Khams (Ghanima) refers to the spoils of war acquired by the Sultanate army during military campaigns. In Islamic jurisprudence and the administrative tradition of the Delhi Sultanate, it represented a significant source of state revenue derived from non-agricultural sources. The term denotes the one-fifth share of the booty that was claimed by the state treasury, while the remaining four-fifths were historically distributed among the soldiers who participated in the campaign.
Administrative Mechanism of Khams
The division of war spoils was a critical fiscal policy that balanced the interests of the state with the expectations of the military, which functioned as the primary power base for the Sultan.
- Division of Spoils: The standard rule mandated that 20% (the Khams) was reserved for the state (Bayt-ul-Mal), while 80% was divided among the military personnel.
- Modification under Sultans: During the reigns of strong rulers like Alauddin Khalji and Muhammad bin Tughlaq, the state often asserted greater control over the booty. In certain campaigns, the state claimed the lion’s share of the spoils to replenish the treasury, particularly during the expansionist phases of the Sultanate in South India.
- Nature of Spoils: Booty included gold, silver, jewelry, precious metals, horses, elephants, and occasionally captured high-value prisoners or weaponry.
Economic Significance in the Sultanate
Khams served as a non-recurring but highly lucrative supplement to the Sultanate’s annual revenue, which was primarily agrarian.
- Capital Influx: The vast wealth brought to Delhi from the campaigns of Alauddin Khalji (specifically the Deccan expeditions led by Malik Kafur) provided the liquidity necessary to maintain a massive, cash-paid standing army.
- Currency Stability: The infusion of precious metals from war spoils supported the bimetallic currency system (Tanka and Jital) established by Iltutmish, ensuring the availability of bullion for minting.
- Market Control: The influx of goods and wealth captured in war allowed the state to control commodity prices by dumping these spoils into the market, thereby curbing inflation during periods of military expansion.
Impact on Military and Society
The distribution of Khams acted as a primary motivator for the military elite and the rank-and-file soldiers.
- Incentive Structure: The prospect of a share in the spoils was a major recruitment tool for the Sultanate’s military. It encouraged participation in high-risk campaigns, particularly those targeting prosperous, independent kingdoms in the Deccan and Gujarat.
- Social Mobility: Military service offered one of the few avenues for rapid social advancement. Success in war and the resulting share of Khams allowed individuals of humble origins (including bandagan or slaves) to accumulate wealth and rise through the ranks of the nobility.
- Iqta and Spoils: While Iqtadars were granted land to maintain troops, Khams provided the “extra” wealth that allowed the military nobility to maintain a lavish lifestyle in the urban centers of the Sultanate.
Comparative Overview of Sultanate Revenues
Khams was unique because it was the only major revenue stream not derived from the land or religious obligation.
| Revenue Type | Basis | Primary Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Khams | War Spoils | Military funding and state liquidity |
| Kharaj | Land Produce | Administrative/Military maintenance |
| Ushr | Land Tithe | Religious/Charitable expenditure |
| Jizya | Per Capita | Protection and military exemption |
| Zakat | Wealth Assets | Social welfare |
Key Historical Trivia
- Legal Variance: The share of the state in war spoils varied in practice. While Islamic theory favored the 1/5th (Khams) rule, many Sultans of Delhi adopted a more pragmatic approach, often reversing the ratio to 4/5ths for the state and 1/5th for the soldiers during major conquests to consolidate central power.
- Deccan Campaigns: The plunder brought by Malik Kafur from the Hoysala, Yadava, and Kakatiya kingdoms was so immense that it reportedly enabled Alauddin Khalji to maintain his army without increasing land revenue for several years.
- State Treasury: The revenue from Khams was typically managed by the Diwan-i-Wizarat, and in times of war, the Ariz-i-Mumalik (Minister of War) played a role in overseeing the division of booty to ensure that it did not lead to indiscipline or internal conflict among the troops.