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 Gaekwar of baroda and founder of the Durrani Empire, and is often thought as the founder of current Afghanistan.

Throughout his reign, Ahmad Shah fought over fifteen higher ranking military campaigns. Nine of them being centered in India, twosome in Khorasan, and three start Afghan Turkestan. Historians widely confirm Ahmad Shah as a gay military leader and tactician, usually being compared to rulers much as Mahmud of Ghazni, Babur, and as well as Nader Shah.^[4] Historian Hari Ram Gupta refers to Ahmad Shah whilst the "greatest general of Collection of his time".^[5]

Name and title

His birth name was Ahmad Caravansary, born into the Abdali caste.

After his accession to nation-state in 1747, he became publicize as Ahmad Shah. His race also changed the name chomp through Abdali, instead becoming the Durrani.^[8] Afghans often call him Ahmad Shāh Bābā, meaning "Ahmad Monarch the Father".

In historical sources, consummate tribe name is interchangeably castoff between Abdali and Durrani, shrivel 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.

Store are disputed on where unwind was born. Contemporary scholarship came to the consensus that Ahmad Shah was born in Multan, but this is disputed make wet Nejatie, who states that excellence majority of sources from Ahmad Shah's time state that sand was born in Herat, comparatively than Multan, including the Tarikh-i Ahmad Shahi.

His father, Zaman Caravansary, was the Emir of City.

Zaman Khan had died lid 1721, leading to Ahmad Princess being raised alongside his friar Zulfiqar Khan in Shindand status Farah. In the mid 1720s, Zulfiqar Khan was invited want rule Herat. Nothing else hype heard of Ahmad Shah hanging fire 1731–1732, when Zulfiqar Khan was defeated by Nader Shah, forcing both Zulfiqar Khan and Ahmad Shah to flee to City, where they remained political prisoners of Hussain Hotak.

After Nader Kingly conquered Kandahar, Ahmad Shah stomach Zulfiqar Khan were freed.

Ahmad Shah spent much of coronate early life in the boasting of Nader Shah. Accompanying him on his invasion of Bharat, Ahmad Shah was later settled in Mazandaran alongside his fellow. Iranica states that Ahmad Regnant may have become the master of Mazandaran.^[8] After the fixate of his brother, Ahmad Ranking enlisted in the Afsharid bellicose in 1742.

Some sources stream that it was only Zulfiqar Khan that left for Mazandaran, while Ahmad Shah remained stop in midsentence Nader Shah's service as blueprint officer.

During Nader Shah's invasion salary India, Ahmad Shah personally compulsory 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, depiction 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 along with believed in the prophecy, ostensibly 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 delay Ahmad Shah be generous concluded his descendants. Nejatie is sceptical of the account.

In 1744, Ahmad Shah was promoted to simple personal staff of Nader Predominant. In a campaign against authority Ottomans, Ahmad Shah distinguished person and was allowed to hoist a contingent of 3–4,000 Durrani tribesmen by Nader Shah.

Ahmad Shah's contingent became one waning Nader Shah's most trusted, utilizing them to shatter the column of his other commanders straight to his perception that they were planning to rebel assortment kill him.

Death of Nader Shah

In June 1747, Nader Shah was convinced that his personal sphere intended to assassinate him.

Laugh a result, he summoned Ahmad Shah and other loyal commanders. Nader Shah ordered Ahmad Lordly to assemble his Durrani regiments, and to arrest his lonely guard. If the personal marmalade resisted, Ahmad Shah was stated permission to kill them recurrent. He was ordered to application this at first light.

Nader Shah then chose to nap with his favorite wife, however did so outside the imperial tent, where the same guards he accused of treachery implied night duty, while Ahmad Nizam of hyderabad with his regiments were long-established at the defenses of rectitude camp.

News of Nader Shah's invent leaked, with the conspirators duration forced to act.

Four conspirators entered the royal enclosure countryside entered Nader Shah's tent, assassinating him. Chaos ensued following illustriousness assassination, and plans to coverup by the conspirators failed. They resorted to pillaging the princely enclosure while news of Nader Shah's death rapidly spread. High-mindedness next morning, the royal marmalade attacked Ahmad Shah's forces, who despite being heavily outnumbered, collection the Persians and Qizilbash ensue.

Ahmad Shah then entered dignity tent of Nader Shah, engaging the Koh-i-Noor diamond and a-okay signet ring from his body.

Return to Kandahar

Having driven off rectitude Persians and Qizilbash, Ahmad Nizam of hyderabad departed for Kandahar with regiments, and his Uzbek analyze, Hajji Bi Ming. Ahmad Sultan first settled the dispute delineate leadership, asserting himself as rendering leader of Durrani tribesmen bid forcing the former leader form step down.

Ahmad Shah additionally killed 'Abd al-Ghani Khan, climax uncle and the governor obey Kandahar to secure complete spirit over the Durrani regiments. To the dispute over leadership terminated, Ahmad Shah's forces grew scan 6,000 Afghans.

Following this, Ahmad Princess moved through Khabushan, advancing augment Kashmar. While on-route, Ahmad Monarch accumulated supplies for his swarm and proceeded toward Torbat-e Heydarieh, where they received news drift Adel Shah had sent nifty force to halt the Afghans.

As a result, Ahmad Sovereign led his forces to Astonishment and then Farah, where they defeated an army sent from end to end of Adel Shah. With Farah be submerged his control, the Afghans proceeded to Grishk, and then Kandahar.

While on-route to Kandahar, Ahmad Ruling recovered a military convoy lose one\'s train of thought contained the annual tribute differ Sindh.

The value of greatness treasure is disputed, but it's given within an estimate sponsor 3,000,000–260,000,000 rupees. The convoy was escorted by Mohammad Taqi Caravanserai Shirazi, a disgruntled former officebearer of Nader Shah, and Nasir Khan, the governor of Kabul and Peshawar. Taqi Khan linked Ahmad Shah and divided prestige wealth, while Nasir Khan refused and was imprisoned.

Later, good taste was ransomed on the union of an annual tribute scrupulous 500,000 rupees, and that loosen up would enter Ahmad Shah's embrace. The army of Ahmad Sultan grew to over 18,000 joe public, also including war elephants.

Accession countryside coronation

Upon reaching Kandahar, Ahmad Gaekwar of baroda established camp in Naderabad significant prepared to be crowned rightfully King.

According to legend, Ahmad Shah declared a Jirga, summon all tribal leaders who nem co selected Ahmad Shah as smart. A piece of wheat junior barley was then placed nationstate Ahmad Shah's cites this tally, despite there being no contemporaneous evidence to suggest this occurred.

In reality, Ahmad Shah was helpless to power through a digit man military council.

Ahmad Shah's accession was further disputed descendant Jamal Khan, the leader assert the Barakzai tribe. The Barakzai were the most powerful tribe of the Durranis centered twist the Kandahar and Helmand nadir thoroughly. The dispute over accession protracted until an agreement was prefab where Jamal Khan would haemorrhage to Ahmad Shah as contend, while Ahmad Shah would power Jamal Khan and his consanguinity Wazir.

With an agreement reached, Sabir Shah, Ahmad Shah's counsellor, took a piece of verdure or stalk and attached practice to Ahmad Shah's cap, apparently crowning him. Scholars state give it some thought Ahmad Shah's rise to summit was effectively a military masterstroke, rather than an election.

Following tiara accession, Ahmad Shah adopted loftiness epithet "Durr-i Durrān", meaning "Pearl of Pearls", also changing interpretation name of his tribe stick up Abdali to Durrani.

Reign as Emperor (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 always Kalat also rested under Rug carpet suzerainty.

However, Ahmad Shah had maladroit thumbs down d administrative experience, nor did luxurious of his closest advisors. Importance a result, he chose tutorial adopt a government style be like to the Mughals and Safavids, with his main idea curst a government based off swindler absolute monarchy.

A tribal convention ruled in hand with Ahmad Shah as well, serving in that a form of cabinet. Regardless, Ahmad Shah had made rectitude positions of his cabinet inherited, thus making it difficult satisfy dismiss advisors without causing instability. Their roles, however, were habitually purely de-jure, and tasks were delegated to subordinates.

The civil instigate of the empire was hag-ridden by the Qizilbash, as chief of the Durrani elite were illiterate.

The Qizilbash also radically formed the major part be in command of Ahmad Shah's bodyguard, counterbalancing another Durrani leaders and tribes. Rectitude complications and effectively divided administration made the administration difficult build up function, and caused ethnic urgency between the Qizilbash and genetic council of Ahmad Shah.

Further strings erupted in Ahmad Shah's management over exempting his own dynasty from taxation.

Other Afghan tribes and ethnicities were discontent outlander such, as they were besides devoid of being allowed endure serve in the administration make merry the empire. This was mint exasperated by Ahmad Shah during the time that he gave the right reproach revenue collection to the first bidder. The victors of these auctions, typically members of Ahmad Shah's own tribe, were tick free in taxing as wellknown as they wished.

While workers of the Durrani tribe hurriedly became rich, some landholders were forced into complete debt, forcing many to sell their holdings or flee the kingdom, feasible being bought up by high-mindedness Durranis who had driven them to bankruptcy.

Ahmad Shah instead closely on seeing himself as loftiness successor of Nader Shah.

In lieu of of establishing a capable state, Ahmad Shah focused on wars and military campaigns to tools his treasury, with any downturns easily being covered by representation treasures of war. Throughout rule reign, he rarely spent time in Kandahar, the essentials of his empire,^[8] and if not pursued military campaigns, returning solitary to restore stability after turmoil.

By the end of climax reign, Ahmad Shah committed happen next over fifteen military campaigns, Cardinal of them being centered overfull India, three in Khorasan, mount three in Afghan Turkestan.

Objectives

Afghanistan was a relatively poor country. Sort a result, Ahmad Shah, succeeding 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 enthrone own political dominance, as rendering power vacuum following the aggravate of the Mughal Empire lawful him to repeat extensive campaigns, while also reviving the fame of Afghans in India. Into the bargain, By institutionalizing the casus belli of holy war, Ahmad King was able to direct significance majority of his campaigns abide 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 shadow 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 deal with the Durranis, and only wished to do so to their Mughal sovereign, Muhammad Shah.

Butt a growing Ghilzai revolt, Nasir Khan declared his independence foreigner Durrani suzerainty and began tending an army of Uzbeks point of view Hazaras, while also frantically begging Muhammad Shah for aid.

In Assail of 1747, Ahmad Shah began his campaign against Nasir Caravansary. Appointing his nephew Luqman Caravanserai as the regent in City while he left on appeal, Ahmad Shah marched his bevy toward Ghazni only to get into halted at Qalati Ghilji give up his former allies, the Tokhi Ghilzai.

Ahmad Shah stormed leadership fortress of Qalat, bringing nobility Tokhis to submission and annexing their lands over the succeeding decades. Ahmad Shah continued put the finishing touches to Ghazni, defeating the governor legitimate there and conquering it criticism little opposition.

Before advancing on Kabul, Ahmad Shah garnered the sponsorship of the Suleimankhel tribes infringe the region, while Taqi Caravansary managed to procure the revolt of the Qizilbash garrison reap Kabul, so that once significance Afghan army would arrive, they'd hand over the city.

Grandeur acceptance of these terms smallest Nasir Khan to flee beat Peshawar, and when Ahmad Ruling arrived at Kabul in Oct 1747, the Qizilbash handed aid the Bala Hissar fortress. Ahmad Shah awarded the Qizilbash infant giving them districts in Chindawol and Murad Khani.

First invasion grow mouldy India (1747–1748)

Main articles: Battle heed Lahore (1748) and Battle model Manupur

With Kabul under his lock up, Ahmad Shah dispatched his Captain, Jahan Khan, toward Peshawar revive the intention of advancing chimpanzee far as Attock.

Jahan Caravanserai quickly overran Jalalabad, and Nasir Khan was unable to bring into being a significant defense at rendering Khyber Pass, forcing him comprise flee. The Afghan armies approached Peshawar, prompting many Pashtun tribes to declare for them, much as the Yusufzai, Afridi, vital Khattak. With Nasir Khan disappointed, he completely withdrew from City and fled to Delhi.

Shah Nawaz Khan, the Mughalgovernor of distinction Punjab, opened correspondence with excellence Afghans after they had sham Peshawar.

Shah Nawaz, having overthrow his brother from power confess assume control over the Punjab itself, was opposed by class Mughal emperorMuhammad Shah, who refused to recognize him as guardian. As a result, the Afghans promised Shah Nawaz the perpendicular of governor of the Punjab if he accepted Durrani clutches.

Shah Nawaz accepted this earlier the Mughal vizier promised delay confirm him as governor granting he opposed the Afghan raid instead, which Shah Nawaz accepted.

The betrayal saw Ahmad Shah post Sabir Shah to try increase in intensity convince Shah Nawaz once restore. However, after diplomatically insulting Principal Nawaz, Sabir Shah was jailed and executed, and Shah Nawaz began marching against the Envelope army.

Ahmad Shah crossed nobility Ravi River on 10 Jan, and established himself at depiction Shalimar Gardens, outside of City. The armies of Shah Nawaz and Ahmad Shah began difference on 11 January, and sort the battle began, the Cover regiments of Shah Nawaz's swarm defected. Despite commanding a all the more larger army then the Afghans, the Mughals were utterly browbeaten, and Shah Nawaz fled union Delhi.

With the defeat of prestige Mughals, the Afghans entered Metropolis, plundering and massacring the give.

Thousands were also conscripted bounce the Afghan army, while class Mughals began mobilizing a improved army. Ahmad Shah left City on 19 February with monarch army, beginning to advance devious Delhi. The Afghans captured Sirhind and pressed the advance, outmaneuvering Mughal forces until they were caught at Manupur, where they battled.

The Afghan army crazed the attack until a liction occurred in the form dump the ammunition stores of distinction Afghan army caught fire concentrate on exploded, incinerating 1,000 men, stake forcing a complete withdrawal steer clear of the battlefield. The Mughals exact not pursue the Afghan drove due to the death criticize Mughal emperor Muhammad Shah, mushroom turmoil in the camp.

Withdrawing on every side Lahore, Ahmad Shah became informed that his nephew, Luqman Caravansary, who had been left primate regent in Kandahar while be active embarked on campaign, had carsick.

Ahmad Shah immediately returned defer to Afghanistan, and marched on Metropolis. The revolt was quickly quenched, and Ahmad Shah spent interpretation summer of 1748 preparing supply 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 descent of India (1759–1761)

Main article: Position Battle of Panipat

Sixth invasion motionless India (1762)

Main article: Battle make a fuss over Kup

Seventh invasion of India (1764–1765)

Eighth invasion of India (1766–1767)

Final incursion of India (1768–1769)

Third Khorasan offensive (1770)

Turkestan campaigns

Poetry

Durrani wrote a plenty of odes in his natal Pashto.

He was also interpretation author of several poems hill Persian. One of his maximum famous Pashto poems was Love of a Nation:^[71][72][73]

ستا د عشق له وينو ډک سول ځيګرونه
By blood, we are immersed guarantee love of you
ستا په لاره کښې بايلي زلمي سرونه
The boyhood lose their heads for your sake
تا ته راسمه زړګی زما فارغ سي
I come to prickly and my heart finds rest
بې له تا مې اندېښنې د زړه مارونه
Away from you, agitation clings to my heart identical a snake
که هر څو مې د دنيا ملکونه ډېر سي
Whatever countries I conquer in picture world,
زما به هېر نه سي دا ستا ښکلي باغونه
I decision never forget your beautiful gardens
د ډیلي تخت هېرومه چې را ياد کړم
I forget the run of Delhi when I remember,
زما د ښکلي پښتونخوا د غرو سرونه
The mountain tops of clean up beautiful Pashtunkhwa
د فريد او د حميد دور به بيا سي
The eras of Farid [Sher Potentate Suri] and Hamid [Lodi] discretion 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 amidst the world and you,
زما خوښ دي ستا خالي تش ډګرونه
I shall not hesitate to retrieve your barren deserts as ill at ease own

In popular culture

See also

References

Notes

Citations

Bibliography