H. C. Raychaudhury, Dr B. N. Mukerjee; Some Kṣatriya Tribes of Ancient India, 1924, p. 238, Dr B. C. – Kshatriyas; Studies in Indian History and Civilization, 1962, p. 351, Dr Buddha Prakash – India.</ref> They are the [[Assakenoi]] and [[Aspasioi]] of the [[Classical antiquity|Classical]] writings, and the [[Ashvakayana]]s and [[Ashvayana]]s in [[Pāṇini]]'s [[Ashtadhyayi]]. The Assakenoi had faced [[Alexander the Great|Alexander]] with 30,000 infantry, 20,000 cavalry and 30 war elephants.<ref>Age of the Nandas and Mauryas, 1967, p. 49, Dr K. A. Nilakanta Sastri.</ref> Scholars have identified the Assakenoi and Aspasioi clans of [[Kunar Valley|Kunar]] and [[Swat, Pakistan|Swat]] valleys as a section of the [[Kambojas]].<ref>''"Par ailleurs le Kamboja est régulièrement mentionné comme la "patrie des chevaux" (''Asvanam ayatanam''), et cette reputation bien etablie gagné peut-etre aux eleveurs de chevaux du Bajaur et du Swat l'appellation d'Aspasioi (du v.-p. aspa) et d'assakenoi (du skt asva "cheval")"'' (See: Historie du Bouddhisme Indien, p. 110, E. Lamotte; See also: Hindu Polity, A Constitutional History of India in Hindu Times, 1978, p. 140, Dr K. P. Jayswal; Political History of Ancient India, 1996, p. 133 fn 6, pp. 216–220, (Also Commentary, op. cit., p. 576, fn 22), Dr H. C. Raychaudhury, Dr B. N. Mukerjee;; History of Indian Buddhism: From the Origins to the Saka Era, 1988, p. 100 – History; East and West, 1950, pp. 28, 157–158, Istituto italiano per il Medio ed Estremo Oriente, Editor, Prof Giuseppe Tucci, Co-editors Prof Mario Bussagli, Prof Lionello Lanciotti; Panjab Past and Present, pp. 9–10, Dr Buddha Parkash; Raja Porus, 1990, Publication Bureau, Punjabi University, Patiala; History of Panjab, Vol I, (Editors): Dr Fauja Singh, Dr L. M. Josh, Publication Bureau, Panjabi University, Patiala; History of Porus, 1967, p. 89, Dr Buddha Prakash; Ancient Kamboja, People and country, 1981, pp. 271–272, 278, Dr J. L. Kamboj; These Kamboj People, 1979, pp. 119, 192; Kambojas, Through the Ages, 2005, pp. 129, 218–219, S Kirpal Singh etc.</ref> These hardy tribes had offered stubborn resistance to Alexander ({{circa|326 BC}}) during latter's campaign of the Kabul, Kunar and Swat valleys and had even extracted the praise of the Alexander's historians. These highlanders, designated as ''"parvatiya Ayudhajivinah"'' in Pāṇini's Astadhyayi,<ref>Ashtadhyayi 4.3.91; India as Known to Pāṇini, 1953, pp. 424, 436–439, 455–457, Dr V. S. Aggarwala.</ref> were rebellious, fiercely independent and freedom-loving cavalrymen who never easily yielded to any overlord.<ref>See: History of Punjab, Vol I, 1997, p. 225, Dr Buddha Prakash; Raja Porus, 1990, p. 9, Publication Bureau, Punjabi University Patiala.</ref>

The [[Sanskrit]] drama ''Mudra-rakashas'' by ''Visakha Dutta'' and the [[Jainism|Jaina]] work ''[[Parishishtaparvan]]'' refer to [[Chandragupta Maurya|Chandragupta]]'s ({{circa|320 BC}} – {{circa|298 BC}}) alliance with [[Himalaya]]n king ''Parvataka''. The [[Himalaya]]n alliance gave Chandragupta a formidable composite army made up of the cavalry forces of the Shakas, Yavanas, Kambojas, Kiratas, Parasikas and Bahlikas as attested by Mudra-Rakashas (Mudra-Rakshasa 2).{{efn|In Sanskrit:
: {{transliteration|sa|asti tava Shaka-Yavana-Kirata-Kamboja-Parasika-Bahlika parbhutibhih}}
: {{transliteration|sa|Chankyamatipragrahittaishcha Chandergupta Parvateshvara}}
: {{transliteration|sa|balairudidhibhiriva parchalitsalilaih samantaad uprudham Kusumpurama}}
: (Mudra-Rakshasa 2).}} These hordes had helped [[Chandragupta Maurya]] defeat the ruler of [[Magadha (Mahajanapada)|Magadha]] and placed Chandragupta on the throne, thus laying the foundations of [[Mauryan dynasty]] in Northern India.

The cavalry of [[Hunas]] and the Kambojas is also attested in the [[Raghuvaṃśa|Raghu Vamsa]] epic poem of Sanskrit poet [[Kalidasa]].<ref>Kālidāsa, 1960, p. 141, Raghunath Damodar Karmarkar.</ref> Raghu of Kalidasa is believed to be [[Chandragupta II]] (''Vikaramaditya'') (375–413/15 AD), of the well-known [[Gupta dynasty]].

As late as the mediaeval era, the Kamboja cavalry had also formed part of the Gurjara-Pratihara armed forces from the eighth to the 10th centuries AD. They had come to [[Bengal]] with the [[Gurjara-Pratihara dynasty|Pratihara]]s when the latter conquered part of the province.<ref>Indian Historical Quarterly, XV-4, December 1939, p. 511 Dr H. C. Ray.</ref><ref>History of Ancient Bengal, 1971, pp. 182–183, Dr [[R. C. Majumdar]].</ref><ref>Indian Historical Quarterly, 1963, p. 625.</ref><ref>Dynastic History of Magadha, 1977, p. 208.</ref><ref>Epigraphia Indiaca, XVIII, pp. 304ff.</ref>

Ancient Kambojas organised military ''sanghas'' and [[shreni]]s (corporations) to manage their political and military affairs, as [[Arthashastra]] of [[Kautiliya]] as well as the [[Mahabharata]] record. They are described as ''Ayuddha-jivi'' or ''Shastr-opajivis'' (nations-in-arms), which also means that the Kamboja cavalry offered its [[military]] services to other nations as well. There are numerous references to Kambojas having been requisitioned as cavalry [[trooper (rank)|trooper]]s in ancient wars by outside [[nation]]s.

====Mughal Empire====
{{main|Sowar|Zamburak|Howdah|Mahout|Mounted archery}}
[[File:Mughal Troops Chase the Armies of Da'ud.jpg|thumb|upright|Akbar leads the [[Mughal Army]] during a campaign]]
The Mughal armies (''lashkar'') were primarily a cavalry force. The elite corps were the ''ahadi'' who provided direct service to the Emperor and acted as guard cavalry. Supplementary cavalry or ''dakhilis'' were recruited, equipped and paid by the central state. This was in contrast to the ''tabinan'' horsemen who were the followers of individual noblemen. Their training and equipment varied widely but they made up the backbone of the Mughal cavalry. Finally there were tribal irregulars led by and loyal to tributary chiefs. These included Hindus, Afghans and Turks summoned for military service when their autonomous leaders were called on by the Imperial government.<ref>{{cite book|first=Dr. David|last=Nicolle|pages=[https://archive.org/details/mughulindia00nico/page/n10 10]–11|title=Mughul India 1504–1761|year=1993|publisher=Bloomsbury USA |url=https://archive.org/details/mughulindia00nico|url-access=limited|isbn=1-85532-344-3}}</ref>