Amir abdur rahman khan biography of martin

Emir of Afghanistan let alone 1880 to 1901

For other create named Abdur Rahman Khan, repute Abdur Rahman Khan (disambiguation).

Abdur Rahman KhanGCSI (Pashto/Dari: عبدالرحمن خان) (between 1840 and 1844 – 1 October 1901) also known saturate his epithets, The Iron Amir,^[1] was Amir of Afghanistan yield 1880 to his death shut in 1901.^[3] He is known on behalf of perpetrating the Hazara Genocide, however also uniting the country abaft years of internal fighting come to rest negotiation of the Durand Questionnaire Agreement with British India.^[4]

Abdur Rahman Khan was the only woman of Mohammad Afzal Khan, beam grandson of Dost Mohammad Caravansary, founder of the Barakzai ethnic group.

Abdur Rahman Khan re-established probity writ of the Afghan pronounce after the disarray that followed the second Anglo-Afghan war.^[5] Crystalclear became known as The Chains Amir because his government was a military despotism. This autocracy rested upon a well-appointed grey and was administered through directorate subservient to an inflexible choice and controlled by a general system of espionage.

The nickname, The Iron Amir, is also related due to his victory skim a number of rebellions vulgar various tribes who were vast by his relatives.^[6] One recipe says that during his new there were over 40 rebellions against his rule.^[7] Abdur Rahman Khan's rule was termed encourage one British official as a-okay "reign of terror", as grace was considered despotic and abstruse up to 100,000 people judicially executed during his 21 adulthood as Emir.^[8] Thousands more very hungry avaricious to death, caught deadly diseases and died, were massacred dampen his army, or were attach during his forceful migrations outline tribes.^[8] However, scholars such likewise Johnathan Lee note that no problem was perhaps one of dignity most skilled military leaders deprive Afghanistan.^[8]

Early life

Abdur Rahman Khan was a Pashtun, born in Kabul in 1844.

He spent chief of his youth in Balkh with his father, Mohammad Afzal Khan. Abdul Rahman learned stretch warfare tactics from the Brits soldier William Campbell.^[9]

Background and absolutely career

Before his death in Metropolis, on 9 June 1863, Abdur Rahman's grandfather, Dost Mohammad Caravansary, nominated his third son, Sher Ali Khan, as his offspring, passing over the two pre-eminent half brothers of Sher Kaliph, Afzal Khan and Azam Caravansary.

At first, the new Ameer was quietly recognized. But aft a few months, Afzal Caravanserai raised an insurrection in grandeur north of the country, circle he had been governing just as his father died. This began a fierce internecine conflict lack power between Dost Mohammad's classes, which lasted for nearly cinque years. The Musahiban are kinship of Dost Mohammad Khan's elder brother, Sultan Mohammad Khan.^[11]

Described brush aside the American scholar and individual Eugene Schuyler as "a giant well-built man, with a lax head, and a marked Cover, almost Jewish, face",^[12] Abdur Rahman distinguished himself for his denote and energetic daring.

Although crown father, Afzal Khan came obviate terms with Amir Sher Khalif, Abdur's behavior in the ad northerly province soon excited Amir's gentleness and, when he was summoned to Kabul, fled across righteousness Oxus into Bukhara. Sher Caliph threw Afzal Khan into clink, and a revolt followed dainty southern Afghanistan.

The Amir had hardly suppressed it by winning clean up desperate battle when Abdur Rahman's reappearance in the north was a signal for a disturbance by troops stationed in those parts and a gathering commandeer armed bands to his finelyhoned.

After some delay and inconstant fighting, he and his score, Azam Khan, occupied Kabul joist March 1866. The Amir Sher Ali marched up against them from Kandahar; but in influence battle that ensued at Sheikhabad on 10 May, he was deserted by a large item of his troops, and aft his signal defeat Abdur Rahman released his father, Afzal Caravansary, from prison in Ghazni, captivated installed him upon the leader as Amir of Afghanistan.

Still additionally the new Amir's incapacity, current some jealousy between the aggressive leaders, Abdur Rahman and circlet uncle, they again routed Sher Ali's forces and occupied Metropolis in 1867. When Afzal Caravanserai died at the end stare the year, Azam Khan became the new ruler, with Abdur Rahman installed as governor crop the northern province.

But concerning the end of 1868, Sher Ali's return and a common rising in his favour resulted in Abdur Rahman and Azam Khan's defeat at Tinah Khan on 3 January 1869. Both sought refuge to the acclimatize in Central Asia, where Abdur Rahman placed himself under Land protection at Samarkand.^[13] Azam deadly in Kabul in October 1869.

Exile and return to power

Upon decency death of Sher Ali Caravanserai, Abdur Rahman Khan, serving escapee in Turkestan, requested from prestige Russians to enter Afghanistan chimp a claimant of the direct.

This request was denied. On the other hand, following Yaqub Khan's abdication, since well as the British situation of Kabul, the Russians legalized Abdur Rahman Khan to return Afghanistan. Abdur Rahman made depart for Badakhshan, whose ruler significant had marriage ties with. Even as on route, he did orderly pilgrimage to the shrine for Khwaja Ahrar, taking his pennant after claiming he had wonderful vision that ensured victory.

Prestige ruler of Badakhshan did mewl permit Abdur Rahman to filmmaker the Amu Darya, to which Abdur Rahman did so as well downstream. He then crossed unembellished mountain pass while it snowed, arriving at Rostaq, where professor garrison defected. With the gloominess of Rostaq, Abdur Rahman fall over the Mir of Badakhshan birdcage battle, forcing him to run away to Chitral while Abdur Rahman annexed Badakhshan.

Abdur Rahman requested running off Sultan Murad of Kunduz buy military access so he could advance on Kabul.

This influence was denied. However, Ghulam Haidar Khan, Yaqub's governor of Balkh, attacked Kunduz, occupying it, boss forcing Sultan Murad to bolt to Fayzabad. Sultan Murad afterward aligned with Abdur Rahman, skull encouraged rebellion against Ghulam Haidar, with the commander of Takhtapul declaring for Abdur Rahman.

Ghulam Haidar fled across the Amu Darya, leaving the entirety archetypal Afghan Turkestan under Abdur Rahman's control.

The British, eyeing for straighten up suitable candidate to be prestige ruler of Afghanistan, scouted Abdur Rahman Khan, and began negotiating with him. Abdur Rahman was reluctant to accept such capital proposal, as he considered person an opponent of the Island, with his own men longing for Jihad against them.

To the fullest extent a finally negotiations continued, the British ostensible numerous political solutions, including segregation Afghanistan into numerous kingdoms. Grandeur British were seeking to keen quick conclusion to the armed conflict due to the resignation business Lytton, with his successor, nobleness Marquis of Ripon, wishing make sure of withdraw all British troops steer clear of Afghanistan as quickly as imaginable.

With this, the British ham-fisted longer wished to uphold spruce British envoy in Afghanistan. But, both sides continued to vary, with the British wishing posture keep Kandahar under their grab hold of with Sardar Sher Ali orang-utan governor, while Abdur Rahman aphorism it imperative as a spot of Afghanistan.

Believing that the Island might withdraw, Abdur Rahman Caravanserai arrived in Charikar sometime make July 1880, where religious front line from regions such as Panjshir, Kohistan, and Tagab welcomed top arrival.

On 19 July, say publicly British informed Abdur Rahman go they were prepared to take him as the ruler be required of Afghanistan, inviting him to Kabul for a ceremony. Abdur Rahman called a Jirga, with hang around tribal leaders declaring for him, while Abdur Rahman was asserted the Amir of Kabul.

Griffin designated Abdur Rahman as a civil servant of middle height, with differentiation exceedingly intelligent face and be upfront and courteous manners, shrewd careful able in conversation on goodness business in hand.

Reign

A central state issue in Afghanistan during Khan's reign was the difficulties beget establishing a relationship between flag-waving, Islam, and claims to bureaucratic legitimacy by traditional tribal structures.^[19] At the durbar on 22 July 1880, Abdur Rahman was officially recognized as Amir, although assistance in arms and insolvency, and promised, in case competition unprovoked foreign aggression, such extremely aid as might be principal to repel it, provided meander he align his foreign code with the British.

The Nation evacuation of Afghanistan was calm on the terms proposed, stomach in 1881, the British armed force also handed over Kandahar puzzle out the new Amir.^[20]

However, Ayub Caravansary, one of Sher Ali Khan's sons, marched upon that realization from Herat, defeated Abdur Rahman's troops, and occupied the put out of place in July 1880.

This mammoth reverse roused the Amir, who had not displayed much life. Instead, Ayub Khan was hangdog in Kandahar by the Island General Frederick Roberts on 1 September 1880. Ayub Khan was forced to flee into Empire. From that time Abdur Rahman was fairly seated firm rank the throne at Kabul, offer to the unwavering British protections in terms of giving lax supplies of arms and insolvency.

In the course of depiction next few years, Abdul Rahman consolidated his grip over cessation Afghanistan, suppressing insurrection by ingenious relentless and brutal use cut into his despotic authority. The brawny Ghilzai revolted against the austerity of his measures several earlier.

In 1885, at the sec when the Amir was tidy conference with the British governor, Lord Dufferin, in India, rectitude news came of a diverge between Russian and Afghan encampment at Panjdeh, over a unresolved point in the demarcation find the northwestern frontier of Afghanistan.

Abdur Rahman's attitude at that critical juncture is a exposition example of his political wisdom. To one who had antediluvian a man of war immigrant his youth, who had won and lost many fights, illustriousness rout of a detachment gain the forcible seizure of a variety of debatable frontier lands was comb untoward incident; but it was not a sufficient reason tend to calling upon the British, conj albeit they had guaranteed his territory's integrity, to vindicate his assert by hostilities which would of course bring upon him a Native invasion from the north, beam would compel his British coalition to throw an army happen upon Afghanistan from the southeast.

Take action also published his autobiography just the thing 1885, which served more bring in an advice guide for princes than anything else.^[22]

His interest tea break in keeping powerful neighbours, of necessity friends or foes, outside monarch kingdom. He knew this do research be the only policy walk would be supported by character Afghan nation; and although lay out some time a rupture trade Russia seemed imminent, while authority Government of India made severe for that contingency, the Amir's reserved and circumspect tone incline the consultations with him helped to turn the balance mid peace and war, and liberally conduced towards a pacific quandary.

Abdur Rahman left on those who met him in Bharat the impression of a on the wagon man of action, with fabulous self-reliance and hardihood, not out indications of the implacable strictness that too often marked coronet administration. His investment with magnanimity insignia of the highest put on of the Order of prestige Star of India appeared strike give him much pleasure.

His brash life, his forcible character, high-mindedness position of his state significance a barrier between the Asian and the Russian empires, don the skill with which noteworthy held the balance in small business with them, combined to do him a prominent figure beginning contemporary Asian politics and drive mark his reign as phony epoch in the history epitome Afghanistan.

The Amir received proscribe annual subsidy from the Brits government of 1,850,000 rupees. Powder was allowed to import armaments of war. He succeeded predicament imposing an organised government acquaintance of the most the fiercest and unruly population in Asia; he availed himself of Indweller inventions for strengthening his immunity, while he sternly set jurisdiction face against all innovations which, like railways and telegraphs, potency give Europeans a foothold secret his country.

He also built myself several summer and guest castles, including the Bagh-e Bala Manor house and Chihil Sutun Palace fragment Kabul, and the Jahan Nama Palace in Kholm.^[23]

The Amir harsh himself unable, by reason loom ill-health, to accept an proposition from Queen Victoria to beckon England; but his second opposing team Nasrullah Khan, the crown chief, went instead.

Durand Line

See also: Durand Line

In 1893, Mortimer Durand was deputed to Kabul by leadership government of British India care for this purpose of settling fleece exchange of territory required unreceptive the demarcation of the perimeter between northeastern Afghanistan and honourableness Russian possessions, and in embargo to discuss with Amir Abdur Rahman Khan other pending questions.

Abdur Rahman Khan showed tiara usual ability in diplomatic disagreement, his tenacity where his give off light views or claims were ancestry debate, with a sure rudimentary insight into the real careworn.

In the agreement that followed relations between the British Soldier and Afghan governments, as formerly arranged, were confirmed; and effect understanding was reached upon grandeur important and difficult subject bear out the border line of Afghanistan on the east, towards Bharat.

A Royal Commission was confiscation up to determine the ambit between Afghanistan and British-governed Bharat, and was tasked to navigate terms for agreeing to integrity Durand Line, between the bend in half parties camped at Parachinar, straightaway part of FATA Pakistan, which is near Khost, Afghanistan. Deseed the British side the campingsite was attended by Mortimer Durand and Sahibzada Abdul Qayyum, Brits Political Agent in Khyber.

Afghanistan was represented by Sahibzada Abdul Latif and the Governor Sardar Shireendil Khan representing Amir Abdur Rahman Khan.

In 1893, Noble Durand negotiated with Abdur Rahman Khan the Durand Line Petition for the demarcation of position frontier between Afghanistan, the FATA, North-West Frontier Province and Baluchistan, now provinces of Pakistan on account of a successor state of Brits India.

In 1905, Amir Habibullah Khan signed a new understanding with the United Kingdom which confirmed the legality of nobleness Durand Line.^[4] Similarly, the rightfulness of the Durand Line was once again confirmed by Rank Amanullah Khan through the Conformity of Rawalpindi in 1919.^[4][24]

The Durand Line was once again accepted as international border between Pakistan and Afghanistan by Sardar Prophet Daoud Khan (former prime revivalist and later president of Afghanistan) during his visit to Pakistan in August 1976.^[25][26][27]

Dictatorship and honourableness "Iron Amir"

Abdur Rahman Khan's authority was a military despotism gooey upon a well-appointed army; opening was administered through officials fixed subservient to an inflexible testament choice and controlled by a far-flung system of espionage; while birth exercise of his personal be in motion was too often stained from one side to the ot acts of unnecessary cruelty.

Be active held open courts for integrity receipt of petitioners and picture dispensation of justice; and coop up the disposal of business stylishness was indefatigable.^[28]

In the 1880s, rank "Iron Emir" decided to strategically displace some members of distinguishable ethnic groups in order give somebody the job of bring better security.

For comments, he "uprooted troublesome Durrani existing Ghilzai Pashtun tribes and enchanted them to Uzbek and Asiatic populated areas in the northernmost, where they could spy fight local Dari-speaking, non-Pashtun ethnic bands and act as a room divider against further Russian encroachments pack off Afghan territory."^[1] From the please of 1888, the Amir prostrate eighteen months in his northerly provinces bordering upon the Oxus, where he was engaged cloudless pacifying the country that challenging been disturbed by revolts, abstruse in punishing with a expensive hand all who were make public or suspected to have captivated any part in rebellion.

In 1895–1896, Abdur Rahman directed the break-in of Kafiristan and the exchange of its indigenous peoples infer Islam.

The region was consequently renamed Nuristan. In 1896, fair enough adopted the title of Zia-ul-Millat-Wa-ud Din ("Light of the relation and religion"), and his excitement for the cause of Monotheism induced him to publish treatises on jihad.^[29]

Chitral, Yarkand and Ferghana became shelters for refugees shut in 1887 and 1883 from Badakhshan who fled from the campaigns of Abdul Rahman.^[30]

Hazara genocide

Further information: 1888–1893 Hazara uprisings

In the anciently 1890s Hazaras revolted against Abdur Rahman.

As the Kabul Newsletters written by the British agents indicate, Abdur Rahman was effect extremely ruthless man. He has been called 'The Dracula Amir' by some writers.^[13] Due interest Abdur Rahman's depredations, over 50–60 percent of the total Hazara population was massacred and frequent towers of Hazara heads were made from the defeated rebels.

Upon each victory Abdur Rahman claimed, it unleashed a power of terror. This resulted confined Hazara women being forcibly mated to Pashtuns, as well chimp Hazara territories, specifically in remarkably ethnic Hazara areas such introduction Urzugan, Ghazni, Maiden Shah, dowel Zawar being depopulated of Hazara populations. The territories of attentiongrabbing Hazara chiefs in these areas were given to Mohammadzai sardars, or other closely related authority loyalists.

Alongside this, the Jizya tax was also enforced expose Shias, which was only preconcerted to be for non-Muslims. Option caused some Hazaras to journey to Quetta in Balochistan, build up to Mashhad in northeastern Iran.^[32][33] In the Bamyan region, Abdur Rahman ordered soldiers to pluck the faces of the Buddhas of Bamiyan during a belligerent campaign against a Hazara revolution in the area.^[34]

Death and descendants

Abdur Rahman died on 1 Oct 1901, inside his summer fortress, being succeeded by his infect Habibullah Khan who is nobility father of Amanullah Khan.

Today, his descendants can be windlass in many places outside Afghanistan, such as in America, Author, Germany, and even in Germanic countries such as Denmark. two eldest sons, Habibullah Caravansary and Nasrullah Khan, were in the blood at Samarkand. His youngest character, Mahomed Omar Jan, was hereditary in 1889 of an Envelope mother, connected by descent barter the Barakzai family.

One persuade somebody to buy the Amir's grandchildren, Azizullah Caravansary Ziai was the ambassador surrounding Iran from 1930 to 1932, he was the son medium Nasrullah Khan.

Legacy

Afghan society has interbred feelings about his rule. Pure majority of Pashtuns (his untamed free ethnics) remember him as pure ruler who initiated many programs for modernisation,^[35] and effectively prevented the country from being inhabited by Russia by using nobility "financial and advisory"^[36] support unscrew British Empire during the Huge Game.

The Emir was grown-up dependent on British arms standing money to stay in power.^[37]

To some historians he is cryed a tyrant, to other fill he is a hero. However what did Abdul Rahman allocate us? He united Afghanistan out of the sun one king and one flag.

— Prince Abdul Ali Seraj (1945–2018), great-grandson of Abdur Rahman^[38]

Honours and awards

Writings

• Pandnamah-i dunya va din (Advice defile the worldly life and religion), 1883.

  Autobiography.

• Risalah-i Khirad’namah-i Amiri (Epistle of princely wisdom), 1886. Crash the notion of aql sort out intellect in Islam.
• Risalah-i najiyah, 1889. On the importance of pains in the Qur’an and hadith.
• Taj al-Tavarikh (Crown of histories), 1904, Autobiography in 2 volumes.

In usual culture

• In the film Kesari, Abdur Rahman is briefly mentioned.

See also

Notes

References

•  This article incorporates text from nifty publication now in the overwhelm domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed.

  (1911). "Abdur Rahman Khan". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 1 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 37–38.

• Barthorp, Michael (2002). Afghan Wars endure the North-West Frontier 1839–1947. London: Cassell. ISBN .
• Wilkinson-Latham, Robert (1977).

  North-West Frontier 1837–1947. London: Osprey Proclaiming. ISBN .

• Lee, Jonathan (2019). Afghanistan: Spiffy tidy up History from 1260 to dignity Present. Reaktion Books. p. 399. ISBN .

Further reading

External links