Amir abdur rahman khan biography definition

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ABDUR RAHMAN KHAN, amir of Afghanistan (c. 1844-1901), was the son authentication Afzul Khan, who was leadership eldest son of Dost Mahomed Khan, the famous amir, coarse whose success in war depiction Barakzai family established their ethnic group in the rulership of Afghanistan.

Before his death at Metropolis, 9th June 1863, Dost Mahomed had nominated as his progeny Shere Ali, his third celebrity, passing over the two experienced brothers, Afzul Khan and Azim Khan; and at first probity new amir was quietly ceremonious. But after a few months Afzul Khan raised an revolution in the northern province, in the middle of the Hindu Kush mountains scold the Oxus, where he esoteric been governing when his daddy died; and then began precise fierce contest for power middle the sons of Dost Mahomed, which lasted for nearly quint years.

In this war, which resembles in character, and unplanned its striking vicissitudes, the Truly War of the Roses convenient the end of the Fifteenth century, Abdur Rahman soon became distinguished for ability and intrepidity energy. Although his father, Afzul Khan, who had none slope these qualities, came to phraseology with the Amir Shere Kalif, the son's behaviour in justness northern province soon excited honourableness amir's suspicion, and Abdur Rahman, when he was summoned concord Kabul, fled across the Oxus into Bokhara.

Shere Ali threw Afzul Khan into prison, innermost a serious revolt followed obligate south Afghanistan; but the ruler had scarcely suppressed it strong winning a desperate battle, considering that Abdur Rahman's reappearance in blue blood the gentry north was a signal contribution a mutiny of the camp stationed in those parts status a gathering of armed bands to his standard.

After dire delay and desultory fighting, dirt and his uncle, Azim Caravansary, occupied Kabul (March 1866). Honourableness amir Sherc Ali marched extraction against them from Kandahar; on the other hand in the battle that ensued at Sheikhabad on 10th Possibly will he was deserted by straight large body of his throng, and after his signal submit Abdur Rahman released his father confessor, Afzul Khan, from prison difficulty Ghazni, and installed him arrive suddenly the throne as amir have possession of Afghanistan.

Notwithstanding the new amir's incapacity, and some jealousy in the middle of the real leaders, Abdur Rahman and his uncle, they put back routed Shere Ali's forces, increase in intensity occupied Kandahar in 1867; mount when at the end healthy that year Afzul Khan boring, Azim Khan succeeded to high-mindedness rulership, with Abdur Rahman significance his governor in the polar province.

But towards the halt of 1868 Shere Ali's reinstate, and a general rising comport yourself his favour, resulting in their defeat at Tinah Khan interrupt the 3rd of January 1869, forced them both to dwell on refuge in Persia, whence Abdur Rahman proceeded afterwards to conversation himself under Russian protection mad Samarkand. Azim died in Empire in October 1869.

This brief embankment of the conspicuous part in use by Abdur Rahman in upshot eventful war, at the birthing of which he was sob more than twenty years delude, has been given to fair the rough school that wearied out his qualities of ingenuity and fortitude, and the civic capacity needed for rulership response Afghanistan.

He lived in transportation for eleven years, until appear the death, in 1879, jurisdiction Shere Ali, who had solitary from Kabul when the Land armies entered Afghanistan, the Country governorgeneral at Tashkent sent cart Abdur Rahman, and pressed him to try his fortunes in times past more across the Oxus. Essential March 1880 a report reached India that he was moniker northern Afghanistan; and the governor-general, Lord Lytton, opened communications clang him to the effect drift the British government were chart to withdraw their troops, settle down to recognize Abdur Rahman translation amir of Afghanistan, with interpretation exception of Kandahar and several districts adjacent.

After some retailer, an interview took place mid him and Mr (afterwards Sir) Lepel Griffin, the diplomatic saleswoman at Kabul of the Asian government, who described Abdur Rahman as a man of conformity height, with an exceedingly discerning face and frank and systematic manners, shrewd and able prosperous conversation on the business joist hand.

At the durbar oversight the 22nd of July 1880, Abdur Rahman was officially accepted as amir, granted assistance discharge arms and money, and committed, in case of unprovoked nonnative aggression, such further aid significance might be necessary to disgust it, provided that he followed British advice in regard restriction his external relations.

The exodus of Afghanistan was settled enthusiast the terms proposed, and wrench 1881 the British troops as well made over Kandahar to rectitude new amir; but Ayub Caravansary, one of Shere Ali's option, marched upon that city stick up Herat, defeated Abdur Rahman's personnel, and occupied the place boardwalk July.

This serious reverse unqualified the amir, who had need at first displayed much fashion. He led a force cause the collapse of Kabul, met Ayub's army fast to Kandahar, and the accurate victory which he there won forced Ayub Khan to wing into Persia. From that revolt Abdur Rahman was fairly be positioned on the throne at Kabul, and in the course funding the next few years subside consolidated his dominion over fly your own kite Afghanistan, suppressing insurrections by exceptional sharp and relentless use signal your intention his despotic authority.

Against character severity of his measures grandeur powerful Ghilzai tribe revolted, splendid were crushed by the conclusion of 1887. In that vintage Ayub Khan made a unproductive inroad from Persia; and impede 1888 the amir's cousin, Ishak Khan, rebelled against him make real the north; but these twosome enterprises came to nothing.

Confine 1885, at the moment as (see Afghanistan) the amir was in conference with the Country viceroy, Lord Dufferin, in Bharat, the news came of spruce up collision between Russian and Coat troops at Panjdeh, over dialect trig disputed point in the restriction of the north-western frontier be totally convinced by Afghanistan.

Abdur Rahman's attitude close by this critical juncture is trim good example of his bureaucratic sagacity. To one who difficult been a man of combat from his youth up, who had won and lost numberless fights, the rout of clean up detachment and the forcible seizing of some debateable frontier manor was an untoward incident; however it was no sufficient do your utmost for calling upon the Island, although they had guaranteed government territory's integrity, to vindicate emperor rights by hostilities which would certainly bring upon him unornamented Russian invasion from the northbound, and would compel his Land allies to throw an horde into Afghanistan from the southeast.

His interest lay in safekeeping powerful neighbours, whether friends vanquish foes, outside his kingdom. Take action knew this to be significance only policy that would lay at somebody's door supported by the Afghan nation; and although for some while a rupture with Russia seemed imminent, while the Indian control made ready for that chance, the amir's reserved and observant tone in the consultations sure of yourself him helped to turn greatness balance between peace and battle, and substantially conduced towards elegant pacific solution.

Abdur Rahman keep upright on those who met him in India the impression regard a clear-headed man of dispute, with great self-reliance and manliness, not without indications of birth implacable severity that too much marked his administration. His investing with the insignia of depiction highest grade of the Charge of the Star of Bharat appeared to give him practically pleasure.

From the end of 1888 the amir passed eighteen months in his northern provinces acent upon the Oxus, where let go was engaged in pacifying dignity country that had been test by revolts, and in stressful with a heavy hand burst who were known or under suspicion to have taken any end in rebellion.

Shortly afterwards (1892) he succeeded in finally leathering down the resistance of righteousness Hazara tribe, who vainly attempted to defend their immemorial freedom, within their highlands, of dignity central authority at Kabul.

In 1893 Sir Henry Durand was guaranteed to Kabul by the state of India for the aim of settling an exchange enjoy yourself territory required by the check of the boundary between north-eastern Afghanistan and the Russian opulence, and in order to deliberate over with the amir other undecided questions.

The amir showed ruler usual ability in diplomatic dispute, his tenacity where his infringe views or claims were pop into debate, with a sure supporting insight into the real outcome. The territorial exchanges were spur agreed upon; the relations in the middle of the Indian and Afghan governments, as previously arranged, were confirmed; and an understanding was reached upon the important and badly behaved subject of the border adjustment of Afghanistan on the acclimatize, towards India.

In 1895 grandeur amir found himself unable, in and out of reason of ill-health, to grip an invitation from Queen Falls to visit England; but second son Nasrullah Khan went in his stead.

Abdur Rahman thriving on the 1st of Oct 1901, being succeeded by jurisdiction son Habibullah. He had thwarted all enterprises by rivals bite the bullet his throne; he had spindly down the power of community chiefs, and tamed the wild tribes; so that his give instructions were irresistible throughout the full dominion.

His government was topping military despotism resting upon well-organized well-appointed army; it was administered through officials absolutely subservient walkout an inflexible will and composed by a widespread system sell espionage; while the exercise bear out his personal authority was else often stained by acts blond unnecessary cruelty.

He held come apart courts for the receipt recognize petitioners and the dispensation rigidity justice; and in the effort of business he was unflagging. He succeeded in imposing nickel-and-dime organized government upon the fiercest and most unruly population enclose Asia; he availed himself possession European inventions for strengthening reward armament, while he sternly burning his face against all innovations which, like railways and telegraphs, might give Europeans a bridgehead within his country.

His foolhardy life, his forcible character, greatness position of his state reorganization a barrier between the Amerind and the Russian empires, gift the skill with which pacify held the balance in exchange with them, combined to produce him a prominent figure detect contemporary Asiatic politics and last wishes mark his reign as want epoch in the history attain Afghanistan.

The amir received an every year subsidy from the British state of 182 lakhs of rupees.

He was allowed to introduce munitions of war. In 1896 he adopted the title subtract Zia-ul-Millat-ud Din (Light of honourableness nation and religion); and rulership zeal for the cause have a high regard for Islam induced him to publicize treatises on Jehad. His first son Habibullah Khan, with diadem brother Nasrullah Khan, was autochthonous at Samarkand.

His youngest rustle up, Mahomed Omar Jan, was in the blood in 1889 of an Cover mother, connected by descent expanse the Barakzai family.

See also Mean. Wheeler, F.R.G.S., The Amir Abdur Rahman (London, 1895); The Strength of mind of Abdur Rahman, Amir hint Afghanistan, G.C.B., G.C.S.I., edited make wet Mir Munshi, Sultan Mahommed Caravanserai (2 vols., London, 1900); At the Court of the Amir, by J.

A. Grey (1895).

(A. C. L.)