Zamindars of Bihar

The Zamindars of Bihar were the autonomous rulers and administrators of the Bihar Subah during Mughal rule and later during British rule. They formed the landed aristocracy that lasted until Indian independence in 1947. The zamindars of Bihar were numerous and could be divided into small, medium and large depending on how much land they controlled. Within Bihar, the zamindars had both economic and military power. Each zamindari would have its own standing army which was typically composed of the zamindar's own clansmen.

The majority of these zamindars usually belonged to Hindu communities such as Bhumihars, Rajputs, Brahmins, Kayasthas or Muslims.