Sher Dil Khan
| Sher Dil Khan شېر دل خان | |
|---|---|
| Sardar Prince of Kandahar | |
Miniature portrait of Sher Dil Khan c. 1818–1826 | |
| Prince 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) Talpur dynasty |
| Spouse | A Barakzai lady |
| Issue | 2 sons
|
| Dynasty | Barakzai dynasty |
| Father | Payandah Khan |
| Mother | An Idu Khel Hotak lady |
| Military career | |
| Conflicts | Afghan Civil War (1793–1823) |
Sardar Sher Dil Khan Barakzai[a] (1818 – 9 August 1826) was the first ruler and founder of the Principality of Kandahar,[1] who ruled from 1818 until his death in 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, Rahm Dil Khan and Mehr Dil Khan.
Rise to power
To avenge Payandah Khan's execution by Zaman Shah Durrani in 1800, Fateh Khan Barakzai 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 partake in overthrowing Zaman Shah, to which Mahmud Shah was installed to the throne on 25 July 1801.[2]: 162
Sher Dil was appointed as the Governor of Ghazni, while his brothers were appointed to be governors of different cities,[2]: 176 and again during the restoration of Mahmud Shah Durrani.
Reign
After Kamran Mirza Durrani executed Fateh Khan Barakzai 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 Sadozai (Pashtun tribe) 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.[3]
Death
Sher Dil died on 9 August 1826 during an expedition to Sindh.
Notes
References
- ^ Samāddāra, Raṇabīra (2002). Space, Territory, and the State: New Readings in International Politics. Orient Blackswan. ISBN 978-81-250-2209-1.
- ^ a b c Lee, Jonathan L. (2018). Afghanistan: A History from 1260 to the Present. Reaktion Books. ISBN 9781789140101.
- ^ 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.