Sultan Ahmad Khan b. Sardar 'Azim Muhammadzai (Persian: سلطان احمد خان بن سردار عظیم محمدزی), also known as Sultan Jan (Persian: سلطان جان) was the ruler of the Principality of Herat from September 1857 to April 1863. He was a nephew of Dost Mohammad Khan. In 1855-56, Sultan Ahmad Khan sent a petition to the Shah, Nasir al-Din. If the Iranians would support Sultan Ahmad Khan with an army, he would overthrow the Amir-i Kabir and incorporate Afghanistan into the Guarded Domains. However, Sultan Ahmad Khan was intercepted by Dost Mohammad Khan, who exiled Sultan Ahmad Khan to Iran.
After the conclusion of the Anglo-Persian War, he was installed as ruler of Herat by the Iranians. On May 24, 1857, Sultan Ahmad Khan arrived in Herat. The Iranians evacuated Herat in September 1857 in accordance with the Treaty of Paris. During Sultan Ahmad Khan's reign, he was completely dependent on Iran and not only minted coins in the Shah's name, but also given assistance against the Muhammadzais to the east. Naser al-Din Shah bestowed the title of Sirkar (Persian: سرکار) on Sultan Ahmad Khan and gave his son, Shah Nawaz Khan, the title of Amir Panji (Persian: امیر پنجی).
Khan captured Farah soon after in March 1862. Farah had been a Muhammadzai possession since their occupation of the town on October 30, 1856. This became Dost Mohammad Khan's casus belli to launch an attack on Herat. On June 29 or July 8 Farah was captured by the Muhammadzais. On July 22, Sabzawar was captured. By July 28, Herat was besieged. During the 10-month siege Ahmad died on March 6, 1863, being succeeded by his son Shah Nawaz Khan. Shortly before his death, he had been affected by a disease that causes limb paralysis. On May 27, 1863, Herat would finally fall to the Amir.
See also
- Principality of Herat
- Herat Campaign of 1862-1863
- Anglo-Persian War
- Dost Mohammad Khan
- 1st Anglo-Afghan War
- Sher Ali Khan
References
- ^ Noelle-Karimi, Christine (2014). The Pearl in Its Midst: Herat and the Mapping of Khurasan (15th-19th Centuries). Austrian Academy of Sciences Press. ISBN 978-3-7001-7202-4.
- Alder, G. J. (1974). "The Key to India? Britain and the Herat Problem, 1830-1863: Part II". Middle Eastern Studies. 10 (3): 287–311. doi:10.1080/00263207408700277. ISSN 0026-3206. JSTOR 4282538.
- ^ McChesney, Robert; Khorrami, Mohammad Mehdi (2012-12-19). The History of Afghanistan (6 vol. set): Fayż Muḥammad Kātib Hazārah's Sirāj al-tawārīkh. BRILL. ISBN 978-90-04-23498-7.
- ^ Edward Balfour. The cyclopædia of India and of eastern and southern Asia. Bernard Quaritch, 1885
- Kuhzad, Ahmad Ali (1950s). Men and events : through 18th and 19th century : Afghanistan. Robarts - University of Toronto. Kabul :
- Noelle, Christine (1997). State and Tribe in Nineteenth-century Afghanistan: The Reign of Amir Dost Muhammad Khan (1826-1863). Psychology Press. ISBN 978-0-7007-0629-7.
- ^ Mojtahed-Zadeh, Pirouz (1993). Evolution of Eastern Iranian boundaries: Role of the Khozeimeh Amirdom of Qaenat and Sistan (phd thesis). SOAS University of London.
- ^ Lee, Jonathan L. (1996-01-01). The "Ancient Supremacy": Bukhara, Afghanistan and the Battle for Balkh, 1731-1901. BRILL. ISBN 978-90-04-10399-3.
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