# Subah > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Subah > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Subah.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subah > Source revision: 1352656590 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{short description|Term used for a province in the Mughal Empire}} {{otheruses}} A '''''Subah''''' is a term for a [province](/source/province) or [state](/source/Administrative_division) in several [South Asian languages](/source/Languages_of_South_Asia). It was introduced by the [Mughal Empire](/source/Mughal_Empire) to refer to its subdivisions or provinces; and was also adopted by other polities of the [Indian subcontinent](/source/Indian_subcontinent). The word is derived from [Arabic](/source/Arabic) and [Persian](/source/Persian_language). The governor/ruler of a ''Subah'' was known as a ''[subahdar](/source/subahdar)'' (sometimes also referred to as a "''Subeh''"{{cite book |author1=y George Clifford Whitworth |title=An Anglo-indian Dictionary: A Glossary Of Indian Terms Used In English, And Of Such English Or Other Non-indian Terms As Have Obtained Special Meanings In India |year=2016 |publisher=Palala Press |isbn=978-1354764114 |page=301 }}), which later became ''[subedar](/source/subedar)'' to refer to an officer in the [Indian](/source/Indian_Army) and [Pakistani](/source/Pakistan_Army) armies. The ''subahs'' were established by [Padishah](/source/Padishah) (emperor) [Akbar](/source/Akbar) during his administrative reforms of the years 1572–1580; initially, they numbered 12, but his conquests expanded the number of ''subahs'' to 15 by the end of his reign. ''Subahs'' were divided into ''[Sarkars](/source/Sarkar_(administrative_division))'', or districts. ''Sarkars'' were further divided into ''[Parganas](/source/Pargana)'' or ''[Mahals](/source/Mohalla)''. His successors, most notably [Aurangzeb](/source/Aurangzeb), expanded the number of ''subahs'' further through their conquests. As the empire began to dissolve in the early 18th century, many ''subahs'' became ''de facto'' independent or came under the influence of the [Marathas](/source/Maratha_Confederacy) or the [suzerainty](/source/Suzerainty) of the [East India Company](/source/East_India_Company). In the modern context, ''subah'' ({{Nastaliq|صوبہ}}) is used in several [Pakistani languages](/source/Languages_of_Pakistan) (most notably [Punjabi](/source/Punjabi_language), [Balochi](/source/Balochi_language), and [Urdu](/source/Urdu)) to refer to a [province](/source/province) of Pakistan. == History == Initially, after the administrative reforms of [Akbar](/source/Akbar), the [Mughal Empire](/source/Mughal_Empire) was divided into 12 subahs: Kabul, Lahore, Multan, Delhi, Agra, Avadh, Illahabad, Bihar, Bangal, Malwa, Ajmer and Gujarat. After the conquest of [Deccan](/source/Deccan_Plateau), he created three more subahs there: Berar, Khandesh (initially renamed Dandesh in 1601) and Ahmadnagar (in 1636 renamed as Daulatabad and subsequently as Aurangabad). [Jahangir](/source/Jahangir) increased the number of subahs to 17 during his reign; Orissa being carved out of Bangal in 1607. The number of subahs increased to 22 under [Shah Jahan](/source/Shah_Jahan).Mahajan, V.D. (1991, reprint 2007). ''History of Medieval India'', Part II, New Delhi: S. Chand, {{ISBN|81-219-0364-5}}, p.236n In his 8th regnal year, Shah Jahan separated the ''sarkar'' of Telangana from Berar and made it into a separate subah. In 1657, it was merged with Zafarabad Bidar subah. Agra was renamed Akbarabad in 1629 and Delhi became Shahjahanbad in 1648.Habib, I (2003). ''The Agrarian System of Mughal India 1556-1707'', New Delhi: Oxford University Press, {{ISBN|0-19-565595-8}}, pp.8n, 451 Kashmir was carved out of Kabul, Thatta (Sindh) out of Multan, and Bidar out of Ahmadnagar. For some time Qandahar was a separate subah under the Mughal Empire but it was lost to Persia in 1648. [Aurangzeb](/source/Aurangzeb) added Bijapur (1686), [Sira](/source/Province_of_Sira) (1687){{Harvnb|Imperial Gazetteer of India: Provincial Series|1908|pp=175–176}} and [Golkonda](/source/Golkonda_Suba) (1687) as new subahs. There were 22 subahs during his reign. These were Kabul, Kashmir, Lahore, Multan, Delhi, Agra, Avadh, Illahabad, Bihar, Bangalah, Orissa, Malwa, Ajmer, Gujarat, Berar, Khandesh, Aurangabad, Bidar, Thatta, Bijapur, Sira and Haidarabad (Golkonda).Habib, I (2003). ''The Agrarian System of Mughal India 1556-1707'', New Delhi: Oxford University Press, {{ISBN|0-19-565595-8}}, p.4 Aurangzeb made Arcot a Mughal subah in 1692. During the Mughal Empire, the [Punjab region](/source/Punjab) consisted of three subahs: Lahore, Multan, and parts of Delhi subah.{{Cite book |last=Wahi |first=Tripta |title=Irrigation, State and Society in Pre-colonial India |publisher=Nehru Memorial Museum and Library |year=2013 |isbn=9789383650002 |pages=3}} The [Sikh Empire](/source/Sikh_Empire) (1799–1849), originating in the Punjab region, also used the term ''Suba'' for the provinces it administered under its territorial delineation, of which there were five.{{Cite book |last=Herrli |first=Hans |title=The Coins of the Sikhs |year=1993 |pages=10}} == Current usage == In modern usage in [Urdu](/source/Urdu) language, the term is used as a word for [province](/source/province), while the word ''[riyasat](/source/Princely_state)'' ({{langx|ur|{{Nastaliq|ریاست}}}}, "princely state" in English) is used for [(federated) state](/source/Federated_state). The terminologies are based on the administrative structure of [British India](/source/Presidencies_and_provinces_of_British_India) which was partially derived from the Mughal administrative structure. In modern times, the term ''subah'' is mainly used in [Pakistan](/source/Pakistan), where its four [provinces](/source/provinces) are called "Subah" in the Urdu language. == List of Subahs of the Mughal Empire == === Akbar's original twelve ''subahs'' === The twelve subahs created as a result of the administrative reform by Akbar(Mughal Emperor): {| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; text-align:left" border="1" align="center" !# !Subah !Capital(s) !Year of establishment !Year of disestablishment !Cause of disestablishment |- |1 |[Kabul Subah](/source/Kabul_Subah) ([Kashmir Sarkar](/source/Mughal_Kashmir) added in 1586) |[Kabul](/source/Kabul) | rowspan="4" |1580 |26 November 1738 |Captured by [Nader Shah](/source/Nader_Shah) as a result of the [Battle of Khyber Pass](/source/Battle_of_Khyber_Pass_(1738)) |- |2 |[Lahore Subah](/source/Subah_of_Lahore) |[Lahore](/source/Lahore) |15 September 1758 | rowspan="2" |Captured by [Ahmad Shah Durrani](/source/Ahmad_Shah_Durrani) |- |3 |[Multan Subah](/source/Subah_of_Multan) ([Thatta Sarkar](/source/Thatta_subah) added in 1593) |[Multan](/source/Multan) |1752 |- |4 |[Ajmer Subah](/source/Ajmer_Subah) |[Ajmer](/source/Ajmer) |1758 |Captured by [Jayappaji Rao Scindia](/source/Jayappaji_Rao_Scindia) and [Ram Singh](/source/Ram_Singh_of_Marwar) |- |5 |[Gujarat Subah](/source/Gujarat_Subah) |[Ahmedabad](/source/Ahmedabad) |1573 |February 1758 |Captured by [Damaji Rao Gaekwad](/source/Damaji_Rao_Gaekwad) |- |6 |[Delhi Subah](/source/Subah_of_Delhi) (also known as [Shahjahanabad Subah](/source/Subah_of_Delhi)){{Cite book |last=Sinha |first=Surendra Nath |title=Subah of Allahabad Under the Great Mughals, 1580-1707 |publisher=Jamia Millia Islamia |year=1974 |isbn=9780883866030 |pages=95}} | [Delhi](/source/Old_Delhi) | rowspan="2" |1580 |21 September 1857 |Captured by [George Anson](/source/George_Anson_(British_Army_officer%2C_born_1797)) |- |7 |[Agra Subah](/source/Agra_Subah) |[Agra](/source/Agra) |12 June 1761 |Captured by [Suraj Mal](/source/Suraj_Mal) |- |8 |[Malwa Subah](/source/Malwa_Subah) |[Ujjain](/source/Ujjain) |1568 |24 December 1737 |Captured by [Bajirao I](/source/Bajirao_I) and [Balaji Baji Rao](/source/Balaji_Baji_Rao) |- |9 |[Awadh Subah](/source/Oudh_State) |[Faizabad](/source/Faizabad), later [Lucknow](/source/Lucknow) |1572 |26 January 1722 |Seceded under [Saadat Ali Khan I](/source/Saadat_Ali_Khan_I) |- |10 |[Illahabad Subah](/source/Illahabad_Subah) |[Illahabad](/source/Allahabad) |1580 |1772 |Captured by [Tukoji Rao Holkar](/source/Tukoji_Rao_Holkar) and [Visaji Krushna Biniwale](/source/Visaji_Krushna_Biniwale) |- |11 |[Bihar Subah](/source/Bihar_Subah) |[Patna](/source/Patna) |1576 |1733 |Seceded under [Shuja-ud-Din Muhammad Khan](/source/Shuja-ud-Din_Muhammad_Khan){{cite book | title=Merchants, Politics and Society in Early Modern India: Bihar: 1733-1820 | publisher=Brill | series=Brill's Indological Library | year=2023 | isbn=978-90-04-64474-8 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VuP7EAAAQBAJ }} |- |12 |[Bengal Subah](/source/Bengal_Subah) |Tanda (1574–95)
[Rajmahal](/source/Rajmahal) (1595–1610, 1639–59)
[Dhaka](/source/Dhaka) (1610–1639, 1660–1703)
[Murshidabad](/source/Murshidabad) (1703–72) |12 July 1576 |1717 |Seceded under [Murshid Quli Khan](/source/Murshid_Quli_Khan) |} ===''Subahs'' added after 1596=== The ''subahs'' which added later were (with dates established): {| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; text-align:left" border="1" align="center" !# !Subah !Capital !Year of establishment !Year of disestablishment !Cause of disestablishment !Emperor |- |13 |[Berar Subah](/source/Berar_Subah) |[Ellichpur](/source/Achalpur) |1596 |11 October 1724 |Seceded under [Asaf Jah I](/source/Nizam-ul-Mulk%2C_Asaf_Jah_I) |rowspan="3"|[Akbar](/source/Akbar) |- |14 |[Khandesh Subah](/source/Khandesh) |[Burhanpur](/source/Burhanpur) |17 January 1601 |1760 |Captured by [Balaji Baji Rao](/source/Balaji_Baji_Rao) |- |15 |[Ahmadnagar Subah](/source/Ahmadnagar_Subah)
(renamed [Daulatabad](/source/Daulatabad%2C_Maharashtra) in 1636)
(further renamed [Aurangabad](/source/Aurangabad%2C_Maharashtra)) |[Ahmadnagar](/source/Ahmednagar) (1601–1636)
[Daulatabad](/source/Daulatabad%2C_Maharashtra)
[Aurangabad](/source/Aurangabad%2C_Maharashtra) |July 1600
(conquest completed in June 1636) |1724 |Seceded under [Asaf Jah I](/source/Nizam-ul-Mulk%2C_Asaf_Jah_I) |- |16 |[Orissa Subah](/source/Orissa_Subah) |[Cuttack](/source/Cuttack) |1605 |March 1751 |Captured by [Raghoji Bhonsle I](/source/Raghoji_I_of_Nagpur) | rowspan="1" |[Jahangir](/source/Jahangir) |- |17 |[Thatta Subah](/source/Thatta_Subah) |[Thatta](/source/Thatta) |1629 |1737 |Seceded under [Noor Mohammad Kalhoro](/source/Noor_Mohammad_Kalhoro) |rowspan="7"|[Shah Jahan](/source/Shah_Jahan) |- |18 |[Telangana Subah](/source/History_of_Telangana) |[Nanded](/source/Nanded) |1636 |1657 |Merged into Bidar Subah |- |19 |[Qandahar Subah](/source/Qandahar_Subah) |[Qandahar](/source/Qandahar) |1638 |1648 |Captured by [Abbas II](/source/Abbas_II_of_Persia) |- |20 |[Kashmir Subah](/source/Mughal_Kashmir) |[Srinagar](/source/Srinagar) |1648 |1752 |Captured by [Ahmad Shah Durrani](/source/Ahmad_Shah_Durrani) |- |21 |[Balkh Subah](/source/Balkh_Subah) |[Balkh](/source/Balkh) | rowspan="2" |1646 | rowspan="2" |1647 | rowspan="2" |Captured by [Abd al-Aziz Khan](/source/Abd_al-Aziz_Khan_(Bukhara)) |- |22 |[Badakhshan Subah](/source/Badakhshan_Subah) |[Qunduz](/source/Kunduz) |- |23 |[Bidar Subah](/source/History_of_Bidar) |[Bidar](/source/Bidar) |1656 |11 October 1724 | rowspan="3" |Seceded under [Asaf Jah I](/source/Nizam-ul-Mulk%2C_Asaf_Jah_I) |- |24 |[Bijapur Subah](/source/Bijapur) |[Bijapur](/source/Bijapur) |1684 | rowspan="2" |31 July 1724 |rowspan="4"|[Aurangzeb](/source/Aurangzeb) |- |25 |[Golkonda Subah](/source/Golkonda_Subah) (later Hyderabad) |[Hyderabad](/source/Hyderabad) |12 September 1687 |- |26 |[Sira Subah](/source/Sira_Subah) |[Sira](/source/Sira%2C_Karnataka) |1687 |1766 |Captured by [Madhavrao I](/source/Madhavrao_I) |- |27 |[Arcot Subah](/source/Carnatic_Sultanate) |[Gingee](/source/Gingee) |1692 |1710 |Seceded under [Saadatullah Khan I](/source/Saadatullah_Khan_I) |- |} == Gallery == {{Gallery|title=Subahs of the Mughal Empire|align=center}} center|thumb|Subahs of the Mughal Empire (North India) center|thumb|Subahs of the Mughal Empire (South India) == See also == * [Administrative divisions of India](/source/Administrative_divisions_of_India) * [Subah or Taraf, Pargana or Mahal, Mauza or Pir](/source/Pargana) * [Iqta'](/source/Iqta') == Notes == {{reflist}} == References == * Keay, John (2000). ''India: a History''. Grove Press, New York. * Markovits, Claude (ed.) (2004). ''A History of Modern India: 1480–1950''. Anthem Press, London. == Further reading == * {{cite journal |last1=Foltz |first1=Richard |title=The Mughal Occupation of Balkh 1646–1647 |journal=Journal of Islamic Studies |date=1996 |volume=7 |issue=1 |pages=49–61 |url=https://academic.oup.com/jis/article/7/1/49/737290?searchresult=1|publisher=Oxford University Press|doi=10.1093/jis/7.1.49 |url-access=subscription }} * Category:Subdivisions of the Mughal Empire Category:Types of administrative division Category:Urdu words and phrases --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Subah](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subah) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subah?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.