Sagol Lanmi refers to the cavalry or horse soldiers of the traditional Meitei army, using Manipuri pony. It was one of the three main divisions of the military, along with Khong Lanmi (infantry) and Hi Lanmi (naval or boat army). The cavalry was considered the most effective and important part of the Meitei military forces.—Devi, Jamini. The Physical Education in the Schools of Manipur. Rai Pravina Private Limited, 1981. —Hodson, T. C. The Meitheis. Government of Eastern Bengal and Assam, 1908. —Indramani, N. Takhel Ngamba. N.I. Publication, 2014. —Sharma, B. Kulachandra. Meiteigi Sha-Lan Phabagi Thouram Khara. Imphal, 1998. —Singh, K. Manikchand. Shang Panabagi Masil. Imphal, 2007. —Singh, L. A. "Sports in Manipur." Perspective on Culture, edited by A. Gupta and P. B. Nandkar, Akansha Publication, 2014. —Singh, M. Boby. Traditional Games of Manipur: A Historical Study. 2023. Manipur University, PhD dissertation. —Singh, N. Ibobi. The Manipur Administration (1709-1907). Horizon Printers, 2003. —Singh, R. K. Sanahal Guneshwar. Meitrabaki Thang Tagi Maron. Imphal, 1981.—Brown, R. Statistical Account of Manipur. Sanskaran Prakashak, 1975. —Hodson, T. C. The Meitheis. Low Price Publications, 2003. —Khelchandra, Ningthoukhongjam, editor. Phamlon. Manipuri Sahitya Parishad, 1987. —Samjetshaba, M. K., editor. Phambal Mashin. Salungpham Kala Memorial Manuscripts Library, 1998. —Sharma, Nandalal. Meitrabak. O K Store, 1960.

Overview

The Sagol Lanmi were known for their speed, skill, and powerful tactics. Meitei cavalrymen were expert horse riders and fighters who could encircle the enemy quickly, confuse them, and force them to surrender. Their fighting style involved moving rapidly in circles, making sudden attacks, and using different weapons with great accuracy.

Meitei horsemen were compared to centaurs—mythical half-man, half-horse beings—because of their close connection with their horses. A horseman could control his horse perfectly and fight while riding, jumping back and forth, and striking without pause.

Weapons and tactics

The Sagol Lanmi were trained to use many weapons, including:

Thang (Sword)

Ta (Spear)

Arambai (poisoned darts thrown while riding)

Lance

Hunnata (Spear to hurl)

Taronta

Timenta

Whip (usually with 5–9 strands)

Their tactic was to circle around the enemy, then suddenly strike, slash, pierce, and block the enemy's attacks. The combination of swift horse movements and weapon skills made the cavalry highly effective in battle. These techniques helped defeat enemies like the Awa (Myanmar/Burma), Khagi (China), Mayang (Bengal), and Takhel (Tripura).

Dress and equipments

The Meitei horse soldier wore:

Pheijom (loincloth/dhoti) tucked up above the knee

Half-sleeved shirt

Greaves (leg armor) and gauntlets (arm guards)

Lanphi (war cloth) worn across the right shoulder

Wooden sandals (Khurum)

Kokyet (headdresses/turban), tied with silk thread under the chin to cover the mouth

A sword was placed on the left waist under the Lanphi. A shield (chungoi) was worn on the chest or left side. On the saddle, quivers full of Arambai darts were placed on both sides. The soldier also carried Taronta, Timenta, and a whip. Before going to battle, the horseman would touch the forehead of the horse in respect, mount it from the left side, and ride into war.

Historical use

Horses were used by the Meitei for military purposes from ancient times. Following kings successfully used cavalry forces in their military campaigns:

Kiyamba

Mungyamba

Khagemba

Garibaniwaj

Bhagyachandra

Chourajit

Marjit

Gambhir Singh

During the reign of Garibaniwaj, Meitei horsemen created fear in the minds of the enemy, especially the Awa soldiers.

The cavalry operated under the Lallup system, a form of organized military service, and was considered a model of discipline and effectiveness.

See also Shamu (Meitei culture) Meitei confederacy Pana (Meitei culture) Meitei martial arts Thang Ta Sarit Sarak Cheibi Meitei traditional weapons Meitei traditional toys Meitei traditional games Meitei royal etiquette Anglo Manipuri Treaty (1762) Manipur Levy Anglo Manipuri Treaty (1833) Agreement Regarding Compensation for the Kubo (Kabaw) Valley (1834) Anglo-Manipur War Ahom–Meitei relations Kuranganayani Meitei people in Assam Induprabha Burmese–Meitei relations Chakpa Makhao Ngambi Seven Years' Devastation (Chahi Taret Khuntakpa) Meitei people in Myanmar Meitei–Shan relations Takhel Ngamba Meitei queens of Tripura Meitei people in Tripura Meitei people in Bangladesh

References