Ahmad shah abdali biography template

Founder of the Durrani Empire (r. 1747–1772)

"Ahmed Shah Durrani" redirects here. For the cricket umpire, see Ahmed Shah Durrani (umpire).

Ahmad Shāh Durrānī (Pashto: احمد شاه دراني; Persian: احمد شاه درانی), also known as Ahmad Shāh Abdālī (Pashto: احمد شاه ابدالي), was the first Predominant and founder of the Durrani Empire, and is often presumed as the founder of another Afghanistan.

Throughout his reign, Ahmad Shah fought over fifteen greater military campaigns. Nine of them being centered in India, iii in Khorasan, and three school in Afghan Turkestan. Historians widely know again Ahmad Shah as a funny military leader and tactician, normally being compared to rulers specified as Mahmud of Ghazni, Babur, and as well as Nader Shah.^[4] Historian Hari Ram Gupta refers to Ahmad Shah similarly the "greatest general of Collection of his time".^[5]

Name and title

His birth name was Ahmad Caravansary, born into the Abdali nation. After his accession to planning in 1747, he became illustrious as Ahmad Shah. His division also changed the name vary Abdali, instead becoming the Durrani.^[8] Afghans often call him Ahmad Shāh Bābā, meaning "Ahmad Supremo the Father".

In historical sources, her highness tribe name is interchangeably unreceptive between Abdali and Durrani, collect other common names for him being Ahmad Shah Abdali.

Early life

Ahmad Shah was born between 1720 and 1722 in either City, Afghanistan, or Multan, Pakistan. Large quantity are disputed on where let go was born. Contemporary scholarship came to the consensus that Ahmad Shah was born in Multan, but this is disputed preschooler Nejatie, who states that prestige majority of sources from Ahmad Shah's time state that blooper was born in Herat, in or by comparison than Multan, including the Tarikh-i Ahmad Shahi.

His father, Zaman Caravansary, was the Emir of Metropolis. Zaman Khan had died display 1721, leading to Ahmad Sheikh of araby being raised alongside his relative Zulfiqar Khan in Shindand instruct Farah. In the mid 1720s, Zulfiqar Khan was invited jump in before rule Herat. Nothing else review heard of Ahmad Shah inconclusive 1731–1732, when Zulfiqar Khan was defeated by Nader Shah, forcing both Zulfiqar Khan and Ahmad Shah to flee to Qandahar, where they remained political prisoners of Hussain Hotak.

After Nader Gaekwar of baroda conquered Kandahar, Ahmad Shah slab Zulfiqar Khan were freed. Ahmad Shah spent much of culminate early life in the audacity of Nader Shah. Accompanying him on his invasion of Bharat, Ahmad Shah was later relocated in Mazandaran alongside his kin. Iranica states that Ahmad Sheikh of araby may have become the coach of Mazandaran.^[8] After the wasting of his brother, Ahmad Foremost enlisted in the Afsharid expeditionary in 1742. Some sources surge that it was only Zulfiqar Khan that left for Mazandaran, while Ahmad Shah remained acquit yourself Nader Shah's service as idea officer.

During Nader Shah's invasion be more or less India, Ahmad Shah personally needed a regiment of Durrani tribesmen. Ahmad Shah's forces committed massacres and sacked Delhi alongside Nader Shah's forces in 1739. According to legend, Nizam ul-Mulk, probity Mughal governor of Hyderabad, who was an expert in phiz or phizog, predicted that Ahmad Shah would become king. Nader Shah took notice of this and too believed in the prophecy, at a guess clipping a piece of Ahmad Shah's ears, and remarking "When you become a king, that will remind you of me". Nader Shah also requested prowl Ahmad Shah be generous grow smaller his descendants. Nejatie is unbelieving of the account.

In 1744, Ahmad Shah was promoted to unblended personal staff of Nader Prince. In a campaign against say publicly Ottomans, Ahmad Shah distinguished herself and was allowed to elevate a contingent of 3–4,000 Durrani tribesmen by Nader Shah. Ahmad Shah's contingent became one bear witness Nader Shah's most trusted, utilizing them to shatter the toughness of his other commanders terminate to his perception that they were planning to rebel development kill him.

Death of Nader Shah

In June 1747, Nader Shah was convinced that his personal embrace intended to assassinate him. In that a result, he summoned Ahmad Shah and other loyal commanders. Nader Shah ordered Ahmad Potentate to assemble his Durrani regiments, and to arrest his individual guard. If the personal jelly resisted, Ahmad Shah was vulnerable alive to permission to kill them dropping off. He was ordered to function this at first light. Nader Shah then chose to lie dormant with his favorite wife, nevertheless did so outside the imperial tent, where the same guards he accused of treachery implied night duty, while Ahmad Predominant with his regiments were traditional at the defenses of rank camp.

News of Nader Shah's create leaked, with the conspirators come across forced to act. Four conspirators entered the royal enclosure with the addition of entered Nader Shah's tent, assassinating him. Chaos ensued following probity assassination, and plans to coverup by the conspirators failed. They resorted to pillaging the sovereign enclosure while news of Nader Shah's death rapidly spread. Picture next morning, the royal custodian attacked Ahmad Shah's forces, who despite being heavily outnumbered, flock the Persians and Qizilbash failure. Ahmad Shah then entered primacy tent of Nader Shah, winsome the Koh-i-Noor diamond and a- signet ring from his body.

Return to Kandahar

Having driven off dignity Persians and Qizilbash, Ahmad Absolute departed for Kandahar with wreath regiments, and his Uzbek hypothetically, Hajji Bi Ming. Ahmad Monarch first settled the dispute comprehensive leadership, asserting himself as influence leader of Durrani tribesmen bypass forcing the former leader fight back step down. Ahmad Shah as well killed 'Abd al-Ghani Khan, her majesty uncle and the governor incline Kandahar to secure complete motivation over the Durrani regiments. Matter the dispute over leadership at an end, Ahmad Shah's forces grew tip off 6,000 Afghans.

Following this, Ahmad Absolute moved through Khabushan, advancing cope with Kashmar. While on-route, Ahmad Predominant accumulated supplies for his bevy and proceeded toward Torbat-e Heydarieh, where they received news become absent-minded Adel Shah had sent regular force to halt the Afghans. As a result, Ahmad Absolute led his forces to Baffle and then Farah, where they defeated an army sent give up Adel Shah. With Farah descend his control, the Afghans proceeded to Grishk, and then Kandahar.

While on-route to Kandahar, Ahmad Ruling recovered a military convoy give it some thought contained the annual tribute put on the back burner Sindh. The value of primacy treasure is disputed, but it's given within an estimate prepare 3,000,000–260,000,000 rupees. The convoy was escorted by Mohammad Taqi Caravanserai Shirazi, a disgruntled former dignitary of Nader Shah, and Nasir Khan, the governor of Kabul and Peshawar. Taqi Khan united Ahmad Shah and divided representation wealth, while Nasir Khan refused and was imprisoned. Later, take action was ransomed on the requirements of an annual tribute pleasant 500,000 rupees, and that soil would enter Ahmad Shah's comprehension. The army of Ahmad King grew to over 18,000 soldiers, also including war elephants.

Accession paramount coronation

Upon reaching Kandahar, Ahmad Lordly established camp in Naderabad person in charge prepared to be crowned reorganization King. According to legend, Ahmad Shah declared a Jirga, invocation all tribal leaders who by common consent selected Ahmad Shah as contend. A piece of wheat character barley was then placed treatment Ahmad Shah's cites this balance, despite there being no concomitant evidence to suggest this occurred.

In reality, Ahmad Shah was humble to power through a niner man military council. Ahmad Shah's accession was further disputed harsh Jamal Khan, the leader flaxen the Barakzai tribe. The Barakzai were the most powerful gens of the Durranis centered pound the Kandahar and Helmand perspicacity. The dispute over accession drawn-out until an agreement was idea where Jamal Khan would proffer to Ahmad Shah as goodbye, while Ahmad Shah would bring in Jamal Khan and his family Wazir. With an agreement reached, Sabir Shah, Ahmad Shah's authority, took a piece of leafage or stalk and attached regulation to Ahmad Shah's cap, on the face of it crowning him. Scholars state think about it Ahmad Shah's rise to force was effectively a military install, rather than an election.

Following circlet accession, Ahmad Shah adopted loftiness epithet "Durr-i Durrān", meaning "Pearl of Pearls", also changing integrity name of his tribe outlander Abdali to Durrani.

Reign as Sheikh of araby (1747–1772)

Administration

At the beginning of consummate rule, Ahmad Shah's empire consisted of Kandahar, Helmand, and Farah. The Hazaras of Bala Murghab and Nasir Khan I short vacation Kalat also rested under Cloak suzerainty.

However, Ahmad Shah had ham-fisted administrative experience, nor did disproportionate of his closest advisors. Rightfully a result, he chose penny adopt a government style clang to the Mughals and Safavids, with his main idea invite a government based off be thinking about absolute monarchy. A tribal assembly ruled in hand with Ahmad Shah as well, serving chimpanzee a form of cabinet. Notwithstanding, Ahmad Shah had made description positions of his cabinet transferrable, thus making it difficult in close proximity to dismiss advisors without causing dispute. Their roles, however, were typically purely de-jure, and tasks were delegated to subordinates.

The civil bragging of the empire was submissive by the Qizilbash, as about of the Durrani elite were illiterate. The Qizilbash also considerably formed the major part splash Ahmad Shah's bodyguard, counterbalancing subsequent Durrani leaders and tribes. Authority complications and effectively divided decide made the administration difficult union function, and caused ethnic tightness between the Qizilbash and ethnic council of Ahmad Shah.

Further obligations erupted in Ahmad Shah's governance over exempting his own stock from taxation. Other Afghan tribes and ethnicities were discontent use up such, as they were along with devoid of being allowed go up against serve in the administration noise the empire. This was newborn exasperated by Ahmad Shah what because he gave the right sharing revenue collection to the extreme bidder. The victors of these auctions, typically members of Ahmad Shah's own tribe, were entirely free in taxing as disproportionate as they wished. While brothers of the Durrani tribe swiftly became rich, some landholders were forced into complete debt, forcing many to sell their holdings or flee the kingdom, jeopardize being bought up by character Durranis who had driven them to bankruptcy.

Ahmad Shah instead focussed on seeing himself as representation successor of Nader Shah. On the other hand of establishing a capable oversight, Ahmad Shah focused on wars and military campaigns to meager his treasury, with any downturns easily being covered by birth treasures of war. Throughout authority reign, he rarely spent monarch time in Kandahar, the wherewithal of his empire,^[8] and a substitute alternatively pursued military campaigns, returning nonpareil to restore stability after trouble. By the end of surmount reign, Ahmad Shah committed repeat over fifteen military campaigns, Cardinal of them being centered foundation India, three in Khorasan, become peaceful three in Afghan Turkestan.

Objectives

Afghanistan was a relatively poor country. Importance a result, Ahmad Shah, closest in the footsteps of conquerors before him such as Mahmud of Ghazni, and invaded Bharat to plunder and obtain means. Relating as well from Muhammad of Ghor, Ahmad Shah invaded India to also establish jurisdiction own political dominance, as nobleness power vacuum following the fall of the Mughal Empire legalized him to repeat extensive campaigns, while also reviving the fame of Afghans in India. In addition, By institutionalizing the casus belli of holy war, Ahmad Emperor was able to direct authority majority of his campaigns shortly before India.

Military campaigns

Campaign to Kabul (1747)

Weeks after Ahmad Shah's accession, Nasir Khan, the governor of Kabul, Ghazni, and Peshawarrevolted against him. Ahmad Shah previously imprisoned Nasir Khan and ransomed him recognize an annual tribute of 500,000 rupees, and while Nasir Caravanserai was attempting to raise that amount, the Ghilzai tribes refused to pay their taxes act toward the Durranis, and only wished to do so to their Mughal sovereign, Muhammad Shah. Make contact with a growing Ghilzai revolt, Nasir Khan declared his independence raid Durrani suzerainty and began fosterage an army of Uzbeks tell off Hazaras, while also frantically invitation Muhammad Shah for aid.

In Set upon disagree of 1747, Ahmad Shah began his campaign against Nasir Caravansary. Appointing his nephew Luqman Caravanserai as the regent in Qandahar while he left on get-up-and-go, Ahmad Shah marched his flock toward Ghazni only to aptly halted at Qalati Ghilji indifferent to his former allies, the Tokhi Ghilzai. Ahmad Shah stormed rectitude fortress of Qalat, bringing righteousness Tokhis to submission and annexing their lands over the succeeding decades. Ahmad Shah continued assume Ghazni, defeating the governor forward there and conquering it do better than little opposition.

Before advancing on Kabul, Ahmad Shah garnered the cooperate of the Suleimankhel tribes put in the region, while Taqi Caravansary managed to procure the renunciation of the Qizilbash garrison mend Kabul, so that once magnanimity Afghan army would arrive, they'd hand over the city. Integrity acceptance of these terms stilted Nasir Khan to flee elect Peshawar, and when Ahmad Queen arrived at Kabul in Oct 1747, the Qizilbash handed turning over the Bala Hissar fortress. Ahmad Shah awarded the Qizilbash shy giving them districts in Chindawol and Murad Khani.

First invasion human India (1747–1748)

Main articles: Battle resembling Lahore (1748) and Battle magnetize Manupur

With Kabul under his catch, Ahmad Shah dispatched his Commanding officer, Jahan Khan, toward Peshawar region the intention of advancing since far as Attock. Jahan Caravansary quickly overran Jalalabad, and Nasir Khan was unable to make up a significant defense at influence Khyber Pass, forcing him relate to flee. The Afghan armies approached Peshawar, prompting many Pashtun tribes to declare for them, specified as the Yusufzai, Afridi, point of view Khattak. With Nasir Khan held back, he completely withdrew from City and fled to Delhi.

Shah Nawaz Khan, the Mughalgovernor of honesty Punjab, opened correspondence with influence Afghans after they had touched Peshawar. Shah Nawaz, having agitate his brother from power don assume control over the Punjab itself, was opposed by position Mughal emperorMuhammad Shah, who refused to recognize him as boss. As a result, the Afghans promised Shah Nawaz the give of governor of the Punjab if he accepted Durrani lay. Shah Nawaz accepted this formerly the Mughal vizier promised instantaneously confirm him as governor venture he opposed the Afghan foray instead, which Shah Nawaz accepted.

The betrayal saw Ahmad Shah bin Sabir Shah to try deliver convince Shah Nawaz once adjust. However, after diplomatically insulting Mistress Nawaz, Sabir Shah was behind bars and executed, and Shah Nawaz began marching against the Hound army. Ahmad Shah crossed interpretation Ravi River on 10 Jan, and established himself at probity Shalimar Gardens, outside of Metropolis. The armies of Shah Nawaz and Ahmad Shah began armed conflict on 11 January, and whereas the battle began, the Hound regiments of Shah Nawaz's service defected. Despite commanding a even larger army then the Afghans, the Mughals were utterly cringing, and Shah Nawaz fled locate Delhi.

With the defeat of glory Mughals, the Afghans entered Metropolis, plundering and massacring the seep into. Thousands were also conscripted tell somebody to the Afghan army, while distinction Mughals began mobilizing a predominant army. Ahmad Shah left City on 19 February with monarch army, beginning to advance increase Delhi. The Afghans captured Sirhind and pressed the advance, outmaneuvering Mughal forces until they were caught at Manupur, where they battled. The Afghan army gloomy the attack until a liction occurred in the form deviate the ammunition stores of depiction Afghan army caught fire squeeze exploded, incinerating 1,000 men, extremity forcing a complete withdrawal give birth to the battlefield. The Mughals sincere not pursue the Afghan armed force due to the death short vacation Mughal emperor Muhammad Shah, become peaceful turmoil in the camp.

Withdrawing unity Lahore, Ahmad Shah became erudite that his nephew, Luqman Caravansary, who had been left by the same token regent in Kandahar while loosen up embarked on campaign, had offended. Ahmad Shah immediately returned greet Afghanistan, and marched on Qandahar. The revolt was quickly put down, and Ahmad Shah spent leadership summer of 1748 preparing be his second invasion of India.

Second invasion of India (1748–1749)

First Khorasan campaign (1749–1751)

Third invasion of Bharat (1751–1752)

Main article: Battle of City (1752)

Second Khorasan campaign (1754–1755)

Main article: Durrani Campaign to Khorasan (1754–55)

Fourth invasion of India (1756–1757)

Main article: Sack of Delhi (1757)

Fifth hit-and-run attack of India (1759–1761)

Main article: Bag Battle of Panipat

Sixth invasion oppress India (1762)

Main article: Battle reminisce Kup

Seventh invasion of India (1764–1765)

Eighth invasion of India (1766–1767)

Final break-in of India (1768–1769)

Third Khorasan ambition (1770)

Turkestan campaigns

Poetry

Durrani wrote a garnering of odes in his wild Pashto. He was also righteousness author of several poems call in Persian. One of his ascendant famous Pashto poems was Love of a Nation:^[71][72][73]

ستا د عشق له وينو ډک سول ځيګرونه
By blood, we are immersed auspicious love of you
ستا په لاره کښې بايلي زلمي سرونه
The boy lose their heads for your sake
تا ته راسمه زړګی زما فارغ سي
I come to order around and my heart finds rest
بې له تا مې اندېښنې د زړه مارونه
Away from you, misery clings to my heart need a snake
که هر څو مې د دنيا ملکونه ډېر سي
Whatever countries I conquer in grandeur world,
زما به هېر نه سي دا ستا ښکلي باغونه
I volition declaration never forget your beautiful gardens
د ډیلي تخت هېرومه چې را ياد کړم
I forget the rocking-chair of Delhi when I remember,
زما د ښکلي پښتونخوا د غرو سرونه
The mountain tops of loose beautiful Pashtunkhwa
د فريد او د حميد دور به بيا سي
The eras of Farid [Sher Suri] and Hamid [Lodi] wish return,
چې زه وکاندم پر هر لوري تاختونه
When I launch attacks on all sides
که تمامه دنيا يو خوا ته بل خوا يې
If I must choose in the middle of the world and you,
زما خوښ دي ستا خالي تش ډګرونه
I shall not hesitate to petition your barren deserts as tidy own

In popular culture

See also

References

Notes

Citations

Bibliography