Sher Dil Khan
| Sher Dil Khan شېردل خان | |
|---|---|
| Sardar | |
Portrait of Sher Dil Khan | |
| Sardar of Kandahar | |
| Reign | September 1818 – 9 August 1826 |
| Predecessor | Office established (Mahmud Shah Durrani as Shah of the Durrani Empire) |
| Successor | Pur Dil Khan |
| Born | 1786 Kandahar, Durrani Empire |
| Died | 9 August 1826 (aged 39–40) Shikarpur, Talpur Sindh |
| Spouse | a Barakzai lady |
| Issue | 2 sons
|
| Dynasty | Barakzai dynasty |
| Father | Payandah Khan |
| Mother | an Idu Khel Hotak lady |
| Military career | |
| Conflicts | Battle of Kafir Qala Afghan Civil War (1793–1823) |
Sher Dil Khan Barakzai[a] (1786 – 9 August 1826) was the first Sardar and founder of the Principality of Kandahar,[1] who ruled from August 1818 until his death on 9 August 1826.[2]
Early life
Sher Dil was born in Kandahar into a Barakzai Pashtun family, to his father Payandah Khan, and to an Idu Khel Hotak Pashtun mother, alongside his full-brothers, also known as the 'Dil Brothers': Pur Dil Khan, Kohan Dil Khan, Rahim Dil Khan and Mehr Dil Khan.[3]
Career
To avenge Payandah Khan's execution by Zaman Shah Durrani in 1800, Sher Dil's elder uterine brother and head of the Barakzai tribe, Fateh Ali Khan pledged allegiance to Mahmud Shah Durrani during his visit to Persia, and engineered the blinding of Zaman Shah to overthrow him. This united all half-brothers and sons of Payandah Khan to support one another, and to partake in overthrowing Zaman Shah, to which Mahmud Shah was installed to the throne on 25 July 1801.[4]
During the restoration of Mahmud Shah Durrani, Sher Dil was appointed as the Governor of Ghazni, while his brothers were appointed to be governors of different cities.[5]
In the Battle of Kafir Qala, Sher Dil led a coalition consisting of Sistani, Firozkohi and Jamshidi cavalries against the Persian Army on Fateh Ali's right wing.[6]
Reign
After Kamran Mirza Durrani executed Fateh Ali Khan in jealousy, the Barakzai half-brothers united again, in order to avenge his death by deposing Kamran's father, Mahmud Shah Durrani. The Barakzai brothers got their own share of land, whereas the Durranis were deposed to Herat.
In 1818, the Dil brothers seized Kandahar and its surroundings, and declared independence. Sher Dil Khan was in charge of the military in the principality.[7]
During the Herati Civil War, Sher Dil Khan led an army against the Herat under Mahmud Shah Durrani. Initially being successful, Sher Dil returned to Kandahar after hearing of Mohammad Azim Khan's death.[8]
Death
Sher Dil died on 9 August 1826 during an expedition to Sindh.
References
Notes
Citations
- ^ Samaddar 2002, p. 46.
- ^ Lee 2018, p. 180.
- ^ Hazarah, McChesney & Khorrami 2013, p. 176.
- ^ Lee 2018, p. 162.
- ^ Lee 2018, p. 176.
- ^ Hazarah, McChesney & Khorrami 2013, pp. 156–157.
- ^ Noelle, Christine (25 June 2012). State and Tribe in Nineteenth-Century Afghanistan: The Reign of Amir Dost Muhammad Khan (1826-1863). Routledge. ISBN 978-1-136-60317-4.
- ^ Hazarah, McChesney & Khorrami 2013, pp. 175.
Sources
- Samaddar, Ranabir (2002). Space, Territory, and the State: New Readings in International Politics. Orient Blackswan. ISBN 978-81-250-2209-1.
- Lee, Jonathan L. (2018). Afghanistan: A History from 1260 to the Present. Reaktion Books. ISBN 9781789140194.
- Hazarah, Fayz Mohammad Katib; McChesney, Robert Duncan; Khorrami, Mohammad Mehdi (2013). The History of Afghanistan: Fayż Muḥammad Kātib Hazārah's Sirāj al-Tawārīkh. Brill. ISBN 9789004234970.