Qiladar (Urdu: قلعہدار) was a title for the governor of a fort or large town in early modern India.
[2] The title is composed of the Urdu word for fort "Qila", and the suffix "-dar", signifying an occupation.
[3][4] The position of Qiladar was used in the Hindu Maratha Empire as well as northern India.
Most large settlements or strategic forts in the Maratha Empire had a Qiladar.
[5] In the case of Banganapalle, the Mughal-loyal qiladars ruled it as a princely state, which continued during the British Raj, until and after 24 January 1876, when Fath `Ali Khan was granted the higher style Nawab.