Institution

Sardar

Also known as sardars

Sardar is a Persian-derived title meaning chief or commander, used in South Asia for nobles, military leaders and heads of armed bands. In the Maratha Empire, sardars were noble chieftains who commanded troops, governed provinces and enjoyed considerable autonomy. The title was also used by Sikh chiefs, and accounts of the Sikh Empire refer to sardars in the period of its decline.

Sardar
Image: Unknown author · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Mentioned in 3 profiles

Maratha EmpireSocioeconomySikh EmpireDeclineUnited State of RajasthanMilitary

Mentioned in 4 state histories

Erivan KhanateBuria StateThanesar StatePrincipality of Kandahar

See also

Cite this entry
APA
The Epoch Institute. (2026). Sardar. In The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/sardar
MLA
“Sardar.” The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/sardar. Accessed .
Chicago
The Epoch Institute. “Sardar.” The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/sardar.
Harvard
The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘Sardar’, The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/sardar (Accessed: ).

Last reviewed October 2026Random entry ↻