What were the ranks and titles in the East India Company?

by EarthMandy

I can find titles such as Governor-General and Chairman, and there are physical embarkation lists available which include ranks and salaries, which I could go to the British Library and dig up, but I'm hoping for a quicker answer! I was wondering if anyone, by any chance, had a comprehensive list of employee titles to hand?! Were there some military and non-military ranks and titles?

vonstroheims_monocle

On the regimental level, commissioned officers ranks were basically the same as those of their British counterparts.

In Native infantry (Sepoy) regiments, there existed a diverse array of non-commissioned ranks- Naik was equivalent to corporal in one of HM's regiments, Havildar equivalent to the rank of Sergeant (distinctions such Havildar-major or Drill Havildar existed, corresponding to equivalent ranks in the British Army).

Two further comissioned ranks, or VCO's, existed, which were unique to the Indian Army. These were the ranks of Jemedar, Subadar, the highest ranks an Indian soldier could achieve within one of the EIC's regiments.

Cavalry regiments had their own unique ranks- Sowar (trooper), Naik (corporal), Daffadar (Sergeant), Jemedar, and Rissaldar (equivalent to Subadar).

The European Regiments had ranks identical to those of the British Army.

Here's a full list of Indian Army ranks and their pay in the year 1863 across the presidencies (Post-EIC, but the ranks remained the same in the regiments after the company's holdings were incorporated into the Raj).

Hope that helps!

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