Principality of Kandahar
Former state in Central Asia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Principality of Kandahar[c][1] was a principality based in Kandahar and its surroundings from 1818 to 1856. Founded by Sher Dil Khan in August 1818 as a breakaway from the Durrani Empire, it was ruled by the Dil brothers, members of the Barakzai dynasty.[2] In September 1856, the principality was conquered by the Kabul-based half-brother of the Kandahari Dil brothers,[3] Dost Mohammad Khan.[4][2][5]
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Shia Islam
Principality of Kandahar سرداری قندهار | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1818–1856 | |||||||||||||||||
Flag (1818–1856) | |||||||||||||||||
| Capital | Kandahar | ||||||||||||||||
| Official languages | Persian Pashto[a] | ||||||||||||||||
| Ethnic groups | |||||||||||||||||
| Religion | Sunni Islam (official) Shia Islam | ||||||||||||||||
| Demonyms | Kandahari (Persian) Kandaharai/Kandaharəi (Pashto) | ||||||||||||||||
| Government | Principality | ||||||||||||||||
• 1818–1826 (first) | Sher Dil Khan | ||||||||||||||||
• 1855–1856 (last) | Rahim Dil Khan[b] | ||||||||||||||||
| History | |||||||||||||||||
• Principality established by Sher Dil Khan | August 1818 | ||||||||||||||||
| 8 May 1839 | |||||||||||||||||
• Liberation of Kandahar | 9 August 1842 | ||||||||||||||||
| September 1856 | |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
| Today part of |  Afghanistan Iran Pakistan | ||||||||||||||||
History
In August 1818, the Dil brothers led by Sher Dil Khan seized Kandahar and its surroundings and declared independence. Sher Dil Khan was in charge of the military in the principality.[2] The rule of the four brothers was very unpopular. Sher Dil Khan was supposed to be in charge of Kandahar's walls but after his death in 1826, the brothers fought each other and allowed the city's walls to fall into decay.[6]
In 1842, the Dil Brothers Kohan Dil Khan, Mehr Dil Khan, and Rahim Dil Khan left their exile in Kerman and set out towards Kandahar. They occupied Kandahar and re-established the principality.[7] In the aftermath of the First Anglo-Afghan War, Kohan Dil Khan aimed to expand his influence into Sistan, which had fractured into a number of tribal fiefdoms. As part of this move, Kohan Dil Khan expanded his sphere of influence up to the district of Rudbar, controlled by the Sanjarani Baloch.[8] Herat under Yar Mohammad Khan Alakozai also claimed Sistan as part of his domain, and this would cause clashes between both powers.
In 1855, the death of Kohan Dil Khan sparked a succession crisis between Rahim Dil Khan, and the sons of Kohan Dil led by Mohammad Sadiq Khan. Dost Mohammad Khan capitalized off of this period of anarchy and conquered the principality in September 1856.[9]
Territory and subdivisions
The territory of the principality seems to have been split among the various brothers. At the time of Charles Masson's visit to Kandahar, the division of the principality seems to have been as follows:
- Pur Dil Khan as Prince of Kandahar (Kandahar and its surroundings)
- Kohan Dil Khan as Governor of the Western Frontier (Garmsir, Zamindawar, Deh Rawood, Uruzgan; near Herat)
- Mehr Dil Khan as Governor of the Northern Frontier (Near the domains of the Tokhi and Hotak tribes)
- Rahim Dil Khan as Governor of the Eastern Frontier (Sibi, Pishin, and Shorawak)
Sindh and Balochistan paid tribute and were dependent on the principality, being subject to their suzerainty, but were able to break away in August 1826 following the death of Sher Dil Khan.[2]
List of princes
1818–1839
| Name | Lifespan | Reign start | Reign end | Notes | Family | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sher Dil Khan | 1786 – 9 August 1826 | August 1818 | 9 August 1826 | Established the Principality of Kandahar in August 1818, as a breakaway from the Durrani Empire ruled by Mahmud Shah Durrani | Barakzai |  |
| Pur Dil Khan | 1785 – 22 June 1830 | 9 August 1826 | 22 June 1830 | Succeeded the death of his younger brother Sher Dil Khan | Barakzai |  |
| Kohan Dil Khan | 1792 – 21 August 1855 | 22 June 1830 | 8 May 1839 | Succeeded the death of his elder brother Kohan Pur Dil Khan | Barakzai |  |
1842–1856
| Name | Lifespan | Reign start | Reign end | Notes | Family | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kohan Dil Khan | 1792 – 21 August 1855 | 9 August 1842 | 21 August 1855 | Re-established the Principality of Kandahar following the deposition of Durranis and British soldiers from Kandahar | Barakzai | |
| Rahim Dil Khan | 1796 – 1859 | 21 August 1855 | September 1856 | Succeeded the death of his elder brother Kohan Dil Khan which sparked a succession crisis between him and Kohan Dil's son Mohammad Sadiq Khan, later overthrown by Dost Mohammad Khan of Kabul in the Conquest of Kandahar | Barakzai |  |
Notes
- Dynastic
- Disputed with Mohammad Sadiq Khan
- Persian: سرداری قندهار, romanized: Sardārī-yi Qandahār [säɾ.d̪ɑː.ɾíː.jɪ qän̪.d̪ɑːɑ́ːɾ/qän̪.d̪ä.ɦɑ́ːɾ]
