Sher Dil Khan
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(Mahmud Shah Durrani as Shah of the Durrani Empire)
Kandahar, Durrani Empire
| 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]
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]
