Sawar

In the 18th and 19th centuries Indian soldiers who belonged to the cavalry were referred to as sawar (from Pers .: سوار, "sawār" = rider) . Indian infantrymen, on the other hand, were referred to as sepoy (from Pers .: Sipahi = soldier). The soldiers were employed by the British East India Company , which ruled India on behalf of the British Empire until the Indian Uprising of 1857 . The British East India Company maintained a total of three armies, which were composed mostly of Indians. However, the officer posts were reserved for the British.

Sawars played a crucial role in the clashes of the Indian uprising of 1857. After the first uprisings in Merath on May 10, 1857 , they were the first to arrive in Delhi and demand the support of the Grand Mogul. The uprising, however, often referred to as Sepoy called -Aufstand because this term has been extended to all Indian soldiers.