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Ahmad Shah DurraniFounder of the Durrani Empire
Country:
 Afghanistan |
Content:
- The Founder of the Durrani Empire
- Service under Nader Shah Afshar
- Rise to Power
- Unification of Afghanistan
- Territorial Expansion
- Maratha Wars
- Diplomatic Relations
The Founder of the Durrani Empire
Early Life and AncestryAhmad Khan, later known as Ahmad Shah Durrani, was born in Multan, Punjab (present-day Pakistan), in 1722. He belonged to the Sadozai branch of the Durrani Pashtun tribe and was the second son of Muhammad Zaman Khan, the chief of the Abdali clan.
Service under Nader Shah Afshar
In 1738, Ahmad Khan joined the service of the Iranian ruler Nader Shah Afshar. During Nader's military campaigns, he distinguished himself as a talented commander and became one of his generals.
Rise to Power
After Nader Shah's assassination in 1747, Ahmad-shah Durrani rallied the Afghan contingents of the Iranian army and led them back to Afghanistan. In the same year, he was proclaimed Shah of Afghanistan.
Unification of Afghanistan
Ahmad-shah successfully unified the various Afghan tribes under his rule. He secured the loyalty of their leaders through generous subsidies, land grants, and appointments to key government positions.
Territorial Expansion
Ahmad-shah embarked on numerous military campaigns, conquering vast territories in India, Iran, and South Turkestan. Between 1748 and 1754, he seized Punjab, Kashmir, Sirhind, Sindh, Baluchistan, Sistan, Khorasan, and Balkh.
Maratha Wars
In 1761, Ahmad-shah dealt a decisive blow to the Maratha Empire at the Battle of Panipat during the Afghan-Maratha War (1758-61). However, in his later years, he faced less successful conflicts with the Sikhs.
Diplomatic Relations
During Ahmad-shah Durrani's reign, he established the first friendly contacts between Russia and Afghanistan. In 1764, the Russian government sent a mission led by Bogdan Aslanov to negotiate a treaty of mutual friendship with him.
