Hyderabad Contingent

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Cavalry, 1862

The Hyderabad Contingent was an Indian military unit during colonial times (approx. 1803-1902). She was initially recruited from subjects of the Nizam of the princely state of Hyderabad , who also had to pay for the maintenance of the troops. To cover the costs, the British took control of the Berar area in 1853 . The unit was, in addition to the Hyderabad Subsidiary Force, at the exclusive disposal of the British colonial rulers , who also provided the officers. They are to be distinguished from the Hyderabad State Forces under the direct control of the Nizam. The troops were integrated into the British Indian Army during the reform initiated by Lord Kitchener in 1902/3 .

Precursor and beginning time

The Nizam ul-Mulk, later Asaf Jah II. Ruler of Hyderabad, had committed himself in various alliance treaties of 1800, 1804 and 1808 to provide the British with troops ( Nizam's contingent ) in the wars against Tipu Sultan . The Nizam maintained 14,000 men who were trained by the French. The sudden death of the resident Rymond in 1798 reduced the French influence at court and the troops were disbanded. Instead, in a contract in the same year, the Subsidiary Force, which he had to make available to the British in the event of war since 1759, was to be expanded to six battalions (cost 2.4 million Rs.), Which were permanently deployed. From 1800 the strength of the troops based in Secunderabad was increased to 8 battalions of infantry and 2 cavalry regiments. In 1808, after the French, who had a certain influence at court, had been ousted, the British guaranteed the integrity of the princely state, but in return they had to maintain the troops at their own expense. The levy and maintenance of the troops were entrusted by the Nizam to a certain class of nobles, the paigah , who received hereditary lands and their tax revenue. Already the resident Henry Russell reorganized the mostly Muslim troops in 1813 (to the Russell Brigade with 2 battalions). Although the soldiers of Hyderabad were initially undisciplined and comparatively poorly equipped, they soon developed into one of the most powerful units in India. Ignition lock muskets were replaced by carbines for a third of the men, while the others were given sabers and pistols. Captain Davis, who had been in command in Aurangabad since the fall of 1816, received Rs. 2000 a month , his five officers Rs. 1000 each. The troops took part in campaigns during the Maratha Wars and smaller campaigns until 1826 . Another reorganization based on the British model took place in 1826-8. Operations in the next few years were limited to fighting bandits and police operations.

Infantry, 1862

Under Asaf Jah III. and the lavish Asaf Jah IV. , the state finances were shattered, also through corruption. Hyderabad was falling behind with its obligations.

The colonial rulers used these arrears of payments, at least in the required amount, to appropriate the area of ​​Berar to secure their claims. The Hyderabad Contingent, now created under the name (officially on Jan. 1, 1854), was under the control of the resident , with 7500 men (4 cavalry regiments, the Lancers, 9 battalions of infantry, 4 artillery batteries). It had to be stationed in peacetime in the princely state and was now financed from Berar's tax money, the return of which remained a constant subject of Hyderabad's diplomatic efforts until 1947. The names of the ranks were adapted to the model of the colonial army in 1856. The commander was usually a brigadier, until 1856 there was a northern and southern command.

Troop strength

year Officers Mounted infantry Guns Cost
(MILLION Rs.)
1811 20th 9000 8000 25th 6.14
1821 101 5868 8822 30th 5.17
1831 100 2794 8138 30th 3.875
1841 91 2740 662 30th 3.73
1851 80 2190 6731 37 3.83
1861 50 2300 6282 24 2.66
1871 69 2300 5978 16 3.273
1881 69 2200 5432 16 2,889
1892 90 2204 5558 16 3.703
1900 100 2000 5456 16 4.363

artillery

In the arsenal of Secunderabad, 1862

After the reorganization in 1813 there were 2 5½-inch howitzers and 4 6-pounders in the infantry. A separate artillery department with 110 soldiers (2 officers) and 104 carriers existed from 1817. It was initially equipped with 2 18-pounders, 2 5½-inch howitzers and 8 6-pounders made of bronze. Salabat Khan had its own artillery. In 1822 it was divided into four batteries ( Company of Artillery ). Their armament was set in 1854 to 4 6-pounders and two 12-pound howitzers, this was reduced in 1864 to 3 6-pounders and one 12-pound howitzer each. (After 1858 it became customary not to let Indians operate modern artillery as far as possible.) As draft animals, oxen were replaced by horses in the 1860s.

cavalry

Names of the cavalry regiments:

1816 1826 1854 1890 1903
Jalal ud-Daula's Risalas 1st Regiment Nizam's Cavallry 1st Cavallry Hyderabad Contingent 1st Lancers Hyderabad Contingent 20th Deccan Horse
Murtasa Yar Jung's Risalas (500 men) 2nd Regiment Nizam's Cavallry 2nd Cavallry Hyderabad Contingent 2nd Lancers Hyderabad Contingent 29th Lancers (Deccan Horse)
Rai Barcha Mall's Risalas 3rd Regiment Nizam's Cavallry 3rd Cavallry Hyderabad Contingent 3rd Lancers Hyderabad Contingent (resolved)
--- 4th Regiment Nizam's Cavallry 4th Cavallry Hyderabad Contingent 4th Lancers Hyderabad Contingent 30th Lancers, Gordon's Horse
Salabat Khan's Risala 5th Regiment Nizam's Cavallry (Ellichpur Horse) (resolved)

Before 1854, a regiment consisted of four squadrons, then three, which from 1895 onwards were combined according to communalist principles (1 Sikhs, Musulmans and Jats each ). Until 1860 it was customary for outsiders ( sillardar ) to own the horses. After that, only soldiers were allowed to own warhorses that could achieve around Rs. 1000. Since 1875 the principle of one horse - one owner - the price of the animals was no longer allowed to exceed 450 HRs .

Sepoy Uprising, 1857–59

The young Divan of the State of Salar Jung I warned the resident in September 1857 of an impending attack on his official residence. He also made sure that Asaf Jah V , who was only crowned in May, showed no sympathy for the rebels. The British believed that this prevented the revolt from spreading to southern India. Since the units of the Hyderabad Contingent, with the exception of troops in Aurangabad, had also remained loyal, the majority of them were deployed, under the command of Major WA Orr, to counter insurgency, especially in the Bombay presidency and in the Gwalior campaign. They excelled particularly in the cast of Jhansi . These campaigns lasted until the autumn of 1858.

Pax Britannica, 1860 to 1902

Cavalrymen (1862)

At that time six miles away from Hyderabad, the Secunderabad Cantonment was located on 50 km² , where about 7000 troops of the British-Indian Army were stationed in peacetime. Further cantonments existed in Aurangabad, Ellichpur and Balorum. The Victoria carbine (muskets) introduced in 1860-72 was replaced by muzzle-loaders (model 1853) in 1870-8. From 1880 on it was equipped with breech loaders and in 1884 replaced by Snider rifles . Recruits were also made in British India, with the proportion of foreigners fluctuating between 38 and 52%. No lower-cast Hindus were recruited before 1870 and Brahmins were excluded from 1892 . The ratio of Hindus to Muslims was around 6 to 4.

Between 1860 and 1886 the troops were hardly used except to fight bandits. Only the 3rd Cavalry Regiment was ordered to take part in the 2nd Afghan War, but was not used in combat. Some of the troops, the 3rd Cavalry Regiment and the 3rd Infantry, were only sent to the third Burma War in August 1886, after the expulsion of Thabaw was over. The unit was distributed to numerous small posts and was involved in smaller skirmishes "for pacification".

Between 1886 and 1893 the organization and number of (British) officers, as well as their pay, were brought into line with those of the armies of the presidencies . The Martini-Henry rifles issued in 1894 were replaced by the Lee-Enfield in 1901 . Native officers were first given revolvers in 1882, and Webley revolvers in 1894 .

The 2nd Infantry was seconded to Peshawar in 1897 and used in the border war with Afghans . In 1900, during the Boxer Rebellion , the 5th Infantry was sent to Hong Kong . The soldiers received the China Medal and the words "China 1900" were allowed to be placed on the regimental flag.

Reorganization in 1903

The infantry regiments received the new numbers 94th to 99th when they were integrated into the Indian army , under the command of Madras. The four cavalry regiments became three: the 20th Deccan Horse, 29th Lancers (Deccan Horse) and the 30th Lancers (Gordon's Horse) under the Commander-in-Chief of Bombay. Hyderabad also provided otherwise financed Imperial Service Troops, these now formed the Hyderabad Lancers. There was also a reserve force, the Hyderabad Volunteer Rifle Corps.

Web links

Commons : Hyderabad Contingent  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

literature

  • Aitchison, CU (Ed.); A collection of treaties, engagements, and sunnuds relating to India and neighboring countries; Calcutta 1885, Vol. V, p 220ff. ( Full text )
  • Burton, Reginald George (major); A History of the Hyderabad Contingent; Calcutta 1905 ( full text )
  • Crole, CS; Reports and Returns of the Hyderabad Subsidiary Force and Hyderabad Contingent; s. l. 1882
  • Gilchrist, Robert; Instructions for Cavalry Picquet Duties, according to the latest orders and the Regulations for Outpost Duty, for the use of the Cavalry of the Hyderabad Contingent; Madras, 1873

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ For the individual contracts and the duties imposed, see Aitchinson (1885), contracts L and LI
  2. ↑ Even the resident Cuthbert Davidson (* 1810, † 1862) thought the demands from Calcutta were too high. see. [Anon. "An Indian Mahomedan"]; British India; London 1926; P. 220ff.
  3. ^ List of commanders: Burton (1905), app. III
  4. ↑ Burton (1905), p. 278.
  5. ^ List of battles, awards and British officers in: Burton (1905), pp. 232–8.
  6. ↑ Overview: Burton (1905), pp. 265–72.