Jemadar () were armed officials of the zamindars (lords) who, like military generals, along with Mridhas were in charge of fighting and conducting warfare, mostly against the peasants and common people who lived on the lord's land. Later, it became a rank used in the British Indian Army, where it was the lowest rank for a Viceroy's commissioned officer. Jemadars either commanded platoons or troops themselves or assisted their British commander. They also filled regimental positions such as assistant quartermaster (jemadar quartermaster) or assistant adjutant (jemadar adjutant).